Alternative Therapies at West Ridge

West Ridge Animal Hospital is now offering alternative therapies to complement your senior dog’s wellness program! Dr. Amanda Hensley, a rehabilitation veterinarian, joined our team last fall to help build this area of practice so that we can provide the most comprehensive plan for your pet’s needs. Physical rehabilitation is a very important part of the multi-modal approach to managing arthritis and improving quality of life in senior pets. Alternative therapies currently offered include:

• Underwater treadmill – this provides low-impact exercise to help improve mobility, range of motion and strength in pets who may not be able to get enough exercise on land
• Laser therapy – to help control pain and inflammation associated with arthritis.
• Massage – to relieve muscle tightness and soreness that is often present in animals with decreased mobility.
• Therapeutic exercises – these exercises are used to improve strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination. There are countless exercises which can be used to target a specific area of the body depending on your pet’s needs, and many of them can easily be done at home with no equipment.
• Acupuncture and veterinary orthopedic manipulation – these modalities are used as adjunct treatment for painful conditions such as arthritis and associated muscle spasm.

To provide our wonderful clients with more information on these topics, West Ridge is hosting an informational seminar at the Greeley Family FunPlex on Sunday, April 22nd at 1:00pm. Dr. Hensley will be speaking about the role of physical rehabilitation in the multi-modal approach to managing senior pets. Other West Ridge doctors and staff will also be speaking about acupuncture, veterinary orthopedic manipulation and massage. Come meet Dr. Hensley and learn about alternatives for your senior pet!

Carefree Cat Carrying? Maybe... with time.

Is your treasured cat one of those who fight with all their might when you try to take him/her anywhere? The following tips for reforming your travel-hating pet come to us from the Veterinary Information Network:

Cats, carriers and vets

Tips on making it easier to get your cat to the vet (or wherever you need to take them)...

Many cats are fearful of car rides and veterinary visits, which makes it harder for us to give them good medical care. It also makes it difficult for cat owners to decide to take their nervous cats to the veterinarian for routine care and may delay an examination for an illness. Cats can be trained to be much more comfortable with their carriers, cars, and the veterinary clinic. It takes a little preparation and patience, but will greatly improve your cat’s comfort level and our ability to care for your pet. Here are some tips and links that will help you to help your cat!
Of course, if you have additional questions, just call us anytime!

The steps to improved carrier behavior:

1. Start carrier training as young as possible. Starting as kittens teaches your pet that the carrier is just another fun hiding place, or play area, rather than a confined punishment space. Carriers that load from the top or especially those that come apart in the middle are helpful, as veterinarians can then take the top off and start their examination with the cat comfortably sitting in the bottom. Put the carrier in a room that the cat likes to be in, perhaps in a sunny location, with a soft piece of bedding to encourage exploration and voluntary use.

2. Encourage daily entry. Every day, put a piece of kibble or a treat in the carrier. When the cat eats it, calmly praise/pet it and give it a few more treats. If the cat doesn’t take the treat right away, just walk away; if you try to persuade the cat, they will become suspicious! It may take a few days, but the cat should start to eat the treats, although maybe when you are not watching.

3. Gradually close the door. Once the cat happily goes into the carrier when you are around, gently close the door, give a treat, and open the door so that the cat does not feel trapped.

4. Extend the door‐closure period. After several days of this, leave the door closed and walk out of the room for a few seconds before returning and giving another treat. Gradually work up to carrying the carrier to a different place in the house.

5. Begin car rides. Over days to weeks, move on to placing the carrier in the car, then short car rides, then a ride to our veterinary clinic for a treat (and petting from our staff if your cat is comfortable with it). If at any point your cat becomes nervous (crouching, ears back, etc.), go back a step and give treats until your cat is more comfortable with that level.

6. Cover the carrier when traveling. When you start taking the carrier in the car, place a towel over it; cats usually feel safer this way.

7. Add toys, treats or bedding into the carrier. If your cat has favorite toys, treats, bedding, or brushes, please bring them to the clinic when you visit (for training visits and the actual exam). This will give your cat more familiar things that he/she associates with good feelings.

8. Consider using Feliway® (pheromonal anti‐anxiety spray) just before traveling. When the time for the examination arrives, the routine will be familiar and your cat will be much more comfortable. With especially nervous or suspicious cats, Feliway® can help with the initial training period as well.

Some cats, despite your best efforts, still become scared of confinement or travel. In such instances, we can help you by prescribing additional anti‐anxiety medications to help alleviate the stress.

Some videos to help you prepare:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egwBo0o2FN8
http://www.catalystcouncil.org/resources/video/?Id=102
http://www.catalystcouncil.org/resources/video/?Id=89
http://www.catalystcouncil.org/resources/video/?Id=103

Skunk rabies confirmed in Weld County

Skunk rabies has been confirmed in Weld County earlier this month. While bat rabies has been in our area for awhile, terrestrial wildlife with rabies is more of a concern due to increased potential for exposure to pets and other domestic animals. The Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment lists the following as ways to prevent exposure to rabies:

• Do not feed, touch or handle wild animals and be cautious of stray dogs and cats
• Teach children to leave wildlife alone and tell you when they have been bitten or scratched
• Have dogs, cats, horses, and livestock vaccinated regularly by your veterinarian
• Maintain control of pets by keeping them indoors and under supervision
• Spay or neuter pets to reduce the number of unwanted or stray animals in the neighborhood
• Call local animal control to remove stray animals from the neighborhood
• Keep trash bins tightly closed and do not leave pet food outdoors

Be especially wary of any wildlife that acts out of the norm, i.e. nocturnal animals out at daytime or wild animals seeming to be tame. These signs can point to illness.

For more information:
Weld County Press Release
Colorado State rabies brochure

Ralph and Lauren- a touching adoption story

So many people would balk at adopting a senior pet- let alone two!- but this story, written by a client, explains just why we older pets may just be the perfect choice!

Near the end of August our Beagle/Bassett mix, Ginger, whom we had for 7 years, since she was a puppy, was diagnosed with lymphoma and a week later unfortunately passed. At first we decided we did not want another dog as her passing was an immense loss for my husband John and I. A few weeks later we both (unbeknown to each other) began to look at the Weld County Humane Society website. Our cat, Oliver, who we adopted there about 6 years ago was missing his sister and our family had a gap that we felt the need to fill. One day on the website I saw Lauren's picture, then I saw Ralph's. They looked so sweet and I just felt so drawn to go and see them.

My husband came home that day and asked if I wanted to go to the humane society, after a long discussion about whether we were ready to get another dog or not we decided to go and just look. When we arrived we were overwhelmed by all the dogs and wanted to adopt them all! Then we got to Ralph and Lauren. I did not originally know that they were a pair of beagles that came together. They were on adoption special since they were almost 9 years old, had some dental issues, and had to come together. They looked so sweet, sad, and pitiful, something about them just tugged at our heart strings.

We decided to meet a puppy first, as we did not really want an older dog (we were afraid to lose another pet). The puppy was so energetic and loving, but we just couldn't get Ralph and Lauren out of our minds. We decided to meet them as well. I was expecting slow moving, lethargic old dogs, but in came Lauren prancing and jumping up giving kisses and Ralph wagging his tail wildly. It was instant love! We talked with the vet tech about their health and dental problems and decided we needed to discuss if we wanted the senior pair or the puppy.

On the way home John and I decided that the puppy would be adopted fast and that dental issues or not, Ralph and Lauren were for us. We felt they would be hard to find a home for since they had to come together and since they were older. I called that night and said I would be there after work to come and pick them up. We thought we were crazy for going from not wanting a dog again to taking two, senior beagles with teeth problems!
The next day I went straight from work to the humane society to pick up Ralph and Lauren. When I got there the puppy we had looked at was being adopted by another couple, who were very active and seemed a perfect match. At that moment I knew adopting Ralph and Lauren was meant to be. I got the dogs home and we immediately bonded!

Adopting two senior dogs was one of the best decisions we have made. As with any new pet there was the time period of getting into a routine, establishing trust, and a bit of training, but we had none of the issues that go with a puppy. They still love to play, but they also love to cuddle. Their activity level is perfect for our busy lifestyle and we can trust them to be at home. I would very much recommend adopting an older dog! Ours are so well behaved! They fit perfectly with our family and I can't imagine not having them!! Oliver loves them too, in fact we can't keep him and Lauren away from each other!

As for their dental work, we had both of them taken care of. I can't believe how it improved their energy level (it feels like we have puppies sometimes!), made their horrible breath go away (I don't mind their kisses anymore!), and how their eyes are brighter and you can just tell they feel good! Ralph has no teeth, and Lauren has 11. They eat normal, small piece, dry food just fine and are cuter than ever. We appreciate all that West Ridge Animal Hospital has done for us and our new family! Getting their teeth taken care of was so worth it! It seems expensive, but in the long run will help your pet so much.

Although Ginger will never be replaced, adding Ralph and Lauren to our family was one of the best decisions we've made! After their dental procedures, we now have two perfectly healthy, senior dogs and we couldn't be happier. Whether we have them for a year, or many years to come, adopting and caring for Ralph and Lauren is incredibly fulfilling! I would recommend adopting an older dog or dogs for sure!!!

Comprehensive Dental Cleaning goodies!

Now that you know why it is so crucial to keep your pets’ mouth healthy, we’re here to tell why NOW is the time to do it. For the remainder of February and all of March, all comprehensive oral health procedures performed here at West Ridge will receive the following added benefits:

• Goodie bag that contains a leash, finger brush and toothpaste, toothbrush, informative brochures and a coupon for a free trial bag of food;
• Entry into a drawing for fabulous prizes; and
• A spin on our prize wheel, where you can win an item such as Oxyfresh, Lean Treats, CET Chews, Toothpaste and dental diet food! (Prize wheel spins will be done at your complimentary dental recheck appointment.)

Don’t miss out on these goodies! To schedule a dental checkup and/or a comprehensive cleaning, please call West Ridge Animal Hospital at 970-330-7283.

In Need of a Home, Eve the Border Collie

Even living here spending most of her time in a hospital kennel, Eve is a happy, high-energy, happy-go-lucky pup. She was a bit of a challenge to photograph, because every time I got down to her level, she rushed over to give me kisses.

She was abandoned and injured, so animal control brought her to us for treatment. We have since fixed her dislocated elbow and she shows no evidence that it ever happened. She still has- and will likely always have- nystagmus (see below) but even so, she doesn’t seem to let it bother her at all.



Eve is an approximately 1 year old, black and white border collie mix; with the usual fun attitude that comes with that breed. Our doctors suspect she is spayed but if not, we will be happy to perform the surgery at no additional cost

She’s so lovable- won’t you let her into your heart and home?








*From the National Institute of Health:

The involuntary eye movements of nystagmus are caused by abnormal function in the areas of the brain that control eye movements. The part of the inner ear that senses movement and position (the labyrinth) helps control eye movements.

I personally have nystagmus. I do feel a bit dizzy at times, especially when changing position quickly, but other than that have not had any issues.

In need of a forever home- Klyde the cat

Update: Good news! Klyde the kitty has gone to his new home with two Boston Terriers- he's adding to an all black-and-white house. :)

We’ve got the perfect kitty in our midst. Now we just need to find a perfect home for him…



Meet Klyde. Klyde came to us through Weld County animal control for severe laceration repair. Klyde purrs. And purrs. And purrs. Even when the technicians clean his must-be-really-painful wound sites, Klyde purrs. To show his adoration, he leans in to you and snuggles. When he is let out to roam with the techs, he is a little shadow at their feet.

We have seen him snuggle up to a big dog (Gordon Setter), but have yet to test him with other cats and/or young children. The only real caveat to adopting Klyde is that he sticks so close to you that he may trip up unstable senior citizens.

Klyde is an approximately 1 year old, neutered, black and white kitten; and is super cute.

He truly is the sweetest little stray cat- won’t you be his forever home?

Keeping Your Pet's Mouth Healthy, Part 3

As seen in this picture, Bhaer presented to us with a Dental Grade 3 mouth on the morning of January 12th, 2012.
Before doing any treatments, the veterinarian will perform a pre-surgical exam, including bloodwork, to ensure the animal is healthy. Pre-anesthetic medication is given to make the patient sleepy then we intubate him/her.

Doing this allows us:
• unlimited access to the mouth,
• the ability to perform all the actions necessary during the procedure,
• to prevent any fluid and bacteria (loosened from the teeth) from
going in to the lungs,
• to keep our patient pain-free throughout the entire procedure by
utilizing inhalant anesthesia.

While anesthetized, all patients are closely monitored; we watch their temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, ECG tracing, respirations, blood-oxygen saturation, and carbon dioxide levels. We also place a catheter and administer fluids.

Here, you see our technician scaling Bhaer’s teeth to remove the plaque and tartar.

As you can see, we need to reach far into the mouth to get to all the teeth. Can you imagine your pet sitting still and permitting a technician do this while awake??

Then we progress to probing the gums. This tells us about the health of the gingiva; we measure pocket depth and furcation (the space between the roots). This is another action that patients do not allow if they are awake for the dental.

Once that is finished, the mouth is sprayed and cleaned out, then each tooth is polished. Aside from making the teeth pearly-pretty the polish serves to smooth the tooth surface, removing any divots where bacteria can adhere.

Every dental prophylactic procedure here at West Ridge Animal Hospital includes full-mouth digital dental radiographs. Teeth are a little like icebergs in that so much of them is hidden under the gums. Radiographs allow the veterinarian to see the roots and pinpoint any previously undetected issues. It is not uncommon for pets to present with what seems to be a good dental grade, only to find problems lurking in the roots.

Finally, the veterinarian checks over the entire mouth, assessing the teeth and performing any necessary extractions, mass removals, or other oral surgery. Bhaer, fortunately, did not require any of these procedures.

See the difference a dental prophylactic procedure makes!

Please note: You may notice the shape and color change to B's upper fang. This was from years of cage chewing before he was adopted. The brown color change is not 'dirt' or 'stain" but restorative dentin. When worn down slowly the tooth tries to heal and protect itself from invasion of the pulp chamber by putting a layer of thicker dentin over the chamber. In Baher's case, the radiographs and dental probing confirmed that the crown was intact and safe. We see similar changes in dogs who fetch tennis balls year after year.

Keeping Your Pet's Mouth Healthy, Part 2

In Part 1, we mentioned the "dental grade"; here are the graphs depicting the different levels:

Keeping Your Pet's Mouth Healthy, Part 1

So many people think of dental care for their pet as tedious and unnecessary, but if one thinks about it one will realize just how disgusting a mouth can get if not brushed and cleaned regularly. Shoot, if I forget to brush my teeth just one morning, I feel gross all day- I can only imagine what our pets feel like! Even more than that, though, is the fact that good dental health lends itself to better overall health as well. Dental disease can lead to issues with the kidneys, lungs and even the heart. So now we’ve established the WHY on dental health, but HOW does one go about it?

Starting when your pet is just a puppy/ kitten, your veterinarian will want to inspect the teeth. He/ she will be checking for problems with the deciduous (baby) teeth, placement of teeth, and looking for any abnormalities or swelling in the mouth. This is a great time to ask your doctor to demonstrate proper teeth-brushing technique. If started at an early age, your pet will accept it more readily, making it easier on everyone to maintain good dental health in the years to come. West Ridge Animal Hospital carries a variety of animal-specific toothbrushes, toothpastes, and oral rinses to better accommodate each household and their pets. Please note: it is not safe to use human toothpaste on a pet, it could cause poisoning from the fluoride since animals don’t spit and rinse.

At each wellness examination, your vet will again look in the mouth and inform you of your pet’s dental “grade”. Don’t worry, they’re not grading your ability or skill; all animals have different dispositions when it comes to their mouths, just as we humans do. This number, 1 through 4, refers to the amount of plaque and tartar, and signifies whether periodontal disease is present and, if so, its severity. This creates a consistent chart for all doctors who might see your pet.

Stay tuned for further posts regarding dental health….

Little known dangers in your handbag...

We humans may be super busy this holiday month, but it is prime time for our pets to get bored; and boredom in pets often leads to mischief. Couple that with the fact that most of us are distracted and multi-tasking, and you get a recipe for disaster: bored pets and unsupervised purses/ handbags. The obvious issue with that is destroyed property, but you may be surprised to discover just how many toxins may be hiding in your innocent little purse! Chocolate, of course, is a well-known biggie- but, really, who keeps chocolate long enough for it to sit in our purse’s?? Read on to learn of other less-known dangers:

- It only takes a cigarette or two, maybe a couple bites of chewing tobacco or pieces of nicotine gum to turn your sweet pet into a sick pet. Symptoms of tobacco ingestion include increased heart and respiration rates, tremors, seizures, and, depending on the strength of tobacco, even death. These signs can occur as quickly as 15-20 minutes after ingestion.

- That small bottle of pills you keep in there? To our pets, that bottle is one extra-fun rattle! Unfortunately, it is easily busted and the contents are NOT fun. With the plethora of meds that might be in there, we can’t give specific symptoms for which to watch, but if your cat or dog gets any human medications, please call your vet immediately!

- Xylitol is getting more attention these days, and rightly so; it is found in sugar-free gums and candies and is highly toxic to our pets. Typically, your pet will vomit after ingesting xylitol. This will likely be followed by hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) which manifests as stumbling, lethargy, even collapse or seizure. In some cases, animals skip the hypoglycemia stage and pass right on to liver failure. Xylitol ingestion is not to be taken lightly; please take your pet in to your veterinarian right away!

- Alcohol- of any variety- is also toxic to our pets, and this includes that little bottle of hand sanitizer in your handbag. Swallowing hand sanitizer is akin to chugging some hard liquor to your pet. This event will probably bring on hypoglycemia, incoordination, depression, and coma.

- Last but not least are the asthma inhalers that are so important to keep close at hand. Yes, our veterinarians do sometimes nebulize our pets with albuterol (or related medications) which is perfectly safe. However, when an inhaler is punctured by teeth, your pet is getting a very concentrated dose- up to 200 per vial, in fact. Increased heart rate, abnormal heart beat, agitation and worse can come from ingesting too much albuterol.

For a safe holiday- and all year, too!- please be sure to keep your purses and handbags up out of the reach of your pets. Just in case there is an accidental toxin ingestion, give us a call immediately! We can be reached at 970-330-7283 and are open until 9pm weekdays, Saturday 8am until 5pm, and Sundays 9am to 1pm. Being an American Animal Hospital Association accredited hospital, we are always prepared for just such emergencies.

USE OF CANNED FOOD IN CATS - NEW RECOMMENDATIONS

Historically, cats are true carnivores. Consider a tiger hunting on the savannah – it will experience hunger (it does not eat all the time), it will hunt and kill prey, and it will ingest a large portion of the carcass, including muscle tissue, fat, and fluid. It does not generally eat grains.

Cats have daily needs for water, energy, protein (which is converted into glucose), fat and essential fatty acids, minerals and vitamins, and low to no carbohydrate needs. Healthy adult felines have high protein requirements (30-45%), moderate fat requirements (10-25%), and very low fiber requirements (<5%). Consider that most commercially available dry diets have only 8% water, and 35% carbohydrates. In our desire to domesticate felines, we have placed them on diets which fit our needs: diets that are convenient, inexpensive, have a long shelf life, and are easily fed. Unfortunately, this has translated into dry cat food. Dry cat foods are inappropriate for three main reasons:
1) the water content is too low
2) the carbohydrate content is too high, and
3) the protein is often plant-based as well as animal based

Veterinarians now recommend feeding EVERY cat a portion of canned cat food EVERY day. New kittens should be started on canned food as soon as they are able to eat solid food. Benefits of feeding canned food with increased moisture content, higher levels of animal-based protein, and lower levels of carbohydrates include:
1) decreased chance of obesity, and increased desired weight loss
2) decreased risk of urinary tract problems, including urinary tract obstruction and sterile cystitis
3) decreased risk of inflammatory bowel disease, GI upset, and chronic vomiting and diarrhea, and
4) decreased risk of development of diabetes

Feeding cats strictly canned food has resulted in a lower predisposition to dental disease than previously thought. Many cats that have eaten only dry food for years still have severe periodontal disease. In addition, it has been shown in clinical studies that feeding as little as 25% of a dry kibble diet will provide as much protective benefit regarding the teeth as a completely dry diet.

It may, however, be very difficult to transition an older cat to canned food. Cats can become addicted to shapes and textures, and refuse new foods. There is a reason they are known to be “finicky”! Also, it is important to remember that the best time to try a diet change is when your cat is healthy. A cat that is already feeling ill may get sicker if it does not eat, and it may develop a food aversion if offered a new food at the time of an illness.

While some cats will readily accept canned food, others will be extremely resistant. The transition to new food may require time and patience. The goal is to actually make the change, not to make it as quickly as possible. If your cat accepts canned food, start slowly and gradually increase the amount to the desired portion over a week-long period. Some cats may initially experience soft stools or regurgitation with canned food – this is not a reason to abandon the change, but it may be a reason to try a different canned food or to slow the transition down to a period of several weeks.

Experiencing normal hunger sensations may help with cats that are difficult to transition. Thus, it is very important to stop free-feeding dry food. Established mealtimes must be set. Cats do NOT need food available at all times, despite of how much they may vocalize. It is important, though, not to withhold food longer than 24 hours – starving a cat, especially an overweight cat, may cause a negative energy balance and result in a very serious disease called hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease). Most cats will lose some weight during the transition to eating canned food. Since many cats are overweight already, this is generally a desirable side effect, as long as they do not lose too much weight too quickly. It is important to monitor your cat’s weight closely. Most cats will lose fat and gain muscle mass as they become more active.

Some methods for increasing the palatability of canned food may be to add a bit of cooked chicken, meat baby food, or tuna to the canned food; to gently warm the food – especially if refrigerated;, or to sprinkle some parmesan cheese on the food. You can also try dipping some of the cat’s dry food into canned food juice, or adding a bit of the canned food to the dry.

You can also try many different brands and flavors of canned foods. Don’t worry about feeding “high end” food at the beginning; just worry about getting the cat used to eating canned food - you can mix different types of food together later. Above all, be patient. It may take weeks or months to transition a cat to eating canned food. The investment is well worth it, as the new diet will be much healthier for your cat in the long run.

**some material for this column was adapted from the website www.catinfo.org by Lisa A.Pierson, DVM – please refer to this website for further information.