Julie Nuttall, Author at Oakhill Vets

Microchips in Pets

In May 2021, under the Action Plan for Animal Welfare, it was announced that the government are considering enforcement of microchipping in pet cats. We’ve prepared answers to some frequently asked questions about microchips.

What is a microchip?

A microchip is a small computer chip, approximately the size of a grain of rice, that is placed under the pet’s skin, usually between their shoulder blades. The microchip contains a unique number that a vet, dog warden or rescue centre can use to search the national databases for the owner’s details.

How is a microchip implanted?

The vet, nurse or suitably qualified person will pinch the scruff (loose skin between the shoulder blades) and then use a specialised needle to implant the microchip under the skin. The procedure takes a couple of seconds, and although it can feel a little uncomfortable, most animals quickly forget about the experience and there is no long lasting pain or discomfort. It is important that we do not stroke around this area for around 24 hours, whilst the skin heals, to reduce the risk of dislodging the microchip.

How long do microchips work for?

Microchips typically last for a pet’s lifetime. In rare cases, microchips can ‘fail’, and stop working. This is why vets routinely check the microchips of pets under our care; if a microchip fails we implant a new one, with no need to remove the defective chip.

Should I microchip my pet?

Under current legislation, pet dogs over 8 weeks old must be microchipped, so by law all dog owners must ensure their pets are microchipped. This law doesn’t yet apply to cats, but, as mentioned above, this is likely to become a legal requirement in the near future. Importantly, microchips are the best way to ensure that if a pet becomes lost, we are able to contact you as soon as possible to renuite them with you. In cats, if the cat is involved in an accident away from home, being able to contact the owners as soon as possible is important to discuss treatment plans. In addition, sadly pet theft has increased in recent times, and there are many cases of stolen pets being reunited through their microchips.

My pet is already microchipped, do I need to do anything?

Over a pet’s lifetime, it is important to update the database with changes of address and phone numbers. To update the details, you can contact Pet Trac, one of the largest microchip databases (https://www.pettrac.co.uk/). If your pet’s microchip is not registered with this database, they will advise you which database to contact.

As always, please get in touch if you have any questions.

Preventing gastric ulcers

Squamous ulceration and glandular ulceration are considered separate disease entities and whilst the risk factors for squamous ulceration are well publicised, further research is required for glandular ulcerative disease. By knowing the risk factors for ulcerative disease, we can endeavour to develop prevention strategies. In some horses, it is impossible to ascertain the trigger factor but ongoing care with diet, management and reduction in stress are of paramount importance regardless.

1. Diet

As we will have previously discussed, access to fibre, little and often, is very important for the prevention of gastric ulceration. Horses should have access to grazing, ideally with companions, and whilst stabled, receive access to hay/haylage. Many people interpret this as a licence to over feed horses and this is certainly not the case. In those horses that are overweight, the recommended quantity of hay should be divided out over a 24-hour period, ideally as 4-6 feeds and not given as one feed only. Hay may be soaked and double netted to slow ingestion speed.

If feeding bucket feeds, select low starch/sugar feeds. A number of suitable feeds are available and we are more than happy to discuss this with you on an individual basis.

Corn oil has varying scientific evidence and as such goes ‘in and out’ of fashion but may reduce gastric acidity. But remember, corn oil is calorific so may not be suitable if your horse is carrying too much weight as it will result in further weight gain.

2. Water restriction & over supplementation with electrolytes

Are also considered risk factors for the development of ulceration. Ad lib water should be provided at all times and if using electrolytes, these should be used judiciously and added to feed.

3. Intense Exercise

Intense exercise is another risk factor for squamous ulceration. As exercise intensity increases, so does the incidence of squamous ulceration. Remember to feed a handful of hay/alfalfa 15 minutes before work to increase the fibrous matt in your horse’s stomach and in turn, reduce acid splash.

4. Stress

Stress is inevitably a contributing factor to gastric ulceration. Horses are herd animals and as such should have companions and freedom to display natural behaviors including access to turn out alongside their companions.

Stable enrichment should be considered for periods your horse is stabled- stable mirrors, treat balls etc. A number of commercial calmers are also available with varying degrees of success in individual patients.

5. Supplements

Lack conclusive scientific evidence but a couple of new products have been released as of late. It is too early to comment on our experiences just yet but watch this space!

Looking after your pet in the hot weather

Dogs cannot sweat through the skin, and mainly lose heat through panting – if you imagine wearing a fur coat whilst out on a walk it gives some understanding how easily they can develop heatstroke! So as the temperature rises, it’s important to make sure your pets are kept cool and comfortable. There are lots of ways to do this:

Make sure your pet always has access to fresh water, including taking some with you on a walk.
Stuff a kong and pop it in the freezer to make a refreshing treat.
Make sure there’s a shady spot in the garden if your pet goes outdoors. If there is no shade in your garden you can easily create some by placing some cloth or cardboard over an area to keep the sun out.
Put a paddling pool or water spray toy out in the garden for them to play in.
Keep up with their daily grooming – matted hair traps in heat in dogs and cats. If your pet is long haired consider getting them a shorter trim in the summer.
Walk your dogs in the cooler morning and evening times
Dogs paw pads can burn on hot pavements – if it is too hot for your hand it is too hot for their paws.
Be particularly careful with short nosed dogs such as pugs and bulldogs, and pets who are overweight as they can overheat very easily
Paddling or swimming is a great form of exercise in the hot weather – but always make sure to avoid areas with strong tides or currents, and check the water is clean/free from algae.

Symptoms of heat stroke include agitation, stretching out, panting heavily, drooling, hot skin, glazed eyes, vomiting and collapse.

If you feel your pet is becoming hot try cooling down with damp cool cloth (especially in cats), or a water spray (dogs). If the symptoms persist then please ring us immediately for advice.

And finally, never leave your dog in the car – even on a mild day a car can quickly become an oven, even with the windows open.

Heat stroke in dogs

As humans, we tend to embrace the sunshine and warmer weather that the summer months bring us. However, enjoying these warmer temperatures can quickly become very dangerous for our four-legged friends. Dogs lack the amount of widespread sweat glands that humans possess; only having sweat glands in their feet and around their nose. Therefore, they are unable to tolerate the heat like we can, relying on panting to keep themselves cool. Brachycephalic breeds (flat-faced breeds) such as Pugs, Bulldogs and Boxers have a further increased susceptibility to heat stroke due to their upper airway abnormalities. We want to make everyone aware of the risk that warmer weather poses so we can enjoy the summer safely together.

What are the signs of heat stroke in dogs?

The signs that a dog may exhibit can vary as the body temperature rises and heat stroke develops in severity. If you recognise any of the below signs you should seek veterinary advice immediately:

fast, heavy panting
appearing distressed or agitated
excessive drooling or foaming at the mouth
excessive thirst
bright red gums or tongue (may turn a purple tinge as severity increases)
increased heartrate
elevated body temperature
diarrhoea
glassy appearance to eyes
staggering when walking
collapse
seizures
unconsciousness

Heat stroke is the result of a dog unable to control his body temperature resulting in hyperthermia. This may be exertional heat stroke as a result of a dog being exercised in warmer temperatures, or non-exertional due to lack of ventilation and/or water which is typically seen in dogs left in parked cars. There is no defined space of time of how long it can take for a dog in a parked car to develop heat stroke, however, this can be as little as 15 minutes.

Tips to help keep your dog safe:

NEVER leave your dog in a parked car in warm weather for any period of time
avoid long car journeys (if your dog travels in the boot, the temperature back here may be considerably higher than in the rest of the car where you are sitting)
restrict exercise on warmer days
take advantage of cooler temperatures in the morning and late evening
make sure your dog has access to water to drink-allow access to shade when in the garden or on a walk
take water with your dog on a walk-provide a cool place for your dog to rest for example a cool wet towel in the shade

Timing is crucial with these cases; the sooner the signs of heat stroke are noticed by an owner, and the dog receives prompt veterinary treatment, the better the prognosis. Where possible, phoning the veterinary practice in advance of setting off to the vets with your dog can be beneficial; we may well advise you to start cooling techniques before your journey. On arrival, we will assess your pets condition and provide veterinary treatment as needed. This can include applying cooling techniques, administering intravenous fluids alongside constant monitoring of clinical signs. Unfortunately, despite aggressive veterinary treatment, heat stroke can result in serious long term complications such as kidney failure or in some cases can even be fatal.

It’s not every day you come across an animal with an extra digit!

1 year old beltex gimmer lamb recently presented with an extra toe – also known as polydactyly.

Xrays were taken here at our Goosnargh practice and Oakhill Farm Vet, Amy Bowers operated to remove the extra structure. Without removal, the lamb was a risk of it getting caught and sustaining trauma.

The lamb is now recovering well.

An Easter Warning

As Easter is approaching we will be enjoying the treats and flower that this encompasses however dogs and cats can become very ill if they ingest or come into contact with certain things.

Chocolate

During Easter we all enjoy eating some (a lot of) chocolate. Whilst for us it is a delectable treat, for dogs (and cats) if ingested, can cause life threatening illness. Chocolate contains theobromine that at toxic levels can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and shaking and can lead onto seizures (fits), heart issues and ultimately death. If you suspect your dog has consumed chocolate please ring the practice immediately as if treated early can reduce the risk to your dog.

Hot Cross Buns (raisins)

Raisins within hot cross buns can cause irreversible kidney failure and sadly death if consumed by dogs. Toxic doses vary and a very small amount can be deadly. If your dog has or even is suspected to have ingested raisins or grapes immediate veterinary treatment is indicated.

Bulbs

Easter is a time when spring emerges and our gardens and hedgerows are bright with colour from flowers. Certain flowers for example daffodils and hyacinths originate from bulbs buried in the ground. Dogs, especially puppies may be dig them up and may chew and ingest them. Toxicities can vary but usual signs of vomiting and diarrhoea are common. Veterinary intervention may be indicated so please contact the practice if you have any concerns.

Lilies

Lilies are highly toxic and extremely dangerous for cats and will cause kidney failure and sadly death. All parts of the lily is toxic i.e. stem, flower and pollen. The most common route of ingestion if through the pollen whilst grooming. Our advice would be to NEVER have lilies in a house where cats are present.

Anti-freeze

As the weather warms and people get out and about into their gardens and garages, cats have access to areas where chemicals such as antifreeze are stored. Antifreeze is sweet and is sadly enticing to cats which if consumed causes irreversible kidney failure. As cats are outdoor animals it can be hard to stop this however owners can alert unaware neighbours to keep chemicals such as antifreeze locked away from prying paws.

Alabama Rot: Confirmed case in Preston but owners advised to stay calm but vigilant.

The disease, which causes ulcers on the skin and kidney failure, has reportedly resurfaced in Preston.

Anderson Moores Vet Specialists have confirmed three new cases of the deadly dog disease have been found in the UK, with one case in Preston.

Alabama Rot is a potentially fatal disease affecting dogs which has been identified across most of the UK since 2012. The disease doesn’t discriminate between age, gender or breed and the cause is still unknown.

The disease (also known as CRGV) has been dubbed the ‘black death’ because it’s so aggressive. When it comes to the symptoms, the most obvious are unexplained skin lesions. They are often circular and typically appear on a dog’s lower legs, below the knee or elbow and in rare cases, they’ve also been found on the stomach and face.

alabama rot

The lesions may look like a simple swelling or ulcer and the dogs affected usually lick the wounded area and it will become hairless. The lesions are likely to be followed by kidney failure, which presents symptoms of vomiting, tiredness and lack of appetite, these signs can take up to 10 days to present. skin lesions

Despite the disease slowly working its way up the country, it doesn’t appear to be contagious as there are no known cases of it spreading from dog to dog. There’s some anecdotal evidence that suggests it could be picked up by pets drinking in the outdoors, although this has not been proven. Another suspect is that it can be caught from muddy and wooden areas as many of its victims were diagnosed after being walked in the woods, this has led vet to ‘strongly suspect’ there is an environmental trigger- possibly a toxin in the muds that the dogs are absorbing on their walks. The issue with this claim is that hundreds of dogs walk in the same areas of the countryside every day and only a tiny number are affected, this could mean those dogs have some intrinsic predisposition to the disease.

As the cause of Alabama Rot is still unknown, developing a vaccine hasn’t been possible. The good news is some dogs have survived after being diagnosed with the disease, if the skin ulcers are present but no kidney injuries are present, the prognosis is good. However around 85% of the dogs affected go on to develop kidney injuries and do not survive.

Time is of the essence with Alabama Rot as it develops incredibly fast, as soon as skin lesions appear, you should get your dog to the vet ASAP as the best chance of success is early, aggressive veterinary treatment.

Although Alabama Rot is a terrifying disease for any dog owner, the chances of your dog catching it are still very slim.

If you’re concerned that your dog may have Alabama Rot, please Contact Us

Case Study: Tilly – Patella Luxation

At Oakhill we see many limping dogs, most of which fortunately resolve simply with rest and pain relief medication. Sometimes however, this is not the case, and rest and medication is not enough.

Tilly, a lovely cocker spaniel cross poodle came to see us at our Kirkham branch as she had been suffering from a sore hind leg causing her to limp. This was not good for poor Tilly as she is a very active and bouncy dog!

After a thorough clinical exam Tilly was diagnosed with very movable knee caps (patellae) that dislocate from their normal position in the groove at the bottom of the thigh bone (femur). This is known as patella luxation which, if serious enough and left untreated, can result in arthritis. It is usually a disease that an animal develops when they are young, due to the shape (or conformation) of their legs as they grow and is influenced by genetics – i.e. can be passed from affected parent dogs. This disease can affect many different breeds of dog (and cats for that matter), however breeds such as Poodles, Chihuahuas, many Terriers and French bulldogs tend to be over represented.

Initially Tilly was treated with pain relief medication and rest however her lameness did not improve. Therefore Tilly underwent x-rays to rule out any other diseases and ensure she was a good candidate for surgical treatment, which she was.

Tom, one of our vets, undertook a surgical technique on Tilly called a tibial tuberosity transposition and wedge sulcoplasty (what a mouthful!) which put simply, deepens the grove the knee cap sits in and realigns part of the shin bone (tibial crest) to pull and keep the knee cap in the correct position. This is done by cutting the shin bone and pinning it in a slightly modified position.

Tilly has had to be kept well rested after the surgery- a hard task indeed! She has done very well and is no longer limping and back to her bouncy happy self.

Reference: O’Neill, D.G., Meeson, R.L., Sheridan, A. et al. The epidemiology of patellar luxation in dogs attending primary-care veterinary practices in England. Canine Genet Epidemiol3, 4 (2016)

MRI provides the key to the diagnosis for Toby

Toby, a 7 year-old, Cob cross pony presented to Oakhill with a several week history of mild, right forelimb lameness. Despite a short period of box rest and pain-relief, the lameness did not resolve, and a veterinary opinion was sought.

Nikki Platt, our senior lameness veterinary surgeon examined the pony and noted that the pony’s front feet pointed in slightly, and that the outer walls of his hooves were slightly longer than the inner walls. When observed moving, Toby was sound in a straight line, 3/10 right forelimb lame on the left rein and 2/10 right forelimb lame on the right rein. The lameness was slightly more obvious on a firm surface. The pony did not resent standing with his limbs flexed up, and this procedure (known as a flexion test) did not cause any increase in lameness.

In order to be certain of the origin of the lameness, diagnostic analgesia was performed (where local anaesthetic is used to remove pain sensation from an area). A palmar digital nerve block was used to de-sensitise the right foot. This caused the resolution of the right forelimb lameness, and the appearance of a mild left forelimb lameness was present when the horse was lunged. It is common when performing diagnostic analgesia that, having eliminated the most significant pain from the lame limb, the horse then begins to show lameness in the opposite limb, as the horse is a symmetrical animal after all!

Having conclusively identified the source of pain, x-rays of the feet were taken. In this case, the bony structures of the foot were unremarkable other than to identify a slight compression of the coffin joint space on the medial (inside) aspect compared to the lateral (outside). The lack of explanation for the cause of the lameness on the radiographs meant a need to assess the soft tissues of the foot by performing MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).

The procedure was carried out under mild sedation with the pony standing. Following the evaluation of the 400+ images of Toby’s feet we obtained, the diagnosis was clear – moderately severe collateral ligament desmitis (inflammation) of the coffin joint in both front feet.

The collateral ligaments are responsible for stabilising the movement of a joint. If (like with this pony’s ‘toe in’ conformation) there is a slight twist in the limb, a joint can be loaded unevenly across its surface during weight bearing. This means that one or both of the ligaments may be subject to more strain than it is designed to take whilst stabilising joint movement. This repetitive, excessive strain leads to microscopic damage of fibres within the ligament, causing inflammation, pain and scarring.

On the MR images pictured, the red arrows and circles indicate the damaged medial collateral ligament (with the green circles highlighting the comparatively normal lateral ligament). The damaged ligaments have an ‘increased signal intensity’ i.e. they have a brighter, whiter appearance, due to the infiltration of inflammatory fluid into the structures. The damaged ligaments are also larger, partly due to this fluid infiltration, and partly due to scar tissue being laid down.

MRI was crucial in this case to reach a diagnosis. In reaching a diagnosis, we were able to advise on appropriate treatment. In the first instance, this horse was prescribed six weeks of box rest with a gradually increasing walk exercise programme. The farrier’s involvement was also crucial in this case – the pony was trimmed to maximise the symmetry of the foot (the farrier was able to work from the radiographs provided) and shod in heart bar shoes to help to stabilise the way it was landing.

After six weeks, the pony was greatly improved, showing just 1/10 right forelimb lameness on the left rein only. Having given the soft tissues adequate time to rest, a low dose of steroid was injected directly into the coffin joint, to resolve the mild inflammation that remained at the margin of the ligaments. One month later, the pony was sound!

Toby is now successfully building back up to his previous level of exercise, and is anticipated to remain sound with ongoing maintenance of good foot balance.

Why is my horse’s sheath swelling and how can I tackle the winter worm burden in my horse?

A tumourous growth on the end of
this horse’s penis

To continue our series on Winter medical conditions, in this newsletter, we are going to cover swollen sheaths and worming your horse at this time of year.

Swollen Sheaths

It is quite common for geldings/stallions to present to us with swollen sheaths over the Winter months. More often than not, sheath swelling results from the affected patient being stood in for prolonged periods of time which sadly, is inevitable with deteriorating weather conditions. Swelling should improve, if not resolve, with exercise/increased movement.

Other causes of swelling include excessive accumulation of smegma, low blood protein, infection and fortunately less commonly, infection secondary to penile tumours (squamous cell carcinomas). Fat can also accumulate in the sheath but this has a more gradual onset.

Extensive cancerous
(squamous cell carcinoma)

Should excessive smegma occur, then cleaning the sheath and penis is indicated. Sheaths should not be over-cleaned as this can disrupt the normal flora (bugs) that should be present to maintain ‘normal’ sheath health.

Low blood protein can result from small encysted redworm and colitis to name but two potential causes. Diagnosis can be suspected based on history and compatible clinical signs but blood test results are confirmatory.

With infectious causes of sheath swelling, the sheath is firm, hot and painful to palpate. Your veterinary surgeon will examine and clean the sheath and penis under sedation in addition to prescribing antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drug therapy.

Penile tumours sadly occur but fortunately are not terribly common. The tumorous growths vary in appearance from small white plaques to large proliferative growths.

Treatment options depend on the stage of the disease at presentation. Surgical removal is indicated, if possible.

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Worming

A common question we are asked at this time of year is ‘what wormer, if any, should I use for my horse?’

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At this time of year, we should cover horses for small encysted red worm (cyathostomes). Suitable wormers include a single dose of moxidectin (which is the drug found in Equest and Equest Pramox) or a 5-day course of fenbendazole (Panacur Equine Guard).

Sadly, due to overuse of wormers in the past, a huge amount of resistance to fenbendazole exists. This highlights the importance of practising responsible worming and seeking your vet’s advice to devise a suitable control programme for your horse.

A blood test for small encysted redworm has recently been developed. This means that we now have diagnostic tests available for roundworm, tapeworm and small encysted redworm. Testing for small encysted redworm should be performed between September and April. The test is not suitable for horses who have had high faecal worm egg counts throughout the rest of the year; these horses should be covered with a suitable wormer, as per above, regardless.

Keep your eyes peeled over the next 4-6 weeks for the launch of our 2021-2022 Equine Worm Control Plan; more information to follow! As always, if you have any questions on worming, please contact our team.