November, 2007
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• November is Diabetes Month
• Welcome Janelle and Rebecca
• Rabies
• Thanksgiving Hazards Reminder

Pet Diabetes Month
Diabetes Mellitus is a complex but common disease in which the body is unable to regulate blood sugar levels.  About 1 in 200 cats and 1 in 400-500 dogs get Diabetes Mellitus.  During the digestion process, food is broken down into smaller components for use by the body.  Carbohydrates are converted into various sugars, including glucose.   Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, regulates the flow of glucose from the bloodstream into cells of the body.  When insulin is deficient or ineffective, glucose cannot get out of the bloodstream and into the cells.  When glucose is not available to the cell, the body starts to break down fat and protein stores as alternative energy sources.  The diabetic patient eats more in an attempt to gain additional energy, but because the food is not used efficiently, the pet loses weight.  All that excess glucose circulating in the bloodstream is filtered out by the kidneys and passed in the urine.  This filtering process requires more fluid than is normally used by the kidneys thus increasing the urine output and, in turn, the patient’s thirst.  The lack of insulin sets up a complicated series of events that result in the signs you see in your diabetic pet, increased thirst, frequent urinations, increased appetite, and weight loss.

While Diabetes Mellitus can occur in any cat or dog, it most often occurs in older, obese pets.  Female dogs and male cats are most common.  Certain breeds seem to be more likely to develop diabetes.  These include, in the dog, Labrador and Golden Retrievers, Toy and Miniature Poodles, Dachshunds, terriers, Cocker Spaniels, and Pomeranians, among others.  In cats, there have been some reports of Burmese cats being more prone to diabetes.  The exact cause of Diabetes Mellitus has not been determined but obesity, chronic pancreatitis, hyperthyroidism, Cushing’s disease, and long-term use of certain medications such as steroids have all been linked to the disease.

Symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus can also be seen in other diseases.  See your veterinarian in order to make a proper diagnosis.  Allowing these symptoms to continue without diagnosis and treatment could result in death.  The body cannot function without insulin.  The diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus is based on the pet’s signs, physical examination findings, and results of laboratory tests on both blood and urine samples.

Treatment should be started as soon as the diagnosis is made.  Your veterinarian will set up a treatment program that will include recommendations for a feeding schedule and type of food, exercise plan, and insulin replacement therapy.  Each patient requires a specific treatment plan - there is no “one-size-fits-all” therapy for diabetic patients.  Getting the correct insulin dosage sometimes requires several veterinary visits and may take a number of weeks to get your pet regulated.  You will be instructed how to give the insulin injection and how to handle the insulin, syringes, and needles.  Insulin injections may be given once or twice daily depending on how your pet responds to the insulin.

An important step in the treatment of diabetes is proper diet, both type of food and the feeding schedule.  Your veterinarian will make recommendations dependant upon your pet’s specific requirements.  It is very important that your diabetic pet be fed on a strict schedule.

The amount of exercise your diabetic pet gets should remain relatively unchanged.  If your pet suddenly expends a lot of energy, they will burn up more glucose which can result in a low blood glucose level.  That condition is called hypoglycemia and should be considered an emergency.  Hypoglycemia signs include weakness, listlessness, loss of coordination, seizures, and coma.  If this condition occurs, the pet should immediately be offered its normal food.  If the patient is unable to eat, do not force-feed.  Rub some corn syrup onto the gums or, if the patient can swallow, slowly administer the syrup by syringe into the mouth.  Call your veterinarian immediately.

There is no cure for diabetes.  Pets with diabetes do best with a consistent medication regime, a strict feeding schedule, and a stable, stress-free lifestyle.  Successfully managing a diabetic pet requires dedication and careful attention to detail, as well as good communication between you and your veterinarian.  A well-managed diabetes patient can live a happy, healthy, normal life.

Here are two links to very informative videos that cover a broad range of diabetes information.  (Dog owners, please note that while the Cornell video is made specifically for cats, the information is exactly the same for dogs.) http://www.felinevideos.vet.cornell.edu/diabetes/index.shtml
http://www.publictelevision.org/videos/information/pettips/diabetes.ram

Welcome Two New Staff Members
We want to introduce you to our two newest staff members, Janelle Brubaker and Becca Ulery.
Our new Office Manager, Janelle Brubaker, lives in Carroll, OH with her husband, Biff.  She graduated from Otterbein College in 2004 with her Bachelors degree in Leadership and Management.  Janelle has two daughters, Jessica, 13, and Megan, 19.  They share their home with a one and one-half year old Great Dane named Gracie, a three year old Irish Wolfhound named Thor, and a four year old Chihuahua named Zeus.  Outside of the office Janelle has her own craft business making grape vine trees.  She frequents craft shows all around the area.  Janelle is also a scuba diver.
Becca Ulery is a native of Oak Harbor, OH.  She received her degree in Veterinary Technology from Stautzenberger College in Maumee, OH graduating in 2006.  She is currently studying for her Bachelors Degree in Veterinary Technology through St. Petersburg College. She lives in Gahanna with her eleven year old Doberman, Stogie.   Outside of work she enjoys knitting and baking.

Rabies Update
In their annual report on the number of Rabies cases in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported an increase of over 8% in total cases of Rabies in 2006.  There were 6,940 reported cases last year.  Approximately 92% of these cases were in wildlife and the rest were domestic animals plus three human cases.  The most common animal was raccoons followed by bats, skunks, and foxes.  Rabies was also seen in mules, horses, cattle, sheep, goats, rodents, groundhogs, coyotes, and rabbits among others.  There were 318 cats and 79 dogs with confirmed cases of Rabies in the United States last year.  Rabies incidence increased 18.2% in cats and 3.9% in dogs from 2005 to 2006.  The three humans in the United States that were infected with Rabies in 2006 were one each in Indiana and Texas, from bat bites, and one woman in California, infected through a dog bite while she was in the Phillipines.  Worldwide, about 50,000 people die each year from Rabies.
Why is this important information?  Because Rabies can affect all warm-blooded animals, Rabies is contagious, and Rabies is a fatal disease. 
Having our domestic pets vaccinated against Rabies is our only barrier against the wild animal reservoir of the disease.  Rabid animals don’t behave normally.  Sometimes they are overly friendly and sometimes they are abnormally aggressive.  Raccoons and coyotes have moved into housing developments all around the country.  Many dogs and cats meet up with raccoons, skunks, and coyotes right in their own backyard.  Bats get into homes and apartments quite regularly.  It doesn’t take a very large crack for a bat to get through.  And what cat (and even some dogs) wouldn’t love chasing a bat around the house? 
Please, when you receive your pet’s Rabies vaccine reminder, do not delay.  The risk is too high.   

From the Desk of Einstein
Just a reminder that the Thanksgiving holiday can be a hazardous time for the pets in your home.  Rich, fatty foods such as turkey, turkey skins, gravy, and ham can cause a very painful bout of pancreatitis with vomiting and diarrhea.  Bones of any kind can tear or obstruct your pet’s intestinal tract.  The strings that tie the turkey during roasting can tie up your pet’s insides, too.  And remember that onions, grapes, raisins, chocolate, and bread dough among other things can make your pet very ill.  These Thanksgiving hazards (or any other time of the year) can even be fatal!  Keeping your pet’s schedule as routine as possible and feeding them their regular diet only, will help to keep the holiday a happy one.

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