Insider Secrets from a Top Veterinarian

Be on the lookout for allergies

Allergies in pets often take the form of itchy skin. Giving your pet an over-the-counter antihistamine like Zyrtec for allergy symptoms may not hurt them, but it also may not offer much relief. Current research shows that pet allergies aren't necessarily caused by histamines, so an antihistamine is less likely to be effective. 

Some studies show that environmental allergies are caused by a defective skin barrier. Then the offending allergens — pollens, dust mites, even human dander — are able to penetrate and trigger an allergic response. The good news is we have some really effective anti-allergy medications specifically for dogs now. One is an oral pill called Apoquel and another is an injection called Cytopoint. For dogs that have horrific allergies, these drugs have been a life changer. Unfortunately there are no such drugs for cats, and for them, we often need to resort to immune-suppressive medications. As for testing, kits that claim they can determine allergies from a hair sample are totally unreliable, and there is no scientific evidence to support them. For environmental allergies like pollens, dust mites, fungal spores, etc., the most accurate way to test is with intradermal skin testing, usually performed by a veterinary dermatologist. There are blood tests that can be helpful as well. For food allergies, the only real way to tell what a pet is allergic to is to feed them an elimination diet — a prescription-limited ingredient or hydrolyzed protein diet is best.

Treat ear infections early

Allergies often manifest in skin rashes that can lead to infections — especially in pets’ ears. I don't think a day goes by where I don't see an ear infection. Ears are a warm, moist environment, so it sets this perfect stage for getting a secondary bacterial or yeast infection. Too often, people let ear infections go on much longer than they should before bringing their pets in. I have dogs coming in with these horrible ear infections that smell horrific. The dog is scratching and suffering when it didn’t need to. I’d rather see people come in and get ear infections treated right away. To prevent ear infections, clean once a week with an ear cleanser and cotton ball, but make sure to use one your vet recommends — some products have ineffective ingredients. If ear infections seem to happen often, try to find the underlying cause, like a food allergy.

Stay up to date on preventatives

Studies have shown that dog parks in some regions of the country are just riddled with internal parasites, like hookworm, which can spread from dog to dog if people aren’t picking up their pet waste. So, if you’re going to be going to the dog park frequently, you want to make sure your dog is up to date on appropriate preventative medications. There are many products available now that protect against fleas, ticks, heartworm disease and internal parasites all in one medication.

Be careful if you use Rogaine

Minoxidil can be very bad if a cat (more so than a dog) were to ingest it. It was originally developed as an oral drug to treat hypertension, so you can imagine if a cat were to lick some — it could get dangerously low blood pressure. I would encourage people using it to deter their pet from sleeping on their pillow, and make sure the product is completely dry after applying (probably wait a few hours until the cat has close contact with the owner's head).  Also, perhaps the owner should wear gloves when applying. Fortunately, we have never seen a case in our practice, and I imagine it is very uncommon.

Prioritize oral health

At-home dental care is really important. Often by the time dogs and cats come in for dental procedures at our practice, there’s so much oral disease that we end up having to do a lot of extractions, which gets very expensive. With diligent home care, I think a lot of that could be prevented. Brushing your pet’s teeth daily would be fantastic, but at a minimum, aim for three times a week. Brushing with an actual toothbrush and a toothpaste specially formulated for pets is best. But, short of brushing, there are also oral rinses, water additives and dental chews that can help remove plaque and tartar. Check the website of the Veterinary Oral Health Council at VOHC.org for a list of products that have earned its seal of approval for effectiveness.

Don’t overlook bad breath

Typically, if pets have bad breath, there's dental disease in there. But bad breath can also be a sign of other problems, including things like kidney disease or diabetes. So, it’s always a good idea to have your pet checked if their bad breath doesn’t resolve with adequate at-home teeth brushing.

Make crate training fun

I strongly recommend crate training in puppies. But you have to make the crate a safe, happy place. It’s their den. And the mistake people too often make is that they shove their puppy into a crate and say goodbye. That makes the puppy really stressed out — and it makes them associate the crate as a punishment or someplace scary. Instead, the goal is to make the crate comfortable. Feed them in there. Pet them while they’re having their meal. Let them fall asleep in there. Then close the door. Using the crate in this way is a key part of proper house training, because when they wake up, they are going to want to go to the bathroom. So, you’ll want to take them directly from the crate to the outdoors.

Research pet insurance carefully

You’re kind of gambling a bit when you decide to purchase pet insurance. You may never use it, but if you do, it could end up saving you money. Some policies cost as much as $1,000 a year, and those may not make financial sense if your pet is fairly healthy and you’re weighing against routine prices at a standard veterinary clinic. On the other hand, insurance coverage could be really helpful if you need to see a specialist or if you end up at an emergency clinic. In the Seattle area, if your dog eats something he’s not supposed to and it causes a blockage, you could be facing bills of up to $10,000 at an emergency clinic. I encourage my clients to review websites like pet-insurance-university.com and pawlicy.com so they can weigh the pros and cons of available policies.

Keep the salt lamp away from cats

Salt lamps, if a cat were to lick them, could cause a harmfully high level of sodium in the blood. 

When it’s time to say goodbye

As veterinarians, euthanizing a pet is one of the hardest things we do. I like my clients to know that they made the right decision, and that letting their beloved pet go with dignity is a gift. When I’m asked how to know when it’s the right time, I say: “Is your pet living or just existing? Do they still get enjoyment in everyday things?” If the answer is just existing, and there is no longer joy, then it is time to think about letting them go. And grieving hard is normal — for some people, losing their pet is just as tough as losing a human loved one.