Pets' defense

Preventive medicine catching on in the animal world

Janet Simons, Rocky Mountain News

Monday, July 10, 2006

Nothing upsets a pet owner more than realizing he could have prevented a life-threatening health crisis for a beloved pooch or kitty.

Veterinarian Jeanette Barnes will always remember the client who got out of bed to let his dog out one morning, too sleepy to notice that the back gate was open. The dog ran into the street and was hit by a car.

The man scooped the dog in his arms and ran several blocks to Barnes' Capitol Hill clinic, in such a panic that he forgot that he slept in the nude.

As it turned out, the dog's injuries were minor. The owner's embarrassment was another matter.

Americans are expected to spend $9.4 billion on veterinary bills this year, roughly the same sum as the gross national product of the West African nation of Gabon.

Much of the money spent on veterinary care will go to treat injuries, poisoning, dental disease, disorders associated with obesity and other health problems that owners could have prevented.

Preventive care, which started with human medicine, also has become well-established in veterinary medicine, says Rebecca Ruch-Gallie, community practice coordinator for Colorado State University Veterinary Medical Center.

"Clients are asking how to keep their pets happy and healthy as long as they possibly can," she said. "There's more emphasis on such preventive measures as good nutrition and blood work to screen for disease."

Measures to keep your pet healthy can be as sophisticated as carefully devising a healthy diet and personally preparing every tidbit your cat eats, or as basic as making sure all the gates are closed before letting the dog out. Most conscientious pet owners will find their comfort level somewhere in the middle.

We asked Barnes and three other metro-area pet-health specialists what they'd tell their clients if they felt free to scold them for their negligence. Besides Barnes, our group included cat-behavior specialist Jackson Galaxy and veterinarian Jean Hofve, both of Boulder, and Marty Pease, canine rehabilitation practitioner with the Canine Rehabilitation Group, in Englewood.

Here's what they said.

• Don't overfeed.

Overfeeding leads to obesity, and obesity contributes to a host of health problems, including heart disease, arthritis and other joint problems, pancreatitis and diabetes.

"The hardest thing I do is try to convince people to quit feeding so much food to their animals," said Barnes. "They don't understand why they should deprive their cat of 'just one more Pounce treat.' "

Hofve believes obesity isn't discussed as much as it should be because veterinarians are reluctant to get tough with their clients.

"I'm thinking maybe 80 to 90 percent of the animals I see could stand to lose a few pounds," Hofve said.

Action plan: Don't allow overweight pets access to the food bowls of other pets. Break treats into small pieces. Subtract between- meal snacks from the food offered at meals. Don't allow anyone to feed a dog or cat from the table.

• Monitor your pet's weight.

"Each animal has a different metabolism, and, like people, the caloric needs of dogs and cats change as they age," Hofve said.

Action plan: At annual checkups, ask the vet whether your pet's weight is optimal. Keep weights in a notebook with other health records. Weigh your pet regularly at the veterinarian's office or the pet-supply store.

• Feed your pet a high-quality diet with dietary supplements.

"Dogs and cats are living almost twice as long as they did when I was a kid, and that has to have something to do with improvements in their diets," Barnes said.

American dog and cat owners spent $5.2 billion in 2005 on commercial pet foods, Barnes noted, adding that such a competitive industry is bound to generate lots of controversy and confusion for consumers.

Action plan: Don't feed your pet the same thing its entire life. Read recent books and articles and talk with friends about various diets. Take your veterinarian's advice with a grain of salt: It's common for pet-food companies to underwrite veterinary offices. Go online to compare nutritional profiles of pet foods on the market; two local companies are Kumpi (www.kumpi.com/compare) and Pet Promise (www.petpromiseinc.com). Dietary supplements suggested by our experts include antioxidants, glucosamine, fish oil or other animal fat, and digestive enzymes.

• Pay attention to your pet's elimination.

Constipation can signal dehydration. Frequent urination is a symptom of diabetes. Diarrhea should be monitored very closely.

Action plan: Pick up your animal's waste yourself. If you use a poop- scooping service, note changes in your dog's waste before the service arrives. Don't use self-cleaning cat boxes.

• Maintain a regular exercise routine with your pet.

"There's a very real difference between leash-walking and backyard play, even if it's strenuous backyard play," said canine-rehabilitation therapist Pease. "Long walks are repetitive, and they help dogs develop endurance. It's like the difference between wind sprints and a 5-mile run for a human."

Pease recommends water exercise for dogs that are arthritic or lame, noting that a disciplined program of stretching, massage and hydrotherapy might eliminate the need for $3,000 to $5,000 in surgery for hip dysplasia.

Hofve says even an overweight cat will be interested in "play therapy" with a laser pointer or a favorite toy.

Action plan: Take an hourlong walk with your dog daily. Exercise cats with 15- or 20-minute play sessions two or three times a day.

• Don't let pets become dehydrated or overheated.

Dehydration or heatstroke can kill a dog or cat within hours. In a dog, signs of trouble include lethargy, heavy panting, stopping, sitting down and refusing to move, and a drooping head.

"It's so obvious that people shouldn't leave pets unattended in hot cars that I can hardly believe they still do it," Barnes said.

Action plan: Make sure dogs and cats always have an adequate supply of clean water. Add water to dry food. Encourage cats to drink by leaving the faucet dripping and letting them play with the drops. When traveling with pets in extremely hot weather, make sure that the air conditioning functions properly and that water is accessible. Give dogs watery snacks such as chunks of watermelon.

• Watch for signs of stress.

Although there isn't much scientific evidence, many people who work with dogs and cats believe stress can depress a pet's immune system. Cat-behavior specialist Galaxy says cats start to exhibit stress with aggressive behavior toward their owners or the furniture and then take it out on themselves.

"I've seen cats overgroom and chew their tails bare," he said. "I've also seen them become anorexic and starve to death."

Action plan: Remove pets from stressful situations if possible. Make sure they get exercise and human attention. Use stress-reducing sprays such as Feliway for cats or flower essences for either cats or dogs.

• Good grooming and dental hygiene are health issues.

Dogs can be made miserable by itchy skin or matted coats full of burs. Good dental hygiene can lengthen a pet's life and make it much more pleasant.

"Every pet owner seems to know that they're supposed to brush their pet's teeth, but I'd guess that only about 10 percent actually do it," Barnes said.

Action plan: After an outdoor adventure, check for burs, stickers and matted hair between a dog's toes, in the armpits, behind the ears and in the groin area. Consider trimming long-haired dogs for the summer. If you can't bring yourself to brush your pet's teeth, use other products that reduce plaque, such as gels, "dental defense" pet foods or washes you can put in the water.

• Pet-proof your home and yard.

"The good news is that I'm seeing fewer animals who have been hit by cars each year," Barnes said. "The bad news is that I'm seeing a lot more cases of dogs and cats ingesting drugs, both legal and illegal, and other harmful substances. Cats are more in danger of swallowing thread, string, rubber bands or ribbons, which thread themselves throughout the cat's intestinal tract and must be surgically removed."

Action plan: Don't leave your dog unattended with toys, bones, rawhide chews or other choking hazards; ask your vet what's OK. If you have both a dog and a cat, keep the dog away from the cat's toys. Make sure potentially lethal substances such as medications, glue, dark chocolate and, in the case of cats, thread or string are out of reach. Check the yard for poisonous plants (including toadstools), holes in the fence, cactus and other hazards.

• Take pets for yearly checkups. Do your homework first.

Galaxy thinks too many cat owners consider their pets maintenance-free.

"Yearly exams are essential for both dogs and cats," he said. "I'm a fan of having blood work done each year to check for problems that aren't going to be obvious to owners."

It's the owner's responsibility to keep up on changes and developments in the veterinary profession. For example, guidelines for rabies shots have changed, and no veterinary clinic should be insisting that your pet be vaccinated yearly.

Action plan: Before taking your pet for its annual exam, read up on the latest developments in vaccination practices and other veterinary issues, such as the need for heartworm medication. A good initial source is the Denver-based American Animal Hospital Association (www.aahanet.org; click on "links" at the top).

simonsj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-2547