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Slentrol© – Help for obese dogs
Obesity in pets is a very serious and “growing” problem. It has drawn quite a bit of attention in the national media. There is now an Association for Pet Obesity Prevention and even a Pet Obesity Awareness Day (October 14, 2009). In 2008, it was estimated that 44% of dogs and 57% of cats in the United States were either overweight or obese. That breaks down to about 33 million dogs and 51 million cats! The conditions caused by or worsened by the excess pounds shorten the lives of our four-legged friends and cost pet owners millions of dollars annually.
Ongoing research on obesity in animals as well as humans has shown that the process of obesity is amazingly complex. What happens in the body as your pet’s weight increases make shedding those extra pounds harder and harder. These complex systems actually work against the patient by lowering their metabolism and increasing their appetite.
“Overweight” is defined as 5-19% above ideal weight. “Obesity” is defined as 20% or more above ideal weight. So a dog who should weigh 30 pounds but weighs 36 pounds is considered obese. Six pounds may not sound like much but excess weight will seriously impact your pet’s health. There are symptoms you will see such as difficulty climbing stairs, jumping on the couch, playing with their toys, even taking a walk. Other signs you may not see include:
* high blood pressure making their heart work harder
* arthritis in their joints reducing activity even more
* breathing problems due to fat around the trachea, also reducing the activity level
Slentrol©, introduced about two years ago by Pfizer Animal Health can be the solution to your pet’s obesity. It is the first FDA approved weight loss medication made specifically for dogs. It works differently than other weight loss medications. It works in the dog’s small intestine and reduces their appetite. The undesirable side effects seen in human weight loss drugs such as oily discharge and excess gas will not occur with Slentrol©. In fact, the side effects are minimal. Weight loss occurs slowly and you will need to bring the dog in monthly for a weigh-in and a dosage adjustment.
Please visit their website to learn more about this product and read some of their success stories. Be sure to discuss your dog’s weight with the veterinarian at your next visit. Our pets have such short lives as it is. If getting them down to a healthy weight can keep them with us longer why would you not want to do it?
(Slentrol© is for dogs only. Do not use in cats.)
What is your diagnosis?
We thought you might enjoy hearing about a case and trying to determine the problem based on x-rays. This case comes from a veterinary clinic in Greenville, PA. A nine-month-old Boxer puppy was presented to the veterinary clinic for vomiting, not defecating, and lack of appetite. The diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of this case are at the end of this newsletter.
Summer Pet Safety
Flea and tick control and heartworm prevention are an absolute must in the summer, but there are other warm weather hazards we’d like to discuss. In the summer, the weather in central Ohio can be dangerous for our pets. Heat stroke is one of the most common medical emergencies in the summer months. Do not leave your pet in the car without the air conditioner running. On an 80° day, the  interior of your car can heat up to 120° to 130° in just minutes, even with the windows cracked. Outdoor playtime should be reduced and walks or runs with the family need to be shortened or done during the cooler times of the day. Pets with short noses and senior or overweight pets are especially susceptible to heat stroke. Dogs control their body temperature through panting. If the air temperature is too high, no cooling can take place. This is a dangerous and potentially fatal situation. Heat stroke needs to be treated immediately. If you suspect heat stroke in one of your pets, call your veterinary clinic right away. Reduction of body temperature is only the first step. Heat stroke patients also need to be treated for shock and for the symptoms often associated with heat stroke such as seizures and diarrhea.
Outdoor pets or pets that spend more than a few minutes outside in hot and humid weather need to be kept in the shade and have fresh water available. Don’t forget, shade moves during the day, so tying your dog in a shady place in the morning does not mean the shade will last all day. A doghouse offers  shade all day long but minimal ventilation. Most dogs don’t want to stay in their doghouse for long on warm days. You may want to consider a pet tent. (There are lots of makes and models of pet tents. Just Google pet tent.) It can offer shade all day as well as good ventilation. Your outdoor pet’s water needs will increase in the hot weather. Water should be in a tip-proof container and refilled regularly during the day with clean fresh water. (Water from the garden hose can be quite warm if the hose has been in the sun too.)
Some pets are susceptible to sunburn on their noses and areas with minimal hair. A light-colored nose makes the pet more susceptible. Sunscreen can be used on pets, but make sure to avoid any sunscreen product that contains zinc oxide and/or para-amino benzoic acid (PABA). It is important to keep your pet from licking off the sunscreen you’ve just applied. It is not made to be ingested.
Dogs and cats that spend a lot of time outside in the summer are also prone to getting fly bites, especially on their ear tips. There are fly repellant products available that are safe and effective. These products must be applied at least once a day. You should check your outdoor pet regularly for maggots. If the animal has an open sore or a wound or has some stool caught up in the coat, the flys will be attracted to the area and will lay eggs. Within 24 hours, maggots hatch out and begin to feed. They can cause considerable damage.
Pet identification is an essential part of protecting your pet all year round. ID tags on your pet's collar can help get your lost pet back home again, however there is always a chance that the collar can be lost. Microchips (pet identification implanted just under the skin) can never be lost, and all animal shelters, most veterinary clinics and veterinary emergency services, and many police departments have scanners to check lost pets for a microchip. Once the microchip number is found, a toll-free phone call to the national registry gets the owner’s information and will get the pet back home again. A lost pet can be heartbreaking for the whole family. Please ask about having your pet microchipped next time you are in your veterinary clinic.
Introducing Pet Airways®
 Pet Airways® is a new airline that transports animals only. This new airline says your pets are not packages, they are “pawsengers” and they will be treated by the Pet Airways® staff as if they were their own pet. Unlike all other airlines where pets travel in the cargo compartment along with the baggage (unless they are very small and can fit under your seat), with Pet Airways® the pets are in the main cabin. The air is climate controlled and an attendant is with your pet for the entire flight. At the airport there are special check-in and pick-up lounges for their pawsengers and you can track your pet’s flight online. If your flight is delayed or if schedules just don’t match up, your pet will be housed at the Pet Airways® PAWS Lodge until you arrive. Pet Airways® staff also keeps track of “potty breaks” for your pet and offers regular breaks along the way. The company uses a Beech 1900 TurboProp with all the human furnishings removed, such as seats and overhead bins. Pets travel in private, size-appropriate carriers that are safe, comfortable, and well secured.
Currently the areas served by Pet Airways® are:
* Republic Airport – serving New York City, Long Island, Philadelphia, NJ, and Connecticut
* Baltimore-Washington International Airport
* Midway Airport in Chicago
* Rocky Mountain Airport – serving the greater Denver area, Boulder, and Fort Collins
* Hawthorne Municipal/Los Angeles Executive Airport – serving the greater Los Angeles area
Hills Diets Coupons
If your dog or cat eats Hills Prescription Diets or Science Diets, visit their website for valuable coupons. We will honor these coupons here.
They also have a rebate program for up to $25.00 on a qualifying purchase of Science Diet or Prescription Diet. You do have to register with Hills in order to get these valuable coupons.
 SleePee Time Beds
This new product from Handicapped Pets helps pets suffering from urinary incontinence (and their owners) get a good night’s sleep and makes morning cleanup quick and easy. Check their website for more information.
“What is your diagnosis” results
You probably had no problem seeing the baby bottle nipple in this dog’s intestines. The foreign body was surgically removed and the dog did very well according to the staff of the veterinary clinic in Greenville, PA.
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