Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesions

Our beloved cats (and some dogs, too!) commonly fall victim to Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesions (aka FORLs or, simply, Resorptive Lesions).  These cannot be prevented, meaning that (1) if your cat gets them, you are not guilty in any way, and (2) cats must receive dentals performed by a veterinarian regardless of how well their teeth are cared for.

Resorptive Lesions originate in the cementum which covers the root of the tooth.  They work their way to the pulp, then move either down or up the inside of the tooth; sometimes going both directions at once.  By the time any external signs are visible, your pet’s tooth already has a painful end-stage lesion.  Signs that your cat has a lesion which has progressed to the crown include: not eating, eating only soft items, general malaise, and drooling.

Diagnosing a Resorptive Lesion requires both oral radiographs and dental probing- both of which can only be performed while the cat is under anesthesia.  In every one of our comprehensive dental exams, a veterinarian probes the gums and gets full-mouth x-rays to ensure all issues, even those under the gums, are discovered.

If a Resorptive Lesion exists in a tooth, that tooth must be extracted.  Treatment following an extraction includes pain management and antibiotics.  Your cat will need to come back in for the DVM to monitor healing.  Unfortunately, any cat that has had one Resorptive Lesion is likely to have subsequent lesions.

Of course, we all would prefer to completely prevent any chance of pain in our furry friends but the good news is that, with careful treatment by a licensed DVM, Resorptive Lesions are completely treatable!

AAHA Standards: MA41 and SX14.1

We have chosen two separate standards to highlight today:

MA41: Practice team members within the sterile field during major surgery wear proper attire including:
•    Disposable caps and masks, or reusable caps and masks that are laundered before use
•    Sterile disposable gowns, or cloth gowns that are laundered and sterilized before each use

SX14.1: Practice team members in the surgical suite wear shoe covers and/or dedicated surgery shoes.

The first, MA41, is a mandatory standard for accreditation.  AAHA has additional standards that are completely voluntary; SX14.1 is one of those.  West Ridge Animal Hospital adheres to both of the above.  To us, proper surgical attire is just plain common sense and anything less is incomprehensible. 

All personnel involved in an actual surgery wear a cap, mask, gloves, gown and booties, which are donned after a thorough hand and forearm scrubbing with special soap.  These measures are followed to ensure sterility in the surgical suite, in an effort to prevent post-surgical infection. 

10 Questions to ask a new vet

 For many people, finding the right veterinarian is just as important as choosing a personal physician.  To that end, PawNation has recently posted a list of ten questions to ask a potential veterinarian.  After perusing this list, I realized that it’s a good list to ask even your current veterinarian; you may not know the answers, no matter how long you’ve been with your pet’s doctor.  I intend to fix that now…

1.    How many vets are in the practice? Will you see the same vet every time or do the doctors switch or rotate without notice?

• West Ridge Animal Hospital currently has five (5) full time veterinarians: Dr. Colin Combs, Dr.    Rebecca Hubert, Dr. James Ebner, Dr. Jody Engel and Dr. Gwendolyn Reyes-Illg.  The doctor you seefor each appointment is completely up to you.  Some animals get attached to a single doctor, while some pet parents like to see all the doctors at one time or another; we will indulge your preference!  Aside from illness or personal emergencies that may arise, our doctors are on a set schedule and you will see the doctor with which you scheduled.
• Having several veterinarians in the building creates a couple benefits for you as a client.  The first benefit is that each doctor has his/her own personality and you are welcome to choose the one you relate with best.  Also, our doctors all work as a team to ensure your pet gets the very best possible care; especially in the rare instance that he/she is hospitalized with an illness.  Five different doctors present us with experience on a variety of conditions, as well as diverse areas of special interest.  For instance, all doctors see and treat all issues with cats and dogs but Dr. Hubert has an affinity for orthopedic cases, while Dr. Engel enjoys the dental arena; Dr. Ebner is remarkably well versed in diabetes, Dr. Reye-Illg is learning advanced ultrasound techniques, and Dr. Combs has a marked passion for birds and exotics!

2.    How far in advance does the practice typically schedule appointments?

• Appointments may be scheduled up to four (4) weeks in advance.  Depending on the urgency of the situation, we can get you in that same day.

3.    If you need same-day care, will the practice see you or refer you to an emergency vet?

• We are aware of the need for urgent care appointments and can see your sick or injured pet that same day.  Emergencies, of course, are always seen immediately.  If you would like a wellness or non-critical appointment, we may be able to get you in depending on how that day’s schedule looks.

4.    What are the qualifications of the technical staff? If your pet needs a simple procedure (like a blood draw or an anal gland expression), can you see a tech or do you need an appointment with the main vet?

• At this time, we have five (5) Certified Veterinary Technicians who are supported by eleven (11) Technician Assistants.  In the state of Colorado, a person must attend two (2) years in an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited school, then pass the strenuous VTNE (Veterinary Technician National Examination) to be considered “certified”.  Many appointments, such as booster vaccines, anal gland expression, and nail trims may be scheduled with a CVT when requested, as long as your pet is current on twice-yearly wellness examinations.

5.    If your dog has a specific disease or ailment, does the vet have experience treating that condition?

• As mentioned previously, having five doctors gives us many more years of experience in different ailments.  We regularly treat diabetes, cushings disease, thyroid cases, orthopedic injuries, allergies, FLUTD (feline lower urinary tract disease), ear infections, digestive upset, arthritis, bladder infections, kidney disease, dental disease and prevention, foreign object ingestions, skin growths, and a whole slew of other issues. 

6.    Are the vets open to alternative treatments like chiropractic care or acupuncture?

• Not only are our doctors open to them, we provide them!  In fact, four of our veterinarians are trained in acupuncture and Dr. Combs is educated in VOM (veterinary orthopedic manipulation, the equivalent of human chiropractic).  Besides that, we also have a water treadmill for dogs and technicians who give medical massages, which are especially nice for animals recovering from surgery.

7.    Does the practice offer emergency or after-hours care? If not, where would the practice send you?

• Knowing that illnesses and injuries do NOT follow any sort of regular schedule, we are open until 9 each weekday evening, 5 on Saturdays, and 1 on Sundays.  Our regular hours are: 

8am to 9pm Monday through Friday
8am to 5pm Saturday
9am to 1pm Sunday

• In the event that your animal needs to be seen outside of these hours, we recommend you call PETS Emergency Clinic, 970-339-8700, 3629 23rd Avenue, Evans

8.    Does the vet or practice have a referral network in case you need specialized care (for instance, from a veterinary dermatologist or an oncologist)?

• Our veterinarians play very well with their colleagues.  Okay, it sounds like we’re talking about little kids, but we really mean it!  We have a network of several specialists that we work with whenever it is needed including a cardiologist, dental specialist, specialized surgeons and radiologists.  In fact, all of the above even come to our location when the need arises to ensure that your pets get the very best care!

9.    What is the best way to contact the vet during the business day and after hours?

• West Ridge has many avenues for communication; the best of which is usually the phone.  Our contact info is:

970-330-7283, phone

970-313-4527, fax

info@wrah.net, general e-mail

Facebook: search for West Ridge Animal Hospital

Or you may find answers to your questions on our website at www.wrah.net

10.    Is he or she willing to answer questions via email?

• Each of our doctors has an individual preference on how they communicate with clients.  When you meet with your doctor, we encourage you to discuss the best way to contact each other.

Above and beyond all these questions, we would like you to know that we also provide boarding and grooming.  We have staff here 24 hours a day so that hospitalized patients are monitored and cared for around the clock.

We hope that our answers have made it clear to you just how very much we care about your pets!  Come see us and “let our family care for yours”!

Habicats at The Humane Society of Weld County

Our local shelter, The Humane Society of Weld County, has devoted their resources to improving their cat’s conditions by constructing free-roaming rooms for the shelter’s feline guests.  Many are not aware of these improvements so we wanted to spotlight them for our clients.

The Habicats are four themed rooms built and decorated for the comfort of the cats and appeal to their human friends. The cats climb, play and rest on custom built structures with natural lighting. The Sandbox rooms offer garden windows which are always occupied with sunbathers or birdwatchers.

The renovations have enabled the shelter to be able to provide quality long term care.  One cat, “Pops”, a handsome black male, returned himself to the shelter by following a human through the intake door. Unfortunately he had been adopted by an unreliable owner, somehow found his way back to the shelter, and his microchip confirmed to the staff that Pops had returned. This is high praise for the Humane Society and Pop’s resourcefulness.

Please think of a shelter pet when you are able to add a new pet to your family. They have proven personalities and can be matched easily to owners varying lifestyles. They will also be altered and microchipped offering good value for the adoption fee. West Ridge Animal Hospital partners by offering free initial exams for adopted pets.

World Rabies Day

Today is World Rabies Day, an initiative to raise awareness about rabies. Many of us think of rabies as only a wildlife problem, or as an issue that is well controlled and not in need of attention. NOT SO. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association:

Rabies remains a major concern worldwide, killing more than 55,000 people every year. In the United States, one to two people die annually, and there were more than 6,100 reported cases of animal rabies in the U.S. in 2010.

It is important to note that rabies is fatal, unless a series of prophylactic injections are administered in time. Rabies may not be treatable, but it IS preventable. To do so, please vaccinate your pets (feline, canine, and ferret) and keep them away from all wildlife. It is also important to avoid wildlife yourself and to educate your children to do so as well- especially wild animals who appear ill or are not afraid of humans.

Our doctors here at West Ridge Animal Hospital are passionate about preventing rabies and other diseases for which we have vaccines. We understand that it is easy to lose track of when your pets are due, so we send out reminders. Another way to keep on top of vaccines is to create a personal Pet Portal through our website. With a Pet Portal, you are able to see your pets' vaccine records, current medications, and you can even request appointments and refills! Of course, we are always happy to answer any questions you have; we can be reached at 970-330-7283 and via e-mail at frontdesk@wrah.net.

Pet Emergency Preparedness

With the hurricanes, wild fires, and anniversary of 9/11, it seems emergency preparedness is on everyone’s mind. The CVMA (Colorado Veterinary Medical Association) recently recommended the following website be distributed to the general public. It is a collection of educational webinars regarding dealing with disasters. Of particular interest to us, of course, is the Pet Emergency Preparedness webinar. Just to give you a heads up- the webinar, in its entirety, is an hour long. However, there is a very informative video for animal owners just two minutes in; please at least watch this segment. It reminds us of all the items animals may require in the case of an evacuation, as well as points out what actions are best in an emergency. For example, if one saw horses in a corral, that person may want to open the gate and release them. However, those horses are likely microchipped and registered to be at that address; making their rescue much quicker. There may also be an unknown public health issue if numerous animals are released.

It is comforting to know that Weld County has its own local Animal Response Team (as discussed in a recent post), but it is also important to educate ourselves as individuals. In the case of a disaster, the reactions and helpful efforts of the citizens is crucial. To this end, the FEMA website has many free webinars concerning all aspects of emergency preparedness, as well as connections to federal and local councils, that may be of interest to you.

VET help at Bastrop Fires

When the distressing news coming from Texas about the Bastrop fire reports that nearly 1400 houses have burned and at least two people have died, it’s easy to get caught up in the disaster from a human standpoint. Unfortunately, wildfires also affect countless animals, including search and rescue dogs that are assisting rescue efforts. This is where the VET (Veterinary Emergency Team) of Texas comes in. Yesterday, they deployed several members- including DVMs, vet techs, and vet students- to care for the dogs helping emergency responders and to assess the needs of other affected animals.

Obviously, keeping structures from burning and people safe is priority #1. A close second, in our opinion, is the safety of the animals. Losing your home is devastating, losing your pet as well is absolutely catastrophic. After all, many people consider their pets family members. And we haven’t even touched on all the wild animals who lose their homes, get injured, and possibly perish.

To this end, Dr Colin Combs and West Ridge Animal Hospital have been very active participants in our local Weld County Animal Response Team (Weld CART) for several years now. Fortunately, there hasn’t been much need for it so far. They did, however, all respond during the Windsor tornado in 2008; rescuing countless pets and wild animals from certain ruin. The Weld CART team is a “group of law enforcement, fire, veterinary, shelter, and other agencies with a shared goal of increasing awareness of animal issues in disasters through public education and awareness”. They also assist in providing resources to local jurisdictions throughout the county in the event of a disaster.

Veterinarians, by default, are extremely compassionate people. This is just another way they are able to fulfill their passion of taking care of helpless animals.

-- Weld CART is accepting volunteers and donations of items needed in case of an emergency. If you are able to do so, it is greatly appreciated!--

Canine Massage

While we humans LOVE a good massage, we very rarely think of it as treatment for our pets, but we SHOULD! Mandy Stickle, West Ridge Animal Hospital's massage therapist, has worked wonders on many dogs now. I can think of two dogs in particular who were so painful, they were scrunched up in pain, hardly able to walk in the door. After massage, they were able to walk out the door, heads held high.

Besides arthritis, though, massage can also help with other issues such as hypothyroidism, liver disease, and kidney disease. Due to having to lay still in one place for an extended period, older dogs (and younger, too!) can also benefit from a post-surgical/ post-dental massage.

Massage is definitely worth checking into!

Consumer Lab

Because the FDA does not currently test or regulate nutritional supplements, an independent lab, Consumer Lab has taken on the responsibility of keeping the public informed. It is surprising just how many nutraceuticals do not contain the level of active ingredients listed on the label. There is a small fee, but it is worth it when you think of all the supplements you buy without knowing their safety or efficacy. Check yours out today!

Just how old is YOUR pet?

Use this chart to determine just how old YOUR pet is; you might be surprised...

Parvovirus in puppies

ROXIE'S STORY

Roxie is a beautiful mastiff puppy that survived Parvovirus infection.
She was hospitalized for over four days while our veterinarians treated her with
IV fluids and multiple medications. Puppies who have parvovirus are usually
so sick that they must be syringe fed by our technicians.

She is one of the lucky survivors.

We see parvovirus almost every week at West Ridge Animal Hospital.
The only, but very simple, way to prevent it is with complete vaccinations
at 8, 12 and 16 weeks; and protecting your puppy from exposure until the
vaccines are complete. Parvovirus is such a nasty disease,
but so easily prevented.

PLEASE share this information with anyone you know who has a puppy,
or is contemplating getting one.

Go here for answers to all your parvovirus questions.
If you don’t see what you need on the first page, there are
several other related pages on the right side.

New sterilization law effective Jan 1, 2009

You may have heard that as of January 1st, 2009, all cats and dogs that are adopted from an animal rescue organization in Colorado must be either be:

• spayed or neutered prior to release, or

• adopted with the promise of being sterilized within 90 days. The adopting owner must sign an agreement to that fact and pay a deposit. Upon providing proof of sterilization by a licensed veterinarian within 90 days, the owner's deposit will be refunded. If an owner fails to provide such proof, the animal shelter has the right to reclaim the pet.

This is a great step forward to combat pet overpopulation and we applaud the effort.

However, the new policy has posed some challenges, mainly the lack of licensed veterinarians in rural areas to meet the needs of small community shelters. To help alleviate the problem for one such shelter, West Ridge Animal Hospital has begun to perform spays and neuters for the local rescue organization, K9 Bed and Bisquit.

We are glad to do our part in reducing the number of homeless pets in Colorado.

Go here to see the bill as it is written.

ASPCA Public Announcement

From Bruce Allenbaugh, Chief Marketing Officer for Dogpile.com comes this message:

"Dear Fellow Animal Lover:

There are few things more satisfying than knowing you've helped an animal live a happier, healthier life. And no one understands more than you that these tough economic times also affect animals, as people are sometimes forced to give up a pet and contributions to animal charities decline dramatically.

That's why Dogpile.com has launched the Search & Rescue program. Now, you can help us support the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and rescue pets just by doing what you already do- searching the web.

• Search - Dogpile.com is a search engine that provides the best results from all the leading search engines. And through this program, a portion of the revenue generated will be donated to the ASPCA.
• Rescue - Our ultimate goal is to raise $1 million by the end of 2009 to support pet rescue efforts.

The more people search, the more we can donate. That's where you come in.

Visit www.dogpile.com/rescue_pets for more information.

Thank you for your support."

You can be assured that the team here at West Ridge Animal Hospital will be using Dogpile.com, and we hope you will join us in supporting the ASPCA, too.

"The fact that animal lovers everywhere can help the ASPCA simply by searching the internet with Dogpile.com speaks to the unique and simple ways in which we can all give back. Through the support from Dogpile.com and consumers everywhere who use the the Website to search, we can continue our mission of helping animals in need."
- Ed Sayres, President and CEO, ASPCA

Pet Overpopulation Fund

The Board of Directors of the Pet Overpopulation Fund has requested that we pass on the following information:

163,700 dogs and cats entered
Colorado shelters in 2007...
nearly 45,000 were euthanized.

The Pet Overpopulation Fund,
a Colorado tax checkoff,
is working to save animal's lives.

What is the Pet Overpopulation Fund?
The Pet Overpopulation Fund was created by the Colorado State Legislature to curb pet overpopulation and reduce euthanasia of surplus, unwanted animals. In the 6 years since its inception, the Fund has subsidized more than 32,000 spay and neuter surgeries for dogs and cats in underserved areas of Colorado.

How can I help?
You can donate to the Pet Overpopulation Fund on your Colorado tax return. Simply enter the amount you wish to contribute on the appropriate line of your tax form -- no amount is too small. The State of Colorado will forward the designated amount to the Fund.

How will my donation be used?
Your donation will help fund grants to local coalitions of veterinarians, animal care and control agencies, and community groups in underserved areas of Colorado to perform spay and neuter surgeries. The Pet Overpopulation Fund also helps create and implement education programs that encourage Coloradans to have their pets spayed or neutered. All donations are used to benefit the animals; administrative services are provided at no cost to the Fund.

Are there other ways to donate?
You may contribute directly to the Fund at any time by sending a donation payable to the "Pet Overpopulation Fund" to:

Colorado Pet Overpopulation Fund
1805 South Bellaire Street, Suite 400
Denver, CO 80222

Your gift is tax deductible and will help save a pet's life!

Visit www.SaveColoradoPets.org for more information.

Exotic Pets Pose Potential Hazards

Here is a great article on the dangers posed by exotic animals to families with young children.

Doctors: Hamsters, Turtles May Spread Disease to Young Children
Warning: young children should not keep hedgehogs as pets — or hamsters, baby chicks, lizards and turtles, for that matter — because of risks for disease.

That's according to the nation's leading pediatricians' group in a new report about dangers from exotic animals.

Besides evidence that they can carry dangerous and sometimes potentially deadly germs, exotic pets may be more prone than cats and dogs to bite, scratch or claw — putting children younger than 5 particularly at risk, the report says.

Young children are vulnerable because of developing immune systems plus they often put their hands in their mouths.

That means families with children younger than 5 should avoid owning "nontraditional" pets. Also, kids that young should avoid contact with these animals in petting zoos or other public places, according to the report from the American Academy of Pediatrics. The report appears in the October edition of the group's medical journal, Pediatrics.
Continue Reading

Did You Know?- Urgent Care

West Ridge Animal Hospital has provided Urgent Care and Emergency services since opening its doors in 1968. The breaking news, then, is that starting today, our vets will be available as late as 9 pm weekdays, 5 pm Saturdays, and 2 pm on Sundays. We realize that accidents and illnesses do not respect regular office hours, so we are staying open later to provide help to your pet in need. In an urgent care situation, please call ahead so we can prepare ourselves for your visit. But if you have a true emergency, by all means, just come right in- we will help you and your pet immediately.

Of course, we also take routine appointments at these times as well.

To cover these extended hours, we are adding two new doctors to our repertoire. More information on these doctors coming soon....

Did You Know?- Rehabilitation Services

West Ridge Animal Hospital now offers extensive canine rehabilitation and conditioning services including, but not limited to; water treadmill, massage, exercise, and owner education. These services are ideal for dogs recovering from orthopedic surgeries, suffering from certain painful conditions, needing to lose weight or those whose owners would like them to receive conditioning.

Right now, we have one staff member, Kadi, who is a human Physical Therapist (PT) as well as a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP). We also have another staff member, Mary, who is also a human Physical Therapist and is attending classes to become certified with canines. They both have extensive experience in physical therapy, and are excited to add dogs (whom they both love!) to their list of patients.

Following is a paragraph describing our rehabilitative services, written by our rehab staff:

The emerging collaboration between the professions of veterinary medicine and physical therapy is an important advancement in the quality of care which can be provided to our canine clients. Upon veterinarian referral, the physical therapist utilizes rehabilitation principles and techniques (heat/cold/light modalities, therapeutic exercise, massage, aquatic therapy, owner education, and other activities) to improve the function, comfort and quality of life for our arthritic, deconditioned, post injury, postoperative, or neurologically-involved dogs. Performance enhancement services are available for show and working dogs.

Please note that our rehabilitative services are headed by a CCRP/s. While it is not required that a veterinary practice use certified rehabilitation practitioners, and many don't, we here at West Ridge are dedicated to providing the best care possible for your canine companion. The classes required for certification ensure that your pet receives the most professional, holistic, personalized rehabilitation regime available in Northern Colorado. Certification also ensures that our practitioners are capable of providing rehabilitation services compatible with our high standards of veterinary care.

Did You Know?

West Ridge Animal Hospital is one of the leading avian care providers in Northern Colorado; our services even include specialty bird diets. Our philosophy is to always emphasize proper bird care/husbandry and client education, while providing the most humane, respectful, pain-free care possible. At West Ridge Animal Hospital we care for your pet as if they were our own.

Dr.Combs has been specializing in companion bird care for over 15 years and caring for the birds of Greeley for the past 8 years. His love for birds started as a youth which naturally led him to volunteer at a raptor center where he got his first taste of administering care to injured birds. His interest continued to grow through his pre-vet training at a clinic that treated exotic animals and continues to grow today. In addition to providing primary veterinarian services to several local aviaries, including Avalon Aviary in Loveland, Dr. Combs belongs to the Association of Avian Veterinarians, attends annual continuing education classes to learn the latest in ornithology, and reads of the latest on bird care in trade publications. Dr. Combs puts forth this effort, to continually hone his skills as an avian specialist because of his commitment to your avian companions. Dr Combs combines his veterinary acumen with his genuine concern and love for our feathered friends- just ask Captain his Hahn's Macaw & Cleopatra his African Grey- to provide your companions the best compassionate care possible.

Did you Know?

West Ridge Animal Hospital can provide room service and other amenities to your companion while they board with us at the Purrs & Paws Lodge. Services include: baths, Kong toys, dog massage, nail trims, playgroups and water treadmill physical therapy. Head on over to the West Ridge Animal Hospital boarding page for more details.

Purrs and Paws Lodge