Embrace Pet Insurance Blog: Dr Riggs

Dr Riggs

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Guest Post: Why Are Our Pets So Stressed?

Did you know your cats and dogs stress about things maybe as much as you do?

Dr. Rex Riggs has a very interesting take on this month's topic of Pet Behavior. Do we cause the stress in our pets' lives? What do you think?

We live in a complex hurry up world. There is stress everywhere in our life. We are running here and there, often not taking the time to enjoy fully what we are doing before going to the next task at hand.

Did anyone take the dog for a walk? Did anyone see the cat today? Why did the cat pee in the living room again today? The dog got into the trash again. What makes the dog want to chew everything? Damn animals!!

Guess what…our animals are often a reflection of us and our moods. If we are stressed, so are our animals. We live in a world of antianxiety, antidepressant meds due to our self-inflicted stress and now it is overflowing to our pets.

One of the most common behavior problems I see in our hospital is anxiety. It can be anxiety over separation from their owners, or to loud noises such as thunderstorms or fireworks or just generalized anxiety. I think that much of this comes from a reflection of our hectic lives. Our pets are often a mirror of us. Maybe they are telling us to slow down and smell the roses a bit? You know, dogs and cats are smarter than what we give them credit for.

A definite factor is overbreeding in our purebreds. This goes for both dogs and cats. It seems the more popular a breed gets the more anxiety problems (and other hereditary problems) we see. We need to be more selective on the breeders we use. There are more and more breeders that breed for temperament. Search them out. Unless you are going to show your animal, you don’t need an AKC certified dog. Those dogs are bred for cosmetic traits and often come with hidden undesirable behavior traits. Make sure you see both of the parents. If they are “normal” and nice animals chances the offspring have a better chance of having the same desirable traits. Remember…. “The acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree”.

We have a plethora of treatment for anxiety in dogs just like in people. We use many of the same drugs as is used in people. Prozac, clomipramine, buspar, and amitriptyline are just a few. Just as in people some are very effective and some are not so, but it depends on each individual and the circumstances. Talk to you veterinarian about these drugs and other options.

An interesting new therapy for use is called Thundershirts. They are based on the weighted blankets that are used to calm autistic children. In my hands, I see about a 70% response rate in helping calm my patients. It is not a panacea, but it can help.

We also have some very good behavior veterinarians. These people can be a lifesaver, literally,
for some animals. Do not confuse with trainers. Trainers are great at what they do, but do not have the professional veterinary training that these board certified people do. We have an excellent one at The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center.

So I will leave you a thought provoking quote by the Dali Lama:

Dr. Rex Riggs grew up in Wadsworth, Ohio, near Akron. Dr Riggs is co-owner of Best Friends Veterinary Hospital in Powell, Ohio. He is also on the board of the North Central Region of Canine Companions of Independence, a board member of The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Society and Small Animal Practitioner Advancement Board at The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Riggs lives in Lewis Center, OH with his wife Nancy, their dogs Maggie and cat Speeder. Outside of work, Dr. Riggs is an avid golfer and enjoys travel and photography.

Posted by Laura on Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 10:07 PM in Dr Riggs, passion for pets, pet behavior | Permalink | Comments (3)

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Guest Post: very big dog versus very small dog

Today, Dr. Rex Riggs talks about aspects to think about when considering very big dogs versus very small dogs. Dr. Rex Riggs is the owner of Best Friends Veterinary Hospital in Powell, Ohio. He is a veterinarian, and an Advisory Board member of Embrace Pet Insurance.
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What kind of dog should I get? Should I get a purebred or one from the pound? Should I get a large or small dog? What do you think doc?? These are questions I hear everyday, and I like people asking them. You should put a lot of thought of just what type and size of dog you will get because... that decision will be with you for many, many years.

The first two questions tend to be more personal choices. Many people grew up with or have admired a certain breed and that influences their choice. Some people want to “save an animal”, and opt for dogs from our many shelters and rescue groups. Every breed has a rescue group now days and you can find a rescue group for any breed you want, so you can get your favorite breed and save an animal at the same time. Just remember, purebred dogs do tend to have more congenital and heredity problems then mixed breed dogs, so research the breed you want so you won’t have any surprises.

So what about the big dogs? And with some I do mean BIG dogs. I have a number of patients that weigh in excess of 150lbs!! One hundred and fifty pounds of dog takes up some major space. The thing I like most about big dogs is that most are just big, goofy, happy dogs. They almost all have a pleasant personality. But they are big. Tails are often at coffee table height so nothing breakable please - the table can be cleared in one happy moment. Big dogs can also reach just about anything on kitchen counters also so your teenagers need to put things away.

Healthwise, big dogs do have issues. They are more prone to boney problems such as hip dysplasia, elbow problems and ACL tears of there knees. So keep them lean! Remember that weight reduction is the number one pain reliever in dogs and people.

Large breed puppies need to be fed foods that have no more then 25% protein. Research done at The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine, showed a much higher incidence of boney defects in puppies fed higher protein food. So…. the trend of high protein no grain foods, would not be a good choice for these dogs.

Speaking of food, they eat a lot and poop a lot. So think of any space constraints you might have and the expense of feeding your new beast. Big dogs just cost more to own. This is true for drugs and heartworm and tick medications, so just be prepared.

Lastly…these big companions just don’t live as long as the should. The bigger the dog the shorter their lifespan. Some giant breeds life expectancy is only 8 years, where many small dogs can live into their late teens.

So what about small dogs? Well, they do live longer. The oldest dog I ever saw was a terrier mix that was 23 years old and meaner then a snake! I would say the average for the small dogs is 13 to 15 years, so you want to pick your puppy wisely.

Small dogs also have their potential problems. Where many of big dogs problems are a fact of weight and affect the musculoskeletal systems, small dogs can have problems due to underdevelopment. Liver, kidney and heart problem can be common in some small breeds. Dental disease is often more of a problem as well. So research your breeds!

On the plus side, smaller dogs take up less room, so are better for apartment dwellers. They cost less to “maintain” as far as food and medication costs go. They are also more portable and maybe easier to spoil, but that is up to debate I am sure.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Winter Dangers: Protecting Our Pets Against the Extreme Cold

I received a question come up about the real cold and dogs - you know, the kind where your nose hairs freeze when you go outside. Here's the Q&A for your reading pleasure.

Q: I would like to see more on the dangers to our pets from minus temps like we had in the Denver area last January. Our dog would go out and start limping after just a few moments. What should you do and what should you be watching out for in sub zero temps? Our pets need to go out--but what can we do to protect them from such extreme cold?

A: I asked a variety of folks to answer this one - from veterinarians to people with dogs in cold climes, and here's what they had to say.

From Dr Riggs:

What I was taught was that dogs feet are less likely to be prone to get frostbitten. The reasons are that the dogs feet are protected more by the fur around the pads and the thick leather like pads also help to insulate. The dogs temp is higher then humans, 102 vs 98.6, thus also helping then keep warm. I think the most important thing is that when cold, dog's blood is not shunted away from their feet keeping them warm. In people when we get cold, our blood is shunted away from our extremities to keep the core warm , thus our feet and hands get cold.

Sled dogs wear booties more for abrasion protection, but can help to keep them warm. Just make sure snow does not get down inside the boot.

From a long-time resident of the Denver area:

Always shovel them an area to go potty and be extra careful you are using de-icer that is safe for pets. Salt can be very irritating to them.

Check their paws when they come inside and remove any packed ice and snow that has accumulated between the pads while they were out.

MuttLuks are awesome and I highly recommend them for dogs who are truly sensitive to cold on their feet. http://www.muttluks.com/home.php

There is also a paste wax sort of thing you can put on the pads that will help keep them safe from salt and non-pet safe de-icers while out on their walks. http://musherssecret.net/testimonials.html

From Dr Carleton:

I think all my advice would be more or less the common sense recommendations. For example, dogs who get cold feet can wear booties which will help; sweaters and coats for the small, thin haired breeds.

When very cold, only short periods of outdoor time. If a dog is being housed outdoors, I would recommend a heated dog house with a lot of warm bedding in it...

I always suggest dog coats for those breeds that do not have their own natural wooly coats (think min pins for example) to keep them warm.

Do you have any suggestions for people living in the coldest climates?

Posted by Laura on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 11:03 PM in Ask Laura, Dr Carleton, Dr Riggs, pet health | Permalink | Comments (0)

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Guest Post: Winter Couch Potatoes - You and Your Dog

What are we going to do now that winter is upon us? Many areas have already seen more than their fair share of snow and that was before November even started!

Dr. Rex Riggs writes about how winter can make many of us sit on our touches on the couch, packing on a few pounds. Not good for your, nor your dog.

I love winter and snow. I am aware that many of you don’t share my affection for the cold months. I grew up in northern Ohio where we can have brutal winters. So I had to learn early to stay active in the winter months. My two favorite activities, road cycling and golf, are not going to happen in a foot of snow.

So what do we do to keep in shape? We may go to the gym (or tell people we do) and some of us will either cross country ski or downhill ski. But lets be honest….many of us grab some snacks, get our favorite drink and sit on our couch to hibernate the dark months out.

Then comes the holiday season. The feasting starts at Thanksgiving, with the turkey, stuffing, your aunt’s mystery casserole and the wonderful pies. Then comes the cookie and sweets filled Christmas season. Then comes the college football Bowl games, all seemingly 3 million of them!

So we sit, eat, drink and……gain weight. Who is there to veg out with us, happy to share in any snack you wish to throw their way? Our furry, loyal friends, our dogs and cats and…..they get fat too.

We forget how important it is to keep our pet at the optimal weight. If they get less activity in the winter then cut back on their calories. Give them ¾ of the food you give them in the summer months. Substitute a half can of green beans on their food. They will love them and you are adding virtually no calories.

We all know that being overweight predisposes us to heart disuse, diabetes, arthritis, and hip and knee problems. Same thing goes with our pets. Obesity is the number one disease we see in our animals. We have the world’s highest incidence of diabetes in our dogs and cats. Being overweight increases our dogs’ incidence of cruciate ligament tears of the knees by at least 30% and a lean dog can live up to 35% longer then an overweight one. We have a responsibility to our pets.

So what do we do? We get our butts off the couch and take our dogs outside. Go for a walk. Throw snowballs for them to catch. Just keep them active. You do need to make sure they don’t get salt in their paws and watch for ice ball accumulating in the hairs of the feet, just common sense things. There are a lot of doggie boutiques out there that carry a variety of coats and boots to help protect your dog from the cold, so don’t use that as an excuse. Guess what? Your dog will love being outside playing, rather then watching you become one with your couch.

So let’s make a promise to not become house-bound spuds this winter and keep our beloved pets active and healthy!

Related Posts:
November is Winter Danger Month at Embrace Pet Insurance
Winter Danger: ingesting goodies that should not be eaten by a dog
Winter Danger: skiing is dangerous for your dog?
Guest Post: Winter Couch Potatoes - You and Your Dog
Other posts by Dr Riggs
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Dr. Rex Riggs grew up in Wadsworth, Ohio, near Akron. Dr Riggs is co-owner of Best Friends Veterinary Hospital in Powell, Ohio. He is also on the board of the North Central Region of Canine Companions of Independence, a board member of The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Society and Small Animal Practitioner Advancement Board at The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Riggs lives in Lewis Center, OH with his wife Nancy, their dogs Maggie, and two cats Franklin and Speeder. Outside of work, Dr. Riggs is an avid golfer and enjoys travel and photography.

Posted by Laura on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 09:27 PM in Dr Riggs, pet health | Permalink | Comments (2)

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Guest Post: Pixie the Chihuahua Mix - a remarkable story of love and dedication

Wow! You just have to watch this video. Dr Riggs wanted to share a really positive story for Orthopedic Month at Embrace and this one tops them all. You'll have a smile and a tear after reading and watching.

Dr. Rex Riggs is the owner of Best Friends Veterinary Hospital in Powell, Ohio. He is a veterinarian, and an Advisory Board member of Embrace Pet Insurance.
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We tend to live in a hurried, instant gratification world anymore. We want the brand new shiny “whatever”, whether it be a car, a house, some jewelry or……whatever. If given the choice of working to get something or just be given that something, guess what; most of us will pick the easy way.

I am in my middle age years now (ouch that hurt saying that!), and I tend to notice such things. It also goes for our pets. There are literally millions of free pets looking for homes in the United States’ rescue shelters and foster homes. Great animals of all pedigrees and ages. It is estimated 3 million of these potential companions are put to sleep each year, simply because no one wants them.

Some have special needs and do need more TLC. It does take time and work to rehabilitate these animals. But you know what…. it is worth it.

The following video exemplifies how love, time and dedication can make a difference and bring joy and life back to an animal and bring fullfillness and happiness to a new owner. This is the story of Pixie Stardust, a little Chihuahua/Yorkie mix, which was given up to Noah’s Bark Pet Rescue in Los Angeles, because she could not walk. She was a pitiful sight. A small, scrawny puppy with deformed legs that could not even support her feather-like weight.

Enter Carolyn Paxton, owner of Chi WOW WOW, a hip clothing line for small dogs. Carolyn is an avid animal lover with a soft spot for Chihuahuas. Pixie's video shows just what love, persistence and a little technology can make in our lives.

I hope this makes us all think of helping these sheltered animals with a home. Their only crime was being born without an owner.

Related Posts:
October is Orthopedic Month at Embrace Pet Insurance
Claim Example: Old English Bulldogge with multiple medical conditions
Guest Post: Pixie the Chihuahua Mix - a remarkable story of love and dedication
The Lowdown on Dog and Cat Orthopedics
Guest Post: Rupture of the Cranial Cruciate Ligament
Other posts by Dr Riggs

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Dr. Rex Riggs grew up in Wadsworth, Ohio, near Akron. Dr Riggs is co-owner of Best Friends Veterinary Hospital in Powell, Ohio. He is also on the board of the North Central Region of Canine Companions of Independence, a board member of The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Society and Small Animal Practitioner Advancement Board at The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Riggs lives in Lewis Center, OH with his wife Nancy, their dogs Maggie, and two cats Franklin and Speeder. Outside of work, Dr. Riggs is an avid golfer and enjoys travel and photography.

Posted by Laura on Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 08:19 AM in Dr Riggs, passion for pets, pet health, pet stories | Permalink | Comments (4)

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Guest Post: Top 5 good things about old dogs

I always love it when Dr Riggs' writes about senior dogs and today is no exception. Even veterinarians are allowed to have a soft spot for the companions in their lives. Dr. Rex Riggs is the owner of Best Friends Veterinary Hospital in Powell, Ohio. He is a veterinarian, and an Advisory Board member of Embrace Pet Insurance.
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1. The Grey face

There is something about grey faces. I just love them. When many of my patients get on in years, their muzzles and faces start to sprout white and grey hairs. Not unlike me. Their expressions soften. They look wiser, and gentler. It just makes me smile.

2. Hearing loss

Now you normally would not think the loss of hearing as a good thing. It is all in how you look at it. Most dogs start to lose some hearing at 8 years and normally by 12 or 13 years, the world becomes silent for them. Don’t despair, they compensate very well, thank you. Dogs don’t have the psychological side of not hearing. They take it in stride. Their smelling becomes keener and they rely more on feeling vibrations. The best thing is the thunderstorms that often frightened them in younger years, are no longer a threat, and they sleep peacefully through the night, even when we don’t.

3. Quiet times reading the Sunday paper

We and our dogs start to mellow a bit as we age. The things that we thought so important in our youth, we now realize how trivial they really were. That squirrel that tormented our dogs into that futile, never ending chase can run and climb the tree by itself as your dog intently watches, but takes in the sights by your side on the deck. Those bunnies that sit still as statues until the chase starts are just nice to watch now. There are too many to chase anyway. Now my dog is intent on sitting on my deck while I read the paper and drink my coffee. We sit and ponder the bond that has developed between us over the years.

4. A gentler walk

The walks are now civilized. No longer are they the tug of wars of the puppy era. Slower, but just as enjoyable, strolls replace the frantic “runs” of youth. More squirrels and rabbits to observe and not chase. Time to contemplate life.

5. Sharing a lifetime of memories

The best thing about an older dog is the history that you share. Dogs have always been a part of my life and I tend to separate the stages of my life with the dogs I had at the time. I have been blessed with wonderful canine friends. They have all been my best friends. Ryan, Stuy, Boo Boo, Maggie, my 15 year old wonder dog and Ossa, my 2 year old Golden. They have all added so much joy to my life.

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Dr. Rex Riggs grew up in Wadsworth, Ohio, near Akron. Dr Riggs is co-owner of Best Friends Veterinary Hospital in Powell, Ohio. He is also on the board of the North Central Region of Canine Companions of Independence, a board member of The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Society and Small Animal Practitioner Advancement Board at The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Riggs lives in Lewis Center, OH with his wife Nancy, their dogs Maggie, and two cats Franklin and Speeder. Outside of work, Dr. Riggs is an avid golfer and enjoys travel and photography.

Posted by Laura on Tuesday, September 06, 2011 at 09:54 PM in Dr Riggs, pet health | Permalink | Comments (1)

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

How many calories a dog or cat should eat a day?

Have you ever counted calories to manage your own weight? Have you ever done it for your cat or dog? Every snack and treat you give your pets adds more calories to their diet and could be sabotaging the diet you have them on.

Today, Dr. Rex Riggs discusses how many calories your dog or cat needs and how many extra calories different treats add to their diet. You might be surprised by what you read.

I wish I had a dime (OK…$10) for every time one of my clients said “but it was just a little piece….” when describing the table scrapes or cookie they gave their animal.

We need to be careful when supplementing our pet’s diets.

First, your dog or cat does not need any snacks or table foods, because their diets are nationally balanced. Secondly, many foods that are fine for us are REALLY BAD for your pet. Bacon, pork products, milk, chocolate, grapes and raisins are just a few of our favorites snacks that can be dangerous to your animal. The consequence for feeding these can range from diarrhea and vomiting to kidney disease, seizures and even death.

What I want to concentrate in this article is how we are making our pets fat unintentionally.

We all love to see an animal “beg” for a treat or “little piece” of whatever we are eating. But are we killing our pets with kindness? The harmful effects of being overweight are the same as they are for humans. It has been said an overweight animal can have a 30% shorter lifespan.

Have we really thought just how many calories are in those treats? Why is there no nutritional or calorie information on those treats? Do we stop to think just how much a dog or cat needs calorie wise to maintain his/her weight? Probably not.

Well…..I am going to tell you.

Most dogs need about 25 to 30 calories per pound per day to maintain their weight. You need to figure in, if you dog is a spud or an athlete, whether you need to add or subtract that to that amount. That means, on average, a 30 lb dog needs around 800 calories daily, and an average cat needs 250 to 300 calories a day. Really not much.

The calories in the treats really add up. The following list are the calorie content of some common treats:

Beggin Stips- 40

Pro Plan Brand Medium Dog Biscuits-32

T-Bonz brand Dog Snacks-45

Chew-eez Rolls small/medium-171

Busy Bone Ultimate Medium-227

Busy Bone Dental large-443

Beggin Chew large-672

Shocking huh? There are so many other treats that are better for your pet with much fewer calories. Some of those are:

Cauliflower (1/4 cup)-6

Carrots 1 medium-19

Cucumbers (1/4 cup)-5

Green beans (1/4 cup) my dog’s favorite-9

Rice cake-40

If you think your animal will not be just as pleased with these as the expensive high calorie treats we buy….try them. You will be surprised.

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Dr. Rex Riggs grew up in Wadsworth, Ohio, near Akron. Dr Riggs is co-owner of Best Friends Veterinary Hospital in Powell, Ohio. He is also on the board of the North Central Region of Canine Companions of Independence, a board member of The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Society and Small Animal Practitioner Advancement Board at The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Riggs lives in Lewis Center, OH with his wife Nancy, their dogs Maggie, and two cats Franklin and Speeder. Outside of work, Dr. Riggs is an avid golfer and enjoys travel and photography.

Posted by Laura on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at 06:58 PM in Dr Riggs, pet health | Permalink | Comments (2)

Wednesday, July 06, 2011

Guest Post: Why are my dog’s eyes turning gray?

Today we have a guest post from Dr Jennifer Coate, an associate of Dr Rex Riggs who has regularly guest posted on the Embrace blog.

Dr Coate talks about what causes a dog's eyes to turn gray and if it is something to be concerned about or not.
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Many times our clients notice their older pet’s eyes are starting to have a bluish-gray haze and they assume that their old dog is going blind. But what is really happening in the eye?

The pupil of the eye is normally black. What you are seeing in the pupil is the lens, which lies just behind the pupil. Just like in a camera or eye glasses, the lens is a clear structure used to focus images as they pass into the eye to your pet’s retina.

Today, I am only discussing diseases that cause the lens to look gray, hazy, or even white. If the surface or any of the front chamber of the eye looks cloudy, or if the eye is red, having discharge, or bothering the dog you should have it checked by a veterinarian immediately.

There are 2 main things that will cause your pet’s lens to look cloudy - cataracts and lenticular nuclear sclerosis.

Despite its long name, lenticular nuclear sclerosis (often referred to as lenticular sclerosis or nuclear sclerosis) is simply a normal aging change of the lens. The lens is made up of fibers that get denser as the animal ages. Nuclear sclerosis occurs when the fibers in the center of the lens become so dense that it appears cloudy. This happens in every aging pet - - as early as 6 years of age in the dogs and 9 years of age in the cat. This change rarely affects the vision of the pet beyond a mild decrease in their ability to focus on close up items, especially in dim lighting. The vision change is almost never noticed by the pet owner and there is no need to treat lenticular sclerosis.

A cataract on the other hand is any opacity of the lens that prevents light from passing through the lens to the retina. Cataracts can involve a small portion of the lens causing the pet to have a blind spot, or be more severe involving the entire lens causing the eye to be blind. There are many causes linked to cataracts. The most common cause of cataracts in dogs is a genetic predisposition - they were born with a tendency to develop cataracts at some point in life. Hereditary cataracts occur in many dog breeds including miniature poodles, cocker spaniels, miniature schnauzers, golden retrievers, Boston terriers, and Siberian huskies. Hereditary cataracts have also been reported in Persian, Himalayan, and Birman cats, although in cats they are usually born with the cataract.

Other causes of cataracts include age related formation, congenital (born with it), inflammation of the eye, diets, toxins, trauma, and diabetes. Most diabetic dogs, although not diabetic cats, will develop cataracts. In fact, I have diagnosed diabetes in several patients after the astute owners noticed that their dog’s eyes suddenly looked hazy.

Besides causing blindness, cataracts can cause other problems with the eye. A lens with cataracts can fall out of place causing pain, inflammation, and even glaucoma, an increase in the pressure of the eye that can be very painful and can permanently damage the eye. A cataract can also become so severe the lens will leak which can then cause severe inflammation within the eye (uveitis) and glaucoma.

If you notice any changes in your pet’s eyes or vision, you should have them evaluated by a veterinarian. Your veterinarian can look to see if it is truly the lens verses other portions of the eye that are affected. They can usually differentiate between lenticular sclerosis and cataracts during a physical exam using an ophthalmoscope. In some cases, they may need to dilate the pupil to better visualize the lens or do other tests. This may include checking eye pressure to check for uveitis or glaucoma or doing blood work to look for disease such as diabetes.

If your pet is found to have cataracts, your veterinarian can discuss with you the best treatment options. If an underlying cause is found, such as diabetes, initially treatment will be geared towards correcting that. Many dogs can live happily with the decreased vision form cataracts, even blindness and will need no treatment. If the cataract is causing problems, or if you wish to preserve vision, your pet can be referred to an ophthalmologist to have surgery to replace the lens with a prosthetic lens.

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Dr. Jennifer Coate grew up in Celina, Ohio and received her DVM from Ohio State University. She has performed research at the James Cancer Research Institute, Duke University Medical Center, and the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine in areas ranging from cancer gene expression to creating a molecular model for the FIV virus. Dr. Coate has been the surgeon for the non-profit animal shelter, Citizens for Humane Action, spaying and neutering rescued animals for adoption. She joined the Best Friends staff in the summer of 2008.

Dr. Coate lives with her husband, Matt, in Hilliard. They have a very energetic Jack Russel-Beagle Mix named Mitchell and two cats, Dusty & George. Dr. Coate spends most of her free time renovating her house. She also enjoys long walks with Mitchell.

Posted by Laura on Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 04:47 PM in Dr Riggs, pet health, veterinarians | Permalink | Comments (2)

Sunday, June 05, 2011

Guest Post: The Harmful Side of Animal-Sourced Dog Chews

Here's a guest post from Dr. Rex Riggs on the topic of dog chews - the ones sourced from animal body parts that aren't used for other purposes. Dr. Rex Riggs is the owner of Best Friends Veterinary Hospital in Powell, Ohio. He is a veterinarian, and an Advisory Board member of Embrace Pet Insurance.
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Bully sticks, pig’s ears, cow hooves, marrow bones, rawhides and antlers. Sounds like a yummy smorgasbord for your dog, doesn’t it? I bet many of you use these treats to satisfy your dog’s chewing and keeping them occupied; but should you? Have you ever given deep thought to these animal “pieces parts” that we give to our pets??

First where do these things come from and why are they used as chew toys? I think it is obvious that these are all parts of animals that we eat. Not that we want to think about it but these are waste byproducts from the meat industry. Some entrepreneur decided this would be an easy way to make money so…. a new industry was born.

Cow hooves and pigs ears are what the name implies.
Marrow bones are from the long bones of cows and pigs.
Rawhides are the skin of cows.
Antlers come from either deer or elk.
So what do you think bully sticks are? Think about this one. Give up? They are bull penises! Hmm.

There are some dangers with all of these items. All of these have the potential and can cause intestinal obstructions, but equally important are the dangers that come from the way these are processed. They are first soaked for hours in a caustic lye solution to digest the undesirables off the skin and then to remove the lye the skin is then soaked in bleach solution. Sounds yummy. Many of the rawhides come from China where they have been known to use arsenic compounds to preserve them.

There is no regulation of rawhides or pigs ears. You really have no idea where these come from.

Marrow bones and antlers cause many broken teeth. A good rule of thumb is if you don’t want me to hit you in the kneecap with it, your dog should not be chewing on it. I can not tell you how many expensive extractions are the result of dogs chewing bones.

Another concern of mine is the potential introduction and spread of disease to naive areas. Many of the elk antlers come from Wyoming where the elk migrate and drop their antlers each year. These are collected in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, by Boy Scouts who sell them to support their troop. Many are used to make decorative pieces but others end up as chew toys. Wyoming has a devastating disease call Chronic Wasting Disease and is caused by a small protein subpart called a prion. Prions have the potential to be in antlers and other body parts and thus may be introduced into deer populations in other parts of the country. Much like the devastating Ash Borror that was introduced into my state of Ohio in firewood brought in from Michigan, the infestation is quickly depleting the Ash trees in the state. .

My biggest concern though with all these chew toys is the potential for passing harmful bacteria to your pet and YOU. There have been many cases of Salmonella and E. Coli contaminations directly linked to rawhides, pig’s ears and other animal product toys. The FDA has published an advisory warning of this risk and urges those who come in contact with them to wash their hands thoroughly.

Sorry for the disgusting facts in this blog, but hopefully I have educated you, so you can pick the safest products for your beloved pet.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Bald spot at vaccination site on a dog

We recently had a question on the Embrace Facebook page about a bald spot on a dog:

Q: It turns out that a tiny bald spot on my daughter's dog is likely a result of the rabies vaccine. She may or may not grow her hair back. The vet doesn't think she should get rabies vaccines again. Anybody know how to regrow hair or anybody have a dog regrow hair after this happened to them?

Since I'm not a veterinarian, I turned to Dr Rex Riggs, one of our veterinary advisors, for help with this question.

A: Rarely you can get a small area of alopecia in the area of where the rabies vaccine was given. You don't need to treat them, as they are just cosmetic. Sometimes if persistent, I will use some tacrolimus ointment. This is not a reason to stop rabies vaccine. This is purely cosmetic.

Have you noticed balding at vaccination sites on your dogs? Did the hair grow back again?

Posted by Laura on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 09:33 PM in Dr Riggs | Permalink | Comments (1)

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Bald spot at vaccination site on a dog

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