As the outdoor riding season is coming to an end, let’s talk about horses teeth!
We all know how important it is to have our teeth cleaned and checked by a Dentist every 6 months. What you may not know is how important it is for your animals too.
Think of horses teeth being similar to that of a rodent or rabbit. They continue to erupt throughout their life and are worn down by grazing. “Horses with more concentrate feeds in their diet will develop sharp points faster than horses eating grass only.” Grain supplements is an example of the most common concentrate feed given to horses.
A closer photograph of the line of horse’s teeth.
Did you know that dental issues can greatly affect a horse’s performance and demeanor? I was not even aware of how much it could until we purchased our first horse this year. She was a young horse that we were told had some dental issues. Her original personality was sweet, but she seemed nervous and overreacted to things. Upon having her mouth examined by the Veterinarian, it was discovered that the poor little lady had ulcers on the inside of her cheeks and on her tongue. She had a complete 180 degree personality change after her teeth were floated and we could hear her chew for the first time!
Here is a list of “Traditionally recognized signs that your horse might have dental problems”:
Eating slowly
Slobbering
Head tilting
Quidding (Leaving behind cigar-like wads of grass or hay)
Dunking hay in water
Passing long fibers in manure
Weight loss
Fussing with the bit
Head tossing
Bit chewing
Refusing to take a lead or collect
Bucking
Subtle performance changes
It is important to note that not all horses will display any signs at all or only a few while other horses may show that they are in severe pain, but may only have mild dental issues. Each horse is so different which is why a dental exam performed by a Veterinarian is imperative for their overall health.
Let’s talk about how your saddle fits onto your horse and some of the problems you can catch early or avoid completely on your own. Personally, I want to make sure my lady is comfortable before we go out for a ride this season, and that I will stay on her of course… *wink*
Since there is quite a bit to discuss, I’ll break this down into two different posts. You’ll see more about this in the blog next week.
This week, we’ll focus on skin issues that can affect your saddle fit.
It’s always important to brush your horses back before putting on your saddle. While you’re doing this, do you take a close look at the skin, too? Sure, making note that there isn’t anything that can poke into the skin, but what about examining the skin and hair closer?
Did you know that even a color change in the hair coat can be a sign of poor saddle fit due to friction? Or what about girth edema from just having a dirty or ill-fitting girth?
Did you know that September is a month dedicated solely to keeping our feline patients happy and healthy! It’s called “Happy Healthy Cat Month.” There is an entire web council devoted to such a celebration called Catalyst Council, you can check that out too. We will be supporting this great cause by sending goodies home for all our feline patients that come in for the month of September!
Let’s also touch on ways to keep your cat happy. Below is a list of 10 ways to make your feline companion more content.
Visit the Veterinarian. There are many reasons why they should be brought in annually just like our canine friends. During most, if not ALL feline appointments we use a calming spray called Feliway to improve your cat’s veterinary experience.
Provide preventative medications. Thankfully here in Montana we don’t have many parasites issues, but if your furry friend is any kind of a hunter we suggest that you deworm often.
Microchip your cat. Most felines in our area are outdoor. Make sure your friend makes a safe recovery home even without a collar.
Provide toys. Not all cats like the same kind of toys, so experiment!
Train together. I know this may sound impossible, but it can be done! Have you seen the video of the cat running an agility course? Check out the video below.
Work for food. Puzzle food toys are not just for dogs, but for cats too! They are great mental and physical exercise!
Get your cat acclimated to the carrier. Many clients tell us how awful and difficult it is to get their cat into the carrier. Then there is the yowling the entire drive to the Vet. In addition to spraying Feliway in the exam rooms, we will spray a spritz in the carrier for the ride home. Lately clients have raved about how this drive home has been less stressful.
Go outside (appropriately). Again, in our area, most felines live mainly outdoors. For those that do not, try using a harness or a blocked off area on the porch to allow for supervised exploration.
Scratch the surface. Providing an approved area in the house to scratch is key! Scratching posts come in all different shapes and sizes. Some even have toys attached!
Think about getting another cat. Our local shelter Heart of the Valley Humane Society is full of adoptees! Be mindful of different personalities and do introductions slowly. Also, do not forget the litter box rule: one litter box per cat, plus one extra. That will help curb any house soiling issues.
Enjoy the extra time you spend with your cat this month and let us know if you would like to bring them in for a wellness exam. We can give you more specific ideas on how to keep your cat healthy when we see you.
Speak to you soon,
Crystal Sharp, CVT
P.S. Here’s your cat agility video!
It’s a well-known fact that cats and dogs do not like having their feet touched. As you can imagine, this can make trimming the nails of your cat, dog, or other small animal extra challenging.
When to start clipping and trimming your pet’s nails
When pets are less than a year of age is the optimal time to start handling their feet. Getting them used to the sensation without any negative repercussions is invaluable.
Step by step instruction on how to cut your pet’s nails
Make the “manicure” a pleasant experience! Choosing a comfortable area, position, or time of day that works best for you pet is important. Supplies that can be used in the trimming area to help calm your pet are; Adaptil spray / diffuser, Feliway spray / diffuser, or Lavender essential oil. “According to our behavior experts, calm, enjoyable nail-trimming sessions are not only possible, that’s how they should be!”
“Make Friends with the Paw!” This is such a true statement!
Getting them familiar with the clippers. “Clip the spaghetti with the clippers while still holding your cat’s paw gently.”
Being sure to not cut the quick. “It’s better to be cautious and cut less of the nail rather than risk cutting this area.” When in a pinch and you’ve cut the quick too short, flour, sugar, or cornstarch can be used to stop the bleeding.
Determining a clipping schedule. “Every ten days to two weeks is a nice routine to settle into.” It also depends on how much the pet is spending outdoors or indoors. Keep in mind that every animal is different.
The quotes in the list above are snippets from this great article on the ASPCA website. It goes into a more in depth explanation of these instructions. The article is mainly geared towards felines, but can be easily applied to canines too.
Let us know at the clinic if we can answer any questions about this. You can ask us to show you some techniques next time you’re in with your pet, too!
Good luck!
Crystal Sharp, CVT
Last time here on the blog, we discussed skin issues associated with saddle fit. This time, let’s touch more on things specific to saddle fit.
A large portion of the time your horse will feel the discomfort of a poor saddle design or fit before you feel or see them. This is why it is important to inspect all your tack before saddling up. It’s like driving a car. One visually glances at the tires and checks the gas gauge before driving.
Let’s check out the seven common faults found in English saddles:
A twisted tree. Twisted saddles do not sit straight, which can cause damaging pressure on the horse’s back.
Panel problems. Uneven, lumpy, or overly stiff panels can cause pressure points on the horse’s back.
A broken tree. Never repair or weld a broken saddle tree. Instead, find a new properly fitting saddle for your mount.
Poor flexible points. If the leather does not cover the point on the tree fully, it can be painful to the horse.
Poor panel fillings. Same as mentioned above, but be sure that the material is a high-quality long fiber wool and that it is not mixed with different types.
Snapped girth straps. These should be repaired immediately. This is mainly for rider safety.
Stirrup bar problems. Any defects with the stirrup bar are major safety issues for the rider.
Hi dog owners,I stumbled across this great video by Dr. Andy Roark about the “5 Facts About Joint Supplements.” Especially pay attention to number five, that’s one that even as a Certified Veterinary Technician, I did not even know about!
It’s also a good reminder that Glucosamine can even be started at a young age.
Take a look, and enjoy the “The Cone of Shame.”
Crystal Sharp, CVT
TPLO, also known as Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy, is a surgical procedure in which the head of the tibia is surgically altered and plated to create a new joint angle.
A new angle is created in the stifle to prevent the femur from sliding off of the tibia.
Understanding TPLO
Dogs require the TPLO surgery due to cruciate ligament injuries; hands down the most common orthopedic injuries in dogs today. There are several factors why this is an unfortunate reality for many dogs. Especially dogs here in Montana where we have so many activities people and their dogs enjoy together.
Some of the more common reasons dogs rupture their ACL are:
Overweight: Believe it or not, at least 75% of dogs are considered overweight. Unfortunately most pet owners have a misconception on what the ideal body weight of their dog should be. Make sure you ask your us what your dogs’ ideal weight should be. Additional weight puts additional stress on joint and the rest of the bodies’ organs.
Lack of Exercise: Due to the stresses placed on us in modern day society many pets do not get the necessary exercise that they require. There just does not seem to be enough time to exercise and spend quality exercise with our dogs. Much of the time, while we are working they are being “couch potatoes”. Remember that most dogs are really athletes and therefore require and tolerate a lot of exercise. This exercise keeps their bodies lean, flexible and strong.
Week-end Warrior Syndrome: Since we work all week, most of the time the only chance we have to exercise our dogs is on the weekend. As stated above this lack of everyday conditioning makes our dogs vulnerable to injury when they try to overdo it on the weekend.
Angle of the Joint: Rarely do people think about how their dog actually walks on their knees. This joint is always at an angle and therefore the ACL always has weight on it (otherwise referred to as load bearing). Therefore there is constant stress placed on this ligament which again makes it vulnerable to injury.
The most common way that dogs injure the cruciate ligament is via a hyperextension injury. The typical story is….he was running after a squirrel or chasing a ball or playing hard with other dogs and then yelped and started limping.
As stated before of all the orthopedic injuries in dogs the cranial cruciate ligament rupture is by far the most common and the TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy) surgery has become one of the most popular repairs for this injury.
Though there is no breed predisposition, it is definitely more common for larger dogs to get this injury.
Dr. Hardaway has done hundreds of TPLO surgeries on large and small dogs, making him a leading practitioner in Montana.
Along with our skilled associate veterinarian surgeons, our existing clients and clients from around the country have come to depend on the advanced orthopedic skills of Dr. Gordon Hardaway.
Dr. Hardaway is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Montana Veterinary Medical Association and was the driving force behind the establishment of the first emergency hospital for animals in the Gallatin Valley (PETS).
A graduate of the University of Florida Veterinary Medical School, Dr. Hardaway has been a leading the push towards advanced orthopedic procedures in the Gallatin Valley, receiving advance training on many of the procedures he routinely performs. Orthopedic surgery on shoulders, elbows, and knees and several orthopedic procedures including the tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO), femoral head osteotomy (FHO), ACL and Spinal Surgery.
Dr. Hardaway does many different soft tissue surgeries including thoracotomies, abdominal exploratory, bilaterial luxating patella, laryngeal paralysis, limb amputation, anal saculetomy and many other types of soft tissue procedures.
Along with Dr. Hardaway’s skilled expertise in surgery, our hospital maintains the largest staff of Certified Veterinary Technicians in the Gallatin Valley. You can be sure that your pet is in qualified hands from start to finish.
Please call us at (406) 388-8387 and we can discuss the next steps to initiating a successful referral.
As the winter weather parades towards us, here are a few tips for you to help your pets survive the winter and be comfortable all winter long.
Always provide fresh, clean water for your pet. If the weather is cold, please check their water for ice formation and remove the ice. Or get a heated bucket.
Outdoor pets should have dry shelter out of the wind. Bring cats and dogs into the house if the weather conditions are rainy , snowy or weather conditions are super cold.
Staying warm requires extra calories, pets may need more food or a change in diet. Talk to us!
Ice, snow and mud-Remove ice, salt, mud, snow from your pets coats, feet as soon as possible. If the skin looks reddish, white or grey in cold weather, may be scaly or peeling, suspect frostbite if the weather has been really cold. For dogs that are out in the snow and ice for long periods of time, you might consider getting boots for them, they can be purchased online or at Petco. Hazard Warnings!
Cats and kittens like to nap on warm places, this can include car engines! Knock on the hood of your car or truck or honk the horn, then wait a few minutes before starting the engine. If in doubt, open the hood and look.
Antifreeze smells good and tastes very sweet, Very small amounts can kill your pet. If a cat walks through in and then licks its paws, it will get enough. The damage is done but chemicals crystallizing in the kidney, so symptoms may not show up for a few days and then it may be too late. Thoroughly clean up any spills, store antifreeze in tightly closed containers and store where pets and children can’t get to them. Sierra make a non toxic antifreeze. Do not dispose of antifreeze by pouring into the gutter and never let your pet drink from the gutters.
