"Hot Spots" Are Great For Computers and Cell Phones But Not Your Dog!

 Meet "Bear":

"Bear", a canine boarder at Burke Animal Clinic.

Poor “Bear” developed a hot spot while boarding.  “Bear” was rolling around in his bed having a little scratch here, a little shake there, normal behavior for a dog.   

"Bear" was just hanging out with his brother and had a single itch.

However, an hour later when he was going out for a walk an astute veterinary assistant noticed an irritated area on the side of “Bear’s” face.  “Bear” must have continued scratching at his face until his walk. 

An hour later a canine hot spot had developed on the side of "Bear's" face due to scratching.  He wears a muzzle for staff safety.

Canine hot spots are warm moist irritated areas of inflamed and infected skin that occur on dogs.  Usually we see the problem in warmer weather on thick coated dogs or those with droopy ears or skin folds that don’t permit good air circulation over the skin.  This pup has both a thick coat and floppy ears.  Another contributing factor is that it is Spring time; Bear is shedding and his thicker Winter coat hasn’t dropped yet.  We don’t know what started “Bear’s” scratching, but it becomes a vicious cycle of itching and scratching that needs to be broken for the problem to be resolved.  The problem worsens very quickly.  Thanks to one of our attentive veterinary assistants, "Bear's" problem was noticed before he scratched through the skin on his face.

Some pets experience one episode, possibly caused by an insect bite, and after it clears up the problem is gone.  Other pets have underlying problems such as seasonal or food allergies, or are irritated by certain products like shampoos or cleaners in the home.  It is important in these situations to get to the root of the irritation to keep the problem from recurring.  BICOM is one of the therapies used in these difficult cases to figure out the offending substance so hopefully it can be avoided in the future.  It is better to treat the problem, not just manage the symptoms over and over again.

Hot spots are very tender.  Many times sedation is needed to properly clean and treat the affected area.  Our staff caught “Bear’s” hot spot very early in the process so sedation was not necessary.  “Bear” wears a muzzle just for staff safety during the treatment process; he really is a sweet guy.  The hair is clipped to allow good air circulation.  The skin was scrubbed with a surgical scrub and treated topically with a soothing lotion.  Dr. Herrity gave a steroid injection to settle down the inflammatory process and "Bear" was started on an oral antibiotic.  It takes some time for the irritation to settle down so “Bear” will wear an Elizabethan collar to prevent him from causing further harm to himself.

Burke Animal Clinic patient, "Bear", wearing an Elizabethan collar.

Some things you can do to help your dog avoid hot spots in the upcoming warm/hot months is to keep your pet brushed out to permit good air flow in his coat and dry him well after getting wet, particularly in skin fold areas.  If  a problem does develop, please don't delay treatment.  If you can't schedule an outpatient appointment due to work, make a drop-off appointment. 

Get Well Soon "Bear"!

Baby Steps

 A Burke Animal Clinic Philosophy for Enjoying Your Pet

Changes in a pet's lifestyle should be accomplished via baby steps.

Years ago I watched the movie "What About Bob". It was a funny movie where a character, Bob, is coached by his doctor to take baby steps to get over his problems. I think this idea is wonderful when working with your pets.

Puppy training should be a fun activity for your pet. Sessions should focus on one skill at a time, be short duration with lots of positive reinforcement, baby steps. Your pup should want to "play the game".

If your pet is overweight and the vet recommends more exercise, be reasonable. If he's a couch potato, don't expect him to complete a mile the first day out.  Maybe you could walk to the mailbox together the first week, then to the street corner the next, baby steps. If your pet is exhausted and out of breath, he isn't having fun and may actually injure himself if he isn't properly conditioned. Any increase in activity is a step in the right direction.

If your dog is frightened by trips in a car, gradually expose the pet to the car. Have him sit by the car while you wash the windows, next time put a favorite treat on the floor of the car to get, the next time after that open both sides of the car so he can go in one door and out the opposite, baby steps. The same idea works for cats and a fear of their carrier.

Baby steps can be applied to so many situations with pets. Got a solution that worked well for your pet; share it with us! Know someone that could use this idea, feel free to send them a link or share : )

Is Your Pet’s Rabies Vaccination Up to Date?

Protect your loved ones!

Rabies is a preventable zoonotic disease; it can be spread from animals to humans. Per the county website, Fairfax County averages about 50 cases of rabies per year.  It is a viral disease that infects the central nervous system, all mammals are at risk.  Rabies most frequently is transmitted by the bite of an infected animal; however, there are other modes of transmission.

Rabies vaccinations for your pets help protect them, and by association your family, from the disease.  Your pet is not protected just because he stays in your fenced yard.  Wildlife does not respect fences; in fact, some animals use them as high speed routes through sub-divisions.

A fox trots along a fenceline in Springfield, VA

Burke Animal Clinic provides rabies vaccinations during regular appointment hours.  Give us a call, at 703-569-9600, to set up your appointment with the veterinarian.  We even have Sunday appointments for your convenience!

For more in-depth information on rabies visit the Center for Disease Control website. http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/ 

For local information visit the Fairfax County Health Dept. site.  http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/hd/rabies/ 

5 Symptoms You Should Never Ignore

Our pets rely on us to keep them healthy and take care of them when they become sick.  They can't tell us when they're not feeling well, so it's up to us to notice when things aren't right and get them to the vet. 

Any time you are concerned that your pet is not acting normally, please give your vet a call. Veterinarian staff can help you determine if your pet needs to be seen and whether or not they need to come in right away. Never feel embarrassed that you are overreacting. Sometimes even a small thing may be an indication of a larger problem. And, if it is just a small thing, won't you be relieved when you find out that's all it is!

Here are five symptoms you should never ignore:

1. Change in water consumption, either an increase or decrease
2. Change in appetite, either an increase or decrease
3. Lethargy or a change in activity level
4. Change in frequency of urination
5. Diarrhea and/or vomiting

The holidays can be a stressful time for a pet.  Consider how stressful it is for us humans!  Keep an eye on your pet and watch for things that he/she may get into - the garbage to get at those turkey bones, presents under the tree that may be edible or tempting to a dog or cat, ornaments that may spark curiousity in your pet, wires, strings and tinsel and poisonous plants and greenery.  Check out the ASPCA site for tips on keeping your pet safe:  http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/holiday-safety-tips.aspx

Keep the ASPCA National Animal Poison Center Hotline number available - 888-426-4435.  The call will cost $65 but it's worth it.  They will assign you a case number so you only pay once for that case and you'll talk to a vet. 

Most of all, have fun with your pet!  And, have a safe and happy holiday!

Ginger's Guardian Angel

Little Ginger has a guardian angel!

 

Her owner noticed Ginger was urinating more frequently in addition to straining to urinate and brought her in to see the vet.  What a good doggy mom!  An x-ray revealed a bladder stone about the circumference of a quarter!  Keep in mind, Ginger is a little Shih Tzu! 

 

 

Ginger and her mom found a guardian angel in the form of a friend who offered to help pay for the surgery to remove the bladder stone. Ginger recovered from surgery today and is resting comfortably. What a great story to share during the season of giving!

Burke Animal Clinic Veterinarians Help Their Dogs With A Homemade Remedy

Doctors Herrity and Marsh Use a Homemade Skunk Spray Remover with Success

 

Dr. John Herrity with his dog, Bradley, a Burke Animal Clinic stemcell patient.

One of the joys of living in Northern Virginia is our suburban locale. We are close to some larger cities, but still have a bit of wildlife in our surroundings. That same wildlife, that is joy to watch, can also be a drawback when your dog gets sprayed by a skunk. Right now the temperatures have cooled a bit, so some of the wildlife is a bit more active. More skunks wandering around increases the chance your dog will encounter one.
 

Three weeks ago around 11:30 p.m. Dr. Herrity let his Labradoodle, Bradley, out into the yard for a final trip outside before bed. While outside, Bradley was sprayed by a skunk. Dr. Herrity was tired and chose to wash Bradley up in the morning. Dr. Herrity needed to see appointments in the morning so Bradley needed an early bath. Not having any product in the house to cut the smell, Dr. Herrity turned to the internet for a solution. He found a homemade remedy that worked pretty well.
 

This week he got to try the solution again as both his dogs, Bradley and Rosie, were skunk sprayed. This time he used the solution immediately, while the skunk spray was still wet, and the solution worked much better.
 

Dr. Marsh has a farm in the Blacksburg, VA area where his dogs get to run around. He too has used the homemade remedy with success four different times. Runa has been sprayed 3 times in the past and Ara was just recently sprayed. Then there's Joey, I don't know how many times he's been skunked.
 

Burke Animal Clinic can't vouch for any commercial skunk spray removers, but both veterinarians have had success with a recipe you can quickly mix-up at home. The one below is used by Dr. Marsh.

1 quart of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide (use a fresh unopened bottle for best results)
1/4 cup of Baking Soda
1 teaspoon of dish soap (something like Dawn)

Apply the solution right away (it will still improve the situation if it's later, it's just not as effective)then rinse the coat thoroughly with water.

Burke Animal Clinic, in Burke, Virginia, is a Local Blood Donation Center for the Blue Ridge Veterinary Blood Bank

Local Canine Blood Drives Give Your Dog a Chance to be Another Dog’s Hero

On May 1, 2012 Burke Animal Clinic, in cooperation with the Blue Ridge Veterinary Blood Bank, held its first canine blood drive.  This was not a single event, but rather the first of an ongoing partnership.  The clinic provides space for the blood bank staff to come in and accept blood donations from local dogs.  The blood bank makes their own donor appointments and provides their own staff and supplies for the collection service. 

Why are we doing this?  We know canine blood products can save pets lives.  We are part of the local community and should find ways to give back to the community making it better for all.  This program permits us to help care for pets and makes it more convenient for people living in the Burke area (the BRVBB is out in Purcellville) to participate; it’s a win-win arrangement.  Also, the dogs that are donating receive some veterinary care benefits for their participation. 

www.BRVBB.com / Donor Information Pages

Burke Animal Clinic’s vet assistant, Cassi, is acting as the clinic coordinator for the program.  If you have questions you may contact the blood bank directly (540-338-7387) or call the clinic (703-569-6900) and ask for Cassi.  Alternatively, you may e-mail the clinic, Attention: Cassi   mypets@burkeanimal.com

Check out the link above and decide if the program is right for you and your dog.  If it is, please give us a call.