Ask the Vet: Shedding by Kristel Weaver, DVM, MPVM

My dogs shed excessively.  When I leave the house I have to use the lint roller on my clothes, the house has to be vacuumed twice a week and when we go on vacation we find hair in our suitcase even though the dogs never go near them!  Like many dog owners, I get tired of living with so much dog hair.  Here are some of the frequent questions clients ask me about shedding.

Why does my dog shed so much?

Shedding varies depending on the breed of dog.  Breeds with short hair shed more than breeds with long hair.  Dogs that are primarily outside will shed their coat as the seasons change, where as dogs that are primarily inside will shed a little bit year round.

Hair length is determined by how long the hair follicle spends in the anagen or growth phase.  Dogs with short hair have a short growth phase (months) whereas dogs with long hair may have hair follicles in the anagen phase for years.  Hair also goes through catagen, which is a transitional phase and telogen, which is a resting phase when the hair falls out.  Then the cycles starts over again for that hair follicle.

The seasonality of shedding is based on hours of daylight, controlled by the hormone melatonin.  Usually the biggest shed is when the days increase in length, in the springtime.  Indoor dogs are affected by artificial light and do not show the same seasonal shed, instead they shed a little bit all the time.

What can I do to stop my dog from shedding so much?

Unfortunately you cannot stop a dog with short hair from shedding.  You can minimize the shedding by feeding a high quality diet, using flea preventative to minimize scratching and treating skin problems.  If you brush your dog regularly you may find less hair around the house.

What breeds are considered hypoallergenic or low shedding?

Breeds that have continuously growing hair shed less.  These dogs are sometimes called hypoallergenic, however a better name for this group is low shedding since all dogs have dander and can be a source of allergies.  Breeds that are considered low shedding are the Bedlington Terrier, Bichon Frise, Chinese Crested Terrier, Coton de Tulear, Havanese, Maltese, Poodle, Portuguese Water Dog, Schnauzer, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and Yorkshire Terrier.  Poodle mixes are very popular, however there is still some variability in how much they shed, even within a litter.  Keep in mind a dog with continuously growing hair needs to be brushed regularly and take frequent trips to the groomer.

Hopefully this information helps you understand why you find dog hair everywhere or why your dog needs to be groomed all the time!

Dr. Kristel Weaver is a graduate of the Veterinary School at the University of California, Davis where she received both a DVM and a Master’s of Preventative Veterinary Medicine (MPVM).  She has been at Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care in San Ramon since 2007.  She currently lives in Oakland with her husband and their daughter, Hayley. If you have questions you would like Dr. Weaver to answer for future articles, please email info@webvets.com

Ask the Vet: Feline Heart Disease by Kristel Weaver, MPVM, DVM

When cats are sick they hide their illness.  This makes a veterinarian’s job challenging and sick cats may go undetected at home by their owners.  Sometimes the only indication that a cat has a problem is that they are not following their normal routine.   You may have an idea that your cat has a heart problem if your veterinarian hears an abnormal beat or rhythm during a regular physical exam, but sometimes there are no indications that there is a problem until your kitty is really sick.

How do I know if my cat has heart disease at home?

Cats with heart disease can be asymptomatic depending on the severity of their heart problem.  Cats in heart failure (fluid overflowing in or around the lungs) may be lethargic, breath faster than normal or breath with their mouth open.  You may hear crackle noises or coughing, see a bluish color to their footpads, or see them collapse.  A blood clot can become lodged in the aorta causing cats to become paralyzed in their back legs.  These cats are painful, unable to walk and have cold toes.

How is heart disease diagnosed?

Your veterinarian may hear a murmur or abnormal rhythm on physical exam if your cat has heart disease.  Some cats have heart problems with a normal sounding heart and some murmurs are benign.  If your veterinarian suspects advanced heart problems, he or she will likely recommend tests such as x-rays, an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart), ECG, check blood pressure, and check their thyroid value.

What causes cats to have heart failure?

Like dogs, cats can have congenital or acquired heart disease.  Congenital problems are usually diagnosed in kittens and are fairly rare.  The most common acquired heart problem in a cat is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, HCM.  Cats with HCM have thickened heart walls so there less space for blood to fill the chambers of the heart.  Since less blood fills the heart, each pump is less effective at pushing blood to the rest of the body.  We don’t know exactly why cats get HCM but genetics play a role.   HCM can also be secondary to high blood pressure or hyperthyroidism.  There are other forms of heart disease in cats that are less common such as dilated or restrictive cardiomyopathy.

How is a cat in heart failure treated?

An asymptomatic cat with a heart murmur is typically monitored at annual or biannual veterinary visits.  If your cat is having problems breathing they should see a veterinary right away.  Stress makes a cat in heart failure much worse, so sometimes diagnostics are delayed when a cat first arrives at a veterinary hospital to allow them to calm down from the car ride.  Some clinics have quiet oxygen cages, for your cat to relax and breath better.  Once a diagnosis of heart failure has been made, cats may be treated with a procedure to remove fluid from the space around their lungs and given medications to decrease fluid buildup and improve the heart rate and rhythm.  Some cats are put on aspirin to prevent clots and a low sodium diet is recommended.

If your cat seems to be acting off or is breathing harder than normal, bring them in to your veterinarian to be checked out!

Dr. Kristel Weaver is a graduate of the Veterinary School at the University of California, Davis where she received both a DVM and a Master’s of Preventative Veterinary Medicine (MPVM).  She has been at Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care in San Ramon since 2007.  She currently lives in Oakland with her husband and their daughter, Hayley. If you have questions you would like Dr. Weaver to answer for future articles, please email info@webvets.com

Ask the Vet – Canine Heart Disease by Kristel Weaver, DVM, MPVM

Did you know that dogs don’t get clogged arteries and heart attacks like humans?  If only we knew why, we could make millions in pharmaceuticals!  Even though dogs don’t have heart attacks, heart disease is still a common problem.

Think about the heart as a pump.  Its job is to pump blood to the lungs and body twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.  It can’t take a break and sometimes has very high demands put on it, like during exercise.

What types of heart problems do dogs have?

Heart disease is either congenital (present at birth) or acquired.  Acquired heart disease develops sometime throughout life, often as a senior, and is typically due to genetics rather than diet with one exception: some dogs develop dilated cardiomyopathy from eating diets deficient in taurine.  Taurine is an amino acid that is supplemented in all major commercial dog foods.

Here is a brief summary the common forms of heart disease in dogs:

Congenital heart disease
PDA – When a vessel doesn’t close properly after the puppy is born and blood goes the wrong direction.  

Septal defects – When there is a hole in the wall of the heart between chambers.

Aortic or pulmonic stenosis – When the exit pathways for blood leaving the heart are narrower than they should be.

Acquired heart disease

Valvular disease – A leak occurs because a valve didn’t close properly.

Dilated cardiomyopathy – When the heart walls are stretched thin like a balloon.

Arrhythmias – An irregular heart beat.

Pericardial disease – When fluid builds up in the sac around the heart.

Heartworm disease – Worms in the heart cause a blockage of normal blood flow.

How do I know if my dog has heart disease?

Heart disease can have no visible symptoms but your veterinarian may hear a murmur or abnormal rhythm on physical exam.  When severe enough, heart disease leads to difficulty breathing, blue or grey gums, coughing, weakness or fainting episodes.  If your veterinarian suspects heart problems he or she will probably discuss doing tests such as chest x-rays, and electrocardiogram or an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart).

How is heart disease treated?

Treatment is based on the underlying problem and either involves giving medications or performing a procedure.  A low sodium diet is recommended for most types of heart disease.  Medical treatment consists of diuretics (to dry up fluid that has overflowed the system), anti-arrhythmic medications or other medications.   Procedures or surgeries for heart disease are less common and performed by a cardiologist or surgeon.  These include placing a stent, coil, balloon dilation, placing a pacemaker and open chest surgery.

Some forms of heart disease are regularly treated and managed by veterinarians in general practice.  For more complex heart problems there are board specialized cardiologists who practice at specialty hospitals or veterinary universities. 

Next month I’ll talk about heart disease in cats, because of course, they have their own set of problems!

Dr. Kristel Weaver is a graduate of the Veterinary School at the University of California, Davis where she received both a DVM and a Master’s of Preventative Veterinary Medicine (MPVM).  She has been at Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care in San Ramon since 2007.  She currently lives in Oakland with her husband and their daughter, Hayley. If you have questions you would like Dr. Weaver to answer for future articles, please email info@webvets.com

Ask the Vet: Pets, Babies and Toddlers by Kristel Weaver DVM, MPVM

Writing about pets and small children is a subject very relevant to my world since I have a two year old, a baby due in July, two dogs and a cat.  Even if you don’t have little kids of your own, you might have friends with kids, grandchildren or neighborhood children who want to play with your pets.

What can I do to help my pets adjust when I bring a new baby home?

Bringing a new baby home is a big change for everyone, including your pets!  With a little preparation you can help make the transition go smoothly.

Routine - Dogs and cats love their daily routine.  The best thing you can do for your pets after the baby arrives is to preserve their routine.  Try to maintain a regular walk and feeding schedule.  If your plan is for the baby to move into the bedroom and the pets to move out, transition them to their new sleeping spot before the baby arrives so they’re adjusted by then.

One-on-one time for the pets – I know life gets really busy and crazy once you have kids, but try and carve out a little time each day to spend with your pets apart from the kids, whether that is snuggling, petting or playing together.

Food dispensing toys – There are a variety of food dispensing toys for dogs, like KONG® or Busy Buddy® toys, to keep dogs busy and happy.   If you need some space from your dogs it’s ok to put them outdoors or in their crates with a food dispensing toy for a couple hours. 

Do I need to worry about my pets getting my baby sick or vice versa?

Preventative care - Before the baby arrives I recommend having your dog or cat examined by your veterinarian.  Make sure your pet’s vaccines are current.   Dogs should be on heartworm preventative and flea control.  Most heartworm preventatives are also general de-wormers so giving that once a month dose keeps them parasite free.  Fleas can carry infectious diseases so using a monthly preventative for both dogs and outdoor cats keeps fleas out of the house.  A healthy, parasite free dog is not going to get your baby sick.  Likewise, the majority of infections that kids get will not affect your dog or cat.

Baby-proof - Cat litter boxes should be put in areas that are inaccessible to the baby once he or she starts crawling since cat feces can carry infectious diseases. 

Allergies - Interesting research has shown that newborns exposed to dogs and cats are less likely to develop allergies than children without pets.  Acquiring pets after they are born did not show the same benefit.  This suggests that it is good for our baby’s immune systems to be exposed to pet hair and dander and even an occasional kiss!

 

My two year old seems to resent the dogs. How do I get her involved?

Many toddlers go through a period where they feel like the pets are competition and are jealous that their parent’s attention is split.  If this is the case, try to get your toddler involved in caring for their pets.  Depending on the toddler’s age he or she may be able to scoop kibble into bowls, brush or help give baths, and practice giving basic commands.  Be careful with kids touching food bowls when a dog is eating as some dogs are protective of their foods.  If giving treats, have your toddler hold the treat flat in their palm, or put it on the ground for the dog to take.  Teach the command “leave it” to your dog to make sure he or she doesn’t snap at treats in the child’s hand.

Supervise games involving both the pets and the toddler – try laser pointer, fetch or chase.  Model gentle behavior towards pets and teach your toddler to use words instead of pushing and grabbing to get the animals to cooperate.  Babies and toddlers should never be unsupervised with pets.

My toddler wants to pet every dog we encounter.  How do I teach him to be careful?

Before petting someone else’s dog, teach your toddler to ask “Is your dog kid friendly?”  If the owner thinks her dog is friendly (some dogs are ok with adults but not kids), kneel down and help your toddler put out a hand slowly for the dog to sniff, then pet its back gently.  Many dogs don’t like their head being pet and are scared by the fast movements of kids.  Toddlers should not be petting strange dogs without direct parental supervision and assistance.  If you get a bad vibe from the dog, don’t risk it.

Teach your toddler about dog body language – A nice dog that will tolerate getting pet has a relaxed wagging tail, does not making hard eye contact and is moving towards you.  A dog that is scared and potentially aggressive is moving away from you, showing the whites of his/her eyes, lifting a lip in a snarl or might have a ridge of fur up on his/her back. 

As children grow, they learn to love and appreciate animals as much as we do.  They also become more respected by our pets.  Hopefully these tips help you to keep everyone happy and healthy!

Dr. Kristel Weaver is a graduate of the Veterinary School at the University of California, Davis where she received both a DVM and a Master’s of Preventative Veterinary Medicine (MPVM).  She has been at Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care in San Ramon since 2007.  She currently lives in Oakland with her husband and their daughter, Hayley. If you have questions you would like Dr. Weaver to answer for future articles, please email info@webvets.com