Heat Stroke
Michigan is experiencing a heatwave this week, with temperatures soaring to dangerously high levels. Temperature Outlook: High temperatures will consistently reach the low 90s each day this week, with peak heat indices of 95 to 100 degrees in the afternoons. Nights will not provide much relief with low temperatures only going into the low 70’s. Heat stroke in pets is a very serious condition that can become an emergency very quickly. In severe cases it can cause seizures, organ damage and death. It is caused by an elevated body temperature that stays elevated, this occurs when a pet is unable to cool itself. Pets suffering from heat stroke may show signs such as panting, dry or sticky gums, abnormal gum color, bruising of the skin/gums, lethargy, disorientation and Seizures. Obviously heat stroke is more of a concern in the temperatures we will be having this week. It is very important to do the following for your pet… 1. Keep your pet indoors with air conditioning when possible. 2. Limit outdoor activity to going to the bathroom. Walks should be short and occur at the coolest times of the day. Running or extreme activity is not advised. 3. Offer cool water to drink throughout the day 4. If you do not have air conditioning you can use fans with frozen water filled milk jugs behind the fan to oscillate cool air. Allow pets access to cool surfaces like basement or bathroom floors.
Missing the Pets We have Lost
We know how hard it is to cope with the loss of a beloved pet. It is good to have a community of people that know the sorrow you are feeling. In every edition of our newsletter, we would like to remember the pets that we have loved and lost. If you would like to submit a picture and/or a short remembrance to be in our next newsletter please send it to Dr. Eberly at ceberly@wvhcares.com. The picture included in this edition is an example from many years ago.
Arthritis in Our Pets
Arthritis, which affects many pets as they age, is inflammation of the joints. Another name for this condition is degenerative joint disease. When this condition affects your pet, it does so by wearing away at the cartilage that cushions their joints during movement. This cartilage is crucial for making sure your pet can comfortably walk, play, and jump as they’d like. It is a normal part of aging, but it is quite uncomfortable. When the cartilage cushion wears away, the bones of a joint are exposed to one another more directly; they may rub against one another, which causes pain, stiffness, and inflammation to occur. Fear not, if your pet has been showing signs of arthritis - such as slowing down, hesitancy to run or play, favoring a leg, limping, or hesitancy to jump - we have ways to help! For cats, we have an injectable product called Solensia; Solensia contains antibodies to a protein called Nerve Growth Factor. Nerve Growth Factor contributes to the pain pathway in cats and dogs with osteoarthritis, which is the most common type of arthritis in these kiddos. For dogs, we have two options: Librela and Adequan Canine. Librela is very similar to Solensia in that it is also an antibody to the canine Nerve Growth factor. Adequan Canine, however, is different. Adequan works by slowing the progression of cartilage degeneration. This keeps the cushion around longer, which keeps your pet comfortable longer. We also offer laser therapy, pain management and nutritional counseling to help you help your pet with this chronic disease. Please, schedule a visit with us for an orthopedic exam and discuss the wide array of options our furry friends have available to them!
