Posts Tagged ‘pain’

Paws In Motion Canine Rehabilitation Center- Press Release

Thursday, February 14th, 2013

Canine Rehabilitation Comes To Concord
02/18/2013
For Immediate Release
Canine Rehabilitation Comes To Concord
Concord, NC – (February 18, 2013) Foster Animal Hospital has been providing Concord with superior veterinary care for over 50 years and is proud to announce certified canine rehabilitation is now available.
Dr. Steve Foster, son of founder Dr. Tom Foster and current co-owner of Foster Animal Hospital, recently became interested in Canine Rehabilitation at a continuing education lecture. “Canine Rehabilitation is very similar to physical therapy and reading about the successes with dogs, I became fully energized to be a part of this exciting new field. I wanted to bring this service to our hospital and our area,” states Dr. Steve Foster. In March 2012, Dr. Foster completed his required courses and completed an internship for certification.
What is Canine Rehab? Basically it is Canine physical therapy. However, physical therapy is a human term; therefore, the appropriate term in veterinary medicine is Canine Rehabilitation. Just as in physical therapy, Canine Rehab helps to restore appropriate functionality to our patients. Whether the issue is due to trauma, a surgical procedure such as anterior cruciate ligament repair, degenerative arthritis, obesity, a neurological issue such as intervertebral disc disease, or others, Canine Rehab can help restore functionality.
After six months of working with local pets and owners, Dr. Foster shared, “The results I have seen have been nothing short of amazing. Patients’ lives have been extended, patients’ quality of life has been markedly improved, and clients are ecstatic that their ‘babies’ are recovering from surgery faster and completely. Geriatric dogs are active and happy again and have a new lease on life. As a veterinary practitioner of almost 28 years, Canine Rehabilitation Therapy is one of the best career decisions I have made. Seeing my patients do so well is especially rewarding. All post-op dogs, neurological cases, and older patients should experience the wonderful benefits of Canine Rehabilitation Therapy.”
Foster Animal Hospital is launching Paws in Motion Canine Rehabilitation Center which will offer full therapy services custom to the pet’s individual needs. From laser to manual therapy, each case is unique. Dr. Foster evaluates each patient to customize a rehab plan in order to reach the owner’s goals for their pet. To find out more, please visit www.fosteranimalhosptial.com or the FAH blog at http://www.fosteranimalhospital.com/blog/
Foster Animal Hospital www.fosteranimalhospital.com
Foster Animal Hospital offers full-service veterinary care and pet services for dogs and cats. We are proud of our more than 50-year reputation in the community, along with our commitment to providing modern, up-to-date veterinary care. Our progressive methods and the latest thinking in pet care make us the #1 choice in Concord, North Carolina

What our clients are sharing…

“I made an appointment with Dr. Steve Foster knowing in my heart that Molly, our 13 year old Lab, only had days to live. Her arthritis had become so bad in her left front elbow and her back legs that I could no longer bear to see her suffer. Through the tears, I explained Molly’s problem. Dr. Steve asked me if I would be willing to try rehabilitation/physical therapy. This was the best thing I have ever done for Molly. After several sessions, her limp is gone and her back legs move independently where before the back legs did the old man shuffle. If you have a dog like Molly it is definitely worth doing therapy. It saved her life. Words cannot express our gratitude.”
~ Michelle

“Our walk was longer and very interesting. Jackson does not sit or lay down which indicates he is more comfortable walking. HOWEVER, he is showing his stubborn streak of planting his feet and refusing to move when he sees something interesting. Last night it was a neighbor’s garden. He was totally focused and standing with his feet firmly planted. It was very hot and I got a little lax with the leash. He sensed the lack of tension and bounded in the garden. He jumped a rabbit!!! The energy was amazing. He didn’t go far and returned when I called him but it was a Jackson miracle. Afterwards, he turned towards home and was ready for water and a nap!”
~ Janice

“My family took me to see Dr. Foster and he thought that I either had severe arthritis in my back and hips and perhaps some neurological deficits which made use of my legs very difficult. He suggested arthritis medicine and pain medicine and then a new program to make an effort to strengthen my legs through physical therapy and rehabilitation. On Mondays and Wednesdays my dad would put me in the front seat beside him and take me into the hospital and I was met by the nicest girls. I was treated like a queen and got a lot of attention. I had a funny haircut so Dr. Foster could do laser therapy to my hips. I did a little better at first and then I had a bad spell where I almost could not get around at all. We took a couple of weeks off and started working hard again. My daddy was worried that I would not improve. He thought it was time to call in hospice. Dr. Steve and I proved him wrong. Mother was happy as I continue to make improvements over the last two months. I still have periods of stumbling and I need a little help getting up the front steps in the house. I now spend more time in the house and get so much more attention. When I go for walks in the neighborhood the cats stay away from me. Neighbors are amazed at how well I get around. I got a new hairdo and bath for the summer. My parents and sister Diana love me so much probably because they realize how close they were to losing me. I cannot say enough good things about the people at the hospital. They have loved me as much as my parents. Dr. Steve has pushed me hard and made me work for all of my improvement. I owe all of my improvement in the quality of my life to Dr. Steve and the girls. Without the new expertise of Dr. Steve and the compassion of everyone, I would probably not be here. Rejuvenated and Rehabilitated Pup, Cleopatra”
~ Dr. Robert

 

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Stewie, Step By Step, Part 2

Thursday, February 7th, 2013

As you may recall from my earlier blog about Stewie, he had surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. As part of his recovery, we were doing Canine Rehabilitation Therapy to help him recover quickly and completely from this surgery. Once this process is finished, he will do it all over again, as his left knee has a torn cruciate ligament as well!
When we left off, Stewie was half way through his 8 Rehab sessions. At that point in time, he was doing so well, we were able to progress to strengthening exercises.

 

REHAB Session 5: Stewie continues to excel in his recovery. We continued with Passive Range of Motion, stretching, compressions, and massage. We also continued with his early strengthening exercises, but added to the number and type of exercises done. We finished this session with more LASER therapy. As mentioned before, LASER speeds recovery, helps relieve pain and inflammation, and can help revitalize worn or damaged cartilage.

 

REHAB Session 6: Stewie’s session today was very similar to session 5 except today we asked him to start doing exercises unassisted. Up until this point, everything we have done has been by me or assisted by me. At this point, we let Stewie start using the leg un-aided. He did everything as designed. He’s a very energetic and willing patient!

 

REHAB Session 7: Stewie has had 4 days since session 6 and has done well at home. Today, we doubled the number of reps we started last time. He responded expectantly and didn’t appear to have any issues. His rehab is ahead of pace!

 

REHAB Session 8: Stewie’s last day! We continued from session 7 but added more strengthening exercises. Stewie’s leg is stronger and more flexible than ever and he is only 22 days post-op. Even as a Certified Rehab Therapist, I am amazed. We humans certainly can learn a lot from our canine friends. So many have the drive and determination to keep going, even in the face of a severe injury. Way to go Stewie!

 

At this point, we have released Stewie for 4 weeks. His parents have been given several take-home exercises to help Stewie on his road to a full recovery. We are excited about seeing him in 4 weeks and to see the progress he has made!

Steve Foster, DVM, CCRT

Foster Animal Hospital

Paws In Motion Canine Rehabilitation Center

Concord, NC 28027

sfoster@fosteranimalhospital.com

www.fosteranimalhospital.com

www.facebook.com/fosteranimalhospital

 

 

 

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Stewie, Step By Step

Saturday, January 26th, 2013

Meet Stewie! This fine young fella came to us for a second opinion. Stewie had been diagnosed with a torn cruciate ligament in both knees. Ouch! The decision was made to repair the right knee first and once fully healed, repair the left knee.
His surgery was done on January 8 by Dr. Mark Plott here at Foster Animal Hospital. The following is a look at Stewie’s progress through Canine Rehabilitation Therapy.

REHAB Session 1: Stewie returned on January 14 for his first rehab session. At that time, much of the post-op swelling had diminished. He was still carrying his right rear leg “high and tight”. He was protective of the leg, although not in an aggressive manner. He basically didn’t want me to touch the leg much. Some of this was due to remembering pain, but also, he hadn’t developed the trust he needed to have the leg rehabilitated. Initial rehab for cruciate surgery begins with Passive Range of Motion, Flexibility, and Pain relief. So basically for Stewie that day, we did various stretches, other motions that simulate joint and leg movement without bearing weight, and joint compressions. We also massaged Stewie’s tight muscles. To help with pain and healing, he received LASER therapy as well. By the end of the session, Stewie was much more relaxed.

 

REHAB Session 2: Stewie returned 2 days later for his second session. In just the 2 days since his first session, Stewie was walking, albeit with a limp, on his leg! We repeated all of the same measures from session 1.

 

REHAB Session 3: Stewie returned the next day for his 3rd rehab session. He was walking even better than the day before! Because he was doing so well, we began very minor strengthening exercises. We also repeated all of the Passive Range of Motion, stretches, compressions, and Laser like we had the first 2 sessions. Because many dogs will not fully use their legs with an ACL rupture, muscle atrophy can occur quickly. Therefore, being able to start strengthening exercises put him way ahead of the game.

 

REHAB Session 4: Our boy Stewie returned 4 days later for his fourth rehab session. Our treatment for him will be over 8 sessions. So we are halfway there. Stewie bounded from his apartment full of energy and walking without a noticeable limp. What a guy! We continued all of the therapy from the first 3 sessions but began to intensify his strengthening exercises. Bear in mind, these exercises are not haphazard or uncontrolled. Everything we do is measured and done with care as to not harm the surgical repair that was done 13 days before. As we finished the session that day, I remarked to myself what an excellent patient Stewie is!

 

Please stay tuned as I will recap Stewie’s progress and his status following his remaining 4 Rehab sessions.

Until then,

Steve Foster, DVM, CCRT

Foster Animal Hospital

Paws In Motion Canine Rehabilitation Center

Concord, NC 28027

sfoster@fosteranimalhospital.com

www.fosteranimalhospital.com

www.facebook/fosteranimalhospital

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No! Over Here!

Monday, January 7th, 2013

 

So, yo, it’s Bunker again. Sorry, I couldn’t steal any of dad’s stories recently, you know, Christmas, New Years, and all. But I found this one about a pig. (Dad’s squealing like a pig at the start but soon changes his tune!) Well anyhoo, just wanted to share another story from Dad’s early days veterinarianing, or somethin’ like that.

Be cool,

Bunker man.

 

“I’m going to own his farm”, I screamed at my wife. “This guy’s sow has been in labor 2 days and here it is 10 o’clock at night! Boy is this going to cost him.”

“Be careful”, my wife Joanna muttered as I hurried out the door.

“The very idea that he waited this long to call. I’ve been at it all day and evening. I just want some rest”, I thought to myself during the 30-minute drive.

I had not been out of veterinary college 2 months. My father’s busy practice made for long days and often long nights. Weekends on call were filled with phone calls and emergency office and farm visits. Often times for emergencies but oftentimes not. Many were not even regular clients. But how do you turn someone away when they, or in these cases their beloved animals, were in need? Such was the commitment that my father, Dr. Tom, had made to the community for the last 27 years. It was certainly expected and participated in by me, his oldest son Steve. As I sped down the curvy, country roads to the Birkdale’s farm, the window down and the radio on, it brought back memories of a young boy, me, with my Dad, the man I adored, on his way to much the same type call. I can remember listening to Ernie Johnson calling the Atlanta Braves baseball games, or listening to NC State basketball and football, or NASCAR races as we sped along, many times on those same roads. “I want to be just like him”, I thought, never dreaming that long days and nights were not as much fun for Dad as an occasional call with Dad was for me. Everyone respected Dad; he had more than earned it. Because of him, I was drawn to helping animals through good times and bad.

At least I thought so until tonight!

“At last” I said as I made the final turn onto the Birkdale farm driveway. The palatial porcine palace I was “going to own” was mine for the taking. The Chevrolet Blazer made its way up the dark gravel drive. The surroundings were not fine, painted wooden fences as I had envisioned, but instead old junk cars piled treetop high. The palatial palace was an old run down mobile home with one muted light on in the middle of the trailer. My heart sank, as I knew that this could be a long night.

Many people in this area of North Carolina had “a few head” of cattle, pigs, sheep, or other assortments of critters as a supplement to their regular careers, oftentimes a career in the textile mills. Most were well meaning folk trying to supplement their finances or use land that had been left to them or perhaps they were carrying on a family tradition in farming, if only in a small way. Most were, by and large, well versed in caring for their livestock. Some were not.

“What have I gotten myself into”, as I took the final drag from my cigarette and climbed from the trusty truck. I looked around and the only beacon in the pitch black was the light on in the middle of the trailer. I slowly walked to the back of the Blazer, pulled on my coveralls and rubber boats, gathered the “OB” bag and various supplies and headed to the front door of the pig palace. A growing rumbling could be heard, much like a herd stampeding on dry hollow ground. The rumble would reach a peak and a small child’s head would pop up in the window and then disappear again only to resume the stampede through the abode. This occurred over and over again. Halfway to the door the thought entered my mind to turn around, quietly get in the truck and zoom back home. The thought of snuggling up to Joanna in a deep, peaceful slumber was very tempting.

“Over here”, the voice boomed from my left. Startled, I peered into the darkness to the sight of nothing.

I pressed on to the front door.
“No! Over here!” the voice boomed again. Again I looked into the endless black night and again saw nothing. “Am I hearing things?” I thought to myself. ” What the hell am I into” I worried. “I am surely going to be on the channel 9 news tonight” I thought. The news anchor would say “A tragedy in Cabarrus County tonight. The new owner of the Palatial Porcine Palace, Dr Steve Foster was found murdered tonight!” His last words were something like “can you believe she’s been in labor 2 days!”

“NO! OVER HERE!” the voice rattled me back to the present. Again I looked to my left. Finally a small ray of light fell on a man sitting on the ground at the corner of that trailer! She’s over here he said again. Slowly, I walked toward the small figure as he sat on the ground. Quickly, I tried to think of my escape route!
“Thanks for coming Doc. She’s back here in the barn. I’m really worried about her.” Effortlessly I replied’ “No problem! Let’s take a look.”
I anxiously approached him as he sat on the ground. I could see thick, heavy gloves covering the farmer’s hands and that his legs, or better yet the stumps that were once legs, were covered and wrapped with large black trash bags.
“Come on back” his panicked voice said. “I’ll show you.”

Birkdale then proceeded to drag himself along the ground. Rounding the trailer, the Birkdale Estate came into full view. To our right were worn, tattered 3-foot tall wooden fences precariously holding back equally as tall ponies. The ponies were hard to discern from the fence rails because of their extreme state of malnourishment. Their hooves were untrimmed and curved much like a jester’s slippers. To the left was his barn. The roof was barely 10 feet tall and I was again fearful as the barn had a certain lean to it. “She’s in here”, Birkdale stated as he squirted through the 3-foot tall door.

I folded myself up and crawled through the minute opening. Once inside I could see the concerned farmer next to his prized sow. Even though I was inexperienced, I could see right away what the problem was. The same problem I had seen many times with dad. This sow was a mere “baby” trying to have babies herself. Part of the problem with part-time farmers is they have limited time to deal with all that is required of them. Oftentimes, young female stock are never separated from the herd. The results are adolescent livestock attempting to give birth, sometimes successfully but usually not.

The young sow lay on her side. The labored breathing was only interrupted by fierce abdominal straining. She was barely 150 pounds. The stench and drainage from her womb was recognizable as that of dead piglets.

“I’ll need to examine her”, as I tried to conceal my disgust. I attempted to pass my gloved and lubricated hand but due to the narrow constriction of the tired and overexerted birth canal I could only place my fingertips inside.

I vaguely remembered one of my large animal clinicians from Auburn saying that a treatment for sows with undeliverable pigs (and when a c-section was not an option) would be medication and flushing which may help the pigs to literally rot out. The sow could sometimes be salvaged for slaughter. “I can’t even examine her. It doesn’t look good. She’s too weak and toxic for surgery (not to mention the unlikely ability to pay for such a surgery), our only choices are to treat and hope (explaining the professor’s treatment) or to put her down.”
“I hate to lose her Doc”, he sorrowfully stated. “We really need her.” I gave him the medicine and explained its use.

Now came the moment of truth. The chance to own that farm and move the wife to the country! “How much do I owe you”, Birkdale questioned.

“Uh, well, um, let’s see, how about thirty five dollars?” (Thirty-five dollars are you kidding me?! During the day alone it should have been over $100!)

“Well, can I pay you next week? “

“Well, ok sure, that would be fine.”

I climbed in the Blazer for the 30-minute ride home. While driving, I thought about the turn of events: The farm I was going to own but now didn’t want and the senseless, inevitable death of the poor, young sow.

What have I gotten myself into- not only tonight but for the rest of my life with this career?

Why did he have to call me?

Will I ever see my money?

I hope I never hear anyone say “no, over here” again.

 

Steve Foster, DVM, CCRT

Foster Animal Hospital, P.A.

Paws In Motion Canine Rehabilitation Center

730 Concord Pkwy North

Concord, NC 28027

sfoster@fosteranimalhospital.com

www.fosteranimalhospital.com

www.facebook.com/FosterAnimalHospital

(Please do not reproduce this article without the permission of the author)

 

 

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Canine Rehab- Why I’m Loving It So Far

Wednesday, November 28th, 2012

Well, I’ve been certified in Canine Rehabilitation since March of this year. With that certification, I now have extra initials after my name- CCRT. (Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist) I’ve had the opportunity to work with many great patients and clients here at Foster Animal Hospital. To all of us, Canine Rehab has been a new experience. I’ve tried to use these experiences to, first and foremost, benefit my patients but also to learn and hone my technique and to get a better grasp clinically about what I’m doing. It’s been an excellent 8 months and I am more excited than ever about Canine Rehab.

So, let me tell you why I love Canine Rehab after these last 8 months? First of all, with Rehab Therapy we are reducing and in some instances eliminating pain completely. And pain is a reality to dogs. They oftentimes will not show us when they are painful. Or if they do, we don’t interpret it as pain. Some subtle signs include: decreased activity, sleeping more, keeping to themselves with some to the point of hiding, restlessness especially at night, panting, decreased appetite, weight loss, sighing or moaning when getting up or down, and grumpiness towards owners or other pets. Pain management is a hallmark of Canine Rehab.

Initially, we address pain medically. We as vets are very blessed to have access to many safe medications that make a tremendous difference in our patient’s pain levels. Through rehab, we also address pain with LASER therapy, range of motion techniques, manipulation of restricted joint capsules and muscles, massage, and muscle strengthening. I love the fact that pain-free dogs can now be a reality! I am waging a personal battle on eliminating pain for my patients.

I’ve also observed that obesity is a critical factor for all pets. Obesity is even more of a detriment to those with physical issues. Carrying extra weight creates physical limitations for post-op patients, geriatric patients with degenerative arthritis, and acute or chronic neurological patients. Fat cells also produce hormones that create inflammation within joints. Young, overweight dogs are already being set up for arthritis!

I do not love the fact that obesity is a problem for so many dogs (and people). I do love the fact that through Canine Rehab, we are able to help these dogs lose weight and become more physically fit! I have seen first hand through rehab patients that lose weight, what amazing benefits they reap. Remember the rule of thumb for your dog’s weight- you want to be able to feel ribs without a layer of fat and you want to see a waist starting behind the last rib. If you can’t do either of these with your own pet, well you know…

I love the fact that dogs that are pain free and are an appropriate weight, want to be active! I see this everyday as my rehab patients progress. I see this with my own dog Bunker. (You know, the one that likes to blog) I hear it from the moms and dads that tell me their dog is now jumping in the car again, wants to go on walks, and wants to play more. I love it that they wear me out, wanting to do the exercises and work-outs we create for them! They also can’t wait for manual therapy because they love how it makes them feel, which it makes them feel GOOD! And just like Skinner’s or Pavlov’s or whoever’s dog it was, my rehab patients immediately relax when we put their LASER Doggles on because they know the LASER Therapy really makes them feel good.

So, I hope you see why I love Canine Rehab after 8 months. If your dog fits any of the descriptions above and is painful, let’s love him enough to put an end to that pain!

Until next time,

Steve Foster, DVM, CCRT

Foster Animal Hospital, P.A.

Paws in Motion Canine Rehabilitation Center

sfoster@fosteranimalhospital.com

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Being Too Heavy Is Not Fun For Fido!!

Tuesday, October 16th, 2012

 

 

The last article I wrote dealt with a much too common condition we see at Foster Animal Hospital: Canine Obesity.

Just as in the human world, the pet world suffers from obesity too. Many of the pets we see here are overweight, ranging from 2-3 pounds to 40-50 pounds of extra mass. As you can imagine, as the weight goes up, the health problems do too. Why?

Well, obviously, the sheer task of carrying extra pounds stresses the entire body. The heart and lungs are stressed due to the extra workload. Other organs, such as the liver and pancreas, can be affected to the point of severe liver disease and diabetes. The skeleton and joints are affected by having to carry the extra load.

We all know how heavy a 40 pound bag of dog food feels. While you read this, you can probably remember what it was like the last time you carried one. For some of us, it may bring back the feeling of relief you had when you set it down! Now imagine you are a Labrador, that should weigh 70 pounds, but instead you weigh 110 pounds. (Don’t laugh, we see it all the time) Or you are a Schnauzer that should weigh 15 pounds and you weigh 30. (That would be like me, 180 pounds, weighing 360 pounds!) For theses dogs, they never get to set that big bag of dog food down. They are carrying that enormous weight around 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Carrying this extra weight for months and years causes a breakdown of joints and the support structures. Cartilage breakdown occurs. Joints and backs become painful. Activity levels decrease. Muscle mass atrophies. And before you know it, you have a dog that lays around, he’s hurting, he’s tired, and yes, he’s suffering.

To add to the obesity problem, we know that fat cells produce hormones that are inflammatory in nature. And what is the target of their inflammation? You guessed it- joints and even other areas. So, even though the breakdown from carrying too much weight may not occur for months to years , the INFLAMMATION process can start early. And once that cascade starts, it’s hard to turn around. Inflammation leads to pain, which leads to inactivity, etc., etc. In my mind, I see a young and thriving dog engulfed by a giant arthritis snowball, rolling down the mountain out of control until, CRASH, it’s too late.

For me, as a vet and pet owner, the inflammation part of obesity really drives the point home. And that point is, fat is more than just fat. It’s an active, bad-hormone producing machine that is literally destroying our pet’s joint surfaces. And for me, that is enough to know. I waged war on obesity and fat for myself. I have waged war on obesity and fat for my own pets. And I am waging war on obesity and fat for all of my patients. Being too heavy is not fun for Fido!

So what do we do? Well, it starts with the commitment to get our pet’s to their appropriate weight. It begins with a lifestyle change of feeding them what they need, the amount they need, and being able to say no when those big pitiful eyes are staring at us! Once we have that part, which is the hardest part, under control, a regular exercise regimen is in order. Unfortunately for some, that involves a leash and a long walk. Simply going loose in the back yard is not enough. Simply chasing a ball a few times is not enough. (Granted those activities are better than laying by the sofa and eating treats!) Regular brisk exercise is needed to increase the heart rate and boost metabolism. Good regular walks will help build endurance and add muscle mass that helps to shrink those fat cells. (and that’s what actually happens. They shrink but NEVER go away. So any backsliding from controlled diet and exercise will allow them to fill back up with fat!)

However, if your pet is severely overweight, you may need professional help. At Foster Animal Hospital, we can give you guidance on what to do. We can help you understand how overweight your pet may be and offer nutritional guidance to get the ball rolling. We can discuss exercise and help you have a plan in place to help your pet get fit again. If your pet is suffering medically from obesity, we can help make any necessary diagnosis and prescribe treatment that will help him be less painful, happier, and ultimately more active. Possible treatments may include nutraceuticals such as Phycox, prescription medications like Rimadyl, and Certified Canine Rehabilitation. Canine Rehab can include physical rehab therapy and a weight loss exercise program performed at Foster Animal Hospital. Oftentimes, a multi-modal approach is best and gives your beloved pet the best chance to have the highest quality of life possible.

I hope this provides some insight as to why obesity can be so harmful for our beloved pets. Please email me with any questions at: sfoster@fosteranimalhospital.com. Until then…….

All the best,

Steve Foster, DVM, CCRT

 

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Is Your Pet Obese, Overweight, or even Pudgy?

Thursday, October 4th, 2012

If you answered yes to any of the above, then we need to talk! Any degree of being overweight is more harmful than you may realize to your precious pup. The sheer task of carrying extra weight can create a damaging stress to your pet’s back, hips, knees, shoulders, elbows, virtually any joint! Also, fat cells are inflammatory by nature, which starts the degenerative cascade to arthritis. So by eliminating excess body fat, you really can kill two birds with one stone. Below is an excerpt from our most recent Foster Animal Hospital e-newsletter.

According to a recent survey,* more than half of U.S. dogs and cats are overweight. These pets are at a higher risk for developing serious medical problems, including arthritis, diabetes, breathing problems, and some forms of cancer. So how can you slim down your super-sized pet and reduce the risk of these diseases? The answer is easier than you think.

1. SIZE UP YOUR PET
Ask your veterinarian about your pet’s body condition score (or BCS). Using the BCS scale, your veterinarian can easily determine whether your pet is underweight, overweight, or right on track. As a rule, you should be able to feel (but not see) your pet’s ribs through a thin layer of fat and see a defined “waist” between the ribs and hips.

2. MEASURE MEALS
Too many pet owners simply fill the bowl or estimate how much they’re feeding. But did you know that once a cat has received the calories he needs (typically less than 300 per day), adding just one extra teaspoon of dry food each day can add up to a pound of weight gain in a year? Keep in mind that for the average 10-pound cat, this is a 10 percent weight gain!

3. EXERCISE
Exercise and good nutrition are powerful partners to help your pet live a long and healthy life. For dogs, as little as 20 to 30 minutes of daily brisk walking is all it takes to boost immune function, improve cardiovascular health, and reduce many behavioral problems. For cats, try playing chase (using a laser pointer [avoid the eyes], remote-controlled toy, or ball of paper) for five to 15 minutes each day.

Please call us at (704) 786-0104 with any questions or visit your Pet Portal to learn more.
Sincerely,

Foster Animal Hospital, P.A.
(704) 786-0104
petportal@fosteranimalhospital.com

I am hopeful these tips help you. As I have been doing Canine Rehab for many months, the dogs that respond the best are those that have a normal body weight. Through our Rehab program, we are able to speed up weight loss as well. My own personal Lab, Bunker, had become too heavy. We put him on a diet, he lost 15 pounds and acted like a new dog. His old arthritic hips have benefited greatly from just the weight loss alone. His weight loss combined with appropriate arthritis medications and physical rehab therapy have definitely improved his quality of life and extended his life. So start your precious pup today. If you’re unsure how to proceed, let us help. There’s no need in reinventing the wheel! Get started!

 

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Aw, Sparky Just Sleeps A Lot Because He’s Old.

Thursday, September 20th, 2012

How many have ever had an older dog that slept a lot? Or a dog that didn’t want to go on walks or play much anymore? Or maybe one that couldn’t jump on the sofa or bed anymore? Or one that had trouble getting up or down? Or a dog that was restless at night, couldn’t lie still for very long, or panted more?

Are all of these signs occurring just because Sparky is getting old? Or are these signs occurring because he is aging with degenerative changes? The truth lies closer to the latter.

Degenerative arthritis can cause any number of signs, some of which are very subtle. Many times clients will remark to me that Sparky doesn’t act like he’s painful. But reality is, all of the signs above are indeed evidence of pain. Dogs are natural survivors, and most don’t verbalize pain as we do. Sure, some may grunt or moan at times, but the more obvious things to look for are the signs mentioned above.
So what can be done about it? Well, a conversation with your veterinarian is the first step. By giving your vet a complete account of all the things your dog is doing, or not doing, allows him or her to begin to solve the puzzle. A thorough exam, that may or may not include lab work and x-rays, is a necessity. Oftentimes, medications will be prescribed for arthritis inflammation and pain. For older dogs, it is important to keep them on this medication to break the pain and inflammation “wind-up” that has occurred over time. Sporadic use of these medications may help but is incomplete compared to consistent use.

Keeping Sparky active is very important. As they say, “use it or lose it”! The key point here is to take your dog on walks, but only as much as he can tolerate. Just as with any exercise program, starting off slow and increasing over time is the proper approach.

Another way to keep Sparky active is through Certified Canine Rehabilitation. Some of my other blogs have given detailed accounts about Canine Rehab. They are available at www.fosteranimalhospital.com. But, in a nutshell, Canine Rehab is similar to physical therapy in people. Canine Rehab is also akin to having your dog’s own personal trainer, just with a medical slant. With rehab, problem areas are identified, and a Rehab Plan is put in place to address inflammation, pain, strength, endurance, obesity, flexibility and balance. Only a Certified Therapist is trained to address these areas through rehab.

So if your “Sparky” fits the bill with any of the above issues, contact us today to get started in solving and resolving some of these issues.

We can be reached at 704-786-0104. My email is sfoster@fosteranimalhospital.com

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Yo, Hey, It’s Bunker again………..

Thursday, July 19th, 2012

Well, you know, hey again. The last time we talked I thought I made it off scot-free with the cheese. Wrong. Got busted. So Tuesday morning my routine (you know eatin’ and sleepin’) was disturbed because dad put me in the truck to go to work with him. I thought, oh great he’s gonna punish me for the cheese-nabbin with sharp needles or ear swabs or make me donate blood for another hound or the dreaded stool loop. Please nooooooo… (Crazy dad loves him some cheese you know) But, nope, none of that. Upon arrival he put me in an apartment and told me to be quiet. So for the next 5 hours the German shepherd across the way and I serenaded the whole resort. It was great!! Of course, that Shep was way off key the entire time, which caused a vocal uproar by the schnauzer, the terrier, the poodle, and the boxer. And of course none of them were on key, which caused an uproar by the firetruck siren when it went by. And of course, the firetruck was off key too! (I wonder what all of them did with the money their moms gave ‘em for singing lessons) Geez….
Anyhoo, ’bout 1 or so they come and get me. I’m thinking great here comes the shrapnel. But naw, they took me to the lobby and there was a whole bunch of people in there. And they were eating. Eating people food too! But, do you think they offered me any? Negative. I mean I put on the ole puppy dog eyes and all. Not a scrap. Well, dad was in there and it seems they was having some sort of staph meeting. (I can’t figure why they want to meet about bacteria)
So, he makes me lay down on this cushy thang, in front of everybody. So, I’m thinking dad’s really peeved about the cheese and he’s gonna water board me or something. Well, no sirree bob that weren’t it. He started talking to those folks about something called rehab therapy. And then he started moving one of my legs in all kinds of crazy positions. He put some kind of protractor thingy on me and was calling out all kinds of numbers. He then would wiggle my leg and stretch it, and do strange gyrations and when he was done he did another leg. Well, this continued and then he had me stand and did the same thing to my head and neck and back and even my tail. And before you know it, my old joints were feeling good. I’m talking steal the a burger off the grill good. Heck’ steal a CHEESEburger off the grill good. And all this time I’m thinking dad thought he was punishing me for stealing the cheese, but he’s so dumb he just really fixed me good. I ain’t stove up no more! ( Oh and on the way out, I stole someone’s lunch. shhhhhhhh)
Gotta run. Catch ya later!!

 

 

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The Rehab Therapy Chronicles Of Jackson Part 1

Wednesday, June 20th, 2012

Meet Jackson, an 11 year old Lab mix, that like many of his breed and age suffers from arthritis. He is a sweet boy whose activity level and quality of life had begun to decline. We addressed his inflammation and pain with medications and really improved his level of comfort. Then Jackson’s parents decided to come in for a Rehabilitation Assessment. His main issues physically were degenerative changes in his hips that had a secondary impact on his spine and his right front leg. We decided on a rehab therapy schedule for Jackson.
Jackson’s mom was nice and thorough enough to provide a daily log. She was gracious enough to allow me to share it with you. Below are her words as given to me.
Wednesday June 6: Jackson had his consult with Dr. Steve and he had a good day.
Thursday June 7: A good day
Friday June 8: Jackson was sluggish in the early AM, did not want to walk and had to be coaxed to eat and take meds. I thought he was in some discomfort and called for a refill of Tramadol to be picked up Saturday. I realized that I was later getting home than usual. I hand fed him when I got home about 2:00 and he perked up. He ate supper and took meds with no coaxing. Slept well.
Saturday June 9: Good day. Longer walk, sniffing a lot and digging a little. Picked up Tramadol but did not administer. He did not seem to need it.
Sunday June 10: A good day.

Stay tuned for more entries into the Rehab Therapy Chronicles of Jackson!

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