Continuing Education

The annual Western Veterinary Conference held here in Las Vegas offered hundreds of opportunities to earn annual continuing education units that are required to maintain a professional license in medicine; in our case, veterinary medicine. I was lucky enough to get a whole day in this year, although in the past I have attended most every day, gone to the special Veterinary Technician concerts and events, and participated in the hands on labs that are not at the convention center but at the designated Oquendo Center, an affiliate of Western Veterinary Conference itself.
The Oquendo center is a fantastic facility, newly completed, with a theater, barn, conference rooms, and concierge service for groups.  Among the annual events are interspersed regular opportunities to advance knowledge for medial professionals. There is a 12 table surgery suite, with 12 prep stations; a formal dental suite (for animals) that includes 5 wet tables; classrooms, radiology with digital equipment, a freezer and necropsy room; lab stations.
A learning session at Oquendo is nothing to pass up. 
But I digress to the labs, when I spent most of my time at the lectures this year. I had an opportunity to hear about wild animal diseases, behavior, training, and emergency care for patients in shock, this last one being what I wanted to discuss.
SHOCK:  life threatening condition where oxygen isn't getting to the tissues.  It can be caused by many events, trauma being the primary reason most pets are seen at he emergency center.  What can you do if your pet is in shock?  Know the signs/symptoms of shock (cats and dogs).

• Profuse bleeding that cannot be stopped (don't forget about internal bleeding)
• Fainting, Unconsciousness
• Bright dark red or white/blue gums 
• Fast heart beat (varies, but generally above 200 beats per minute)
• Weak pulse (feel at neck or inner thigh)
• Fast breathing (more than 60 breaths per minute)

For the pet caretaker, or owner, these are the things to look for.  Your job is to get your animal to the veterinarian as quickly as possible; minutes count.  Wrap the pet in a warm blanket and apply pressure to stop arterial bleeding (press the artery against the bone on the inner thighs or
just above the "elbow", inside, of the front legs).

What causes shock, besides being hit by a car or other obvious trauma?  Heartworms can cause shock by blocking blood flow to and from pulmonary systems.  It can be induced by severe dehydration or diarrhea.  Poisons can cause shock.  Heart disease can cause shock.  Shock is a general term for several different pathologies that result in the tissues not receiving adequate oxygen, which can cause damage and eventually death.  It pays to keep an eye on your pets' condition every day, and don't let little problems mount in huge ones.

I'll post some photos on the website for you to reference. 

Food for Dogs and Cats

So sorry, but we were unable to get a booth this year!  Nevertheless, Vegas Pet Expo will be at Cashman center and its free to the public!  Bring your pets and meet up with hundreds of exhibitors that have all kinds of neat animal stuff, from costumes to food, how-to clinics and raffles, and Shorty and Hercules from the Animal Planet show Pit Boss will be there!

We're going to turn to homemade diets soon.  Information about the pet food industry has me concerned about what I've been feeding my dogs and cats over the years.  I'm going to be posting some great recipes at the website and would like to know if you are using something that your pets are eating and also maintaining or improving in their health.  I'll be posting my Helium article that was published a few years back on the ups and downs of the "raw food diet" that has seen a lot of controversy in the decade or so.   As a licensed veterinary technician, I am educated in animal nutrition, so heads up:  I don't support a 'raw' diet.  Here's why:

Salmonella in meats that you buy in the market;  a potentially harmful bacteria.
Digestion: cooked foods are more easily absorbed and have a higher TDN than raw.
Natural is not the same as raw (natural includes bugs, mice, worms, bones, fur, organs, etc)
Access to taurine and other essential amino acids may be limited, reducing nutritional quality.

I elaborate more in my article, but you can see the gist is that most raw food diets will be lacking unless you are willing to go kill wild animals and feed them whole to your pets, which is still not a great idea because of parasites and bacteria life cycles. Seen those feral dogs and cats?  THEY are eating a "natural" diet, along with the cheapest pet food the colony sustainers can buy (because they need a LOT, and no one raises money for them, bless their hearts).

For now, feed the highest quality pet food you can find which does not contain "meat by-products" or large amounts of corn (in any form).  Try poultry based foods whenever possible, and stay tuned for more on the raw meat diet for dogs and cats.  Please feel free to ask questions or post comments on your experiences, or visit www.AllPetsCS.com for more information as it comes in.

happy tails! 

Pet Fun Feb 9th 2013

Just a quick reminder that Pet Expo is coming to Las Vegas' Cashman Center on Saturday, Feb 9th. There will be exhibits, give aways, and celebrities to meet.  Hopefully I will see you there. Come get a free gift when you fill out our Capcha Card.  We'll be demonstrating proper training techniques, discussing pet foods, and you will be able to place orders for PlaqClnz, the best way to keep your pets' teeth in good condition between veterinary cleanings.

You can find more info at Pet Expo's facebook page, and you can always find us at www.allpetscs.com  if you need help, information, or would like to meet for a consultation.