ASK THE VET?
The Scary Truth About Pet Foods
Written by Dr. Rose DiLeva, VMD, MS, CVCP, CVA
What are we really feeding our Pets?
A: The pet food industry is a multi-billion dollar per ?year industry. More than 95% of United States companion animals derive their nutritional needs from a single source; that source is commercial pet food. The quality of pet food is extremely variable. There are literally hundreds of pet foods on the market and they range in quality of ingredients. Some contain grains and by-products, others contain human grade meats. This is where the importance of reading the pet food ingredients label comes into play.
Cat Heart Disease
Written by Dr.Rose Dilevea
Q : My 15 year old Siamese cat has been diagnosed with a heart condition. The veterinarian called it cardiomyopathy. Could you explain what this is and if my cat can live with this kind of problem?
A: First let me explain the anatomy of the heart. The heart is a four chambered organ consisting of a right and left side and upper and lower chambers. The top chambers are called the atria and the lower chambers are called the ventricles. There are valves between the atria and ventricles to ensure that the blood flows in the correct direction. There is also a separation between the right and the left side of the heart called the septum. Blood from the body is received by the atria and blood from the left ventricle sends oxygen rich blood to the body.
Canine Heart Health
Written by Dr.Rose Dilevea
Q: At my dog’s last visit to the veterinarian, he mentioned that he heard a heart murmur and that “James” may have the beginning of heart disease. James is a 12 year old boxer. Can you shed some light on the subject?
A: First let me explain a little about the anatomy of the canine heart. The heart is a four chambered organ. The right side of the heart has an upper chamber called the atrium and a bottom chamber called the ventricle. The same applies to the left side of the heart. Between the top and bottom chambers on both sides are valves. The purpose of the valves is to ensure that blood flows in a consistent direction so that no “back flow” occurs. Blood should flow from the body to the right atrium of the heart which directs it towards the right ventricle. From there it is pumped to the lungs where it picks up oxygen rich blood. From the lungs it goes back to the left atrium and then into the left ventricle where it is pumped out into the body.
RECOGNIZING PAIN IN YOUR PET
Written by Rose DiLeva VMD, MS, CVCP, CVA
Question:
How do I know if my dog or cat is experiencing any kind of pain? They are both getting older and “slowing down” but they never cry or whimper.
Answer:
First and foremost to understand about animals is that we have domesticated them. As such we can live with dogs and cats in our homes and generally coexist without issue. There is, however, a part of both dogs and cats that is an innate instinct for survival. I usually explain it to my clients by saying that we need to go back a million years or so when survival of the fittest in the forest was the norm. Back then, as now, in the wild, an animal is either a predator or the prey. When either of them became injured or weak, they became an easy target for a hungry predator.
SOME BASIC PET DIET FACTS
Written by Rose DiLeva VMD, MS, CVCP, CVA
All companion animals should be provided with clean, fresh water every day (ideally filtered water or spring water). The water bowel is best if made out of stainless steel or ceramic since some dogs and cats do have allergies to bowls made of plastic and this can cause inflammation, irritation and lesions around the mouth and chin.
All pets should receive their food once or twice a day (my preference is twice a day) at approximately the same time. Free choice food left down all day is a NO NO. This allows the pet to pick throughout the day and eventually will lead to an overweight animal. It also interferes with the digestive process that begins in the mouth.
LYME DISEASE IN PETS
Written by Rose DiLeva VMD, MS, CVCP, CVA
Question:
My pet was just diagnosed with Lyme disease. He was put on antibiotics for a month. What else can I do to help him ?
Answer:
The current information on Lyme disease in dogs has been growing over the years. Certainly, more research needs to be done to fully understand the course and status of these pets after they have been treated. Of particular interest is the question of whether the pet is completely rid of the organism once treated. This is still up for debate, however, some studies have come to light. More practitioners now consider that a Lyme-positive dog may never be able to completely clear the infection.
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