As a veterinarian, I get asked quite a few questions, and a handful of them are in competition for the title of “least favorite question.”

What’s the best breed of dog? Why does tick prevention cost more than heartworm prevention?  Do I really need that vaccine?  Can you look at my dog’s poop? (This one is often accompanied by a photo.) Can you smell this? 

And the one I get asked the most: What’s the best food that I can feed my dog?

For most of these questions there is no simple answer, but the one about the best diet may be the hardest to answer. There are so many pet food options and so little regulation of how pet food companies can make and market their diets.

So, what can you trust?

We at Medical District Veterinary Clinic want to facilitate our clients picking a diet that works for their pets and their family as a whole. That means we understand that the cost, type, and how often you feed your pet varies by family. With so many choices available, we often rely on AAFCO standards to know if the diet you select for your pet is adequate.

Who or What Is AAFCO?

AAFCO (which stands for Association of American Feed Control Officials) is a non-profit organization that has been guiding government officials for over 100 years in determining nutritional standards for all pet foods.

Here is their mission statement: AAFCO is a collaborative association that supports members and stakeholders and promotes a safe feed supply through unified system-based regulation, feed ingredients standards, and laboratory operations.

This organization ensures that a diet has the essential nutrients for your pet, with different standards for all types and life stages of pets. That means the AAFCO label will tell you what kind of animal this diet is appropriate for, from a growing puppy to a senior cat.

With the ever-growing number of pet food options out there, you can rely on these standards to know whether the food that you picked for your pet will have the nutrients they need. If the diet you picked for your pup has the AAFCO label, then you won’t hear many concerns from me.

So, you may be asking yourself, what has Dr. Kritzman fed her dog? Well, Miss Emerald Brown Aria Stark Kritzman has been on everything from Iams to Kirkland to Hills Prescription Renal Diet, and now Purina Bright Minds for Senior Dogs, as she enters her twelfth year. (Not including the countless meals from my children that she’s gotten through counter surfing.)

— Dr. Alyssa Kritzman

A puppy born with a rare heart condition—Tetralogy of Fallot—got a second chance at life, thanks to a collaboration involving a visiting veterinary heart surgeon and the cardiology and surgery teams at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Odyssey, an Australian shepherd, was only three months old and newly placed in a foster home when he started showing signs of a problem. After exercising, he began breathing heavily and had trouble standing up on his own. He would lean up against the fence just to stay standing and was having uncontrollable tremors. (article continues below)

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Dr. Todd Sumerfield, a veterinarian pursuing specialization in veterinary cardiology at the College of Veterinary Medicine, explains how the Illinois team diagnosed Odyssey’s condition and arranged for his surgical intervention—a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt—that had never before been performed at the university hospital.

Diagnosing Tetralogy of Fallot

Noticing Odyssey’s post-exercise behaviors, his foster owners took him to their veterinarian, who identified a loud heart murmur and referred the case to the cardiology team at Illinois in August 2023.

“An echocardiogram was performed, as well as a packed cell volume,” Dr. Sumerfield says.

An echocardiogram allows doctors to visualize the heart as it beats within the patient. In Odyssey’s case, the echocardiogram identified all the defects associated with a condition known as Tetralogy of Fallot.

Packed cell volume measures the amount of red blood cells within the blood of the patient. When an animal has a heart condition leading to decreased oxygen in the blood, as in Tetralogy of Fallot, the body produces more red blood cells in an attempt to deliver more oxygen to the body’s tissues. Although the echocardiographic signs of Odyssey’s condition were severe, his packed cell volume was within the normal range, at 44%.

Dr. Sumerfield points out this normal finding “underlines that Odyssey was doing better than most dogs with this condition at the time of his diagnosis.”

What Is Tetralogy of Fallot?

“Tetralogy of Fallot is an uncommon, congenital heart disease,” Dr. Sumerfield says. “It occurs when the patient has four (thus ‘tetralogy’) concurrent abnormalities.”

To understand these abnormalities, it helps to recall how blood flows through the body. Blood is pumped from the heart’s right atrium to its right ventricle and then, via the pulmonary artery, to the lungs. After receiving oxygen from the lungs, the blood then travels back to the heart into the left atrium. From there it is pumped to the left ventricle, which pushes the blood into the large blood vessel called the aorta and on to the rest of the body.

After delivering its oxygen to tissues and organs, the deoxygenated blood travels back to the right atrium, where the cycle begins again.

In a Tetralogy of Fallot case, the animal is born with a narrowing of the pulmonary valve, which controls blood flow from the right side of the heart to the lungs. The animal also has a ventricular septal defect, which is an inappropriate opening in the septum, or wall, that separates the left and right ventricles. Additionally, the aorta, instead of being positioned over the left ventricle, sits over the left and right ventricular outflow tracts. In that location, the aorta accepts blood from both the left and right ventricles, sending a mixture of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood to the body’s tissues. Lastly, the right ventricle of the heart is abnormally thickened.

Heart Defects Lead to Low Oxygen

Dr. Sumerfield continues, “The narrowing of the pulmonary valve obstructs the outflow of the blood to the lungs. As a consequence, the right ventricle must pump harder to force the same volume of blood through a narrowed orifice.” Because the right ventricle functions just like any other muscle, as it “works out” harder, the muscle grows and thickens.

The ventricular septal defect means deoxygenated blood found in the right ventricle can flow into the left ventricle, where it is pushed into the body without having passed by the lungs to take on oxygen.

All four abnormalities are interrelated and contribute to the problem of low oxygen levels in circulating blood. Abnormally low circulating oxygen led to Odyssey’s exercise intolerance: he was unable to oxygenate his body properly while playing in the yard, making him easily tired.

In response to low oxygen in the body, the bone marrow receives instructions to produce more red blood cells. “When there are inappropriately high numbers of red blood cells in circulation, the blood can become more viscous, or thick. This change, in turn, can impair blood flow to the brain and lead to neurologic signs and even seizures.” Or, in Odyssey’s case, tremors.

Surgery: Modified Blalock-Taussig Shunt

Once Odyssey had a diagnosis, the next step was to determine a treatment approach. It is not typical to treat a patient with Tetralogy of Fallot with medications until there is evidence of heart failure. Phlebotomy (physical reduction of the number of red blood cells) and balloon valvuloplasty (a minimally invasive procedure to widen the pulmonary valve) were considered but both approaches had limitations.

Another option was surgical intervention using the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt. “This surgery involves redirecting mixed arterial blood flow back to the lungs for another pass at oxygenating the red blood cells,” explains Dr. Sumerfield. “The procedure is performed under general anesthesia via a left thoracotomy. A synthetic tube is placed to allow arterial blood to flow to the lungs. The goals of the procedure would be to improve forward flow through the lungs and have a higher percentage of oxygenated blood circulating at any one time.”

A shunt can be thought of as an alternate path, or a turn in the road. It provides the blood with somewhere else to go. Shunts that arise naturally may be present at birth or may be “acquired” by the body after certain stressors. However, in this surgery, an artificial shunt is placed to redirect blood from where it was going into the body (with no oxygen supply) back to the pulmonary artery (which feeds into the lungs) so it can receive its oxygen load.

Odyssey Still Going Strong

Although Odyssey’s clinical signs were not severe, they were getting progressively worse. After his fosters decided to pursue the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt surgery, the University of Illinois cardiology service conferred with surgeons across the country, and Dr. Brian Sutherland, a veterinary cardiothoracic surgeon from the University of Georgia, agreed to perform the surgery. The modified Blalock-Taussig shunt surgery was performed at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in September 2024, when Odyssey was 1 year, 4 months old. The surgery was successful and Odyssey recovered well. 

After two days in the hospital, Odyssey was sent home with pain relievers, sedation, and a strict exercise restriction for two weeks. He was also given six months of blood thinners to decrease the risk of a clot forming in the newly implanted synthetic shunt.

“If left untreated, most dogs with Tetralogy of Fallot will die before reaching one year of age,” says Dr. Sumerfield. “There is limited information regarding life expectancy in dogs who have had the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt procedure, but one journal article found that patients lived for an average of 7 years after the procedure.”

Odyssey is currently more than two years old and continuing to improve. His ability to exercise has improved significantly and his tremors have resolved. Recent rechecks have shown that Odyssey’s shunt is still working.

His fosters have formally adopted Odyssey and are hoping Odyssey lives a long and happy life.

Disclaimer: The following is merely surmised from my professional knowledge and opinion on grape toxicity in the field of veterinary medicine, and not my fealty to the Kritzman family creed:
“No raisin shall reside in a baked good where a chocolate chip may be instead.”

The cookie trays and Grandma Sally’s dessert grab bag at the Kritzman family Chanukah party have been a time-honored tradition since before I was born. Now, as a mother myself, I help make the dozen different types of cookies that are needed to provide dessert to the Kritzman clan.

But there is one ingredient I will not bake with in my home, and that’s raisins. We almost never have grapes in the house either. Not because of the Kritzman creed, but because of my dog Emmie. She is our little hoover. As much as I appreciate her cleaning up after my two-year-old’s attempts to make her own taco with shredded cheese, Emmie will not hesitate to eat a grape or raisin if she gets the opportunity.

What’s the big deal about dogs and grape ingestion? Why are they toxic? For much of my career, the veterinary community didn’t really know. We were taught that grapes could be toxic, and even one could put a dog in kidney failure, but we don’t know which dogs or type of grape would cause this.

This lack of knowledge made me loathe grape toxicity as an emergency veterinarian. Not only because of the potential harm it could cause my patients, but it made me feel like a fearmonger to my clients. I had to give people the worst-case scenario for something that might never happen. Although for most dogs the ingestion of one grape won’t cause any problems, for some dogs it could be fatal. And we didn’t know why.

Today, we have more insight. Starting in 2022, tartaric acid (cream of tartar, for us bakers) was seen to cause the same type of kidney damage in dogs as caused by grape toxicity. The problem usually manifests as lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and an increase in thirst initially.

Grapes contain tartaric acid, but the concentration of tartaric acid varies wildly between grape varietals and how ripe they are, which makes it quite difficult to calculate an ingested dose. This is why any grape ingestion can be of concern.

So grape toxicity is not a myth or means to rack up the bill at an emergency clinic. If your dog only gets one grape or raisin, you may be in the clear, but you should still reach out to your veterinarian to determine if medical care is needed.

If you’re like me and live with your dog and two semi-feral racoons (a.k.a., small children), you may find it’s just safest to keep grapes and raisins out of the house. Which is not a grave sacrifice for me (see family creed above). I will happily go about baking with chocolate chips, for which I can easily calculate the amount my dog will need to ingest to result in any problems (3 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate). But that is for another blog.

Happy holidays to you all, and best of luck with all the baking!

—Dr. Alyssa Kritzman

This one’s for all the gentle giants, dashing Danes, and persnickety pinschers.

Owners frequently tell others about their dog’s “big heart.” But what if that is not a reference to the dog’s lovable personality? Boarded cardiologists at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine explain dilated cardiomyopathy, a situation where a “big heart” is not a good thing. (article continues below)

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Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) affects the muscles of the heart so that they no longer contract forcefully enough to adequately pump blood. This results in an enlargement of the heart, which in turn further impairs the heart’s ability to contract. As this negative cycle continues, the patient becomes increasingly likely to develop congestive heart failure. If congestive heart failure develops, patients will require daily medication and frequent veterinary appointments to monitor their disease.

Who Gets DCM?

Large breed dogs, such as Doberman pinschers, great Danes, and boxers, that are middle-aged or older are predisposed to developing DCM. It may be advisable to screen dogs for the disease if they have a family history of DCM or a predisposition due to their breed.

Factors other than breed may play a role in dogs developing DCM. Over the past few decades, veterinary researchers have published data supporting a link between certain diets and DCM.

These diets are often labeled “grain-free” since they use peas, lentils, other legumes, and potatoes as the main ingredient. It is recommended that dog owners avoid feeding “grain-free” and other diets containing legumes.

What Does DCM Look Like?

DCM is different from other cardiac diseases because it may be present for a long time before the patient shows clinical signs. Even though the patient appears healthy, the disease is present and progressing.

Clinical signs can vary widely between patients with DCM. The first symptoms may be exercise intolerance or lethargy. Patients who have progressed to congestive heart failure can suffer from coughing, collapse, and respiratory distress.

Unfortunately, in some dogs, sudden collapse and even death could be the first sign that anything is wrong. For this reason, screening for DCM and monitoring for progression of the disease are vitally important.

Because DCM affects the heart muscle, it can also cause abnormal heart rhythms, called arrhythmias. Arrhythmias originate in the ventricles, the parts of the heart that pump blood to our lungs and throughout our bodies. In DCM, arrhythmias can occur at the same time or even before changes in the shape and musculature of the heart.

Managing DCM

DCM cannot be cured, but the disease can be managed. The goals of therapy are to improve the heart’s ability to contract, improve clinical signs such as being tired and out of breath, and delay onset of congestive heart failure.

Oral medications are used to improve the efficiency of the heart’s contractions and promote forward flow of blood. Patients with congestive heart failure require additional oral medications to decrease fluid accumulation.

The long-term prognosis for canine DCM can be extremely variable, with some patients rapidly progressing to congestive heart failure and requiring therapy while others remain stable for years. Once congestive heart failure develops, however, patients usually have a poor prognosis. Doberman pinschers also seem to deteriorate more rapidly than other breeds.

Hope for the Future

Having an animal with dilated cardiomyopathy can be scary, but researchers are working on a better treatment. The cardiology service at the University of Illinois participated in a study that evaluates the use of a drug called rapamycin in patients with DCM. Called the REPAIR study, this multi-clinic clinical trial sought to determine if rapamycin will reduce cardiac size and improve contractility in dogs with DCM.

Rapamycin treatment has been shown to reverse age-related declines in cardiac function in both laboratory animals and client-owned dogs, without significant adverse effects.

Maple’s owners noticed a problem. Their nine-year-old Chihuahua started to have a dry, hacking cough three to four times a day, mainly in the morning. After coughing for 5 to 10 seconds, Maple would make a retching sound, lick her lips, and then return to normal.

Years earlier, Maple’s primary veterinarian had detected a heart murmur. But because Maple was asymptomatic and the murmur was quiet at that time, they had decided to monitor for changes rather than starting medications or performing other diagnostics. (article continues below)

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Now the murmur could be heard on both sides of the chest with a stethoscope. Maple had also developed a mild tracheal (windpipe) sensitivity, seen as a soft cough when her veterinarian touched her throat. The rest of her physical exam was within normal limits. Given Maple’s breed, age, and history of progressive heart murmur, her veterinarian suspected she had developed chronic valve disease and suggested that Maple see a veterinary cardiologist.

Dr. Todd Sumerfield, a veterinarian pursuing specialization in cardiology at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine who cared for Maple, shares the signs and treatments for heart murmurs and chronic valve disease in dogs.

What Are Heart Murmurs?

A heart murmur is a physical exam finding that indicates rapid or turbulent blood flow in the heart or nearby large blood vessels. Murmurs can vary in volume, sound, location, and phase of the cardiac cycle. Even low-grade murmurs can be detected by listening to the heart with a stethoscope.

Murmurs are graded on a scale of 1 to 6, commonly written in Roman numerals (I-VI) in the medical record, with grades given for each side of the chest. Murmurs receive a higher grade as they get louder. A grade V or VI murmur, which can feel like buzzing in a pet’s chest, can even be felt through the skin or heard without a stethoscope.

“While the grade of murmur is helpful to confirm suspicion of heart disease, the grade of murmur does not necessarily correspond with the severity of heart disease,” says Dr. Sumerfield. Additionally, a louder murmur does not always mean worse heart disease than a quiet murmur, and murmur grade cannot be used to monitor disease progression. 

Sometimes murmurs are not a sign of disease. These so-called “innocent” heart murmurs are caused by normal blood flow through the heart and are usually harmless.

Pathologic murmurs can be from acquired or congenital disease. Congenital murmurs are present from birth. As in Maple’s case, a veterinarian may hear a heart murmur on physical exam and inform owners that their pet has an underlying heart disease before clinical signs, such as coughing or exercise intolerance, develop. Dr. Sumerfield says small-breed dogs, especially Cavalier King Charles spaniels and toy poodles, have a genetic predisposition to developing chronic valve disease when they are middle-aged or older.

What Is Chronic Valve Disease?

Chronic valve disease (also referred to as degenerative valve disease or myxomatous mitral valve disease) is the most common acquired heart disease in dogs. It typically affects the mitral valve that separates the left atrium and the left ventricle, although other valves may also be affected.

Myxomatous mitral valve disease describes a condition in which a scar-like substance builds up inside the mitral valve, causing it to lose function.

“Myxomatous changes cause the valve to become thickened and irregular, which allows blood to flow backwards across the valve when the heart contracts. This turbulent regurgitation of blood is what causes a heart murmur,” says Dr. Sumerfield.

Maple’s Visit with the Cardiologist

When Dr. Sumerfield examined Maple, he confirmed the presence of a heart murmur and performed an echocardiogram to identify the cause of the murmur. An echocardiogram is a non-invasive ultrasound exam of the heart. It involves shaving small patches of fur on the dog’s chest and may require mild sedation, depending on the temperament of the dog.

Maple’s echocardiogram showed thickened mitral valve leaflets with an enlarged left atrium and ventricle. The mitral valve leaflets are the flaps of tissue that open and close with each heartbeat to control blood flow between the left chambers of the heart.

A technique called color Doppler, which allows for the visualization of blood flow, revealed severe mitral regurgitation as the cause of Maple’s heart murmur.

The echocardiogram confirmed a diagnosis of chronic valve disease in Maple. As this disease progresses, the heart begins to enlarge, which puts the dog at risk of congestive heart failure. That means it is time to intervene medically.

Treatment of Heart Disease

“There are a variety of diseases that cause murmurs, and each is treated differently,” says Dr. Sumerfield. The treatment depends on the underlying cause of the murmur, so proper evaluation is very important. Referral to a veterinary cardiologist may be needed to guide appropriate therapies. 

“Most heart diseases may be treated medically. Animals who require medical management will be on oral medications lifelong,” explains Dr. Sumerfield.

Some congenital heart diseases can be cured surgically. Puppies with loud heart murmurs should be evaluated at a young age to determine if they are a candidate for surgery. 

In recent years, veterinarians have developed surgical treatment for some forms of acquired heart diseases such as chronic valve disease.  

Managing Maple’s Heart Murmur

Maple was sent home on a medication called pimobendan that will help to delay the progression of her heart disease. Before she left, X-rays were taken of her chest so that doctors can monitor the size of her heart and monitor for fluid accumulation in her lungs over time.

Dr. Sumerfield recommends new chest X-rays be performed every six months so her medication can be adjusted to delay congestive heart failure for as long as possible. He also told Maple’s owners that if she experiences difficulty breathing, she would need to see a veterinarian immediately as this may indicate the onset of congestive heart failure. The goal is to keep Maple as happy and healthy for as long as possible without experiencing clinical signs from her heart disease.

This information was originally published on the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine website.

The Fourth of July is a time for celebration—but for our pets, it can be a source of stress, fear, and potential danger.

At Medical District Veterinary Clinic, we want to make sure your four-legged family members stay safe, calm, and healthy during the holiday festivities. Here are some essential safety tips to help your pet enjoy the holiday as much as you do.

1. Keep Pets Indoors During Fireworks

Even the most confident pets can become terrified by the loud, unpredictable booms of fireworks. To prevent your pet from running away or becoming injured:

• Keep pets indoors well before the fireworks begin.
• Close windows and curtains to reduce noise and flashes of light.
• Play calming music or turn on a TV to help muffle outside sounds.

2. Update Microchip and ID Tags

• Ensure your pet’s microchip is registered and up to date with your current contact information. A microchip greatly increases the chances of being reunited with your pet if they’re found.
• Make sure your pet is wearing a collar with an ID tag that includes your phone number.

3. Create a Safe, Quiet Space

Pets need a place to retreat when they feel overwhelmed. Set up a calm, cozy area in your home where they feel secure:

• Use a crate, a closet, or a quiet room with their favorite toys, bedding, and treats.
• Consider using a white noise machine or fan to drown out external sounds.
• Try a calming pheromone diffuser (like Adaptil for dogs or Feliway for cats).

4. Reduce Stress with Supplements or Medications

Some pets experience severe anxiety during fireworks. Talk to your veterinarian in advance about safe options to ease your pet’s stress:

• Natural calming supplements (such as L-theanine, or calming chews) may help mild anxiety. Some common brand names include Zylkene, Composure, and Solliquin.
• For moderate to severe cases, veterinarian-prescribed anti-anxiety medications can offer effective relief.
• Never give your pet human medications, many of which are toxic to animals.

Plan ahead: Medications often work best when started before the fireworks begin.

5. Outdoor Safety Tips If Your Pet Joins the Celebration

If your pet will be outside during any part of your Independence Day celebration, be mindful of these hazards:

• Keep them far away from fireworks, both used and unused. Fireworks can cause burns, trauma, or poisoning.
• Prevent overheating—make sure pets have access to shade and fresh water, especially during midday heat.
• Secure grills and food—fatty meats, skewers, and aluminum foil can be tempting but dangerous if ingested.
• Watch for citronella candles, sparklers, and glow sticks, all of which can be harmful if chewed or swallowed.

Even social pets can become overwhelmed at parties—always supervise them closely and provide a quiet space to retreat if needed.

Final Thought: Prepare Ahead for a Pet-Friendly Fourth

The Fourth of July doesn’t have to be scary for your pet. With preparation, patience, and a few safety precautions, you can make the holiday fun and stress-free for everyone in your household. If you have any concerns about how your pet may handle the festivities—or need help with medications or supplements—contact us at Medical District Veterinary Clinic today. We’re here to help your pet feel safe, calm, and loved.

Wishing you and your furry friends a happy and safe Fourth of July!

– Dr. Jeanette Barragan

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On April 26, we hosted our first-ever Spay-a-thon. With the help of our dedicated team and partners, we were able to spay/neuter, vaccinate, microchip, and provide parasite prevention for 79 animals in just one day!

This event would not have been possible without the collective effort of our clinic, our partners at One Tail at a Time and Tree House Humane Society, and Dr. Laura Frazier from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine community medicine service, who played a key role in planning and execution. By working together, we provided essential care to pets who may not otherwise have had access to these vital services.

Spaying and neutering helps reduce pet overpopulation and keeps animals out of shelters, while vaccinations, parasite prevention, and microchipping ensure these pets stay healthy and safe in their homes. By removing financial and accessibility barriers, we helped pet owners protect their beloved companions while also contributing to a healthier, more responsible pet-owning community.

The Bigger Picture

Events like the Spay-a-thon not only help individual pets but also have a direct impact on public health. By ensuring animals are vaccinated against rabies and other preventable diseases, we help prevent the spread of illness between pets and humans. Parasite prevention further reduces the risks of zoonotic diseases, contributing to a safer, healthier environment for everyone.

As a teaching clinic under the College of Veterinary Medicine, our clinic is always looking for opportunities to provide hands-on educational experiences for veterinary students. This event gave students the chance to gain real-world experience in surgery, anesthesia, and preventive care, all while working alongside experienced veterinarians.

Through mentorship and practical application, students learned not just technical skills, but also the importance of community outreach and accessible veterinary care. Events like these help shape compassionate, well-rounded veterinarians who will carry these lessons into their careers.

Outreach at MDVC

The Outreach Program at the Medical District Veterinary Clinic is committed to building a more diverse and inclusive future for veterinary medicine. Recognizing that the field remains predominantly white, we strive to break down barriers by reaching out to students from underrepresented communities, from elementary school through college.

Our goal is to inspire the next generation of veterinarians by providing mentorship, hands-on learning opportunities, and career guidance. Through interactive workshops, shadowing programs, and community engagement, we aim to foster a deeper connection with the veterinary field, ensuring that the next generation of veterinary professionals reflects the diverse communities they will serve.

Thank You to Our Supporters!

A huge thank you to our veterinary team, students, volunteers, Dr. Laura Frazier, and our incredible partners at One Tail at a Time and Tree House Humane Society for making this event a success. Your dedication and passion are what make events like this possible.

A special thank you to Pete’s Fresh Market #10 (Madison and Western) for donating our water bottles and bananas for our hydration station!

Stay tuned for more details on our Outreach endeavors by keeping an eye on our social media and website for updates! Facebook Instagram

– Ana Valbuena, DVM

Spay-a-thon 2025: Fortaleciendo Nuestra Comunidad, la Salud Pública, y la Próxima Generación de Veterinarios

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El 26 de Abril, el equipo de alcance en Chicago de la Clínica Veterinaria Medical District organizó nuestro primer Spay-a-thon. ¡Con la ayuda de nuestro equipo y asociados, pudimos **esterilizar, vacunar, microchip, y brindar prevención de parásitos para 79 animales** en un solo día!

Este evento no hubiese sido posible sin el esfuerzo colectivo de nuestra clínica, nuestros asociados de One Tail at a Time y TreeHouse, y la Dra. Laura Frazier del Programa de Medicina Comunitaria de la Universidad de Illinois, que tuvo un papel clave en la planificación y ejecución. Colaborando, hemos proporcionado cuidados esenciales a mascotas que de otro modo no habrían tenido acceso a estos servicios vitales.

La esterilización ayuda a reducir la superpoblación de mascotas y mantiene a los animales fuera de los refugios, mientras que las vacunaciones, la prevención de parásitos y la colocación de microchips ayudan a que estas mascotas permanezcan sanas y seguras en sus hogares. Al eliminar las barreras económicas y de accesibilidad, ayudamos a los propietarios de mascotas a proteger a sus queridos compañeros, contribuyendo al mismo tiempo a una comunidad de propietarios más sana y responsable.

El panorama más amplio

Eventos como el Spay-a-thon no se limitan a ayudar a las mascotas, sino que afectan directamente a la salud pública. Al garantizar la vacunación de los animales contra la rabia y otras enfermedades prevenibles, ayudamos a evitar la transmisión de enfermedades entre animales de compañía y seres humanos. La prevención de parásitos reduce aún más los riesgos de enfermedades zoonóticas, contribuyendo a un ambiente más seguro y saludable para todos.

Como clínica docente de la Universidad de Illinois, siempre buscamos oportunidades para ofrecer experiencias educativas y prácticas a los estudiantes veterinarios. Este evento brindó a los estudiantes la oportunidad de ganar experiencia en cirugía, anestesia y cuidados preventivos mientras trabajaban junto a veterinarios con mucha experiencia.

A través de la tutoría y la aplicación práctica, los estudiantes aprendieron no sólo habilidades técnicas, sino también la importancia de la ayuda a la comunidad y la atención veterinaria accesible. Eventos como éste ayudan a formar veterinarios compasivos y completos que aplicarán estas lecciones en sus carreras.

Alcance en MDVC

El Programa de Alcance en la Clínica Veterinaria del Distrito Médico se compromete a construir un futuro más diverso e inclusivo para la medicina veterinaria. Reconocemos que el campo sigue siendo predominantemente blanco, por lo que nos esforzamos por romper las barreras y llegar a los estudiantes de las comunidades subrepresentadas, desde la escuela primaria hasta la universidad. Nuestro objetivo es inspirar a la próxima generación de veterinarios, ofreciéndoles tutoría, oportunidades de aprendizaje práctico y orientación profesional. A través de talleres interactivos, programas de observación y la participación de la comunidad, nuestro objetivo es establecer una conexión más profunda con el campo veterinario y lograr que la próxima generación de profesionales veterinarios refleje las diversas comunidades a las que servirán.

¡Gracias a nuestros patrocinadores!

También queremos expresar nuestro sincero agradecimiento a nuestro equipo veterinario, estudiantes, voluntarios, la Dra. Laura Frazier y nuestros increíbles asociados de One Tail at a Time y TreeHouse Humane Society, gracias a los cuales este evento ha sido un éxito. Su dedicación y pasión hacen posible eventos como este.

Queremos expresar un agradecimiento especial a Pete’s Fresh Market \# 10 (en Madison y Western) por donar botellas de agua y bananas para nuestra estación de hidratación.

Para estar al tanto de todo lo relacionado con Outreach, no se pierda nuestras actualizaciones en redes sociales y en nuestro sitio web. Facebook Instagram

– Ana Valbuena, DVM

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It is always an unhappy surprise when we find a spot of urine somewhere other than the litter box or a potty pad. Especially when it’s on your pile of clothes.

Knowing your pet’s normal urine schedule can be a great help for getting to the bottom of episodes that are outside their routine. Urine changes in a cat or a dog can be caused by very mild to very severe and potentially fatal medical conditions, so it is important to address any changes quickly. 

This blog addresses various health conditions that can lead to urinary changes in cats and dogs. You’ll learn clinical signs to watch for, diagnostic tests performed to help determine the cause of these changes, possible medical or surgical treatment options, and what to expect long term. 

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

The urinary tract consists of the kidneys, the bladder, and the ureters (which carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder). Although a dog or cat can get an infection in any of these three regions, bladder infections are the most common.

Clinical signs may include polyuria, which means frequent urine episodes, such as going in and out of the litter box, or having multiple small streams of urine instead of one large stream. Other clinical signs range from blood in the urine, pain or discomfort when urinating, and posturing to urinate with no urine being produced to odorous urine or lethargy, indicating your pet is not feeling well or is uncomfortable.

An easy inexpensive diagnostic test that can be performed to rule in/out a UTI is a urinalysis. This is a great screening test that allows us to assess the urine for pH changes, specific gravity, crystals, bacteria, white blood cells, etc.

Although a free-catch sample (a sample collected at home) is great, a cystocentesis can be performed in the clinic to obtain a sterile sample. After an ultrasound is used to find the bladder, a sterile needle is inserted to obtain a sample externally. If bacteria are present, the patient has a UTI.

Once a UTI is confirmed, the next step is a urine culture, which means that the laboratory will grow the bacteria in the urine and let us know what antibiotic will treat the infection. Follow-up rechecks with your veterinarian are important to assure that the infection is cleared, as bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics.

Once the infection is gone, the pet’s prognosis is good. Patients with recurrent UTIs may need a long-term prescription urinary diet to keep their pH at a level that does not allow bacteria to grow. This diet will help prevent new infections.

Bladder Stones and Crystals

Stones start off as crystals in the bladder. Crystals may arise due to a variety of factors, such as pH changes and increased urine concentration. Bladder stones come in many types, including struvite, calcium oxalate, urate, cysteine, xanthine, and calcium phosphate. 

Fun Facts

1. What are the two most common types of bladder stones?
   Struvite and Calcium Oxalate
2. What type of bladder stone is commonly associated with urinary tract infections? 
   Struvite
3. Which bladder stone is hormonally dependent and more common in a male dog that has not been neutered?
   Cysteine
4. Why are Dalmatians predisposed to urate stones? (Urate stones are a type of kidney stone formed when uric acid crystals accumulate in the urinary tract.)
   Dalmatians have a gene mutation that interferes with uric acid metabolism, causing high levels of uric acid in the body, which concentrates in the urine and leads to stones. 

Clinical signs of bladder stones include straining to urinate, dribbling urine, blood in the urine, and pain/discomfort when urinating. Bladder stones can be diagnosed via ultrasound of the bladder and abdominal radiographs. If large enough, they can even be palpated manually. Keep in mind that certain types of bladder stones are not visible on radiographs, so it is important to assess the patient as a whole. 

It is always important to check a urine sample to look for an infection. Struvite stones are commonly associated with UTIs. Once the UTI is cleared, then the stone can dissolve.

If a UTI is not present or if a UTI is cleared and a stone remains, then the next step is a prescription urinary diet. The goal of the prescription diet is to change the pH of the urine to allow the stone to dissolve and prevent new stone formation. Some patients may not need to be on a prescription urinary diet long term, however, most patients will.

If the patient is on a urinary diet and the stone is not dissolving or getting smaller, then the next step is surgery. A cystotomy is a surgical procedure performed to remove the stone from the patient’s bladder. Left untreated, stones can become large enough to make urination difficult, which can lead to blockage and life-threatening situations.

Your pet should be urinating daily. A blocked cat or dog is a medical emergency. 

Kidney Disease

The kidneys help produce urine and remove toxins from the body. They also help manage hydration, blood pressure, production of red blood cells, and calcium/ phosphorus balance.

The filtration unit of the kidney is called a nephron. As a patient ages, so do the nephrons. If kidney tissue ceases to do its job of filtration, normal function cannot be maintained.

Clinical signs of kidney disease include polyuria (increased frequency of urination), polydipsia (increased water intake), decreased appetite, vomiting, and lethargy in advanced cases.

Kidney disease is diagnosed via blood screening tests along with clinical signs. Kidney disease is irreversible. Treatment depends on the stage and severity of kidney disease. The patent will likely need to be on a prescription kidney diet long term. It is important to check blood pressure, as many patients will have to be on additional medications. If left untreated, kidney disease can be fatal.

Endocrine Conditions

A few conditions related to hormones result in urinary changes in pets.

Hypothyroidism results from decreased thyroid hormone production by the thyroid gland. This condition is more common in dogs than in cats. Clinical signs include weight gain, polyuria, polydipsia, and fatigue.

Hyperthyroidism, on the other hand, is an overproduction of thyroid and is more common in cats. Clinical signs include weight loss, ravenous appetite, polyuria, and polydipsia.

Hypo/hyperthyroidism can be diagnosed via routine blood work and are both medically managed. 

Diabetes mellitus is caused by a deficiency in insulin, which is produced by the pancreas. Diabetes can be diagnosed via routine blood work, a fructosamine, along with clinical signs. Clinical signs include polyuria, polydipsia, and weight loss.

With elevated glucose levels in the bloodstream, glucose can spill into the urine in high amounts. Glucose in the urine can lead to bacteria growth leading to urinary tract infections, which are common findings in diabetic patients. 

Treatment for diabetes entails daily subcutaneous insulin injections.

Bladder Tumors

Bladder tumors, unfortunately, display similar signs to both urinary tract infections and bladder stones. These include straining to urinate, dribbling urine, blood in the urine, pain/discomfort when urinating, and abdominal pain/discomfort.

A bladder tumor may be suspected if, during a cystocentesis, the ultrasound indicates an abnormality in the bladder. If large enough, bladder tumors can also be seen on radiographs.

Treatment of a bladder tumor depends on the type of tumor and will be determined by working with a veterinary oncologist. 

As you can see, urinary changes can range from mild to severe. As veterinarians, our job is to investigate the underlying cause of your pet’s health changes. If you notice any urinary changes in your pet, please see your local veterinarian. 

— Dr. Angélica Calderón

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Cambios de Orina en Sus Mascotas

Read in English

Siempre es una gran sorpresa cuando encontramos una mancha de orina de nuestra mascota en algún lugar que no sea apropiado.

Conocer el horario normal de micción de tu mascota puede ser una gran herramienta para lidiar con cualquier episodio que se salga de su rutina habitual. Los cambios en la orina de un gato o un perro pueden ser causados  por condiciones médicas desde muy leves hasta muy graves y potencialmente fatales, por eso es importante visitar a su veterinario cuando note cambios de orina en sus mascotas.

Discutiremos varias condiciones de salud que pueden provocar cambios urinarios en gatos y perros y sus signos clínicos a monitorear, pruebas de diagnóstico realizadas para ayudar a determinar la causa de los cambios, opciones médicas o quirúrgicas (si es necesario), mantenimiento y pronóstico.

Infección del Tracto Urinario

El tracto urinario está formado por los riñones, los uréteres y la vejiga. Aunque un perro o un gato pueden contraer una infección en cualquiera de estas tres regiones, las infecciones de la vejiga son las más comunes. Algunos signos clínicos incluyen poliuria (episodios frecuentes de orina), como entrar y salir de la caja de arena o tener múltiples chorros pequeños de orina en lugar de un chorro grande. Otros signos clínicos incluyen sangre en la orina, dolor o malestar al orinar, posturas para orinar sin producir orina, orina con olor y letargo si su mascota no se siente bien o está incómoda.

Una prueba de diagnóstico sencilla y económica que se puede hacer para descartar una infección urinaria es un análisis de orina. Esto nos permite evaluar la orina en busca de cambios de pH, gravedad específica, cristales, bacterias, glóbulos blancos, etc. Aunque una muestra de orina recogida en casa es una buena opción, se puede hacer una cistocentesis en la clínica para obtener una muestra estéril. Esto se realiza mediante el uso de un ultrasonido para encontrar la vejiga; luego se utiliza una aguja estéril para obtener una muestra externa. Si hay bacterias, se confirma la presencia de una infección urinaria en el paciente. Una vez confirmada la infección urinaria, el siguiente paso es un cultivo de orina, lo que significa que el laboratorio hará crecer las bacterias en la orina y nos informará qué antibiótico tratará la infección. Los controles de seguimiento con su veterinario son importantes para asumir que la infección se ha curado, ya que las bacterias pueden volverse resistentes a los antibióticos.

Algunos pacientes con infecciones urinarias recurrentes necesitarán una dieta urinaria prescrita a largo plazo para mantener el pH en un nivel que no permita el crecimiento de bacterias, lo que ayudará a prevenir nuevas infecciones. Una vez que la infección haya desaparecido, el pronóstico es bueno.

Cálculos y Cristales en la Vejiga

Los cálculos comienzan como cristales en la vejiga y pueden deberse a diversos factores, como cambios de pH y aumento de la concentración de orina. Existen muchos tipos de cálculos en la vejiga, como los de estruvita, oxalato de calcio, urato, cisteína, xantina, fosfato de calcio, etc.

Datos curiosos

1. Cuáles son los dos tipos más comunes de cálculos en la vejiga?
   Estruvita y oxalato de calcio
2. Qué tipo de cálculo en la vejiga se asocia comúnmente con infecciones del tracto urinario?
   Estruvita
3. Qué cálculo en la vejiga depende de las hormonas y es más común en un perro macho intacto?
   Cisteína
4. Por qué los dálmatas están predispuestos a los cálculos de urato?
   Los dálmatas tienen una mutación genética que interfiere con el metabolismo del ácido úrico y causa altos niveles de ácido úrico en el cuerpo, que se concentra en la orina y produce cálculos.

Los signos clínicos incluyen esfuerzo para orinar, goteo de orina, sangre en la orina, dolor o malestar al orinar, etc. Los cálculos en la vejiga se pueden diagnosticar con ultrasonido de la vejiga y radiografías abdominales; si son lo suficientemente grandes, incluso se pueden palpar manualmente si están grandes. Hay ciertos tipos de cálculos en la vejiga que no son visibles en las radiografías, por lo que es importante evaluar a todo el paciente.

Siempre es importante analizar una muestra de orina para evaluar si hay una infección, ya que los cálculos de estruvita se asocian comúnmente con las infecciones urinarias. Una vez que se cura la infección urinaria, el cálculo puede disolverse. Si no hay una infección urinaria o si se cura y queda un cálculo, el siguiente paso es una dieta urinaria recetada. El objetivo de la dieta recetada es cambiar el pH de la orina para permitir que el cálculo se disuelva y evitar la formación de nuevos cálculos. Depende de cada paciente si necesitará seguir una dieta urinaria recetada a largo plazo, pero la mayoría de los pacientes lo harán. Si el paciente sigue una dieta urinaria y el cálculo no se disuelve o no se hace más pequeño, el siguiente paso es la cirugía. Una cistotomía es un procedimiento quirúrgico que se realiza para extraer el cálculo de la vejiga del paciente. Si no se trata, los cálculos pueden llegar a ser lo suficientemente grandes como para dificultar la micción, lo que puede provocar un bloqueo y situaciones potencialmente mortales. Su mascota debe orinar a diario. Un gato o perro bloqueado es una emergencia médica.

Enfermedad Renal

Los riñones ayudan a producir orina y a eliminar toxinas del cuerpo. También ayudan a controlar la hidratación, la presión arterial, la producción de glóbulos rojos y el equilibrio calcio/fósforo. La unidad de filtración del riñón se llama nefrona. Cuando una mascota envejece, las nefronas también envejecen. Sin tejido renal funcional no se puede mantener una función normal. Los signos clínicos de la enfermedad renal incluyen poliuria (aumento de la frecuencia de micción), polidipsia (aumento de la ingesta de agua), disminución del apetito, vómitos y letargo si está avanzado.

La enfermedad renal se diagnostica por análisis de sangre y signos clínicos. La enfermedad renal es irreversible y el tratamiento depende de la etapa de la enfermedad y de lo avanzada que esté. Es probable que el paciente deba seguir una dieta renal recetada a largo plazo. Es importante controlar la presión arterial, ya que muchos pacientes deberán tomar medicamentos adicionales. Si no se trata, la enfermedad renal puede ser mortal.

Condiciones de Endocrinas

El hipotiroidismo es el resultado de una disminución de la producción de hormona tiroidea por parte de la glándula tiroides, más común en los perros. Los signos clínicos incluyen aumento de peso, poliuria, polidipsia y fatiga. Por el contrario, el hipertiroidismo es más común en los gatos y es la sobreproducción de hormonas. Los signos clínicos incluyen pérdida de peso, apetito voraz, poliuria y polidipsia. El hipotiroidismo y el hipertiroidismo se pueden diagnosticar mediante análisis de sangre de rutina y ambos se tratan con medicamentos. Como puede ver, estas afecciones también implican cambios urinarios en una mascota.

La diabetes mellitus es causada por una deficiencia de insulina, que es producida por el páncreas. La diabetes se puede diagnosticar mediante análisis de sangre de rutina, una fructosamina, junto con los signos clínicos. Últimamente, el tratamiento implica inyecciones subcutáneas diarias de insulina. Los signos clínicos incluyen poliuria (micción excesiva), polidipsia (ingesta excesiva de agua) y pérdida de peso. Con niveles elevados de glucosa en el orine, la glucosa puede derramarse en la orina en grandes cantidades. La glucosa en la orina puede provocar el crecimiento de bacterias que provocan infecciones del tracto urinario, que son hallazgos comunes en pacientes diabéticos.

Tumores de Vejiga

Los tumores de vejiga pueden presentar síntomas similares a las infecciones del tracto urinario y a los cálculos vesicales, como esfuerzo para orinar, goteo de orina, sangre en la orina, dolor o malestar al orinar y dolor o malestar abdominal. Se puede sospechar un tumor de vejiga si se observa una anomalía en ultrasonido mientras se examina la vejiga durante una cistocentesis. Si son lo suficientemente grandes, los tumores de vejiga también se pueden ver en las radiografías. Una vez que se diagnostica un tumor de vejiga, el tratamiento se basa en el tipo de tumor. Aquí es donde el dueño de la mascota trabajará junto con un oncólogo veterinario para determinar el mejor plan de tratamiento para su mascota.

Como puede ver, los cambios urinarios pueden variar de leves a graves y nuestro trabajo como veterinario es investigar la causa subyacente de los cambios en la salud de su mascota. Si nota algún cambio urinario en su mascota, consulte a su veterinario local.

— Dr. Angélica Calderón

Leer en español

With the start of the new year, you might have noticed an increase in the number of gym memberships and more people waiting in line to use the elliptical. If you’ve also noticed that your pet at home has packed on a couple of extra holiday pounds, now would be a perfect time to start considering some weight loss for your pet. Increased weight can lead to obesity, and various negative health conditions can follow.

How Do I Know If My Pet Is Overweight?

Pets are given a body condition score (BCS) to determine if they are overweight, underweight, or at an ideal body weight. BCS is determined not only by the number on the scale and physical appearance, but also fat deposits felt by your veterinarian during the exam along with amount of muscle mass. Below are charts from the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention that illustrate body condition scores for dogs and cats. Please reach out to your local veterinarian if you would like to know if your pet is overweight.

1. Ribs visible from a distance under shorthair, no palpable body fat
2. Ribs visible under shorthair, no palpable fat
3. Ribs may be visible under shorthair, no palpable fat
4. Ribs minimally visible, easy to palpate with minimal fat cover
5. Ribs not visible, easy to palpate with minimal fat covering
6. Ribs palpable under mild fat covering
7. Ribs palpable with difficulty under moderate fat covering. Mild fat deposits over lumbar area and tail base
8. Ribs palpable only with significant pressure under marked fat deposits. Moderate fat deposits over lumbar area and tail base
9. Ribs not palpable under marked fat deposits. Marked fat deposit over spine including the neck and tail base

What Are the Health Risks?

Obesity is associated with many negative health conditions. Such conditions include joint disease and osteoarthritis, heart disease, respiratory distress, decreased grooming in cats, diabetes mellitus, increased anesthetic risk, and ultimately a decreased lifespan.

Joint Disease and Osteoarthritis: Extra weight adds extra pressure and stress on joints, which can lead to early joint degeneration and decreased mobility. This, in turn, can exacerbate obesity. In a patient undergoing a weight loss journey, adding joint supplements can help strengthen joints, which may increase mobility and comfort, ultimately helping with weight loss.

Diabetes Mellitus: Extra body fat can lead to insulin resistance. Weight loss can help decrease a cat’s risk for the development of diabetes mellitus. According to a study at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, obese cats are four times more likely to develop diabetes than are cats with an ideal BCS.

Heart Disease: Although fat is relatively nonvascular tissue, it still requires blood flow, which leads to an increase in circulatory volume and cardiac output, ultimately resulting in hypertension. Compared to dogs with an ideal body weight, obese dogs develop negative changes to the overall structure and function of their heart.

Why Do Pets Become Overweight?

Well, we are the culprits. Overfeeding, lack of exercise, and too many treats can lead to obesity in pets. Various endocrine diseases are associated with obesity, such as Cushing’s disease and hypOthyroidism in dogs. In cats, weight loss and low BCS are commonly associated with hypERthyroidism.

What Do I Do If My Pet Is Overweight?

Weight loss can be a hard, slow process. It takes much time and patience. When your veterinary team works with you and provides the right tools, we can achieve a healthy weight for your pet.

There are many dietary changes that can be done in order to achieve weight loss in your pet. A great start is checking out the Pet Nutrition Alliance website. When you enter your dog’s current weight and body condition score, this website calculates a calorie count for you. It is important to account for all food AND treats using this calorie count. Please reach out to your local veterinarian if you would like to know your pets BCS.

There are several over-the-counter options as well as prescription diets that can be given to your pet for weight loss. When feeding in cups, it is important to use an actual measuring cup to avoid overfeeding/underfeeding. Calories per cup can vary, so please check the back of the bag for an accurate calorie measurement of how many cups your pet should be eating. Healthy, low-calorie fruits and vegetables such as apple slices, carrots, celery, and cucumber can be used as treats. Please avoid grapes, raisins, onion, garlic, and avocados, which can be highly toxic to pets.

Exercise is a very important component in order to achieve weight loss. Therefore, adding more play time, frequent walks, and possibly even a kitty treadmill can help achieve your pet’s weight loss goals. Frequent weigh-ins are also a very important component for weight loss to track the progression of your pet’s weight.

If you suspect that your pet is overweight, please reach out to your primary care veterinarian to you can discuss the best option for your pet.

From ‘Fat Vincent’ to ‘Skinny Vinny’

In 2016, a 7-year-old obese dachshund named Vincent was surrendered to an animal shelter in Houston, Texas, after his owner died. He weighed 38 pounds. Thanks to the help of K-9 Angels Rescue, he was able to lose over half of his body weight and was renamed Skinny Vinny. He weighed in at 17 pounds after an 8-month weight-loss journey.

By Dr. Angélica Calderón

Dog image: VinnieRattolle, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Propósitos de Año Nuevo para todos

Read in English

Con el comienzo del nuevo año, es posible que hayas notado un aumento en el número de membresías en gimnasios y más personas esperando en fila para usar la máquina elíptica. Ahora, si ha notado que su mascota en casa subio un par de kilos de más durante las vacaciones, entonces sería un momento perfecto para comenzar a considerar perder algo de peso; ya que el aumento de peso puede provocar obesidad y pueden producirse diversas condiciones negativas de salud.

¿Cómo puedo saber si mi mascota tiene sobrepeso?

A las mascotas se les asigna una puntuación de condición corporal (también conocida como BCS) para determinar si tienen sobrepeso, bajo peso o si tienen un peso corporal ideal. Comuníquese con su veterinario local si desea saber si su mascota tiene sobrepeso.

A continuación se muestran gráficos de la Asociación para la Prevención de la Obesidad de las Mascotas que ilustran las puntuaciones de condición corporal de perros y gatos. Comuníquese con su veterinario local si desea saber si su mascota tiene sobrepeso.

1. Costillas visibles desde lejos debajo del pelo corto, sin grasa corporal palpable
2. Costillas visibles debajo del pelo corto, sin grasa palpable
3. Las costillas pueden ser visibles debajo del pelo corto, no se palpa grasa
4. Costillas mínimamente visibles, fáciles de palpar con mínima cobertura de grasa
5. Costillas no visibles, fáciles de palpar con una cobertura mínima de grasa
6. Costillas palpables bajo una leve capa de grasa
7. Costillas palpables con dificultad bajo una cubierta grasa moderada. Depósitos leves de grasa sobre la zona lumbar y la base de la cola.
8. Costillas palpables sólo con una presión significativa bajo depósitos de grasa marcados. Depósitos moderados de grasa sobre la zona lumbar y la base de la cola.
9. Costillas no palpables bajo depósitos de grasa marcados. Depósito de grasa marcado sobre la columna, incluido el cuello y la base de la cola.

¿Cuales son los riesgos para la salud?

La obesidad está asociada con muchas condiciones de salud negativas. Dichas afecciones incluyen enfermedades como osteoartritis, enfermedades cardíacas, dificultad respiratoria, disminución del aseo en los gatos, diabetes mellitus, mayor riesgo anestésico, y en casos graves menos tiempo de vida.

Enfermedades de osteoartritis: El peso extra añade presión y estrés adicionales a las articulaciones, lo que puede provocar una degeneración temprana de los huesos y una disminución de la movilidad, lo que a su vez puede exacerbar la obesidad. En un paciente que está pasando por un proceso de pérdida de peso, agregar suplementos para los huesos puede ayudar a fortalecer los huesos, lo que puede conducir a una mayor movilidad y mayor comodidad.

Diabetes mellitus: El exceso de grasa corporal puede provocar resistencia a la insulina y la pérdida de peso puede ayudar a disminuir el riesgo de que un gato desarrolle diabetes mellitus. Según un estudio de la Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria de la Universidad de Cornell, los gatos obesos tienen cuatro veces más probabilidades de desarrollar diabetes que un gato con un BCS ideal.

Enfermedad cardíaca: Aunque la grasa es un tejido relativamente no vascular, aún requiere perfusión, lo que conduce a un aumento en el volumen circulatorio y el gasto cardíaco, lo que puede resultar en hipertensión. En comparación con los perros con un peso ideal, los perros obesos tienen varios cambios en la estructura y función general de su corazón.

¿Por qué las mascotas tienen sobrepeso?

Bueno, nosotros somos los culpables. La sobrealimentación, la falta de ejercicio y demasiados premios pueden provocar obesidad en las mascotas. Varias enfermedades endocrinas están asociadas con la obesidad, como la enfermedad de Cushing y el hipotiroidismo en perros, mientras que la pérdida de peso y un nivel bajo de BCS pueden estar asociados con el hipertiroidismo en los gatos.

¿Qué hago si mi mascota tiene sobrepeso?

La pérdida de peso puede ser un proceso lento y difícil y requiere mucho tiempo y paciencia. Somos un equipo pero con las herramientas adecuadas podemos lograr un peso saludable para tu mascota.

Hay muchos cambios en la dieta que se pueden realizar para lograr la pérdida de peso de su mascota. Un buen comienzo es visitar el sitio web de Pet Nutrition Alliance. Este sitio web le permite ingresar el peso actual de su perro junto con su puntuación de condiciones corporales. Se calcula un recuento de calorías. Es importante tener en cuenta todos los alimentos y premios utilizando este recuento de calorías.

Hay varias opciones de venta libre, así como dietas recetadas que se pueden administrar a su mascota para bajar de peso. Varias marcas de alimentos de venta libre tienen una fórmula “baja en calorías” o de “peso perfecto”. Al alimentar en tazas, es importante utilizar una taza medidora para evitar la sobrealimentación o la subalimentación. Las calorías por taza varían, así que revise la parte posterior de la bolsa de comida para obtener una medida precisa de cuánto debe comer su mascota. Se pueden utilizar frutas y verduras saludables bajas en calorías como premio. Varias opciones incluyen rodajas de manzana, zanahorias, apio y pepino. Evite las uvas, las pasas, la cebolla, el ajo y los aguacates, ya que pueden ser muy tóxicos.

El ejercicio es un componente muy importante para lograr la pérdida de peso. Por lo tanto, agregar más tiempo de juego, caminatas frecuentes y posiblemente incluso una cinta de correr para gatos puede ayudar a lograr los objetivos de pérdida de peso de su mascota. Los pesajes frecuentes también son un componente muy importante para la pérdida de peso para realizar un seguimiento de la progresión del peso de su mascota.

Si sospecha que su mascota tiene sobrepeso, comuníquese con su veterinario para que pueda analizar la mejor opción para su mascota.

De ‘Fat Vincent’ a ‘Skinny Vinny’

En 2016, un perro salchicha obeso de 7 años llamado Vincent fue entregado a un refugio de animales en Houston, Texas, después del fallecimiento de su dueño. Pesaba 38 libras. Gracias a la ayuda de K-9 Angels Rescue, pudo perder más de la mitad de su peso corporal y pasó a llamarse Skinny Vinny. Pesó 17 libras después de un viaje de pérdida de peso de 8 meses.

By Dr. Angélica Calderón

Cat image: Jami430, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Fear of the Unknown, or Fear of Saying ‘I Don’t Know’?

Originally, I was planning to write this blog about the current “mystery illness” that is popping up in random places around the United States. But when I sat down to research what I could, I kept getting stuck on the word “unknown.” It made me think about all that I haven’t figured out myself yet.

“I don’t know” is a phrase that you are likely to hear from me as your pet’s veterinarian. It is a phrase that I used to be terrified of saying when I first started practicing medicine over a decade ago.

I spent a lot of time (most of my 20s) and money (over six figures) learning everything about biology, chemistry, pharmacology, virology, physiology, anatomy (of multiple species, mind you!), really any animal-related “-ology” so I could avoid that very phrase.

Why I Say ‘I Don’t Know’

Now, with years of experience in the field, I frequently say “I don’t know” because I am so acutely aware that figuring out why an animal is sick (we call this a differential diagnosis) is often much harder than just making an animal feel better (we call this empiric therapy).

There are a few reasons why this is so:

1. Answers often cost money. Even the best veterinarians can go only so far on a physical exam and asking good questions. Eventually we need test results, but this costs money—your money—and sometimes we don’t need an answer to find the treatment. We want to put your resources to the best use. If we use up the available budget to find answers, that may mean we have fewer resources to provide the care your pet needs.
2. Answers often aren’t easy. One of the worst things that has ever happened to any medical professional is the show CSI. They always find the answer in a convenient hour (or 40 minutes if you’re paying for premium streaming). This is just not reality. Yes, sometimes tests to give you a precise answer, but a lot of times testing provides information and clues. Then I use my expensive degree to put all the pieces of the puzzle together.
3. Answers often aren’t universal. This is what I mean when I say a pet “hasn’t read the textbook.” The same problem does not always manifest in the same way in every pet. (Not to put all the blame on cats, but it’s usually cats who haven’t read the textbook!) That can mean that even if we think we know what’s going on, we can get curveballs.

I know this may not instill a lot of confidence in what I and my colleagues do, but I say this because I want you to know that getting an answer isn’t my only goal. I want to help you and your pet in the best way possible. Often these goals are at odds with each other.

We Still Don’t Have an Answer

This brings me to the current “crisis” going on in veterinary medicine right now: the mystery respiratory illness that is affecting dogs. We still don’t have an answer as to what it is. It won’t be easy or cheap to figure out, but there are people working on it. As soon as we have verified information, we will let you know.

For now, we’re left with the general guidance of trying to keep your dog away from crowded canine events as much as possible (I will be boarding my own dog over the Christmas because that’s our only option), keeping them away from unhealthy dogs, and keeping up with the recommended respiratory vaccines like distemper, bordetella, and parainfluenza, and, for some dogs, influenza.

It’s hard accepting “we don’t know,” but to tell you anything more than that would be foolish. In all my years of practice, I would much rather say “I don’t know” than “I was wrong.”

—Dr. Alyssa Kritzman