All-Pets staff is very excited about upcoming events for Halloween.
The Susan G Komen Race for the Cure will wend its way around our East Village office tomorrow. We won't be running this year---work beckons. If you do visit us in the East Village, use the parking garage behind our office (its the attached building), as street parking will be difficult.
Sunday is a big day! We start with the Spooky Paws Parade. All-Pets staff and dogs have big plans for the parade---think cold, think sinking ships & think icebergs. We are excited. The parade starts at 2 pm near Simon Estes amphitheater and ends with Jimmy John's sandwiches at Jett & Monkey's Dog Shoppe. This downtown Des Moines event guarantees fun for people & pets.
After the parade, Dr Berge heads to Osceola Iowa for a Sneak Peek film event for a film she produced with her husband. The short film, "Co-Pay", sheds light on the current state of health care in America. The film, directed by Paul Berge, stars the hilarious local actor, Greg Anderson.
Next Thursday, Halloween hits the East Village with candy, dog treats, and costumes at All-Pets East Village from 5-7 pm. Please bring your kids, both 2 legged and 4 legged.
We love the fall & we love Halloween!
Friday, October 25, 2013
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Sudden rear leg lameness in your dog
The most common reasons for sudden rear leg lameness in your dog are fractures, muscle tears and torn ligaments.
Fractures (broken bones) generally only happen with major injury such as when a dog gets hit by a car. However, in some toy breeds with fine leg bones, fractures can occur when the dog jumps down off a high object like furniture. We even saw a dog recently who got his foot stuck in a hole---the dog moved but the leg did not, creating a fractured tibia in the lower part of the leg. Stepping on a small dog can also break bones, but it would be unlikely in a large breed such as a lab or golden.. Dogs that have broken bones will be very lame---usually not putting their foot on the ground at all. Sometimes, if a small bone such as a toe is broken, the dog will bear some weight on the foot. Since dogs are four legged, they get around pretty readily on three legs, so will typically manage to be able to get up and move if only one leg is broken. With major injuries from trauma such as car accidents, multiple breaks can occur, causing greater difficulty getting up. This is especially true for a fractured pelvis. When I was a child, our boxer was hit by a motorcycle. He broke his pelvis and walked on his front legs only for several weeks. It is good for him that he was able to balance so well!
Fractures take a minimum of 6 weeks to heal. In older pets or severe fractures, healing can take even longer----up to 8-12 weeks. Broken bones cause severe pain and lack of function. Most fractures need a splint or even bone surgery for proper healing and prolonged pain medication. Bone surgery is most often done by a specialist in veterinary orthopedic surgery. University veterinary teaching hospitals and specialty clinics are the best places for bone surgery.
Muscle tears, sprains and strains are typically much less severe than fractures & heal much more quickly. Radiographs (Xrays) are used to help differentiate fractures from soft tissue injury. Most dogs with muscle tears and strains should be rested to allow the area to heal. Ice can be applied for 10 minute intervals to the affected area, if your dog tolerates it. Many dogs with this type of injury benefit from a short course of muscle relaxants or anti-inflammatories.
Rest is also important for proper healing of breaks and strains. Many dogs will only rest if confined to a small area such as a kennel.
Like fractures, torn ligaments heal slowly and may require surgical correction. The most common ligament tear in the dog is the torn anterior cruciate ligament. This ligament crosses inside the knee joint---when injured it causes sudden and often severe rear leg lameness.
Next time, we will talk specifically about the ACL in the dog and options for treatment.
Fractures (broken bones) generally only happen with major injury such as when a dog gets hit by a car. However, in some toy breeds with fine leg bones, fractures can occur when the dog jumps down off a high object like furniture. We even saw a dog recently who got his foot stuck in a hole---the dog moved but the leg did not, creating a fractured tibia in the lower part of the leg. Stepping on a small dog can also break bones, but it would be unlikely in a large breed such as a lab or golden.. Dogs that have broken bones will be very lame---usually not putting their foot on the ground at all. Sometimes, if a small bone such as a toe is broken, the dog will bear some weight on the foot. Since dogs are four legged, they get around pretty readily on three legs, so will typically manage to be able to get up and move if only one leg is broken. With major injuries from trauma such as car accidents, multiple breaks can occur, causing greater difficulty getting up. This is especially true for a fractured pelvis. When I was a child, our boxer was hit by a motorcycle. He broke his pelvis and walked on his front legs only for several weeks. It is good for him that he was able to balance so well!
Fractures take a minimum of 6 weeks to heal. In older pets or severe fractures, healing can take even longer----up to 8-12 weeks. Broken bones cause severe pain and lack of function. Most fractures need a splint or even bone surgery for proper healing and prolonged pain medication. Bone surgery is most often done by a specialist in veterinary orthopedic surgery. University veterinary teaching hospitals and specialty clinics are the best places for bone surgery.
Muscle tears, sprains and strains are typically much less severe than fractures & heal much more quickly. Radiographs (Xrays) are used to help differentiate fractures from soft tissue injury. Most dogs with muscle tears and strains should be rested to allow the area to heal. Ice can be applied for 10 minute intervals to the affected area, if your dog tolerates it. Many dogs with this type of injury benefit from a short course of muscle relaxants or anti-inflammatories.
Rest is also important for proper healing of breaks and strains. Many dogs will only rest if confined to a small area such as a kennel.
Like fractures, torn ligaments heal slowly and may require surgical correction. The most common ligament tear in the dog is the torn anterior cruciate ligament. This ligament crosses inside the knee joint---when injured it causes sudden and often severe rear leg lameness.
Next time, we will talk specifically about the ACL in the dog and options for treatment.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Tips, Tricks and Thoughts From All-Pets Hospital: Help! my dog won't use his back leg!
Tips, Tricks and Thoughts From All-Pets Hospital: Help! my dog won't use his back leg!: A common scenario we are presented with is a limping dog. A dog that holds his leg up completely & won't put his foot down, is defin...
Help! my dog won't use his back leg!
A common scenario we are presented with is a limping dog. A dog that holds his leg up completely & won't put his foot down, is definitely cause for concern. A dog that just hikes his leg, but will bear weight on it, should also be seen by a veterinarian.
Most lame dogs should be seen by your veterinarian within 1-2 days of when the lameness starts. If the lameness is sudden and severe, your dog should be seen immediately---an emergency visit may even be necessary.
For most lamenesses, the first step is an examination and radiographs (Xrays) of the lame area. The exam can help your vet pinpoint the location that should be Xrayed. Sometimes a tentative diagnosis can be made with only an exam.
Things that can cause lameness include: broken bones, torn ligaments, muscle tears or pulls, tumors, and inflammation of the bone or joints. Arthritis is a common cause in old dogs and can be seen with developmental problems such as hip or elbow dysplasia.
In most cases of lameness, pain medication is recommended. Dogs, just like people, handle non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs well. Rimadyl is a brand commonly used. Cats don't handle these types of medications wells & are more commonly treated with steroids for inflammation and opioids like buprenorphine for pain.
Next time, we will talk more about different problems that cause lameness & need for surgical correction.
Most lame dogs should be seen by your veterinarian within 1-2 days of when the lameness starts. If the lameness is sudden and severe, your dog should be seen immediately---an emergency visit may even be necessary.
For most lamenesses, the first step is an examination and radiographs (Xrays) of the lame area. The exam can help your vet pinpoint the location that should be Xrayed. Sometimes a tentative diagnosis can be made with only an exam.
Things that can cause lameness include: broken bones, torn ligaments, muscle tears or pulls, tumors, and inflammation of the bone or joints. Arthritis is a common cause in old dogs and can be seen with developmental problems such as hip or elbow dysplasia.
In most cases of lameness, pain medication is recommended. Dogs, just like people, handle non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs well. Rimadyl is a brand commonly used. Cats don't handle these types of medications wells & are more commonly treated with steroids for inflammation and opioids like buprenorphine for pain.
Next time, we will talk more about different problems that cause lameness & need for surgical correction.
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