Feeder Creek Blog

Is your cat peeing outside of the litter box? What should I do my cat might be sick?

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:55:00 GMT

Is your cat urinating outside of the litter box or straining to urinate? Is your cat not able to pee? Any cat not able to pee (a blocked cat) must be brought to the veterinarian immediately as this is a life threatening situation. If your cat is blocked it will be immediately unblocked by the veterinarian. After your cat is unblocked, or if the vet finds that it is some other problem, the cat will undergo a through diagnostic workup. This workup will include a urinalysis, urine culture, complete blood count, biochemistry panel (liver, kidneys, electrolytes) ultrasound and possible x-rays. This is the minimal testing necessary to diagnosis the cause of disease properly. A complete blood count will look for evidence of systemic inflammation/infection or anemia. A biochemistry panel will help identify other co-existing diseases that might be exacerbating the clinical signs. A sterile urine sample must be obtained via inserting a needle into the cat’s bladder to draw out the urine. The urine is analyzed with a special machine and examined underneath a microscope for cancer cells, crystals, mucus plugs, white blood cells, red blood cells, protein and bacteria. Not all bacteria can be seen under a microscope, which is why a urine culture will determine if any bacteria are present in the urine. Urinary tract infections are uncommon in cats and occur 12% to 25% of the time. Radiographs are important to determine if stones are present in the bladder or in the urethra. Ultrasound allows the vet to view the balder wall and determine if sediment (crystals) or stones are present.

With these test results the veterinarian will have a better understanding as to what is causing of your cat’s urinary tract issues. The unfortunate part is that only a small minority of cats will have abnormal test. So what disease might your cat have? Stay tuned for my next article.

at urinating outside of the litter box or straining to urinate? Is your cat not able to pee? Any cat not able to pee (a blocked cat) must be brought to the veterinarian immediately as this is a life threatening situation. If your cat is blocked it will be immediately unblocked by the veterinarian. After your cat is unblocked, or if the vet finds that it is some other problem, the cat will undergo a through diagnostic workup. This workup will include a urinalysis, urine culture, complete blood count, biochemistry panel (liver, kidneys, electrolytes) ultrasound and possible x-rays. This is the minimal testing necessary to diagnosis the cause of disease properly. A complete blood count will look for evidence of systemic inflammation/infection or anemia. A biochemistry panel will help identify other co-existing diseases that might be exacerbating the clinical signs. A sterile urine sample must be obtained via inserting a needle into the cat’s bladder to draw out the urine. The urine is analyzed with a special machine and examined underneath a microscope for cancer cells, crystals, mucus plugs, white blood cells, red blood cells, protein and bacteria. Not all bacteria can be seen under a microscope, which is why a urine culture will determine if any bacteria are present in the urine. Urinary tract infections are uncommon in cats and occur 12% to 25% of the time. Radiographs are important to determine if stones are present in the bladder or in the urethra. Ultrasound allows the vet to view the balder wall and determine if sediment (crystals) or stones are present.

By Dr. Jonathan A. Yardley

Trains, planes, and automobiles and your cat! Preparing your cat for holiday travel with a current veterinary health certificate and vaccines.

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:55:00 GMT

As the holidays quickly approach, let’s not forget about your four-legged friend. If you plan any air travel with your cat this year, pre-flight preparation will be necessary as it is predicated to be a heavier holiday travel season than in past years. First, you will need a valid health certificate from your veterinarian. All airlines require a health certificate that is written no more than 10 days before the flight. Second, more airlines are using regional jets, so I advise that you call the airline ahead of time to determine if your cat carrier will fit on board. If you are traveling by car, you might be required to have a health certificate depending on your final destination.

All cats need to be up to date on their vaccines, especially Rabies, before holiday travel. The distemper vaccine protects your cat against respiratory virus. So, it is an important vaccine when visiting a multiple cathouse hold or boarding your cat. Because other cats may not be vaccinated, it is important to give your cat the most protection. I also recommend an extra dose of Revolution for your cat to ensure that he/she is parasite free (for example, fleas, heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, and ear mites) and will remain so for 30 days. Again, you can’t be sure that other cats have been protected or that the place you are staying is free from intestinal parasites. Did you know that 15% of indoor potting soil has roundworm eggs in it?

In addition to vaccines, we need to prepare cats for traveling. If your cat is not accustomed to travel, you will want to introduce him/her to his/her cat carrier a couple days before travel. This will save your cat undue stress. One way to do this is to place your cat’s meals in the carrier prior to the trip so he/she has a positive association with the carrier. To prevent car sickness, you shouldn’t feed your cat the morning of your car trip. It is not possible to bring your cat, using a cat sitter is always an option. It is important that a cat sitter comes over at least once a day to make sure that your cat still has food and water and is acting normally. Still another option is boarding your cat. If you plan to board him/her you should make reservations early, as boarding facilities fill quickly during the holidays. For your cat’s comfort and well-being, you should try to board your cat in a window unit and purchase the additional play times. These extras will help reduce his/her stress and make the boarding experience more pleasurable. Again, if you choose to board your cat, consult with your veterinarian about the best time to vaccinate your cat. Typically, shots should be given at least 7 days in advance of boarding to give the maximum protection.

If instead of traveling, you are having guests for the holidays, be cognizant that your cat may become scared and stressed by the arrival of your guests. Starting your cat on natural calming medicine such has Composure treats or Feliway a couple weeks before your guests arrive will be advantageous. Stress effects cats in multiple ways. The most common effect of stress that I see is urinary and litter box issues. I will review these issue in great depth in our next issue so stay tuned.

The holidays are very stressful for both you and your cat, so take some time out of your schedule to pet and play with your wonderful cat. The time spent together will benefit your cat and you, research has shown that spending time with pets can lower your blood pressure and stress.

Happy Holidays from Dr. Yardley and the staff at Feeder Creek Veterinary Services

How to find a new feline (cat) veterinarian in Columbus Ohio?

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 23:58:00 GMT

As the holidays approach, you may be expecting a new kitten. Once you find a reputable breeder, it is time to choose your new kitten. Kittens come with lots of responsibilities and one of them is finding a veterinarian. How do you select a new vet? What should you look for?

One common mistake, is opening the phone book or Googling the closest vet to your home and just going there. Before you settle on a vet, you should do some research. Start with their website; do they use Facebook or Twitter? While using Facebook or Twitter does not guarantee that he/she is a better veterinarian, it may show that the vet clinic is on the cutting edge and willing to adopt new technology. Because veterinary medicine is constantly progressing, you will want to find a clinic that is remaining up-to-date on the newest advances. Veterinarians spend anywhere between four and eight years after veterinary school becoming specialists in certain areas.

Another key area to consider is whether the clinic you are considering has all the equipment needed to diagnose and treat your cat. All general vet clinics should have radiograph (X-ray) equipment. X-rays are used to diagnose problems with bones, heart, and lungs. Clinics should also have digital ultrasound. Ultrasound is an important diagnostic tool that is used to examine your cat’s stomach, small intestines, kidneys, liver, and bladder. All of these are important to visualize in older cats. An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) is an important diagnostic tool that checks for problems with the electrical activity of your cat’s heart. All clinics must have an EKG to monitor your pets with heart disease. Finally, the clinic should have laser surgery equipment. Laser surgery allows your cat to heal more quickly and have less pain than traditional surgery. Laser surgery is particularly important if you make the decision to declaw your cat.

In addition to making sure that the clinic has all the necessary tools you will want to make sure that your vet is trustworthy and knowledgeable. It is important that you feel comfortable taking advice and treatment from your vet. While all vets complete the same medical education, they can vary in how much continuing education they do after completing school. While this might be difficult to assess, if you feel comfortable with your vet and he/she seems to be doing the necessary research to best help your cat, you will have a good working relationship and this will help your cat receive the best possible care. If you feel uncomfortable with your vet, it may be time to move on and find a vet with whom you can work easily and trust.

Price may be a final consideration. While everyone is feeling the pinch now, it is important to weigh the cost of the services with the quality of the service. Paying a little more in the beginning for a good diagnosis may help your cat get treatment he/she needs and avoid additional costs (and suffering for your cat) later on.

Dr. Jonathan A. Yardley

Feedercreek is helping to save Arno the Fairfield County Sheriff's Dog

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 22:26:00 GMT

Paws for Cause

Feeder Creek Veterinary Services has joined the endeavor to keep the Fairfield County Sheriff's Department K9 unit operating. With recent state and county budget cuts the K9 unit has been reduced from three K( officers to one and may lose him if enough money cannot be raised. Arno a 65 pound Belgian Mallinois works with his partner Deputy John Williamson. Deputy Williamson and Arno are not only trained in drug enforcement but also missing persons, suspect tracking and apprehension, and evidence retrieval; making them an invaluable addition to the Fairfield County Sheriff's Department. Feeder Creek has collected donations from the public and is donating a portion of the revenue from its annual Heartworm Clinic. On September 27, 2011 Dr. Ed Biggie presented a check for $1000 to Sheriff Dave Phalen from the doctors and staff of Feedercreek, and our generous clients to keep Arno on Duty.

Quarter Horse Congress new test requirements for equine prioplasmosis

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:58:00 GMT

This year Quarter Horse Congress held at the Ohio State Fairgrounds in October will be requring a new blood test for entry onto the grounds. A negative test for equine piroplasmosis will be required for all horses attending the 2011 All American Quarter Horse Congress. The horse(s) must be tested negative by the c-ELISA assay for both Theilerta equi and Babesia caballi. All horses entering the Congress shall be accompanied by an official laboratory report or certificate of veterinary inspection indicating the negative piroplasmosis result, laboratory and accession number. Testing shall completed on a blood sample collected within one (1) year prior to entry onto the Congress show grounds and have been conducted by a laboratory certified and approved by the USDA.Equine piroplasmosis is a tick-borne disease caused by the parasites Babesia caballi and Theilertia equi that affects horses, donkeys, mules, and zebras.The disease is transmitted via tick bites or through mechanical transmission by improperly disinfected needles or surgical instruments. Currently the equine piroplasmosis testing is taking over three weeks before we get results back. You must tell your veterinarian now if you are planning to attended the Quarter Horse Congress. Along with this blood work, a negative Coggins Test (Equine Infectious anemia) no older than a year and a current health certificate will be required. If your horse does not have these test you will not be allowed to enter the grounds. There have been rumors that Equine Herpes (EHV-1) testing is being required. This is false EHV-1 testing will not be required, but you should have your horse vaccinated. Although the vaccine does not protect your horse if it was to get neurologic strain, your horse should be up to date for all vaccines. We have seen two possible cases of West Nile horses only 30 miles from the fairgrounds. Please have your health certificate, Piroplasmosis testing and Coggins test for easy access into Congress as there will be increased trailer inspection this year!

Feline Leukemia Virus and why you need to vaccinate your cat!

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 01:39:00 GMT

In this month’s blog I will be talking about the importance of vaccinating your cat against Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV). The core vaccines that have been recommend by the American Association of Feline Practitioners are as follows: Feline Panluekopenia, Feline Herpes Virius-1, Feline Calicivirus, and Rabies. FeLV is not part of the list but is still highly recommended. Feline leukemia virus infects domestic cats throughout the world and results in death in infected cats. The prevalence in North America is less than 5%; but it may be as high as 25% in multi-cat households where no prevention (i.e., vaccines and testing) has been done. In America only 50% of dogs and 25% of cats receive vaccines, this puts your cat at greater risk of infection. The virus is spread through saliva, nasal secretions (mutual grooming, biting, sharing of food and water dishes), blood transfusion, in utero or through milk. With so many ways for a cat to be infected, it is vital that cats be vaccinated to reduce their risk. If your cat gets FeLV, the prognosis is poor as most cats are infected will develop the disease[h1] . Of cats with FeLV, 70-90% die between 18 months and three years of infection. FeLV causes immune suppression, anemia, and lymphoma. Cats with FeLV have immune systems that are more suppressed than cats with FIV because FeLV affects more of the immune system. Because their immune systems are weaker, the risk of infection by bacteria, Toxoplasma gondii, Mycoplasma haemofelis is much greater. In addition to increasing risk of secondary infection, FeLV causes two types of cancer; lymphoma and leukemia. Taken together, FeLV and the associated illnesses shorten the life span of the infected cat. The good news is that we can easily test for FeLV. We use a Snap test, which is a cage side test that uses a little blood from the cat, and results are known with ten minutes.

One question that comes up consistently is about timing of vaccinating cats. Kittens need to undergo a Snap test prior to their first vaccine to see if they have already been infected. Second, kittens get maternal antibodies from nursing from their mothers, at about 6 weeks of age, antibodies start to wean from the kitten’s system. Thus, we need to wait until the kitten is at least 6 weeks old so that the vaccines have the highest chance of being effective. So, in general, the vaccine series should be started at 8 to 9 weeks of age, but can begin as early as 6 weeks. Vaccinations should be spread out at least 2 weeks but no longer than 4 weeks between shots. Kittens need to continue to get booster shots approximately every 3 to 4 weeks, depending on when vaccines were started, until the kitten is 16 weeks old. You can begin to vaccinate your cat for FeLV beginning at 8 or 9 weeks of age and stop at 16 weeks. However, if it is has been more than 6 weeks between vaccines, you will have to start over and your cat will need to receive at least 2 additional doses of vaccine 3 to 4 weeks apart. All cats must have a booster 1 year later. Vaccinating for FeLV should be part of your routine vaccines because it protects against a potentially life-threatening virus and the benefits outweigh the risks. Also at FeederCreek Veterinary Services we combine core vaccine with the FeLV vaccine. One less shot for your cat is safer for everybody. If you chose not to vaccinate your breeding cat colony, you will a need a yearly screening program for every cat.

What happens if you have a cat with FeLV? It is possible for cats with FeLV to live normal lives until they become sick. They must be kept inside to prevent your cat from infecting other cars. In fact scientific studies have reported that the rabies vaccine is not effective in FeLV positive. [h2] If your cat is infected, you should not have other cats in the home or they will also become infected. Cats with FeLV should be seen by the veterinarian every 6 to 12 months for blood work, complete blood count, biochemistry profile, and urinalysis. Infected cats (both male and female) will will need to be neutered. I recommend that any kitten that tests negative for FeLV/FIV be vaccinated for FeLV and receive annual boosters depending on your individual cat’s needs. Please discuss all these issues FeederCreek Veterinary Services.

Dr. Jonathan A. Yardley

How to help your pet with the summer time heat?

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 01:36:00 GMT

What are some good tips for pet owners to be aware of with the dog days of summer upon us?

Just like you pets need a shady spot to relax in the heat of the day.

It can be 10 degrees cooler in the shade than it is in the direct sun.

Make sure the source of shade is available all day and does not disappear as the sun moves across the sky.

Dogs pant a lot in the heat, that’s how they regulate body temperature (they don’t sweat), and that panting leads to a lot of body fluid loss.

Along with shade an ample supply of fresh clean water is critical.

Be careful around bbq’s and cookouts.

Some dog’s can’t handle sudden changes in their diet so if they get into the picnic basket or if someone feeds them burgers, hotdogs etc. it could lead to diarrhea, vomiting or worse.

There is a reason they call it PEOPLE FOOD.

The Grill itself can be a source of problems.

Grease dripping from the grill can be double trouble.

Licking the grease can lead to pancreatitis, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Since the grease tastes so good dogs tend to ingest all the stuff the grease falls on like rocks, sticks, leaves etc, and this can lead to GI blockages.

These are but a few things to keep summer lazy hazy and healthy.

Dr. Biggie

My dog has fleas? What do I do next?

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:35:00 GMT

Hey Doc, my great grandma told me if I feed my dog garlic he would never have fleas. Is there any truth to that?

If you were a flea would you want to suck the blood from someone who took garlic every day?

All kidding aside I have heard many stories of garlic being used to control fleas in dogs but know of no scientific studies to back that up, not to mention that garlic like onions can be toxic to pets (a specific toxic dose is not known so why take the risk).

Keep in mind that the fleas you see on your pet only represent about 5% of the total flea population.

And each of those female fleas can lay 50 eggs a day quickly leading to a population explosion in a short time.

Flea pupae (protected by a cocoon) can live in the environment for months which is why getting rid of an infestation or preventing an infestation is a long term project not just a onetime treatment.

There are many different products available to combat or prevent a flea problem.

It is important to remember that not all products are the same and not all are effective. Over the counter products are dangerous and can kill your dog or cat.

I would recommend talking to your veterinarian who can make suggestions based on lifestyle (dog swims every day, or has kids climbing on him 24/7) location (you may live deep in the woods or maybe a high rise apartment), other pets (do you have a single pet household or perhaps 15 or 20), and other factors.

Get the upper hand on fleas, visit feedercreekvet.com!

Why does my dog need a yearly heartworm test?

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:32:00 GMT

I really like pulling in the driveway and having my dog Angus run to greet me. It is nice to know he won’t be slowed down by heartworm disease. Heartworms are especially plentiful this year due to the very wet spring -they are spread by mosquitoes and the extra rainfall has increased their numbers greatly.

Heartworms live in the heart of a dog that has been bitten by an infected mosquito. It can be 4-6 “ long.( Needless to say) this large worm in the heart causes damage, and the dog can die. If detected early, the problem can be resolved with minimal damage-that is why we test yearly.

Heartworm prevention is easy with monthly tablets or oral preventatives or a 6 month injection.

Keep your pet running into your arms-test and prevent heartworms.

Dr. Ed Biggie
www. feedercreekvet.com

How to treat and diagnose ringworm in cats.

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 01:59:00 GMT

Dermatophytosis, Microsporum canis, Trichophyton mentagrophyets, Microsporum gypseum.

Otherwise know as Ringworm.

Ringworm can affect dogs, cats, humans, horses, and cows. Ringworm can be transmitted between humans and animals but it is uncommon. Ringworm is a fungal disease. It is called ringworm because of the pattern of lesions it produces; circular areas of hair loss with red, raised outer rims. This ring is caused by hair follicle damage and subsequent inflammation. Cats, especially long-haired breeds, are more often infected than short-haired breeds. Some of them can become chronic carriers of the fungus even though they may not show any signs of infection.

If your cat has patchy or circular hair loss, scales (dandruff) and reddened skin you should bring your cat to FeederCreek. Your cat will only be itchy 50% of the time. Your vet at FeederCreek will most likely want to do a DTM test or a fungal culture to confirm the diagnosis. A Wood’s Lamp can be used but will only diagnose 50% of ringworm caused by Microsporum canis, the most common cause of ringworm.

Treatment of infected pets can be both expensive and frustrating, especially in households or kennels where several animals live.

After reviewing the most current published papers, I would like to summarize the most effective treatments. Although each treatment protocol most be tailored to your cat and environment. All cats in the household should be tested to determine if they are carriers even if they are not showing clinical symptoms.

The optimum treatment involves clipping your cat’s entire hair coat, twice weekly topical antifungal therapy, concurrent systemic antifungal therapy, and environmental decontamination. The best topical product is a Lime Sulfur dip, which should be done twice weekly. Lime Sulfur should not be rinsed off your cat. There are two commonly used oral systemic therapies. One is Itraconazole for 28 days, followed by pulse therapy of one week on and one week off for 4 weeks. The second is Terbinafine; it is the newest drug and should be used for 28 days. Finally, the environmental decontamination involves using a 1:10 bleach to water mixture twice weekly to disinfect brushes, beading, and bowls. This combined treatment should not stop until three negative consecutive fungal cultures are obtained at bi-weekly intervals.

Jonathan A. Yardley, DVM

Kentucky Derby from ex-racetrack vet Dr. Yardley.

Thu, 05 May 2011 19:58:00 GMT

Only two days before the first leg of the triple crown, the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum Brands. The Kentucky Derby was first run in 1875 and first televised May 3 1952. It is know as the most "exciting two minutes in sports" because the race is usually run in about 2 minutes at distance of 1.25 miles or 10 furlongs. I find the derby to be exciting because it is the best three year old race horses in the country running. The Derby is sometimes referred to as the "run for the roses." The horses have been training all winter for this race and needed $125,000 in winnings to be entered. The Kentucky Derby is run on a dirt surface so weather can be a factor.

One Derby tradition is hats! No one knows for sure where the derby hat tradition started but Courtney Stinson, public relations manager for the Kentucky Derby Museum states that "They went around to all of the women's clubs in town and invited the women to dress up in their finest to come to the Derby. ... In that period, of course, the hat was essential, and the hat just carried through." It is exciting to see all the hats, each with their own unique style . Hats can range in price from $45 to $5000. So even if you don't enjoy horse racing, the people watching can be just as fun. NBC will carry the coverage of the race this year, turn on your HDTV early and enjoy!

Another tradion of the Kentucky of Derby is the Mint Julip. The Mint Julip is a very yummy drink. It is an iced drink consisting of Kentucky bourbon, fresh mint leaves a sugar cube , and traditionally served in a silver or pewter cup. If you go the derby you will get your Mint Julip in a commemorative Kentucky Derby glass which is a great collectors item. Also, it lets you keep track of how many Mint Julips you have consumed on biggest day of racing.

Because we are a veterinary clinic I need to insert a little veterinary knowledge into this blog. One of the most common questions I get is about using Lasix in race horses. Lasix is a loop diuretic (water pill) and causes the horse to urinate before the race. Lasix helps to decrease the severity of EIPH (exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage). EIPH is likely caused when the horse runs at full capacity and has micro blood vessels in their lungs break and blood enters the lower airways. The horses that bleed usually have a harder time finishing a race and are also predisposed to a respiratory tract infections. A recent paper was published that proved the Lasix decreases the severity of EIPH and keeps horses healthier. Most good trainers will have an endoscopic exam performed on
the horse after the race to see if there was any bleeding. This is an important function of a racetrack veterinarian as they can choose the correct treatment based on the findings. Horses are not alone because it has been reported that human athletes, racing camels and racing greyhounds all experienced EIPH while running at maximum intensity. Enough science for now.

To support the race, head to your closest parimutuel window to place your bets (like at Scioto Downs or Beulah Park) on May 7th 2011 and pick the Derby winner. Hopefully your long shot will come in first!. Post time for the 137th running of the Derby is 6:25pm on NBC.

If you wear your Kentucky Derby hat on Friday or Saturday into FeederCreek Veterinary Clinic you will receive a free Frisbee for your dog.

Jonathan A. Yardley, DVM

Fleas? Most common asked questions about Fleas part one.

Mon, 02 May 2011 04:00:00 GMT

5 of the most common myths and questions about fleas.

1) I put flea medication on my pet last month and I still see fleas this month?

Yes you must apply flea medication every 30 days for it to be effective. The medication kills the fleas on your pet but not in the environment and only lasts 30 days. The flea eggs in the environment hatch 18 to 365 days after being laid. The fleas you are seeing on your pet have hatched from the environment which is why you must use year round flea medication.

2) I use Frontline and its not working there must be resistance?

There has not been a scientific paper to-date that has proven resistance to fipronil the active ingredient in Frontline. Although in our practice we have seen decrease effectiveness of Frontline and do not recommend it for dogs flea bite dermatitis. Frontline takes 18 hours to kill fleas weres Vectra only takes 6 hours and Comfortis takes 4 hours.

3) My dog does not go outside so it can't get fleas.

Even if your dog goes outside only to go the bathroom your dog can still get fleas. Unfortunately even in the suburbs the local wildlife (bunny rabbits, moles, birds, deer) visit our yards and leave little present like fleas and ticks behind in the grass. Your dog or cat is a little magnet for fleas.

4) I spray my lawn so I don't need to use flea medication on my pets.

Using harmful pesticides is not only dangerous to you and your pet but limits the biodiversity of local insects in your yard. These sprays hurt our waterways and are 100% effective. If a flea gets on your dog that has not been treated with a flea control product than the fleas will enter your home and start laying eggs and cause problems for you dog.

5)I don't see fleas on my pet.

Yes although you don't see fleas does not mean your pet is free of fleas. Comb through your pets coat onto a wet piece of paper towel if turns red your pet has fleas. If your pet does not have fleas now is good time for prevention. Prevention is cheaper and easier than treatment.

You must treat all your pets including the inside only cat to prevent a flea infestation Fleas can be a host to tapeworms and other parasites. The bites are irritating to both people and animals and are difficult to eradicate. Visit your veterinarian now and request the best flea prevention Comfortis or Vectra if you have ticks in your area.
This has been Dr. Yardley from FeederCreek Veterianary services trying to keep your family flea free.

Easter Lilly kills cats

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 04:00:00 GMT

Hundreds of cats have died from eating lily plants. However, not all species of lily plants are toxic, but all should be considered hazardous to cats. Even eating half of a leaf can be deadly for cats. Lily toxicity leads to acute kidney failure. The first signs of lily toxicity are vomiting and loss of appetite/not eating. These usually occur within the first two hours after eating the plant. Within 24-96 hours of ingestion, kidney failure will develop. It is very important that if your cat eats lily that you immediately bring him/her to vet. If treatment is started early and carried out successfully the prognosis is good. If the cat begins to have kidney failure, the prognosis is grave.

If you suspect your cat has come into contact with any of these substances you should immediately contact your veterinarian. He/she will need to do a physical and neurological exam and possibly blood work to assess your cat’s health. The veterinarian will place an IV catheter and start fluids along with other treatments. If your veterinarian suspects that your cat has ingested a toxin, he/she might give your cat medicine to make it vomit, or he/she may perform a gastric lavage (stomach pumping) If the cat has a skin reaction to the toxin, washing him/her in a luke warm bath with dish soap will help remove the toxins from the skin. Unfortunately, there are no “antidotes” in veterinary medicine for treating toxicity in cats, and therefore other treatments have to be used.

Laminitis how to keep horses safe while eating springtime grass

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:41:00 GMT

Well it is spring time today in Columbus Ohio. I had the windows down while making my farm calls today saw lots of horses and put lots of miles on the truck today. I drove from Millersport to Logan to Lancaster to Utica back to Johnstown and than back to Pickerington. Makes for a long day but very fun. I am writing this blog after having to mow my lawn again because of all the rainfall we have had in Central Ohio over the past week. So I thought I this would be a good time to talk about spring time grass grow and how it can hurt our four legged friends. It is well known that spring grasses may cause laminitis (Founder is an older term that has been replaced with laminitis). Studies have shown that spring grasses are high in starch and sugars which may lead to high blood sugar levels that may then cause hyperinsulinemia and laminitis.

So, how do we prevent our friends from developing this horrible condition?

First we start by allowing the horses to slowly adapt to the spring grass. Feed the horses hay before turning them out so their stomachs are already filled before going out to pasture. This way horses are less likely to gorge themselves on the new spring grass.

(It is like candy to them!)

Finally, horses need to be limited in turn out time. Allot only 10 minutes once or twice daily, and then slowly increase their time on the spring grass by 5 minutes a day until the horses have a tolerance of 6 hours.

Any horse with a history of laminitis or metabolic issue (Cushings, metabolic syndrome, hypothyroidism) needs to have a more conservative turnout regimen. In some cases these horses won’t be able to eat fresh grass and will have to be feed hay on a dirt lot all summer long or use a grazing muzzle. You can buy them on line and usually will need two a three a season.

At Freeder Creek Equine Veterinary Services we offer blood testing to help diagnosis of these metabolic syndromes and provide recommendation for treatment. You will need to fast your horse overnight (last hay at 10pm) and in the early AM before anybody in the barn is feed we will get a sample of blood and run a fasting Insulin Level and an ACTH level. We only use the Cornell University Diagnostic Laboratory for the best results. These two test are just screening test and in our next blog we will talk about follow up testing if these results are not 100% diagnostic of the condition.

Dr. Jonathan A. Yardley

NIKKI FIRST BLOG ABOUT EQUINE AFFAIRE

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:32:00 GMT

I am very excited for Equine Affaire held in Columbus, Ohio at the Ohio State Fair Ground on April 7th and can't wait to be in the horse clinics. The Mesotherepy that Dr. Yardley did on Saturday at the Resource Expo in Baltimore at Sugar Bear Horse Stables has really helped "Sassy" and she’s moving beautifully. I hope that you all can come and see us in action and see how well Dr. Yardley's Mesotherepy has worked for "Sassy". We will be in a clinic with Jennifer Moshier on Thursday, at 10 am in the paddock arena next to the vendor building and then two of Craig Johnson's clinics, one on Saturday at 4 pm in cooper arena and the other on sun at 3:30 pm in the coliseum. The entire staff here at Feedercreek are very proud that I will be at the Equine Affaire. So if you need me then look for Sassy and I at the fairgrounds and we hope you enjoy your own time at Equine Affaire as we know we will.

BY NIKKI
LARGE ANIMAL RECEPTIONIST