The Pet Care Clinic

01/10/2025

While dogs don’t shed tears when they are sad or overjoyed, they do produce tears for a number of reasons. Many people will be familiar with the reddish-brown tear staining that can occur under a dog’s eyes, particularly in small-breed dogs. As dog owners, the stains can be unsightly and puzzling. While most causes of tear stains are harmless, it might be wise to rule out other eye diseases that cause tearing. So, what does cause the tear staining, and what can we do about it?
To function properly, the eyes must be kept moist. Tears, which are comprised of water, oil, and mucus, provide the necessary moisture to protect the eye. Some dogs produce excessive tears. In the vet world, the technical name for excessive tearing is epiphora.
Tear staining occurs when the tears dry on the fur beneath the eyes. The classic reddish-brown color of dog tear stains is caused by an iron-containing dye molecule called porphyrin. This molecule is secreted in tears, as well as in bile and saliva. If excessive tear production occurs, the porphyrin in the tears will stain the fur as it dries.
While tear staining is easily recognizable in dogs with white coats, it can be harder to detect in dogs with dark or black coats. Dogs with short noses, large eyes, flat faces (such as the brachycephalic breeds), white fur, or congenital tear duct issues are more likely to develop tear stains, though any dog can be affected by epiphora.
Most causes of tear stains in dogs are not problematic. Many dogs, especially the small, white fluffy dogs, are just teary and always will be. They can live with this problem and do not feel any discomfort or self-consciousness.
You may have noticed that when you cry, you develop a runny nose. This is because the tears produced by the eyes typically drain into the nose via the nasolacrimal duct, a narrow passage that cannot be seen by the naked eye. Dogs have nasolacrimal ducts just like us.
For most dogs, epiphora and subsequent tear staining is caused by variations in anatomy that cause tears to drain onto the face, rather than into the nose via the nasolacrimal duct. In some dogs, this duct has become blocked, leaving the tears nowhere to go but onto the face.
As we have touched on, the staining itself is caused by the drying of porphyrin, an iron-based molecule that is excreted in tears. As the tears dry, the porphyrin discolors the skin and hair.
In some dogs, excessive tear production and tear staining are not related to congenital factors and nasolacrimal ducts. Any sore or injured eye can produce tears in excess.
Thankfully, the prognosis for dogs with tear stains is generally very good. If a specific eye disease is diagnosed, your vet can discuss the prognosis. Most dogs with simple congenital tear staining can live full and comfortable lives, aided by regular cleaning and grooming.
If a specific eye disease is identified and treated, excessive tear production can be fixed. If the tear production is congenital, without a specific disease, it will likely occur for life. Tear staining itself can be prevented by cleaning the eyes regularly, reducing the chance of reddish-brown porphyrin staining.
Tear-staining in dogs is relatively common. This can be uncomfortable if crusts or skin infections have developed, and it can be cosmetically unsightly for dog owners. It is important to consult your veterinarian to rule out other problematic or serious causes of excessive tear production.
Once this has been done, discuss cleaning and hygiene with your vet to formulate a long-term plan.

01/10/2025

Our favorite felines aren't always the most forthcoming with their health issues. Unfortunately, a silent killer of them is heart disease. One possible indication of it is a heart murmur in cats. However, not always—and sometimes, a murmur isn't a problem at all.
Heart murmurs are the sound of turbulent blood flow, which isn't a typical finding. Blood should flow smoothly and in one direction through all of the chambers of the heart. When that doesn't happen, such as with a leaky heart valve, blood gets pumped in the wrong direction and swishes with the incoming blood, creating the turbulence and the sound.
Veterinarians grade the intensity of that sound on a scale from one to six, with six considered the most severe. Here is a breakdown for the grades of heart murmurs heard through a stethoscope:
• Grade 1: After about two minutes, we can hear a "swishing" sound while listening to the heart of a calm cat in a quiet room.
• Grade 2: The faint sound of a heart murmur is apparent right away.
• Grade 3: This heart murmur is considered medium-intensity.
• Grade 4: We detect a loud murmur.
• Grade 5: This strong murmur often produces what's referred to as a "thrill"—a vibration we feel on a cat's chest.
• Grade 6: Considered quite uncommon, this heart murmur in cats can be heard without a stethoscope.
We may describe a murmur based on how they hear them in the heart cycle: continuously, systolically (when the heart muscle contracts and pumps blood into the arteries), or diastolically (when the heart muscle relaxes and the chambers fill with blood).
As a pet parent, you won't be able to detect the heart murmur without a stethoscope and a trained ear.
Here's when a thorough exam is the key that unlocks this mystery. Heart murmurs aren't the problem: They're only a potential signal that something may be wrong with the heart.
Structural abnormalities, also referred to as cardiomyopathies or diseases of the heart muscle, are frequent problems. The most common one is Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), which often causes congestive heart failure.
We often recommend additional tests such as a chest X-ray or ideally, an echocardiogram with a board-certified cardiologist. Many cats with heart disease might not even have a heart murmur.
Additionally, heart murmurs in cats are sometimes symptoms of non-cardiac medical issues, including:
• Hyperthyroidism
• Obesity
• Pregnancy
• Extreme thinness
• Anemia
Stress and anxiety might cause murmurs as well. Cats can have what is called a 'dynamic right ventricular outflow tract obstruction', or DRVOTO, that causes a benign heart murmur and is typically heard only when they're stressed. There's nothing wrong with their heart—it's just beating forcefully and quickly and this causes the murmur, which typically disappears when they calm back down.
Your cat's heart murmur symptoms are often indicators of other health conditions. During a routine vet exam, listening to your furball's heartbeat is part of the checkup, and if something is detected, it opens up a dialogue.
However, there are signs of HCM or heart failure you might notice in your cat, including:
• Difficulty breathing
• Decreased appetite
• Weakness
• Collapse
• Inability to use their back legs
There's also a screening blood test we might recommend to check for significant heart disease when cats don't have heart murmurs as a red flag. It's called a proBNP test. Prior to performing anesthesia on any cat, we may recommend submitting a blood panel that also includes the proBNP to better screen for asymptomatic cats that have significant heart disease.
Depending on the underlying cause, if there is significant heart disease, most cases can be treated with medication, and a cat's life expectancy can be up to two years after they've gone into heart failure.
However, if the heart murmur is due to a benign cause such as DRVOTO, it shouldn't impact their quality or quantity of life in any way. So make sure to take your kitten or cat to the vet regularly to know what to expect.

01/10/2025

Most of America's domestic cat population is overweight. Overweight cats can face an array of issues during their life including serious health problems, dif...

01/06/2025

Just like humans, pets can develop glaucoma, a painful eye disease. Early intervention can not only prevent pain but can reduce the risk of losing their sight.

01/06/2025

Anxiety is a very real, common emotion that dogs experience. While it’s difficult to see our furry friends exhibit distress, these feelings are normal responses to the triggers that cause them in the first place.
“Anxiety” and “fear” are often used interchangeably, but there’s a slight difference between being “anxious” and being “fearful.”
When a dog is anxious, they are anticipating a future event. But while humans can become anxious over an upcoming event well in advance of it actually happening, dogs feel anxiety as a response to an imminent threat or scary situation. A classic example of this is separation anxiety. Dogs can become attuned to their owner’s pre-departure cues (such as putting on shoes and picking up the keys) even before they have physically left the house.
When a dog is fearful, they are actively responding to a particular event or stimulus. Unlike anxiety, the feeling of fear doesn’t usually happen until the moment the stimulus is presented, or the moment the event actually happens. Two examples of fear-creating situations are loud, sudden noises, and contact with an unfamiliar person or animal that is perceived as a threat.
When confronted with a fearful situation, the ‘freeze, fight, or flight’ response is put into motion. The response varies depending on the dog. Some dogs become paralyzed with fear, unable to do anything, while others may try to defend themselves or look for a way to escape. Whichever response they exhibit, this type of behavior stems from survival instincts.
While there are many causes for anxiety in dogs, the following three are the most commonly diagnosed.
Separation Anxiety: It is estimated that 14% of dogs suffer from separation anxiety, or an inability to find comfort when separated from family members. Separation anxiety occurs when a dog develops a fear of being left alone for a period of time.
Dogs often develop this type of anxiety when they are puppies, during their senior years, or after a big change (such as moving house, changes in routine, or introducing new family members or pets). Dogs recently adopted from shelters may also develop separation anxiety (although paradoxically, the separation anxiety tends to develop 1-2 months after being brought home).
Dogs with separation anxiety will often engage in destructive behavior, especially close to the exit area and towards their owner’s belongings. Other behaviors include house soiling, pacing, restlessness, inability to settle down, vocalization, and salivation. These behaviors will likely begin whilst the owner is getting ready to leave or within the first 15-30 minutes after the dog is left alone.
A good way to see exactly what happens when you leave is through a video recording or live camera placed where your dog typically hangs out when you’re not home. This is an invaluable tool that can help you visualize the behavior and determine whether there are other concurrent signs of anxiety.
Age-Related Anxiety: The aging process is associated with progressive and irreversible changes in body systems that can affect behavior. Aging dogs can exhibit a decline in cognitive function, which includes memory function, learning, perception, and awareness. In addition, anxiety, agitation, and altered responses to stimuli have been frequently reported.
Fear-Related Anxiety: This type of anxiety is often brought on by triggers such as loud noises, unfamiliar people and/or other animals, visual stimuli, and strange or new environments, such as the vet’s office or even a ride in the car.

It is not always easy to separate anxiety symptoms from regular everyday behavior, depending on your dog’s personality, but you should be on the lookout. Some of the symptoms may be occasional, while others are recurrent and therefore part of a more serious issue. Monitor your dog’s behavior and be proactive should any of the following occur:
• Aggression
• Soiling in the home
• Panting / drooling / shaking
• Destructive behavior
• Excessive barking / whining
• Pacing / restlessness
• Depression
• Repetitive or compulsive behaviors
• Trembling / hiding
• Tail-tucking
• Excessive licking or chewing

The best way to accurately diagnose anxiety in dogs is with professional help. Your vet will conduct a complete and thorough examination, along with possible blood tests to rule out other health conditions that could also be causing the behavior, such as brain, thyroid, or adrenal disease.
The most helpful thing you can do is provide your vet with as much information as possible when it comes to the behavioral changes and symptoms you’ve noticed. This will allow your vet to help narrow down the actual trigger for your dog’s anxiety. Once the source has been identified, your vet can recommend ways to avoid those triggers or devise a specific treatment plan if the issue is more serious.
After the diagnosis, it’s time to figure out how to help your dog live a normal, healthy life!
Training techniques such as desensitization and counterconditioning are two strategies that can treat anxiety and fear.
Desensitization
Desensitization is accomplished through repeated, controlled exposure to your dog’s specific fear or anxiety stimulus. If the stimulus is given in small doses and at a low intensity, your dog will hopefully not respond with fear or anxiety. Repeated exposure, accompanied by rewards for positive behavior, can be extremely helpful in the long-term management of anxiety.
One example is fireworks. If your dog struggles with a firework phobia, play quiet firework sounds when you’re home with your pet and they’re in a calm state. Doing this repeatedly, while slowly increasing the volume over time, can help them to become more accustomed to the noise, so they don’t become anxious when they hear real fireworks.
Parents-to-be can take a similar approach when preparing their dog for the arrival of a new baby. By playing baby noises in the background while you’re at home with your pet, they can get used to the new sound before the baby arrives. Check out our article on preparing your pet for a new baby for more tips.
Counterconditioning
With counterconditioning, you train your dog to change their response to the anxiety or fear stimulus. Through positive behavior reinforcement, you can replace anxious or aggressive behavior with a more desirable one.
For example, teach your dog to sit or stay, and reward them with a treat when they obey. Then, whenever your dog is fearful or anxious, you can redirect their attention towards you by asking them to perform one of the learned commands.
For both forms of training, you may want to enlist a dog trainer. Training takes time and isn’t always easy with an anxious dog.
For particularly severe anxiety or issues that are not resolving, speak to your veterinarian. They can organize a referral to a board certified veterinary behaviorist (a vet who has undergone additional years of training specifically focused on behavioral issues, and must undertake regular board examinations to retain their certification).
Natural therapies and products can also help with anxiety, including calming aids like pheromone collars (Adaptil) or products like the Anxiety Wrap or Thunder Shirts. These products may work alone, while other dogs may benefit from them used in conjunction with other tactics.
Some dog owners have used CBD oil to treat anxiety and have found it to be a successful option. However, it’s worth noting that there is currently no scientific research on the effectiveness of CBD to treat anxiety, and CBD products are not yet regulated. If you want to try giving CBD products to your dog, speak with your vet first, and ensure you buy from a reputable brand.
Depending on the severity of your pet’s anxiety, your vet may prescribe anti-anxiety medication. Anti-anxiety medications work best when used in conjunction with (not as a replacement for) the techniques discussed above.
In addition to training and use of specialized products, it’s important for you to give your dog as much love and attention as possible. Exercise is another important factor; daily walks and play time will help keep your dog calm and in a happy state of mind.
If your dog suffers from separation anxiety, make sure they’re never left alone for long periods of time, particularly during the training process. Consider enlisting the help of a dog walker; asking a friend or family member to visit your dog; or even enrolling them in a doggie daycare where they’ll get plenty of attention.
Anxiety and fear are natural responses to certain triggers, but they can become debilitating for some dogs. Make sure you know the signs of an anxiety problem and try to identify your dog’s triggers; this will help you to work closely with your vet (and if necessary, a trainer) to keep your dog calm and happy.

01/01/2025

Many clients come to our veterinary clinic, heads held low, as they are embarrassed about their dog's dental care. Look, we understand that taking care of your dog's dental care isn't always a priority, and life happens. However, we're also here to tell you that waiting because you're embarrassed can only cause more harm.
It's best to get your dog's dental care under control sooner rather than later to avoid a painful mouth and possibly big vet bills down the line if the dental disease gets too far advanced.
It's also important to note that your dog's dental health affects their overall health, just like humans. And even if you're caring for your dog's teeth at home as best you can, veterinary dental care for your pet is a must.
When bacteria from a dog's mouth enters the bloodstream and settles around the heart, it can lead to a condition called "bacterial endocarditis," which is a serious infection of the heart valves, potentially causing significant damage to the heart and increasing the risk of heart disease. This is why proper dental hygiene for dogs is important to minimize the risk of bacteria entering the bloodstream.
Dental disease is the most common cause of chronic kidney disease. Bacteria build up enters the bloodstream, ending up in the kidneys for removal. Significant bacteria amounts can damage the kidney tissue.
Dogs with dental disease are at higher risk of developing lung inflammation. Once the bacteria enters your pet's lungs, a secondary infection can occur and lead to respiratory inflammation.
Dental disease can also affect the brain, eyes, skin and bones!
Regular dental cleanings for your dog can significantly reduce the risk of bacteria entering the bloodstream.
Veterinarians can perform dental therapy under anesthesia for your pet, but we like our clients to perform routine oral care at home. This includes daily tooth brushing and offering recommended oral products.
A dental appointment involves assessing the degree of dental disease by visual inspection. We check for gingivitis, accumulation of tartar, oral masses, and odor.
Dogs need to be under general anesthesia since proper dental scaling is uncomfortable (think of your own experience when you see your dentist). Scaling under the gumline is a vital part of veterinary dental care, but it also causes discomfort. We use ultrasonic scaling that produces water, and we pass a cuffed endotracheal (breathing) tube to protect your dog's airway.
Your pet is constantly monitored during the dental procedure. We monitor heart rate, respiratory rate, pulse quality, oxygen saturation, carbon dioxide levels, and electrocardiogram (EKG).
Dogs rarely have changes in their food intake due to dental disease, so you cannot rely on their appetite as a sentinel for dental disease. However, here are some symptoms of dental disease:
• Bleeding or inflamed gums
• Tartar accumulation
• Bad breath
• Loose teeth
• Problems picking up food
• Lumps or bumps in the mouth
• Bleeding onto dog toys
• Vocalizing while eating
Keep in mind that dogs can be very stoic about their pain, which is yet another reason regular dog dental visits are so vital.
During an annual exam, we check oral health as well. However, if you notice something concerning, please schedule a dental appointment. As with any health issues, the prognosis will always be better if we catch a problem sooner rather than later.
Gingivitis, periodontitis, and fractured teeth are common problems in adult dogs. We often see malalignment and retained baby teeth in young puppies.
If you're still concerned or have any other questions, please don't hesitate to give us a call at 570-501-0600.

01/01/2025