Dr. Don DeForge Silver Sands Veterinary

A Cat's Deepest Secret Revealed Animal Doc AM-Multi-Media  Dr. Don Don DeForge 31July2012 One of the DEEPEST SECRETS of the cat that we love is pain and discomfort caused by impacted anal sacs. Each cat has two anal sacs.  If you lift the tail of your cat and look at 3 PM and 9 PM, as if you are staring at a clock, you will be face to face to the openings of these sacs.  Many times the veterinarian everts the anal mucosa to see the opening clearly.  In most instances, a mild sedative is needed for a complete exam of this site. No one knows their purpose but they can become impacted.  Everyone knows about the problem in dogs.  Normally in a dog or cat when there is a bowel movement the pressure allows the secretion found in these sacs to be expressed.  In some animals, this does not occur.   There are many reasons postulated why in some animals the sacs get impacted and cannot empty normally.  Here are some of these possible causes: Infection Inflammation Parasites Overweight animal

Intervention: Saving Your Pet's Life Animal Doc AM Multi-Media-Dr. Don DeForge 24July2012 In 2009, a human study showed that the top two death problems that were preventable by INTERVENTION are smoking and high blood pressure.  Both have effective interventions yet they are responsible for the highest numbers of deaths in the United States each year. What about our companions.  Do they develop Hypertension--i.e. high blood pressure?  The answer is YES!  Hypertension can be just as dangerous to pets as it is to humans. At your next wellness exam or routine veterinary visit have your veterinarian check your pet's blood pressure.  An isolated high blood pressure reading is not a diagnosis of hypertension. Many pets go through "white coat syndrome" the same as people and have very elevated blood pressure because of anxiety or stress in the doctor's office.  If your veterinarian gets a high reading it must be repeated a number of times to see if the reading is consiste

Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory: Not a Place for Dog's To Visit Dr. Don DeForge-Animal Doc AM Multi-Media 17July2012 Chocolate Toxicity: Chocolate contains Theobromine, a natural stimulant, found in the cocoa bean.  Unfortunately, dog's metabolize Theobromine very slowly. When ingested by pets in large quantity chocolate can cause: Vomiting Diarrhea Hyperactivity Increased Thirst Increased Urination Abnormal Heart Rhythm Seizures Even loss of life   Dark chocolate and Baking Chocolate are the most dangerous; one ounce of dark chocolate in a ten pound dog is life threatening.  If you cannot reach your own veterinarian call your local ER Center to see if the type of chocolate and the amount ingested is life threatening.  If you wish, you can call Poison Control for Animals-The ASPCA Poison Control Center has a 24 hour Emergency Veterinary Poison Hot line -at 888-426-4435. Xylitol Toxicity: Xylitol is another very toxic sweet substance that dogs are drawn to commonly.  Xylitol

Animal Doc AM Multi-Media July 10th 2012 with Dr. Don DeForge " Providing A Vacation for Your Pet " It's that time of year again called: VACATION.  Why not take your friend with you this year on vacation!  Forget the boarding kennel, inconveniencing relatives, friends, or neighbors: hit the road this summer with your beloved dog or cat. When taking your pet with you on vacation, there are some important tips to remember from Animal Doc AM, Dr. Don  DeForge : Create a detailed medical file of all of your recent exams, diagnostics testing, and include a letter from your veterinarian explaining in detail any medical conditions now being treated. Make sure you have a vaccine history with you including your up-to-date Rabies Vaccine Certificate dated and signed by your veterinarian. Make sure your pet is COMPUTER CHIPPED in case you get separated or the pet becomes frightened and runs away miles from home.  Most of the new COMPUTER CHIPS include medical history in case your pe