Category: In Depth

Demystifying The COHAT – the Dental Procedure


October is a Dental Health Awareness Month at Catlett Animal Hospital!

As part of our ongoing effort to help your pets live long and happy, healthy lives we offer occasional monthly specials to address specific health concerns. Oral disease is a particularly prevalent but under treated condition.

In October we offer 10% off all dental procedures! We also provide free dental goody bags for your pet after his/her procedure, so you can continue with good oral health care at home. Feel free to call us for more information!

     540-788-6094

This year we are also releasing some articles addressing dental health on a more in-depth level. Please enjoy our article below!

COHAT: Complete Oral Health Assessment & Treatment – What Happens During My Pet’s Procedure?

When you, the pet parent, and our doctors decide a professional dental cleaning or other dental health treatments are beneficial for your pet, there are often questions about what actually happens during the procedure. We prepared this article to help answer some of those questions and help explain the
benefits to your pet.

First things first – why do we call it a “COHAT” and not a “dental”?

Many people used to refer to a veterinary oral exam and professional dental cleaning as simply “a dental”. However, we have shifted to calling the process a Complete Oral Health Assessment & Treatment, because that is a much better description of what actually occurs! The procedure is NOT just about cleaning teeth, but about a complete oral health and cancer screening, as well as treating and preventing oral disease for your pet.

Examination

During the COHAT, the veterinarian will first do a thorough examination of your pet’s mouth, including inspecting the teeth and recording any that are missing, broken, or diseased, measuring gingival (gum) pockets (an indicator of periodontal disease), evaluating the gums, cheeks, and tongue for any signs of cancer or other disease, and looking deep into the back of the throat. Since yourProbeChartDental pet is under anesthesia this exam is far more complete and detailed than anything that can be accomplished in the normal exam room. Subtle changes, masses hidden under the tongue, and other crucial findings can be made on this exam which could be missed on a regular, awake exam.

Treatments & Cleaning

After the examination, the veterinarian can proceed to treatment of any disease found in your pet’s mouth. This may mean scaling and cleaning away tartar deposits (very common) on healthy teeth, and following with a polishing to smooth the enamel and make it more difficult for bacteria to adhere in the future. The equipment we use to clean your pet’s teeth is similar to, or sometimes exactly the same, as what is used for people in a dental office. The ultrasonic tool for removing tartar that we use has different tips and settings for cleaning above or below the gum line; this is one of the most critical parts of the COHAT, as so much of our pets’ dental disease is actually below the gum line. Without cleaning this crucial area, your pet’s plaque and tartar will come right BeforeAfterDentalback above the gum line, and the disease will continue deeper below the gum line to cause jaw bone disease.

Sometimes teeth are so diseased that th
ey may be loose and wiggly, or the bone around them may be infected or decaying. These teeth are sources of disease and pain, and thus, we often need to extract them to provide relief. Other teeth may have less severe disease and be repairable with a root canal and restoration, for which we can refer you to veterinary dental specialists.

What About The Anesthesia?

We wish our pets would all “open wide” for our dental procedures, but even people have trouble with this request! Anesthesia is the only way we can safely do the deep cleaning required for your pet’s oral health. For routine cleanings, your pet’s total anesthesia time is often less than 20-30 minutes, althoughMonitoringDental if there are more advanced procedures or necessary extractions, it may take a longer. (Another reason to be proactive about dental care!) The dentistry patient receives intubation to ensure a clear airway for breathing, inhalant anesthesia, and supplementary oxygen; warming, and close monitoring including ECG, blood pressure, oxygenation, temperature, and an assistant to watch over them before, during, and after the procedure are also provided. While no anesthesia is without risk, every patient gets our best care during their dental procedure. Preanesthetic bloodwork, IV catheters, and fluids are always recommended and sometimes required depending on the health and age of your pet. Our goal is always the best and safest treatment.

 

Please always feel free to discuss options for dental care for your pets with our doctors! We want you to be comfortable that your pet is getting the best preventive or corrective oral care possible for their health and wellbeing!

October is Dental Health Month! 10% Off!

October is a Dental Health Awareness Month at Catlett Animal Hospital!

As part of our ongoing effort to help your pets live long and happy, healthy lives we offer occasional monthly specials to address specific health concerns. Oral disease is a particularly prevalent but under treated condition.

In October we offer 10% off all dental procedures, including cleanings! We also provide free dental goody bags for your pet after his/her procedure, so you can continue with good oral health care at home. Feel free to call us for more information!   540-788-6094

This year we are also releasing some articles addressing dental health on a more in-depth level. Please enjoy our first article below!

Dental Disease – A Silent Problem With Big Health Consequences

There’s a disease affecting many of our pets that goes ignored or untreated on a regular basis. According to the American Veterinary Dental College, periodontal disease (disease of the gums and teeth) is THE most common clinical condition in adult dogs and cats, and affects a majority of all pets over the age of three years. That’s a lot of disease!

We would treat a cut, a rash, or a limp in our furry family members, but the painful, chronic infection in our pets’ mouths doesn’t get addressed nearly as frequently. It’s a mostly “silent” disease, and oftentimes even observant owners don’t know it is a problem until it is severe. In the meantime, our pets suffer from toothaches and severe gum sensitivity, loose or broken teeth, and a source of constant infection that may threaten other important organs in the body. Dogs and cats often suffer in silence when it comes to this disease because it is a gradual process to which they adjust over time. Their stoic natures don’t make the disease any less serious, however!

How does dental & periodontal (gum) disease develop?

Natural bacteria live in every pet’s mouth. These bacteria enjoy living in the moist, warm environment, and “sharing” the pet’s meals. They first form a sticky film over the surface of the teeth, which can’t be seen when we look at the teeth. This is what we try to brush away when we brush the teeth. If the film stays in place for enough time, this film hardens into unsightly plaque and dental calculus (tartar) that we see on the teeth.

Tartar acts as a sturdy, protective “homebase” for the bacteria. From there, the infection can easily spread up under the gum line, compromising the root of the tooth and bone of the jaw. The bacteria destroys the bone and connective tissues and eventually causes the teeth to loosen or fall out. This deep infection can also lead to jaw fractures or bone abscesses (pockets of infected bone). The body attempts to send disease-fighting immune cells through the bloodstream to the gums, but can never completely get rid of the infection due to the entrenched disease.

PerioDzChart2

How can dental disease affect the rest of my pet’s health?

Bacteria infecting the mouth can also travel back into the bloodstream and affect other body organs, including the heart, liver, and kidneys. Your pet’s immune system works overtime trying to combat this steady flow of bacteria, however in some cases, the bacteria can lead to other serious illnesses. Senior animals, who naturally have a slightly decreased immune system, may be particularly at risk, and they are often the ones with the most advanced disease. Antibiotic therapy cannot cure the infection, only temporarily decrease the bacteria and lessen the symptoms, because the bacteria are well-established in the mouth. Removing infected teeth (thus removing the source of infection) is often the only way to make your pet healthy again.

DentalSymptomsChart

Dental disease is a huge problem for your pet. You may not notice that it is there, but it causes tremendous health issues for your aging companion. Our next article will focus on what’s involved in the Complete Oral Health Assessment and Treatment.

October is one of our dental health focus months! Please bring you pet in today to be evaluated by a veterinarian to see if a dental cleaning can make your pet healthier. During October, receive 10% off any dental procedures, and a free dental health “goody bag” for your pet after the procedure!

More information from the American Veterinary Dental College:

http://www.avdc.org/periodontaldisease.html

Important Fall Equine Vaccinations

Equine Fall Vaccination:
EEE, EHM, and Potomac Horse Fever Cases in Virginia

 

As we near the fall months, it’s time to get up to date on your horse’s vaccines. The Virginia Department of Agriculture has reported several positive cases of fatal diseases in Virginia this summer. Among the diseases reported are Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM), and Potomac Horse Fever (PHF). All of these can be prevented or reduced in severity with proper vaccination, yet horses, in our area and across Virginia, are being diagnosed and dying from these diseases.

 

Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy

Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy is a neurological disease of horses caused by Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1). There are several different strains of the Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) these can cause respiratory problems, reproductive problems, neurologic problems and even death. EHV can be spread from horse to horse through contact with aborted fetuses, contact with nasal or oral discharges or by inhaling infected material in the air. Fortunately, EVH is not zoonotic, meaning it cannot be spread to humans. Some of the signs seen in horses can include being unsteady or weak on the rear limbs, not being able to urinate, and fever. The neurologic form of this disease is typically fatal.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis

Eastern Equine Encephalitis is another neurological disease caused by a virus. Normally, the virus lives in wild birds, but it is transmitted to mosquitoes and can then be spread to horses and humans. The virus cannot be transmitted directly from the horse to humans however. As was the case in Virginia, EEE often occurs near wetlands. However, EEE cases can occur wherever mosquitoes are present. Symptoms of EEE can include incoordination, stumbling, and weakness. These symptoms eventually progress to seizures and death. There is no effective treatment for EEE therefore infections usually result in death. The EEE vaccine is one of our core vaccine recommendations. It is most important to get this vaccine in the spring; however, a booster near then end of summer can help prevent disease should there be a fall mosquito epidemic.

Potomac Horse Fever

Potomac Horse Fever is caused by an intracellular bacterium called Neorickettsia risticii. The bacterium lives within flukes and is transmitted via water to snails and small flies. Horses pick up the bacteria by accidentally consuming the infected flies or snail larva. Signs of PHF are varying, but normally include a sudden fever. Other symptoms could also include lethargy, anorexia, colic-like signs, diarrhea, abortion, laminitis and death. Horses diagnosed with PHF can often be successfully treated with doxycycline and intensive fluid therapy. There is a vaccine available for PHF that may lessen the severity of the disease. We would recommend giving this vaccine to your horse. PHF dehydrates horses quickly, and it can be very hard to maintain their hydration. Oftentimes, successful treatment requires daily fluids and veterinary care for at least a few days. This vaccine is optional and may not be needed in your area. You, as the owner, should consult with your veterinarian about the benefits of this vaccine. If the vaccine is given, it is normally administered in the spring and boostered over the summer.

 

Equine Vaccine Recommendations:

Product Frequency of vaccine Vaccine Recommendations
Tetanus* Annually, booster if wound Core vaccine
EEE/WEE* Annually, 2x year in heavy mosquito areas Core vaccine
Rabies* Annually Core vaccine
West Nile Virus* Annually, 2x year in heavy mosquito areas Core vaccine
EHV-1/4 2x year Recommended if traveling frequently, also for breeding animals
Strangles 2x year Recommended if traveling frequently
Influenza 2x year Recommended if traveling frequently
PHF 2x year Consult your veterinarian

* Core vaccines are strongly suggested. These vaccines are safe and effective at preventing these potentially fatal diseases.
 
While spring is the most common time for equine vaccination, we are still within mosquito season, and it’s not too late to booster your horse. Additionally, if you have not had your horse vaccinated for Rabies or Tetanus this year, those core vaccines are very important. Please call to schedule a vaccination appointment soon!

fallhorseCrop

Pinkeye In Beef Cattle

This article is part of Catlett Animal Hospital’s new series of in-depth information on specific diseases and conditions!

Pinkeye, also known as Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis (IBK), is a disease caused by the bacteria Moraxella bovis and can cause severe lesions on the eyes of cattle. The disease can include corneal ulcers and blindness, which can lead to a significant decrease in calf weight gain and cause calves to be discounted at the sale barn.

cattlepinkeye

Photo from VA Co-Op Ext – Stage 2 pinkeye

What causes Pinkeye?

Pinkeye is frequently caused by irritation to the eye, which could include:

  •  Face flies
  •  Sunlight
  •  Grass
  •  Bacterial infections
  •  Viral infections (IBR)
  •  Nutritional deficits

What are commons signs of Pinkeye?

Your cattle may show some of the following signs of pinkeye – as soon as you are suspicious, it’s important to get a diagnosis and appropriate treatment!

  • Squinting of the eye
  • Watering of the eye
  • Small gray spot in center of eye
  • The whole eyeball may become cloudy
  • Redness on the cornea (clear part of the eye)
  • Corneal ulcers will appear dished out, while white spots may appear in the middle of the eye
  • The eye may eventually rupture

How do I prevent Pinkeye?

  •  Control flies
    •  Fly tags (in both eyes of calves)
    •  Mineral containing IGR
  •  Pasture management
  •  Avoidance of sunlight and irritation
  •  Pinkeye vaccine may be available, but should be discussed with a veterinarian, as it may not be effective or appropriate in every case

How is Pinkeye treated when it occurs?

  •  Protect the eye during healing
    • Patches
    • Shade
    • Temporary tarsorrhaphy (sewing the eyelid shut to protect the eye) – can be performed by your veterinarian. Good for severe cases and eyes that may be in danger of rupturing.
  • Injectible oxytetracycline: best if given early in the course of disease
  • Subconjunctival penicillin injections
  • Have a whole-herd outbreak?
    • Move pastures if cattle are in tall grass
    • Fly spray to remove all flies
    • Treat whole herd with long-duration antibiotics

Further reading from Virginia Cooperative Extension – http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/400/400-750/400-750.html

Be sure to contact our Catlett Animal Hospital Large Animal Service veterinarians if you have questions about Pinkeye in your animals, or with any other questions. They are eager to be of service in any way possible!

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