Tag: Mike Fietz

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Bitter Pills: How to Medicate your Pet Without Losing a Finger

If you've been given a course of oral medication for your pet, don't hesitate to request a demonstration from your vet on how to administer it. Source: Getty Images

And how often does he need to take this?” asks my client, with a flicker of hope crossing her face. I dim it with my answer of twice a day. “Forever?” she implores. I nod, and the wish that had been in her expression is replaced by dejection. Her cat has a thyroid condition and always will. I feel a bit guilty as she heads out the door, as if I’ve sentenced her to a lifetime of scheduled battles with a loved one.

Even simple disorders can become a source of angst when owners have trouble medicating their pets. It’s easy to write “one tablet twice a day” on a prescription label, but translating those directions into reality can be another story.

Honestly, this doesn’t happen too often with dogs. They tend to be a happy and hungry bunch, and it’s no big task to hide a pill inside a treat, like some peanut butter or a piece of cheese. But cats are notoriously discerning and may pick the food from around the pill, making a soggy mess of their medication. There may simply be no choice but to administer it directly.

With dogs you just place the pill at the back of the tongue, shut their trap, and wait a moment. The technique is similar for cats, but is often accompanied by hissing, squirming, and the brandishing of sharp teeth and claws. In these cases, a pill popper (also called a pill gun, a name I don’t much care for) can be useful. It’s a simple plastic tube with a rubber grabber at one end and a plunger at the other, and despite its energetic name, it gently deposits the pill. It takes some practice to get the hang of it, but it’s worth the effort. If the cat bites down, at least it’s not your fingers getting impaled.

Some medications are also available in liquid form. There’s no harm in trying that approach, but liquids can present complications of their own. If pets don’t like the taste, they can end up drooling half of it out, creating uncertainty about proper dosage.

It may also be worth looking into the services of a compounding pharmacy. It will cost a bit more, but they can wrangle medication into different forms and flavors that may be more palatable. Some tablets are designed to dissolve almost instantly, eliminating the pet’s ability to spit them out again. And some drugs are even available in topical forms. The hyperthyroid cat I mentioned might be happy to know that his medication can be made into a paste administered with a gentle smear inside the flap of his ear. In some cases, alternative dosing methods may reduce a drug’s efficacy. But that may still be a fair improvement over missing every other dose.

If you’ve been given a course of oral medication for your pet, don’t hesitate to request a demonstration from your vet on how to administer it. There’s a technique to pilling animals, and it’s easier to perform than to describe. Seeing it in person can be a great help. Above everything, though, it’s important to have faith in yourself and your pet, because you may be pleasantly surprised.

When my own cat developed a need for daily medication, I dreaded the prospect. Would she hate me for shoving pills into her mouth? But she took them with surprising cheer, and would walk away purring and expecting breakfast. Honestly, she made me feel bad for ever doubting her. I can’t promise it will always be that easy, but if it isn’t, it’s good to know you have options.

Dr. Mike Fietz is a small animal veterinarian at Georgetown Veterinary Hospital. He has lived in Charlottesville since 2003, the same year he received his veterinary degree from Cornell University.

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Strep search: Don’t blame your sore throat on the dog

It’s tempting to test the dog when a family can’t shake strep throat, but washing your hands proves to be more effective than treating Rover.

It happens at least once a year. Family members taking turns with strep throat, and they bring the dog in to see if he might be the culprit. It’s a completely reasonable concern, although I’m surprised at how often it has been suggested by the family physician or pediatrician. Because the answer is the same every time: No, the dog didn’t give anybody strep throat.

Most of us have probably tangled with strep throat at one point or another, and it’s a notoriously unpleasant experience. Lymph nodes under the jaw become swollen and sore. Horrible pustules line the back of the throat, bringing pain and frustration with them. It quickly responds to a course of antibiotics, but this still requires an inconvenient trip to the doctor and that gag-inducing test where they swab the back of your throat. This test is specifically looking for group A streptococcus—the bacteria that cause all this misery.

The thing about this infection is that it really likes people. We are its victim, but also its source. Many people harboring it have no symptoms at all. There is no vaccine, and the only prevention is good hygiene and a dash of hope. And unlike so many other diseases, recent infection with strep doesn’t prevent you from getting it again, which means that groups of people can continue passing it around indefinitely.

So what about the dog? The simple fact is that there are no clearly documented cases of dogs giving people strep throat. Although the offending bacteria can (rarely) be cultured from dogs, all evidence suggests that they only carry the bacteria temporarily after picking it up from a person. It doesn’t want to live in dogs, and it isn’t there long enough to multiply and become contagious.

You’ve probably noticed that there’s some wiggle room here. If dogs can carry the bacteria even briefly, isn’t it possible—however unlikely—that they might hand it off to a person? Sure. Biology is nothing if not unpredictable. But in these hypothetical cases, the dog would be serving a role no different than a contaminated pillow or a used glass. Testing the dog makes no more sense than testing every other object in the house for the presence of group A strep.

There is a lot of pressure on veterinarians to prescribe antibiotics to dogs when a family is visited by a stubborn round of strep throat. At a glance, what harm can it do? Even if it just makes everybody feel better, isn’t that worth it? Unfortunately, no it isn’t. Among other man-made catastrophes, antibiotic resistance is a threat to every single one of us. Tossing antibiotics at the dog without justification is one more incremental contribution to a global problem.

Strep throat can be frustrating, especially when a family can’t seem to shake it. But there is no need to conjecture about some mysterious culprit when we already know exactly where it’s coming from. It comes from us. Let’s leave the dog out of this.

Dr. Mike Fietz is a small animal veterinarian at Georgetown Veterinary Hospital. He received his veterinary degree from Cornell University in 2003, and has lived in Charlottesville since.

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Control issues: New restrictions on prescribing opioids for pets

What do new restrictions on controlled substances mean for pet owners?

It’s been hard to escape news of the opioid crisis over the past few years. And it’s just as difficult to ignore the complicity of the nation’s health care system in creating it. Opioid medications—drugs similar to morphine and named for the opium poppy plant that produces them—have an important role to play in patient care. Used correctly, they are vital tools in controlling pain and suffering. But they have not always been used correctly, and the resulting addiction crisis has come at great cost in dollars and, more importantly, lives.

These drugs are also used in veterinary medicine. The past few decades have seen an increased emphasis on pain management in veterinary patients, and I believe that is a good thing. Short-term use of opioids is a safe and effective way to control acute pain associated with things like surgery or trauma. The danger comes with long-term use, as opioid receptors in the brain become accustomed to the drug and demand more of it.

There remain, however, many cases where long-term opioid use is justified. Some animals have concurrent medical conditions that preclude use of non-opioid alternatives. And sometimes, it’s the only thing that works. While animals can become addicted in theory, it is uncommon in practice. They simply have no control over their own dosing, which limits the potential for escalating abuse.

Recent changes in Virginia state law have established a prescription monitoring program that creates a consolidated database intended to track use and misuse of controlled drugs. This includes opioid medications like tramadol, and even some non-opioid medications like gabapentin that have the potential for abuse. These laws extend to veterinarians and have resulted in significant changes in the way we can prescribe these medications. The concern isn’t that animals are becoming addicted, of course. It’s that these drugs might be diverted for human use.

Veterinarians were given two options to comply with this program, and the first—submitting daily reports of all controlled substances prescribed—just isn’t feasible for most practices. Instead, most have elected to accept a waiver that limits them to dispensing one week of medication. If more than that is required, it must be prescribed through an external pharmacy so it can be monitored appropriately. It also requires that these animals be evaluated at least once every six months to keep the prescription active.

What does this all mean for pet owners? Mostly, it means that things are less convenient than they were before. If your pet requires ongoing use of a controlled substance, it is important to make sure that she is seen by her vet every six months. Your vet may be able to help by sending an automated reminder. It is also important to request refills well before your current supply runs out to avoid problems and delays.

I don’t know how much of a role veterinarians really play in the opioid crisis, but we’re wrapped up in it all the same. While these drugs shouldn’t necessarily be feared, they deserve respect and care in their use. Inconvenient as they may be, these new regulations are intended to make sure that care is taken.

Dr. Mike Fietz is a small animal veterinarian at Georgetown Veterinary Hospital. He received his veterinary degree from Cornell University in 2003 and has lived in Charlottesville since.

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Breathing easier: Getting through reverse sneezing

Your pooch may look frightfully stressed when reverse sneezing occurs, but most cases are temporary. file photo

Anything that looks this terrifying must be an emergency. The poor dog is standing with her legs braced and head thrust forward, and the corners of her mouth are pulled taught in a frightening grimace. Her belly contracts and her ribcage tenses in powerful bursts, and a thundering snort marks each strained breath. She’s distressed, and it feels like it’s gone on far too long. You reach for the phone and before you can dial your vet, it’s over. She wags her tail and goes about her day.

Alarming as it might appear at the time, this describes a typical bout of reverse sneezing, and it is simply an attempt to alleviate some kind of discomfort in the rear of the nasal cavity. In much the same way that a regular sneeze tries to blow an irritant out of the nose with an explosive burst of air, reverse sneezing attempts to suck an irritant back into the throat so it can be swallowed or spit out.

In most cases, the cause of irritation is minor and temporary. Perhaps a bit of dust or a blade of grass from the yard got stuck in the wrong place. If so, you may see a few episodes before it clears up for good. If allergies are responsible, you might see a pattern of symptoms occurring only in certain months. But so long as symptoms are sporadic, there isn’t any cause for alarm.

If reverse sneezing is observed frequently over a long period, however, it could indicate that more is going on. Brachycephalic breeds (like pugs, bulldogs and others with scrunched-up faces) can develop reverse sneezing because their soft palate is too long and hangs in the way. Nasal mites (yeah, that’s really a thing) are another potential cause and stubborn cases of reverse sneezing might be treated just to see what happens. And rarely, tumors and polyps in the nasal passageway can be responsible, but these may require advanced imaging like CT scans to locate.

Regardless of the cause, there isn’t much to do during a bout of reverse sneezing. It will stop on its own once the irritation is cleared. I’ve seen all sorts of suggested remedies. Some people recommend covering one or both nostrils, blowing gently in the dog’s nose or stroking the throat. I don’t know of any evidence that these methods help, but since the problem is self-limiting, I suspect that nearly any action can be misinterpreted as effective. Most episodes are finished in a few minutes no matter what you decide to do. My preference is to leave them alone. Getting in the dog’s face may add a new irritation while they try to manage the first one.

Thankfully, reverse sneezing is one of those things that looks far worse than it is. While some cases eventually warrant a deeper look, most of them blow over in a hurry, and you and your dog can both breathe a sigh of relief.

Dr. Mike Fietz is a small animal veterinarian at Georgetown Veterinary Hospital. He received his veterinary degree from Cornell University in 2003 and has lived in Charlottesville since.

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Thoroughly Vetted: Dogs and cats have an extra eyelid

If a pet’s third eyelid remains exposed, it means something is wrong with that eye.

At a glance, you wouldn’t even know it’s there. Dogs and cats appear to have the same two eyelids that we do. But look closer, especially if you find your pet half asleep, and you might catch a glimpse of their third eyelid. Properly called the nictitans, it’s a pink sheet of tissue that stretches diagonally from the inner corner of each eye, but which stays drawn out of view under normal circumstances.

The nictitans isn’t unique to our household pets. This membrane is common across the animal kingdom, and is seen in a variety of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians. It’s even translucent in some species, functioning as flip-up safety goggles. And while human beings don’t have a proper third eyelid, you can see the vestigial remnant of yours in the mirror—a little band of pink tissue called the plica semilunaris.

In dogs and cats, the third eyelid isn’t directly controlled by any muscles. Instead, it works as a spring-loaded protective device. When threatened or injured, the eye reflexively sinks backwards into its socket. This simply gives the nictitans enough room to pop up and do its job. Once the situation has passed, the eye returns to its normal position, forcing the nictitans back into its pocket.

This is important because if a pet’s third eyelid remains exposed, it means something is wrong with that eye. It could be a simple eye infection, or perhaps a scratched cornea. Sometimes I’ll find foreign material—perhaps a bit of grass or grit—stuck in there. And if both are exposed, it can indicate a wide variety of underlying causes ranging from dehydration to neuromuscular disease.

It’s not uncommon that I see an animal with an injured third eyelid. It’s relatively delicate, and the edge can easily be cut or torn. But these injuries are usually simple to manage, and serve as evidence that the membrane performed admirably. Better to have an injured third eyelid than an injured eyeball. These cases are the ocular equivalent of fender-benders.

At least a few times a year, I’m also likely to see a puppy with “cherry eye,” an ugly pink lump in the corner of one or both eyes. That lump is a wayward tear gland that is supposed to be tucked deep behind the third eyelid. In some dogs (and rarely in cats), the tissue meant to hold the gland in place is too loose, allowing it to pop up over the edge of the lid. Apart from being unsightly, this can damage the tear gland and cause chronic irritation, and usually requires surgical correction to put that little sucker back where it belongs.

Perhaps it’s a bit odd that our pets have a third eyelid that we don’t. But given its prevalence in other species, and how useful it can be in preventing injury, I think it’s more appropriate to wonder why we only have two.

Dr. Mike Fietz is a small animal veterinarian at Georgetown Veterinary Hospital. He received his veterinary degree from Cornell University in 2003 and has lived in Charlottesville since.

Ready to be adopted!


Penelope here. So, I got into some scuffles with my sister and ended up here. I’m real gentle, honest! I’d just prefer to be the only dog in your life.

Hey, I’m Puca. I’m not shy about asking for attention, whether you’re at the computer or lounging on the couch. I just want some pets. Can we snuggle?

What’s up? I’m Andy, and I’ve never met a stranger. Give me treats and I’m yours forever (and I’ll work on that whole leash thing—I’ve almost got it!).

Hi, I’m Franie. Around here, I’m pretty popular—I love attention and will stop at nothing to get it. Let’s have a chat or sit and bird-watch.

Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA, 3355 Berkmar Dr. 973-5959, caspca.org, noon-6pm, daily

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Using DNA to test your dog’s breed

Testing your dog’s DNA may sound intriguing, but there’s little to be gained in terms of medical treatment with these kits.

She’s such a delightful dog, and you were lucky to find her at the shelter that day. But what exactly is she? Her cheese-curl tail evokes a shiba inu. Those droopy ears are all spaniel. And only a schnauzer could have gifted her those magnificent eyebrows. Everyone who meets her spots another breed in the hodgepodge.

Thanks to the miracle of DNA testing, you don’t need to guess anymore. Or, at least, that’s the pitch. You can just buy these kits online. You swab around your dog’s mouth, drop it in the post and you’re sent a precise numerical breakdown of everything she is and isn’t. But is it true?

It may surprise you to hear that, yes, it is actually true. Or at least the basic science of it is. These tests work by screening for thousands of subtle genetic mutations (properly called single-nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs) that are statistically prevalent in particular breeds. I should emphasize that these SNPs aren’t otherwise important. They are not genes, and they are not directly responsible for any of the traits that define a breed. They are merely markers—unique chance errors that popped up long ago when these breeds were forged by human selection, and they have persisted in those lines to this day. They don’t do a whole lot, but if you find one, you can say with confidence that one dog is descended from another.

The question isn’t whether the theory is sound, but whether it works in practice. And I’m afraid this is where things get murky. In my own experience, the results are inconsistent, ranging from “well that makes perfect sense” to “seriously?” And that renders it a bit pointless. If the results fit our expectations, we pat ourselves on the back for being as clever as geneticists. If they don’t, we exchange skeptical glances and ponder the wasted money.

It’s not that the tests are nonsense. They’re legitimate, but the technology is still young. As databases swell with discoveries of new SNPs, and as statistical models are accordingly updated, we’ll certainly see accuracy improve.

If we imagine a day in the future where these tests are more reliable, would there finally be a use for them? It’s still unclear. Does it really help to know that your dog is 6 percent shih tzu and 17 percent saluki? The manufacturers say yes, contending that every breed has its list of common problems, and that forewarned is forearmed. But remember that these tests aren’t looking for functioning genes, which limits their predictive value regarding specific genetic abnormalities. I’m simply not convinced that they yield information that couldn’t be gleaned from an old-fashioned eyeballing. If it kind of looks like a boxer, it’s probably part boxer.

That’s not to say that other kinds of genetic testing don’t have their place. For example, collies frequently carry a mutation in a gene called MDR1 that alters the way their bodies process certain drugs. This information may affect my choices in caring for that patient. But I can easily test for that specific mutation, so there’s no need to agonize over what percent collie the dog is.

For the time being, DNA breed testing is more of a novelty than a useful medical diagnostic. And that’s completely fine. There’s nothing wrong with having some fun with science, so long as people know what they’re buying. These kits can be interesting gifts for the mutt-lover in your life. But as a veterinarian, I expect it’ll be a long time before I start adding any of that information to my patients’ charts.

Dr. Mike Fietz is a small-animal veterinarian at Georgetown Veterinary Hospital. He received his veterinary degree from Cornell University in 2003 and has lived in Charlottesville since.

You can meet us at the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA, where we’re all available for adoption. 3355 Berkmar Dr. 973-5959, caspca.org, noon-6pm, daily  COURTESY Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA

Hi! I’m Callie and, first off, you should know that I can get along with anyone. In my former home, there was another cat, two dogs and a 5-year-old, so I’m very adaptable. I like eating and staying inside, but I’ll venture out on occasion.

I’m Diana Prince (aka Wonder Woman). Much like my namesake, I’m a whiz with a whip, er, leash and my intelligence and poise are my greatest assets. But I know how to have fun—fetch is my favorite—and be kind and gentle.

I’m Citrine. It’s not that I’m selfish (though I would prefer to be the only kitty in your home), it’s just that I don’t like sharing affection. I also suffer from FOMO, so I might temporarily have a hard time when you leave the house.

Hey, I’m Levi. I’m an 8-and-a-half-year-old Treeing Walker Coonhound who loves walks, runs and protecting my person. I’m housebroken, can get along with cats and am okay when left home alone. But, really, I just want someone I can snuggle up to (don’t you?).

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The trouble with dog flu

The dog flu can leave vets and pet owners guessing as to whether a vaccination is necessary. File photo

It’s flu season for us humans, and the advice really couldn’t be more simple. Get your flu shot this year and every year. We are social animals who spend most of our day in relatively close physical proximity, and it’s very easy for us to get each other sick. Vaccination may provide an imperfect defense, but any step taken to reduce the total misery inflicted upon the population every year is just being a good neighbor.

Canine influenza shares much in common with its human counterpart. It brings the familiar symptoms of coughing, sneezing and fever and almost always resolves without treatment. Just like human flu, it can leave behind a stubborn cough for a few weeks and can become legitimately dangerous for an unlucky few.

There are currently two common strains of canine flu. The first one (charmingly dubbed H3N8) jumped over from horses around the turn of the millennium and a vaccine has been available for several years. The second strain (H3N2) may have come from birds or pigs and was responsible for a large outbreak in 2015 in Chicago. A new vaccine was released for this strain last year. Despite originating in other species, these viruses have not yet been observed to infect people, although the newer virus may have some ability to infect cats.

Without specific testing, the flu is indistinguishable from any of the other kennel cough infections that we see in dogs on a regular basis. But that testing is rarely performed. Since these cases all progress similarly regardless of the underlying cause, patients are usually managed conservatively, with more aggressive options reserved for unusually severe disease. This makes it very difficult to get a handle on local outbreaks and what might be causing them. We are, more often than not, guessing.

Given the similarities with human flu, you’d think it would be easy to recommend blanket vaccination of the entire population against canine influenza. But that isn’t the case. There are important differences to consider in the way the flu spreads in people versus dogs and in the way available vaccines work against them.

For one thing, human influenza strikes a significant fraction of the population every year. If you didn’t get the flu this season, you almost certainly know someone who did. It is everywhere. Even a partially effective human vaccine can spare millions of people from illness and days of lost productivity. In contrast, canine flu tends to pop up unpredictably in small, isolated outbreaks. The benefits of population-wide vaccination simply aren’t as clear.

People also have more compelling options for vaccination than dogs do. The human vaccine is designed to protect against a broad number of flu strains, and is periodically recalibrated to keep up with the virus as it shifts and evolves. Some years it is more successful than others.

Canine flu vaccines are less sophisticated. We have individual vaccines against each of the two strains, but we can’t really predict when or where either one might pop up. Dogs that get one flu shot remain vulnerable to the other strain. You could give both vaccines, but the next big outbreak may well be an entirely new strain.

This is not to say that these vaccines are worthless. The old strains will always be out there, and they can still make dogs sick. Even flawed protection may be justified in high-risk situations like shelters and kennels, but our expectations should be tempered and people need to know the limits of what canine influenza vaccines can accomplish.

Maybe our tools will improve in the future, but, for now, I only recommend canine flu vaccines on a case-by-case basis. As for us humans? I plan on keeping myself covered.

Dr. Mike Fietz is a small-animal veterinarian at Georgetown Veterinary Hospital. He received his veterinary degree from Cornell University in 2003 and has lived in Charlottesville since.

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Up for adoption

You can meet us at the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA, where we’re all available for adoption. 3355 Berkmar Dr. 973-5959, caspca.org, noon-6pm, daily.  

I’m Burly, and my personal history is as mysterious as my big brown eyes. What you should know about me, though, is that I understand basic commands and I love treats…a lot. Kong toys, pork knees—you name it. I’m also a little shy, but I love attention.

I’m Dory and, even though I look fairly sedate, a fun time is never lost on me. I love the shelter’s A-frame scratcher—for climbing, sitting and, I’ll admit, stalking my cat friends (in a friendly way!). A home with other cats would be fine with
me (and them, I promise).

Hey there, I’m Julia. I’m a TV junkie (fur real), a cuddler and a toy enthusiast—anything from balls to towels thrills me. I’m also an introvert, so we need to start our relationship slowly. Once I get to know you, though, I’ll purr as loudly as you’ve ever heard.

Hi, I’m Irene, and I’m so excited to meet you. In fact, often I get so excited that the whole back half of my body wags uncontrollably. It’s adorable (everyone says so). One thing, though: Kids kind of scare me, so I’d like to go to a home without any little ones.

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How to live with animal epilepsy

Witnessing a seizure is an alarming event for pet owners, but in some cases it’s a manageable condition.

The first time you see your pet in the middle of a seizure, it’s like time has stopped. You feel helpless, not knowing how long it will last or what will happen next.

Seizures happen when electrical activity in the brain becomes disorganized, slipping free of the coordinated circuits that usually keep things running smoothly. Sometimes this is the result of an underlying problem like a toxin or brain tumor. But many cases have no underlying cause—or, at least, not one that can be found—and are called idiopathic. These animals have epilepsy.

A variety of symptoms can be seen during a seizure. Some animals are completely possessed by the episode, losing consciousness, stiffening up, twitching and urinating or defecating. But many will suffer partial seizures, with milder tremors limited to the head or a few limbs. In some ways, these can be even more upsetting because the animal may be alert enough to grow frightened or upset.

Whatever kind of seizure you observe, it is important to react without panicking. It may be hard to believe in the moment, but things will probably be fine. If this is the first time, it is wise to seek immediate veterinary care. Be careful moving your pet—even gentle animals may bite while in the throes of a fit. There is a very good chance the episode will have passed by the time you make it to the vet, but, if not, at least you’ll be in the right place.

The first step is to make sure this really was a seizure. This is especially vital in cats, because they are rarely epileptic compared with dogs, and almost always have something else brewing. There are several conditions that can effectively mimic seizures, and it won’t do any good to treat the wrong thing. Heart disease is one of the most common, capable of starving the brain of oxygen long enough to produce similar convulsions.

After the initial examination, your vet may recommend lab work to begin screening for underlying causes. Although frustrating, it may not be possible to rule everything out at once. Hidden causes such as brain tumors may require advanced (and expensive) testing like spinal taps and MRIs, and these are not typically pursued right away. But in otherwise young healthy dogs, it is often safe to presume they are genuinely epileptic.

It is not a foregone conclusion that epileptic animals require treatment. If the symptoms are mild and sporadic, affected pets may do just fine without intervention. But as episodes become more frequent and severe, medical management can be of great help. Control is rarely perfect, and even treated animals may have breakthrough episodes here and there. It is important to discuss the benefits and risks with your veterinarian before deciding what is best for your pet.

In the long run, it’s not generally necessary to seek veterinary help every time you see an episode. Regardless of how terrifying that first one may have seemed at the time, owners of epileptic animals grow surprisingly accustomed to seeing this happen now and then. It is worth taking another look, however, if seizures start lasting more than a few minutes or begin happening more than once every month or two. Keeping a journal of seizure activity can make it easier to identify broader trends. And although it may not be your first concern at the time, obtaining video of an episode may help your veterinarian to better understand what is going on.

Epilepsy can be frightening for sure. But the good news is that its bark is frequently worse than its bite, and most epileptic animals live full and normal lives.

Dr. Mike Fietz is a small-animal veterinarian at Georgetown Veterinary Hospital. He received his veterinary degree from Cornell University in 2003 and has lived in Charlottesville since.

spca

Up for adoption!

You can meet these animals from noon-6pm daily, at the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA, where they’re all available for adoption. 3355 Berkmar Dr. 973-5959, caspca.org   

I’m Brandy, and I may be 2, but there’s nothing terrible about me! Like everyone I know, I enjoy cozy places, long naps and a good back scratch. Since I’ve lived at the CASPCA for 200 days, the thing I’d enjoy most, though, is a forever home.

Yo, I’m Bubba. And I arrived as a stray, but it didn’t take me long to become best buds with the shelter’s
staff and volunteers. I’m housebroken, and I like my chew toys, going for walks and lounging in bed—not necessarily in that order.

Sugar Plum’s the name, and affection’s my game. Alas, I’m currently sans family (mine moved and couldn’t take me along), so I have nobody to shower with love and warmth. I’m also a cool, versatile cat who’s happy both indoors and outside.

If you’re a big-dog person, Magnus (that’s me!) is your man. I’m a polite, handsome, calm dude who needs a pair of strong hands to take me on adventures. Oh, and cats aren’t really my thing, so I’m best-suited for a home with other dogs.

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The necessary chore of clipping a pet’s nails

Trimming a dog’s nails can be a painless experience for both owner and animal with the right mindset and approach.

It starts innocently enough with some faint clicking as your dog trots across the kitchen tile. It can wait, you figure. She hates having her nails trimmed and another week won’t hurt. Until she climbs into your lap and eight dull knives dig deep into your thigh. Reluctantly, you admit to yourself that this is overdue and pick up the clippers.

You lead her to the porch and give her a treat. She wags her tail, but seems suspicious of your motive. You remember the last time you clipped one nail too short. That tragic yelp still echoes in your mind. Was it pain? Betrayal? You set the clippers back down and pretend to clean the house instead.

Nobody likes to do this. I certainly don’t. But this isn’t optional. It needs to happen on a regular basis and it only gets worse otherwise.

Overgrown nails aren’t a cosmetic issue. They can get snagged in carpet or stuck in cracks. These nails often splinter, crack or get ripped right off, which is as traumatic as it sounds. I see claws growing full-circle, stabbing right back into dogs’ toes to create bloody, infected wounds. And with time, overlong nails will cause the toes to deform, twisting them sideways and making it harder for animals to walk at all.

Many people are paralyzed by the fear of trimming too far back, cutting into the sensitive quick that lies at the core of each nail. This is a valid worry, and it’s bound to happen now and then. Even if you’re well-practiced, sometimes an animal squirms at just the wrong moment. Don’t panic. Offer some treats as a distraction, and stay positive. If the nail is bleeding, you can calm it down with some styptic powder or corn starch.

Unfortunately, as a nail grows longer, so does its quick. And that means that any delay only compounds the fear and anxiety next time around. If you make a habit of trimming your pet’s nails weekly (yeah, I said it), you’ll likely find that the experience gets more pleasant each time.

For many dogs, the anxiety still escalates rapidly during a nail trim. In these cases, you may have better luck with a stealthier approach. Try trimming just one nail every morning before breakfast instead. You’ll have to do a bit of bookkeeping to remember which toe you’re up to, but it ensures that nail trims are brief and promptly rewarded. Plus, the daily routine helps prevent each trim from feeling like a big, ominous event.

Another option is to file the nails back rather than clipping them. This is perfectly fine and easiest to accomplish with an electric rotary tool (like a Dremel), but it comes with a few caveats. There is always a risk of stray hair getting caught up in the rotation, causing significant injury. Fur should be trimmed back with scissors first, or the nail can be poked through a small hole in a nylon stocking to keep hair out of harm’s way. Some devices (like PediPaws) are designed specifically for this purpose, and have built-in guards and motors that cut out with any resistance. But that safety measure also causes them to seize and fail against the tougher nails of larger dogs, which can be frustrating.

Regardless of what technique works best, regular nail trims are something we sign on for when we adopt pets. It’s annoying, and it’s tempting to do it some other day. But done correctly, it should be a genuinely painless experience. More often than not, the anxiety is far worse than the event.

Dr. Mike Fietz is a small-animal veterinarian at Georgetown Veterinary Hospital. He received his veterinary degree from Cornell University in 2003 and has lived in Charlottesville since.

SPCA Spotlight

spca You can meet us at the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA, where we’re all available for adoption. 3355 Berkmar Dr. 973-5959, caspca.org, noon-6pm, daily.

From left:

Elena: I’m a spunky young kitty who gets along with other cats (as long as they give me space when I’m playing). I can get a bit riled up, so I’d be best in a home with adults and older children who can read my body language.

Copely: Hi! I’m one hyper little dude who just loves to have fun. I enjoy running after toys and chasing balls. I’m a little unsure when people pet me at first, but with the right family, and with a little time and patience, I’ll open up.

Ryder: I’m the strong, silent type. I like having other cats around and will even give them a bath before we curl up together. If you take me home with you, all I’ll need is a cozy place to sleep or maybe even a comfy lap.

Moa: You don’t have to tell me twice—I know what a pretty girl I am! I prefer to be the only pet in the house-
hold and to be left alone during dinnertime. I’ve already mastered several commands, and I’d love to keep learning new tricks.

Categories
Living

When dogs and cats have diabetes

Pet owners who cope with a diabetes diagnosis have a challenge that will eventually become part of routine care.

I hate diagnosing diabetes. It’s a frustrating disease, made worse by the fear that washes across people’s faces when they hear the news. I see them hoping I won’t say anything about insulin injections, then watch them deflate when I finally do.

Diabetes is a hormonal disorder that comes in a few varieties, but always results in the same basic thing—a reduced ability for insulin to do its job. Most people know insulin as the hormone that regulates blood sugar, which it is. But it does so much more than that. At the risk of oversimplifying, insulin is responsible for announcing when energy is abundant and when it is not. After a big meal, insulin levels go up. This informs the body that there’s plenty of energy to go around, so it can fuel itself with blood sugar and store the excess as fat.

Conversely, low insulin signals that times are tough and that it’s a good time to dip into emergency savings, breaking down fat and muscle for energy. In essence, a diabetic patient exists in a permanent state of starvation.

And this has two main consequences. The first—the one most people are familiar with—is that all that unused blood sugar needs to go somewhere, and it starts to spill into the urine. Because of a phenomenon called osmotic pressure (remember science class?), that sugar drags extra water along with it, accelerating urine production. To replenish that wasted water, affected patients have to drink more. This accounts for the most recognizable symptom of diabetes—a pet that is drinking and peeing all the time.

Fewer people are aware of the second consequence which is, in many ways, the more serious one. When fat is burned, it produces nasty compounds called ketones (which are chemically similar to nail polish remover). Ordinarily, this is no problem. Fat is usually just burned in small amounts when necessary, and the body can handle a trickle of ketones with no trouble. But because diabetics are functionally experiencing starvation, they burn fat way too quickly, flooding the bloodstream with ketones that quickly reach toxic levels. This ultimately results in a life-threatening state called ketoacidosis, and requires emergency medical treatment to correct.

Cats and dogs can both become diabetic, but they tend to develop different forms of the disease. The canine version is akin to Type 1 diabetes in humans, in which specialized cells in the pancreas lose their ability to produce insulin. It is thought to have a strong genetic component, but may also be linked to factors like obesity and other underlying diseases. These patients absolutely need insulin injections to replace the missing hormone, and will need them for the rest of their lives.

Feline diabetes is more like human Type 2 diabetes, and is closely associated with obesity. It begins when cats’ bodies become resistant to the effects of insulin, but eventually progresses to include decreased production as well. They usually require insulin to get the disease under control, but unlike dogs, they stand some chance of eventually being controlled with proper diet and exercise. That sounds promising in writing, but it doesn’t always work, and I’d rather see cats lose weight before they get sick to begin with.

When faced with diabetes, pet owners are immediately concerned about the difficulty of administering insulin shots to their pets. To be honest, that’s almost always the easy part. Especially with cats, most people find that giving shots is a whole lot easier than trying to wrestle pills into their mouths. But insulin can be expensive, and it can take weeks or months of experimentation and careful blood monitoring before we get the dose right. In cases where that process drags on for too long, I find a lot of owners grow dispirited.

But it’s worth hanging in there. Once controlled, most diabetics do well. Before long, those dreaded shots will be as routine as breakfast.

Dr. Mike Fietz is a small-animal veterinarian at Georgetown Veterinary Hospital. He received his veterinary degree from Cornell University in 2003 and has lived in Charlottesville since.

Pets of the Month

Visit the Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA to meet these pets, as well as other adoptable animals.

Bella So I’m not gonna lie: I’m on the large side for a cat. But please don’t call me Miss Piggy; my kitty curves mean there’s more of me to love! I also have an awesome, sweet personality, and I enjoy a good nuzzle from time to time. I know I might look like a regular old black-and-white feline who can put away her share of groceries, but looks can be deceiving. Take me home, and you’ll discover I’m the jewel in your crown.

Balto I’m a big guy with a lot of love to give. Once I’ve had my fill of adventures, I like to lean in and give you doggy smooches and hugs. I walk pretty well on leash with a harness, but I need someone who is strong enough to handle my size and strength. My person will also have to pamper me in the way I deserve. Is that person you?

Bessy I’m a sweet, curious little girl who is about 3 months old. I was very scared when I first came to the shelter, and I’m still a bit nervous. I just need a little patience and a lot of love. I enjoy being petted and having my neck scratched, but I prefer not to be held.
I also get along great with other cats, and I might even like gentle dogs. I dare you to meet me and not fall in love.

Scooby I know, I know, everyone tells me how handsome I am. And I love it when they speak baby-talk to me. I’m a happy, people-oriented dude, but I’m often unaware of my extra-large size and tail. I’m also well-mannered and I know some cool commands. Someone must have loved me very much, and I’m not sure why my owner didn’t come for me after I arrived here. Could you be my new person?