Boundary Diamond Pets

"Why Won't You Just Hold Them Down?" - Let's talk about "Fear Free" and why it's the most valuable approach in medicine.

Why do we care so much if pets experience stress during veterinary visits?
1. Improved Physical Health: Stress and fear can have physiological effects on animals, such as increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and compromised immune function. By minimizing these stress responses, pets are more likely to maintain a healthier physical state.
2. Accurate Diagnosis: When animals are stressed, it can be difficult to perform accurate examinations and assessments. Fear and anxiety may cause pets to exhibit defensive or aggressive behaviors, making it challenging to conduct thorough examinations. By creating a fear-free environment, we can more effectively evaluate your pet.
3. Enhanced Trust and Bonding: Veterinary visits can be stressful for pets, which may
lead to a breakdown in trust and a negative association with medical care. Fear-free
practices prioritize creating positive experiences. Reducing stress helps maintain trust
between the pet, owner, and veterinary team, fostering stronger bonds and facilitating future visits.

Implementing behavioral modifications is a key aspect of the fear-free approach. These modifications help address fear and anxiety in animals, allowing them to navigate veterinary experiences more comfortably. Some common strategies include:
1. Gentle Handling: Using gentle and non-restraint-based handling techniques, such as positive reinforcement and desensitization, helps alleviate fear and stress during
examinations and procedures.
2. Environmental Enrichment: Providing a calming environment with appropriate stimuli, such as soothing music, pheromone diffusers, and comfortable bedding, can help reduce anxiety in pets.
3. Pre-Visit Conditioning: Introducing pets to veterinary experiences in a controlled
manner, outside of actual appointments, helps familiarize them with the sights, sounds, and smells associated with the clinic environment, reducing stress during future visits.

What kind of training do you do at home now with your pets to help prepare them for stressful situations? Is your vet fear-free certified? Please share your experiences!

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Ear infections part 2/2

Ear infections are incredibly common, and most often do not come with a lot of complications. If an ear infection is left untreated, or medications or tinctures are used that were not provided by your veterinarian, you may risk further issues.

Often we hear about people using baby oil, tea tree oil, turmeric, or Vaseline in their pets' ears. None of these things will prevent or cure an ear infection, and actually have a greater chance of making things much worse. Do not use anything in your pets' ears that was not provided by your veterinarian for this specific specific infection. Even leftover medications can pose problems if you use the wrong medication or it has been opened for a long time. Even medication can harbour bacteria if it has been open for too long. Liquid medications like we use in the ears has a much faster expiration date than capsules or tablets, as the likelihood of bacteria getting into the bottle and reproducing is much higher.

So what do they do for ear infections?
-The veterinarian will examine your dog's ears using the otoscope to determine the amount of build-up and inflammation in the ca**l, and to ensure the eardrum is still intact. If there is an extraordinary amount of build-up and inflammation, they will need to clean the ears prior to giving any medication. Sometimes this involves needing to sedate your pet and flush their ears with saline or pluck fur that is contributing to the build-up. (More common in curly haired breeds like poodles)

You will often be prescribed a topical antibiotic as well as a cleaner to take home. Using the cleaner PRIOR to giving the medication is key. If you do it the other way, you will be cleaning out the medication as well.

In extremely rare cases with chronic inflammation, the ear ca**l can swell up and close entirely. This happens most often in pets with allergies, pets that have never had any medical treatment, or have other underlying health conditions. If medications are unsuccessful, a "Total Ear Ca**l Ablation" can be preformed. This surgery is a last resort as it removes the ear ca**l entirely and the pet will be permanently deaf.

Ear infections part 1/2

Today we're diving into ear infections!
Ear infections are extremely common in dogs and cats, but luckily they are very treatable and rarely have complications.

Dogs with pendulous ears (floppy ears) are the most prone to ear infections, as it is very easy for bacteria and yeast to grow in the warm, dark, moist environment. Dogs with erect ears suffer less frequent ear infections as it is easier for them to clean, there is more natural light, and dirt and debris are less likely to get trapped in them. Cats have the least amount of ear infections as they groom themselves much more frequently than dogs.

Dogs who swim a lot or swim underwater are also high risk for ear infections, as all that moisture provides an excellent breeding ground for bacteria and yeast. If your dog is a prolific swimmer and prone to ear infections, it is a good idea to clean their ears with a drying cleaner after each swim. These cleaners can be purchased over the counter at your veterinary office.

Symptoms of ear infections are:
-Head shaking (consistently)
-Ear scratching
-Ear pain/unwilling to be pet on the head
-Head tilt or circling
-Disorientation or using furniture/walls to balance
-Malodourous ears (usually smells like wet bread)
-Discharge from the ears

Dog and cat ear ca**ls are L shaped, so it isn't possible to see the eardrum without a special tool known as an otoscope. Because of this L shape, an infection can be brewing for a long time before you see any exterior signs like build-up or discharge.

Other reasons why your pet may experience an ear infection is external parasites. Most external parasites can not be transmitted to people, but they can be transmitted from dog to dog, and occasionally between cats and dogs.

The last reason your pet may be experiencing chronic ear infections is allergies. Allergies in pets often first present as chronic pruritus (itchiness) in their ears, in-between their toes, and their uro-genital region. Ear infections are common as the pet brings bacteria from its feet into its ears while scratching. If your pet is chronically itchy, it is most likely due to allergies.