Heart Disease in Pets

Dogs and cats, like people, may develop heart disease as they get older, some are even born with some type of heart disease and some are genetically prone to it. A good physical examination will make the doctor aware of the problem but sometimes the owner will pick up signs before they are visible in the examination room. The most common signs are that your pet (cat or dog) is not running as well or for as long, is panting more, has developed a cough, difficult breathing or has a bloated abdomen. A less well known sign is a soft moist cough at about 3-4 am in the morning. This early morning cough will seldom awaken you but if you are up for any reason, listen for it.

When the veterinarian is concerned about the possibility of heart disease there are a series of tests that we use to confirm the diagnosis. The first is a good evaluation of the heart valves with a stethoscope listening for murmurs or abnormal rhythm. We usually follow that up with radiographs (X-rays) of the chest looking for changes in the heart’s shape. An electrocardiogram (EKG) will tell us about the electrical system that powers the heart. We use ultrasound to look for heart tumors. We also use a blood test called NT-proBNP. The blood test looks for the enzyme NT-proBNP that is produced by the heart when it is in heart failure. I spoke with the Iowa State Cardiology Department and they use this test only when there is a question of whether the dog or cat’s problem is respiratory in origin versus heart in origin. This helps separate the two. Sometimes it is very difficult to tell if a dog is in heart failure so this test helps on those occasions. After our detailed work up of your pet’s heart, and we are still not quite sure of the problem, we will ask for a second opinion at the Iowa State Veterinary College.

There a number of things that you as an owner can do to prevent heart disease in your pet. The most important thing that you can do for your pet’s heart health is to have a veterinarian do a good, complete examination of your pet each year. This allows the doctor to evaluate your pet, look at its history, talk to you about feeding, treats, exercise, symptoms of disease, and answer all your questions.

The next most important thing is to keep his/her weight under control. This requires several things. The first is to measure the amount of food that you feed. This keeps track of the major source of calories for your pet and if the weight goes up, we can show you, to the teaspoon, how much food to take out to lower the weight to the optimum level. Also remember that for every pound of fat on a dog or cat, there are an additional 5 miles of blood vessels for the heart to pump blood through.

The next item to look at is treats. I always recommend feeding baby carrots to dogs as treats and nothing else. This raw food is not digested in your dog’s intestine so there are no calories to cause weight gain. I believe cats should not have treats due to excess calories. The advertisements on TV make all of us feel guilty if we do not buy this treat or that treat. The problem is that they all taste good but just make your pet fatter. There is absolutely no benefit to feeding commercial treats. (Yes, I know some that claim to keep the teeth clean but weight gain is a far greater threat to your pet’s health.) The best “treat” that you can give your dog or cat is your undivided attention 2-3 times per day.

Exercise is always good. It keeps the muscles toned and helps to control weight by burning more calories. I want to point out that in late in 2010 the American Medical community came out with a position statement on exercise and weight control. The AMA said that you are more likely to gain weight from what you eat rather than from lack of exercise. This does not mean to stop exercising but it means we really need to control our food intake.

I hope this gives you an over view how to try to prevent heart disease and also how we diagnose heart disease. If you have any questions, please call us at 277-1883.

Pet of the Month - May 2012 - Mr. Wrinkles

Mr. Wrinkles was born on February, 13th 2010.  The Dittmer family got him about two years ago. He is a very friendly black Sphynx cat. The Dittmers have two children ages six and three and Wrinkles is very tolerant of them carting him around and loving on him. His skin is very warm, it actually feels like a hot water bottle. His favorite spot to sleep is under the comforter on the bed. His other favorite spot is on your shoulder.  Wrinkles likes to play with his little toy mouse and has torn nearly all of its appendages off. He also likes to chase after feathers on a string. Wrinkles does not eat any table food, nor does he get treats, only cat food. The Dittmers got Mr. Wrinkles from a breeder in Minnesota. They liked the Sphynx breed because they have no hair. No one in their family is allergic, but that wouldn't matter because he still has cat dander. They’ve had furry cats in the past  and they just didn't want the messy hair everywhere. Wrinkles does have very little hair around his paws, nose, and tail which feels like peach fuzz. Wrinkles is a good jumper. He can jump from the counter top to the top of the cupboards. He likes to sit up high and watch the activity.  It is also his safe spot from the children.  Mr. Wrinkles is a perfect addition to the Dittmer family.  What a lucky cat he is to be secure in his forever family!

Pet of the Month - April 2012 - Sookie and Tiri Gavin

In June 2009, the Gavin's picked up their ferrets from a breeder in Ohio and have loved them ever since.

Sookie ~ Born April 16^th, 2009
Dad picked out and named Sookie after the character in the Trueblood series.
They say that ferrets pick a human they love the most and Sookie sure does love her daddy, who she shares the same birthday with. She rarely bites him, however uses mom as her personal chew toy. Sookie’s favorite toy (other than her mom) is a rainbow colored hacky sack. She loves fetching it and putting it away in her stash of other favorite things. Ferrets are normally quiet animals except for their little chattering when they play. Sookie is the talker of the two girls. She really gets chattering when she is playing and doing the war dance.

Tiramisu (Tiri) ~ Born April 17^th, 2009
Mom named Tiri because she thought her colors looked like her favorite Italian desert, Tiramisu.
Tiri is a mommy’s girl. She loves it when mom cradles her like a baby and gives her kisses. She pretty much turns into a dollop of fluff when mom picks her up, however daddy doesn’t get the same response. Unlike her sister, Tiri rather have her head in the food bowl than to chase her toys around. Maybe that’s why she is so fluffy. And although she is a bit bigger in size, Tiri is actually not the dominate ferret. There are times Sookie will drag her across the floor by the back of her neck. The one furry sibling Tiri loves to chase and terrorize is her feline brother, Dapper Dan. They really have a good time chasing each other around the house.

Tiri and Sookie love being outside. They go camping, trips to the local pet stores and even get to visit Santa and the Easter Bunny! People always wonder what kind of animal are and were we got them. They have to be two of the most spoiled ferrets.

Pet of the Month - March 2012 - Napolean

On November 2^nd we had our first cold rain of the fall season.  Lacey was working at the Cedar Bend Humane Society when man came in holding a wet towel.  Little did she know Lacey was about to meet her new best friend.  The man told her that he saw the car in front of him toss a cat out the window, with other cars swerving to avoid hitting the kitten.  Inside the wet towel was an 8 week old kitten with his right hear dangling from his head.  Lacey quickly took him to the back and started to warm and clean the kitten.  One severed ear, a broken tail and some pretty bad scrapes.  The kitten was so tired it couldn’t even eat.  Lacey thought to herself “If you make it through the night, I will try my best to save your life.” 

The next morning, the kitten, “Napolean,” was waiting for her return.  She took him to see Dr. Smith who carefully removed the rest of the dead ear and started him on an antibiotic.  The bad news was that he would need surgery.  After a couple of weeks of tender loving care, Napolean was gaining strength and healing.  After checking around, Lacey found out that the surgery to finish fixing his severed ear was going to cost $1200.  Then a call came in from a surgeon who heard of this sweet kitty and offered to do the surgery for free.  Dr. Brent Reimer used Taylor Vet’s surgical suite, anesthesia and medications and through that partnership, Napolean had a complete ear ablation on November 21^st. 

Napolean is now healthy and happy – the two things Lacey never thought he would be!  A HUGE thank you goes out to Dr. Brent Reimer and Taylor Vet for dedicating their time and resources to helping an abandoned shelter cat. 

Pet of the Month - February 2012 - Chaos and Jinxx

Chaos is a 9 year old German Shepard rescue dog. When he was adopted he was 5 1/2 months old and a mere 37 pounds. Chaos was seized from a residence where he was greatly neglected. He was being fostered by a gal from Animal Control. She knew the Pilchers were looking for a German Shepard, so she brought him down to the the Humane Society for them to meet him. They walked him around the back yard, and he decided this was his forever family by jumping on Dawn and smearing her white shirt with mud. That decided it! He has been a cherished addition to their family, but they felt he may like a younger canine friend. Jinxx is a purebread Siberian Husky they adopted from family in New Mexico, and in Jinxx, Chaos got more than a friend, he now has a little brother!

Chaos loves to chase tennis balls, although his arthritis gets the better of him sometimes. Jinxx also likes to chase balls, as well as play tug-of-war. He also loves to rip the squeakys out of his toys, then the squeaky keeps him busy for HOURS!!! But mostly they like to play together in the back yard.

Pet of the Month - January 2012 - Sophie Butters

Lindsey heard through a friend that there was a little terrier mix puppy that was tied to a tree in Brooklyn, IA.  Lindsey walked up to her and saw this sweet puppy was tiny, dirty, had tangled hair and overgrown nails, and had a tag on her that said “Free.”  Lindsey has always had a soft spot for animals, even has volunteered at animal shelters, so she knew she had to bring this little girl back to Cedar Falls.  She planned on trying to find a friend or family member to take her or possibly to bring her to the animal shelter. The first night in Cedar Falls “Sophie” went and sat next to Lindsey’s bed at bed time and waited for help on the bed, Lindsey knew then that “Sophie” was hers forever “Sophie” has been an easy-going dog who is quite outgoing.  She loves to take walks, play and eat turkey with peanut butter for a treat.  “Sophie” found her forever home with Lindsey and they both are better off because of it. 

Pet of the Month - December 2011 - Dana Jasper

Kim Jasper loves checking out the animals at the Humane Society, but it seems when she does that, one of the cats out there, steals her heart.  That was how Dana became part of her family.  Dana was a mellow, friendly cat who loved Kim from the first minute she stepped into the cat room.  Dana was adopted on St. Patrick’s Day in 2010, they estimate she was 3 years old then.  She is a loveable cat, who puts up with most anything.  She loves kids, dogs, strangers.  Soon after she came home, she started having digestive issues.  Dana spent a lot of time at Taylor Vet after she was diagnosed with megacolon, which causes constipation, abdominal cramping and is very difficult to treat.  Kim tried all the treatments, Laxatone, enemas, other types of medicine, a major diet change, and Dana was just not getting better.  Dana was such a trooper through it all.  Finally after a lot of trial and error, they found the right combination of treatments that worked!  Dana now gets medicine three times a day, and eats a very special diet mixed with canned pumpkin.  She is a playful cat who loves to bring all her toys to Kim’s bed in the middle of the night and hides them in her shoes.  Even though Dana is more high maintenance than most cats, in Kim’s opinion, being able to have her healthy and whole is a blessing that far outweighs the costs.