Dental disease is one of the most common problems in cats and dogs. It can be the cause of bad of breath, bleeding gums and chronic pain but can also be a source of infection which can spread to other parts of the body including kidneys, liver and the heart.

The early stages of the disease can be reversed by good oral hygiene including tooth brushing (not impossible in cats!), descaling and use of dental diets. For more advanced cases the only successful method of treatment may be to remove the teeth. Although this may seem drastic many cats are a lot happier after this procedure and will eat biscuits very happily!

Why does dental disease happen?

Without regular cleaning, teeth will become coated in a layer of plaque which is a mixture of bacteria and calcium deposits that are present in saliva.  As the plaque accumulates it can lead to painful inflammation of the gums also known as gingivitis. If left undisturbed it will form a layer of calculus or tartar which provides a perfect surface for more plaque accumulation.

Plaque, tartar and gum disease can be treated relatively easily, however if left unchecked may lead to loosening of teeth in their sockets (periodontal disease) and in some circumstances tooth root abscesses. These problems will generally require removal of the affected tooth as part of the treatment.  Broken teeth generally occur due to trauma and cats may also get tiny holes in their teeth which can be extremely painful.

How do I know if my pet has dental disease?

• Red, swollen or bleeding gums
• Pus around the gum lines
• Bad breath
• Dribbling (which can lead to fur staining)
• Rubbing or pawing at the mouth
• Difficulty eating
• Pet will not allow mouth examination due to pain or discomfort

Remember: Pain is not always obvious in cats and dogs but it doesn’t mean it isn’t present

What does dental treatment consist of?

In most cases if your vet advises you that your pet needs dental treatment, this will involve a general anaesthetic. Removal of tartar and plaque from teeth generally requires the use of high speed air driven descaling equipment. The majority of our pets will not tolerate this when they are conscious, neither will they allow drilling or tooth removal!

A general anaesthetic means that the vet can have good access to the teeth and gums whilst protecting the pet’s airway from debris and fluid as the teeth are cleaned. The teeth will be descaled to remove the tartar and reveal any damaged or loose teeth that may need to be taken out. Finally they will be polished before the animal is woken up.

Dental disease in cats

Gingivostomatitis (inflammation of the gums) is a common disease in cats. It is a very painful condition and can result in severe changes within the mouth. Bad breath and weight loss are two common signs but unfortunately mean that the disease may be quite advanced by the time this is noticed. Red marks on the gums are a sign of gum disease.

FORLS (Resorptive Lesions) – These are very painful small holes that appear in the teeth of some cats. It is not clear why they occur but teeth will always need attention if they are present.

How to brush your pet’s teeth

Step 1

Introduce your pet to the taste of special animal toothpaste by allowing them to lick it off your finger. Make this an enjoyable experience and give them plenty of praise. Do this for 3-5 days.

Step 2

Use your finger to gently rub some toothpaste onto the outside surfaces of the teeth and gums. Start with the canines and gradually work your way to the back teeth. After a few days you can also start to introduce a finger brush to get your pet used to having an unusual object in their mouths.

Step 3

Use your finger to gently rub some toothpaste onto the outside surfaces of the teeth and gums. Start with the canines and gradually work your way to the back teeth. After a few days you can also start to introduce a finger brush to get your pet used to having an unusual object in their mouth

Now you can introduce a pet toothbrush. Brush each tooth in a circular motion with the brush angled at 45 degrees (downwards for the lower jaw and upwards for the upper jaw). Make sure you brush both the tooth and gum line.

 

It is very important to pay close attention to the health of your pet’s teeth and gums. If dental disease is overlooked or left untreated your pet may experience significant pain and discomfort. There are many ways to keep teeth clean. These include tooth brushing, dental diets and mouth washes to name a few.

Please contact our team if you would like to arrange a dental check for your pet, or for any further information on home dental care.  We are offering free dental check ups with a 10% discount on dental cleanings throughout the month of May.

What to do when a dog growls at you when he is eating or on the sofa?

Any form of aggression should be discussed with a professional. There are always different reasons for this behaviour, however it is a good start not to let them have access to the sofa or bed if they start guarding those spaces! Normally, I have no problem with people and dogs sharing this space (both my dogs sleep on the bed), BUT when they start guarding that — it’s a big no no!

Resource guarding with food is a different problem and can have multiple reasons. The most important advice I give here is to NEVER take food away from your dog (unless extremely harmful) as this can cause them to feel a need to guard it.

 

What to do with an anxious dog who can’t be left alone?

This is an issue that can have different reasons as well. The key is to leave your dog for very short periods of time starting with about 30 seconds and working up from that. It’s best to start teaching your dog from an early age that it is ok to be alone.

Leaving them with something to do can also be helpful chewing relieves stress so a stuffed Kong, BECO Bone or similar can be very helpful, but please be careful to not leave your dog with a toy they might destroy so it can become potentially harmful.

Not allowing your pup to follow you into every room (especially the bathroom) teaches them to be less dependent.

If you are concerned, getting advice from a professional can be very helpful for you and your dog.

 

How to handle your reactive dog on the lead, would they ever be able to be off lead walking around others?

Yes — with a lot of work and effort on the owners part. A reactive dog can be able to be walked off leach and some will find friends to play with as well.

This is the one thing, where I will shout “Get a trainer to help”, simply because it’s too complicated to explain here. Until you get help, find yourself quiet spots with little to no off leash dogs. Advocate for your dog, when another dog or human approaches. Try to walk away if necessary, in case you see problems while they are walking towards you. I own a reactive dog myself and know how hard this journey is. This is also why I became a trainer. If there are people reading this owning happy off leash dogs — please help us out and put them on leads. While your dogs don’t mean any harm, their happy energy can frighten dogs that have had bad experiences.

 

What is you most and least favourite breed to work with?

Oh — I can’t pick a favourite. I like having loads of different breeds and different personalities in training, since they all have different needs and motivators that challenge me. My least favourite are probably breeds made popular through films, not because of the breed, but rather the expectations owners have thanks to films and media. They don’t realise how much work goes into training a dog. Once owners are aware of that, I love working with those breeds as well.

 

Best potty training tips for puppies?

Make a schedule! A really simple excel sheet that helps you to remember to bring your pup out every 1 to 2 hours. This is especially important if several people share the responsibility. Also bring them out after every meal time, every nap and every play session.

Crate training will also be a life saver in trying to get your pup potty trained.

 

What is the biggest mistake you see with owners and training puppies?

Taking too long to start training. Start the second you come home with your puppy. Focus on the most important house rules: on the couch or not, upstairs or not, etc. Start like you want to continue. If you don’t want your 40kg dog to jump up on your white dress don’t allow your cute little puppy to jump up! What they learn at the start is what they will know for the rest of their life. Also waiting too long to get help. It’s much easier to help with a behaviour that just developed than one that the dog is showing for a year.

 

What are your views on crate training?

LOVE IT! It’s an absolute life saver when raising a puppy. We can’t always have our eyes everywhere when raising a puppy so giving ourselves and our puppies some quiet time makes a huge difference. Dogs living feral would sleep in dens. Simulating one by putting up a crate and making it super cosy, can help your pup to settle. What our puppies don’t learn to do (doing business in the house, eating sofas, shoes, etc…) they are less likely to learn as an adult.

 

What is best for walking big dogs: haltis, collars or harness, slip lead?

No piece of equipment you buy in a shop will stop your dog from pulling. Some of them might just make it uncomfortable and lure you in a false sense of security.

I love a front clip harness combined with a double clip lead —  not just for big dogs but every dog that pulls. The reason is that it gives me a huge amount of control even when the dog is quite big. My favourite client where this worked is about 50kg herself and she owns a 60kg Mastiff. Her dog used to be very afraid and often tried to run away when he saw cars or leaves. Once I know, I have that control and I’m not hurting my dog, I can start the training process.

 

Which celebrity dog trainer training style do you agree with the most? Cesar Millan, Victoria Stillwell, Jas Leverette?

Most definitely Victoria Stillwell! Her work is based on a scientific understanding of dogs. She explains well and uses easy to follow methods.

Jas Leverette uses good training methods as well, but they are sometimes not very practical. Also he likes the use of additional equipment that can be hard to set up in certain situations. What I don’t agree with is taking the dog away from the owner for the majority of the initial training process. This way it can be hard for owners to follow through later on.

Cesar Milan  —  I have very strong negative feelings about this training style. He does not have formal qualifications and completely disregards the dogs way of thinking, communicating, learning and just continues to bully them until they give up. I could go on and on about this but won’t for this Q&A.

 

About Alena:

Alena grew up in Germany and have loved dogs ever since she can remember. While never allowed her own dog — She grew up around her mum’s friends breeding business (Dalmatians).

She has always been interested in the way dogs think and learn and from about 10 years old started following a dog trainer that became very popular through his tv show.

When she came to Ireland and started to volunteer in a shelter, she could finally use some of the advice she heard on the program to help find more of the dogs a loving home.

This is where she met her first dog Jack who quickly showed her that she knew very little! So she began to study everything she could find about canine behaviour to help him work through some of the trauma he experienced before meeting her.

He passion is to help more dogs and people in similar situations, but also to teach puppy owners how to give them the best start in life.

 

Your can contact Alena via the below:

Contact:

0894848209

[email protected]

alenasdogschool.com

through Facebook and Instagram Alena’s PAWsitive Dog School

These are special diets formulated to help manage and treat specific health conditions and to support our pet’s health.  Examples of some diets are;

Hepatic and Renal diets: These are different foods created, to help support the function of these organs in those affected with kidney disease or liver disease. The levels of protein, energy and salts are adjusted and are easier for the liver and kidneys to metabolise.

Gastrointestinal diets: These are produced specifically for those pets with sensitive stomachs which require management long-term or for those with a temporary GI upset.

Urinary diets: Some individuals can suffer with urinary issues such as cystitis or urinary stones, which need long-term diet management to avoid reoccurrences. These are formulated with lower levels of certain salts and have supplements to promote the health of the urinary system.

Allergy diets: Hypoallergenic and Anallergenic diets are examples of these, which are prescribed if underlying allergies affecting the skin, gastrointestinal system or both are suspected. They are utilised to try and reduce the incidence of allergy flare ups and can be part a multimodal approach in terms of management.

 

Talk to a member of staff if you feel that your pet might benefit from one of these today!

Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis or more commonly known as IBR is a virus that can present itself in many forms on farm including respiratory, fertility and production issues.

The textbook clinical signs of IBR are

• ‘burnt’ muzzle
• pink eye
• high temp
• dullness and lack of appetite
• milk drop
• snotty nose
• ‘snore’ as their windpipe is affected.

This is severe form of IBR and even with aggressive treatment there can be huge losses.

On dairy farms the presentation of IBR may not always be as severe.  It can cause niggling problems such as:

• production loss of 5-10%
• embryo losses/ abortions
• increased culling rate
• poor treatment response for other diseases

A frequent consequence of IBR that we see on farm is calf ill health. Calves that are not thriving, wet noses, on/off temps +/- in the first 1-2 weeks of life that don’t respond well to treatment.  Antibiotics do not treat viruses but are used for the secondary bacterial infection. Usually calves survive but they don’t do as well in terms of daily gain going forward.

Time, treatment costs and extra feed for same gain are all things to consider here.

How does it spread?

It’s an airborne disease – think of COVID- it’s in water droplets, coughing, nasal secretions.It is worth noting that can be found in sperm from infected bulls.

Latent carriers are a huge problem

We use the term latent carriers to describe animals that have been previously infected with IBR, recovered from the disease but the virus basically hibernates in the animal’s immune system.

During a stressful period the virus is reactivated and the ‘apparently healthy’ animal will shed to other naïve animals and they will be clinically sick. It becomes a vicious cycle as this can create more carriers. In this way a serious problem can start in a previously ‘clean’ herd.

 

How do I know if my herd is affected?

• Swab – sick animals or animals with nasal discharge

+/-

• Bloods – sample 5-10 cows for IBR antibodies

+/-

• Bulk Milk Sample – will test for IBR antibodies.

 

How can you prevent it?

Keep a closed herd to prevent. If buying reduce the risk by buying from herds that are either proven IBR negative or herds that are vaccinating.

Vaccination –there are a number of different protocols including live and inactivated which differ for age groups and from farm to farm.

 

Contact the office to have a chat through the protocol that best suits your farm.

Most common ear and skin disease

 

Atopy is a hereditary skin disease of dogs, characterised by skin inflammation and itchiness (pruritus).

Infections by bacteria or yeast are a secondary cause, which will need to be treated, but is not the primary cause for the most common skin condition: atopy.

Current understanding is that it is caused by an abnormal reaction of the immune system to tiny particles in the environment called allergens, combined with abnormalities in the surface layer (stratum corneum) of the skin. Allergens enter the body through the skin and lead to the production of certain antibodies in genetically predisposed animals. These antibodies then cause either intermittent or chronic (long-term) symptoms.

Corticosteroids: these usually come in tablet form or can be given by injection. They can be very useful in acute, short-term cases as they can work within hours, but must be used with care in more long-term cases in order to reduce the risk of side effects. Corticosteroids can also be applied directly to affected skin in the form of gels or sprays. This form of treatment can play a very important part in managing Atopy.

Apoquel/ Cytopoint/Cyclosporine: this drug, like corticosteroids is very effective but costs significantly more. Although slightly slower to work, its advantage over corticosteroids is reduced long-term side effects. Adding in other treatments, listed below, can reduce the dosage and frequency of administration of all systemic drugs:

Prescription diets: these are specially formulated to improve skin health and reduce pruritus.

Essential fatty acids: these originate from fish and various plants such as Evening Primrose and Borage. It may take 8-10 weeks to see the effect of these.

Topical treatments: these are applied directly to the skin in the form of shampoos, lotions and moisturisers. They help soothe and repair.

Hyposensitisation: having a vaccine made up, which contains the allergens your dog is allergic to and injecting this under the skin can be effective in 50 to 80% of cases but usually only yields an overall improvement of 50%.

This is called Allergen Specific Immunotherapy (ASIT). It may take 3-12 months to see a positive response, needs to be given life long and is mainly used with young dogs suffering from symptoms throughout the year.

If your pet suffers from atopy, there is unfortunately no quick fix. Flare ups will occur, when allergen exposure is high, despite adequate treatment.

Atopy is a complex condition and is best discussed with your vet, especially if an itch or an infection is not well controlled.

Speak to us if you would like to discuss this further.

Milk fever and subclinical milk fever are the most important macromineral disorders that affect transition dairy cows. The occurrence of milk fever or subclinical hypocalcaemia is related to increased incidence rates of several other transition cow problems. The cows with low blood level of calcium have a higher likelihood of having immunosupression, an assisted calving (2-3x), retained placenta, uterine prolapse, endometritis, mastitis (8x), displaced abomasum (2-4x) ketosis and fertility problems. Therefore, it very important that both milk fever and subclinical milk fever are prevented.

The main strategies to avoid milk fever and subclinical hypocalcaemia at calving are:

1. Ensuring the correct BCS at calving (BCS 3.0)
2. Providing adequate Mg supplementation pre-calving (min 20 g per cow per day)
3. Achieving negative DCAB (dietary cation anion balance)
4. Reducing dietary K intake

*It is very important to have your silage analysed to know the mineral content and the nutritional value.

Cows who have gone down with milk fever should be treated by a vet with IV calcium. High risk cows (over-conditioned, high-yielding, lame cows and cows with a previous history of milk fever) would benefit receiving an oral calcium bolus at the point of calving and the second one 12 hours later in aid of lowering the chance of the cow getting milk fever.

Consider milk fever as a gateway disease to other illnesses and work towards identifying the specific strategy for milk fever control in the enterprise. All farms should have some pre-determined strategy for milk fever prevention. If you have an increased number of transition cow problems or more than 5% of your cows get milk fever an investigation into the issue would be advisory.

Contact Glasslyn Vets for further information on milk fever prevention and testing.

 

Vet Nurse Katie Harte is an outdoor enthusiast and loves nothing better than going out with her dogs, here are her top spots in West Cork, why not make it your To Do list for this year???

• Dromkeen forest walk, Innishannon
• Clare O’ Leary walk, Bandon
• Inchydoney beach. Clonakilty
• Castlefreke recreational area , Rathbarry – Various waymarked woodland trails and beach walks on nearby beaches (The long strand, Red strand, Owenahincha & Warren beaches)
• Warren beach <–> Owenahincha beach cliff walk, Rosscarbery
• Dromilihy forest recreational area, Connonagh (20 mins from Dunmanway / Clonakilty)
• Dunworley beach & cliff walk. Timoleague
• Timoleague <-> Courtmacsherry coastal road walk
• Courtmacsherry Beach & woodland walk (also 7 heads walk starting point)
• Kilbrittain village park & wood walk
• Coolmain beach & Harbour view beach. Kilbrittain
• Garrettstown <–> Garylucas cliff walk & beach walks. Old head, Kinsale
• Charles Fort costal walk
• Garrettstown wood trails. Ballinspittle
• Curraghbinny woods, Carrigaline
• Carrigaline <-> Crosshaven Greenway
• Carrigfadda hill walk, Reenascreena (20mins from Dunmanway & Clonakilty)
• Rineen woods, Castlehaven
• Lough Hyne lake / country road walk & Knockomagh hill walk. Skibbereen
• Farran woods, Macroom
• The Gearagh nature preserve. Macroom
• Glengarriff nature reserve
• Gougane Barra forest park. Ballingeary
• Drimoleague heritage walkways, various routes
• Hungry hill, Beara peninsula

What is Pillow foot?

Pillow Foot in Cats (Plasma Cell Pododermatitis in Cats) is a rare disease of the footpads of cats. Due to the accumulation of a specific type of white blood cells called plasma cells, the footpad becomes inflamed. Plasma cells play a major role in the immune system.

Causes of Pillow Foot in cats

The cause is unknown but is thought to be immune-mediated; that is, the immune system causes or aggravates inflammation. Some studies have found a link between pillow foot and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection so it is important to screen an affected cat for this virus.

Symptoms of Pillow Foot

In the early stages of pododermatitis, soft, non-uncomfortable swelling of the footpads develops. More than one pad on more than one foot is typically involved. Pads may look purple and appear streaky, with white scaly material on the surface. Later, the pads can become bloody and uncomfortable. Sometimes kidney disease and inflammation of the tissues in the mouth can also occur.

Diagnosis of Pillow Foot in Cats

The main diagnostic marker is simply the appearance of the footpads. Removing cells with a small needle and examining them under the microscope (fine needle aspirate) may reveal numerous plasma cells. Blood tests may be recommended to look for infection, kidney problems, or evidence of immune response, but the results are variable. A biopsy of an affected foot pad usually confirms the diagnosis.

Treatment for Pillow Foot

Treatment may be not needed if the inflammation is mild and the cat feels okay. In some cats, the condition spontaneously disappears. However, in other cats, medications are needed to balance the immune system. In this case, steroids or immune-suppressive medications may be prescribed. Sometimes, surgery is an option to remove lesions that affect only one food pad, but this is uncommon. Many pets require some medication for life and need periodic blood tests to monitor for adverse effects of the medications.

 

First Aid In Dogs and Cats

 

Golden Rules

• Be prepared – keep your first aid kit organised and up to date.
• Don’t panic at the first sign of a problem, try and remain calm and be logical in your approach
• Know when to seek further help – minor problems may often be dealt with at home but if in any doubt consult your vet

 

First aid as the name suggests is the first treatment you would give when presented with an injury or traumatic episode. We all hope that our pets will never be in the situation where it is needed however the preparation of a basic first aid kit and some tips on how to handle situations may make dealing with an emergency much easier.

 

Cuts and tears:

These may vary from small superficial skin tears with little blood to larger gashes that require stitching. Basic examination of the wound will help you decide what to do.

• Trim away any hair that is covering the wound
• Flush well with a good amount of warm water or saline, this will remove any dust or debris
• Apply a light bandage or dressing if possible to minimise further contamination- consult your vet if you are worried.

Bleeding wounds:

Some deep wounds or those on ears or tails may bleed profusely. The most important thing to do here is to apply pressure.

• For severe wounds where a lot of blood is being lost use a tea towel to create a firm pad. This can be bandaged firmly onto the wound and should not be removed until you reach the vets
• Ears – a head bandage can be applied alternatively use something to hold the ear firmly to the head to stop repeated flapping and give time for a clot to form
• Tails – lots of tape is often required to hold these in place.
• Sometimes wounds that appear small, for example a puncture wound caused by a bite may be significantly contaminated by bacteria. There may be tissue damaged underneath the skin that requires veterinary treatment.

 

Seizures:

Although these may seem very frightening when they occur it is very important you remain calm.

• Reduce any external stimuli if possible such as loud noises or bright lights
• Many animals may lose control of bladder or bowel function during a fit this is not unusual
• Do not attempt to try and clear an airway you may get bitten
• Reassure your pet whilst the seizure is happening, talk quietly and calmly.

 

Heat stroke:

Signs may include excessive panting, disorientation, collapse or seizures.

• Wet towels with cold water and apply them to less hairy parts of the body such as under the front and back legs and over the abdomen. Change the towels as they begin to warm.
• Create an airflow either using a fan or an open window in a moving car.
• Avoid completely submerging your animal in water this may lead to more problems

When Cornelius O’Driscoll set up his veterinary practice in Bandon in 1915, he could not have dreamed that it would still be serving the people of West Cork a century later. Glasslyn Veterinary clinics in Bandon, Kinsale and Dunmanway are rightly proud of their reputation for high quality care based on over 100 years of experience combined with cutting edge technology, the best skills and the most modern facilities. Glasslyn Vets is now one of the largest veterinary practices in the country with fifteen full-time vets and a strong team of support staff.

We are currently expanding our veterinary team and have two roles available.

Large Animal Veterinary Surgeon (Bandon, Co. Cork)

Glasslyn Vets is looking to recruit an experienced and enthusiastic large animal veterinary surgeon for a full-time position to join our growing team primarily in the Bandon area. Preference is for a minimum two years’ experience, but all applicants will be considered and replied to.

Qualifications and Experience
• Experience in farm animal practice, particularly dairy an advantage
• Veterinary Council of Ireland registered
• Ability to work independently and on own initiative
• High standard of professionalism
• Strong communication, organisational and analytical skills

This role is supported by an excellent team of other LA vets and clinic-based staff. Salary is commensurate with experience. Generous benefits package includes pension contributions, sick pay and generous CPD through XL Vets.

 

Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon (Co. Cork)
Glasslyn Vets is looking to recruit an experienced small animal veterinary surgeon for a full-time position to take full responsibility for SA clinic practice in one of our clinics in Co. Cork. There is no requirement for out of hours work.  A minimum of four years’ small animal experience is required for this role.

Qualifications and Experience
• At least 4 years’ experience in small animal practice
• Veterinary Council of Ireland registered
• Ability to work independently and on own initiative
• High standard of professionalism
• Strong communication, organisational and analytical skills

The role is supported by an exceptional and supportive team of nurses and vets with excellent levels of equipment and case load. Salary is commensurate with experience. Generous benefits package includes pension contribution, sick pay scheme and generous CPD through XL Vets.

For a confidential discussion about our opportunities call Kevin O Sullivan on 023 8841404 or email CV to [email protected].