Hollywood FL’s Top Vet Explains Brain Tumor Treatment

Hollywood FL’s Top Vet Explains Why Brain Tumors in Cats and Dogs are So Challenging to Treat

While brain tumors occur in both dogs and cats, particularly those over 5 years old, tumors are more common in dogs with some breeds, boxer, Boston terrier and golden retrievers actually being predisposed to the disease.

Brain tumors in both species are identified as primary or secondary. Primary tumors are those where the tumor originated within the brain or its membrane and include meningioma, glioma, choroid plexus papilloma, and pituitary adenoma or adenocarcinoma. Secondary tumors are caused by cancer that has metastasized to the brain from some other area in the pet's body. Examples of secondary tumors include hemangiosarcoma, mammary carcinoma, and melanoma. Unfortunately, these tumors have a very poor prognosis because they’ve already spread through the body.

Symptoms and Treatments for Dog and Cat Brain Tumors

Symptoms associated with brain tumors in both cats and dogs are caused by pressure exerted by the cancer mass on the brain. Symptoms may vary depending on what part of the brain the mass is affecting. Symptoms are typically progressive and get more pronounced as the size of the tumor increases but not always.

Symptoms that are common in both dogs and cats include:

• Decline in mental alertness
• "Drunk" gait
• Head pressing
• Going in circles
• Seizures
• Loss of vision in one eye
• Increased vocalization by cats and less purring
• Loss of appetite but increase in thirst

The most effective treatment is removal of the entire tumor by surgery but unfortunately that is rarely possible. Of course in the case of secondary tumors, removing the brain tumor does nothing to mitigate the effects of the other cancers in the body.

Chemotherapy is an option for some types of cancer providing the pet is healthy enough to survive the general anesthesia required to administer it. Radiation is another option that can be used to slow the growth of the tumor but is rarely able to eradicate it.

Controlling symptoms is a common approach to dealing with brain tumors and there are a number of options to relieve the pressure on the pet's brain. At the end of the day, pet brain tumors can be treated but rarely completely cured.

If you have questions about pet brain tumors we encourage you to contact Hollywood's favorite veterinary hospital DPC today!

Davie’s Top Vet Explains Benefits of Neutering

The Benefits of Getting Your Pet Spayed or Neutered Explains by Davie Florida's Premier Vet

We all know that getting your pet spayed or neutered is the responsible thing to do to help prevent over population. Buy in addition to preventing unwanted litters, there are some long-term health benefits for pets that get spayed or neutered.

Here are just a few of the benefits to you and your pet:

• Males will do just about anything when it comes to mating like digging under fences to get outside. They can put them selves in danger by getting loose and roaming the streets where they can get hit by a car or run into another male looking for a fight. Neutering keeps your guy close to home.
• Females in heat have all kinds of issue like frequent urination; that’s both uncomfortable for the pet and annoyance in the house.
• There’s a misconception out there that neutering and spaying will make your pet obese. It’s not true.
• Neutering will save you money and keep you pet healthier by keeping them close to home where they can avoid disease.
• Spaying females before her first heat, can help prevent uterine infections and breast cancer, which is fatal in about 90% of cats and half of dogs.
• Neutering your puppy can almost eliminate their chance of ever getting testicular cancer.

If you have any questions about getting you pet spayed or neutered give DPC Veterinary Hospital in Davie a call today at (954) 989-9879.

Holiday Safety Tips From Hollywood Florida's Best Vet

How You and Your Pets Can Have a Happy Holiday From Hollywood Florida's Vet Dr. Megan Cassels-Conway, DVM

'Tis the season for extravagant holiday feasts, gathering of family and friends, cookies and candy and all the decadence of the holidays. At the veterinary clinic 'tis the season for pancreatitis, gastroenteritis and chocolate toxicity. All the wonderful things we love about the holidays can spell disaster if our furry friends partake alongside us. Vomiting cats and dogs with diarrhea put a damper on the holiday spirit but can easily be prevented. Use this guide as your holiday helper this season to avoid the major culprits of the holiday pet woes.

Chocolate

This is one most people know about but do you know just how little it takes? The darker the chocolate the more theobromine and caffeine, making baking chocolate the worst. Signs range from mild vomiting and diarrhea to seizures and heart arrythmias and eventually death. Baked goods are not quite as bad as pure chocolate but can still pack quite the punch.

Turkey, Ham, Drippings and Gravy

There's a good chance you're four-legged friends will be staring you down during your entire meal pred, but don't give in to the pouty eyes. Meat skin, fat, drippings and gravy can be extremely high in fat for pets. This is a level of fat they are not used to and their body cannot metabolize properly. These levels of fat result in pancreatitis, a severe inflammation of the pancreas (the organ producing enzymes to break down fat in the intestines). Pancreatitis is typically seen as bloody vomiting and diarrhea, although both are not always seen. Pork products or turkey skin are frequent culprits of pancreatitis but any high fat food can do the trick. Pancreatitis can cause severe dehydration and can become life threatening. It is best to avoid human food for all pets.

Onions and Garlic

Members of the onion and garlic family can be toxic to dogs and cats in very low doses. Feeding any food that has been cooked with onions or garlic is enough to do the trick. Ingestion leads to destruction of red blood cells, needed to transport oxygen around the body. Dramatic anemia can occur within hours and leave your pet severely weak with breathing difficulty.

Xylitol

Sugar substitutes are a common way we watch our waistlines over the holidays. Xyltitol is one of those sugar substitutes found in many candies, gum and even peanut butter. Canine bodies do not recognize a difference between xylitol and regular sugar and release large amounts of insulin which can result in severe hypoglycemia. Later on xylitol causes death of liver tissue.

Nuts and Raisins

Some of our favorite holiday snacks and cookie ingredients can lead to severe medical concerns in pets. Macademia nuts can cause neurologic problems from weakness to seizures in dogs. Effects on cats are unknown. Raisins and grapes have an unknown component which causes severe kidney damage with as little as 1-2 grapes or raisins.

Alcohol

This may seem like an obvious one but happens more often than you would think. Alcohol poisoning occurs in dogs and cats with much smaller amounts than you might imagine. For a small puppy or kitten, even a few licks of a spilt drink on the floor can affect the nervous system and heart. The holidays are full of wine, beer, eggnog and other festive libations. Enjoy the festivities but be sure to clean up spills and keep an eye on drinks, never leaving them unattended.

And if you just have to give in...

If those pouty puppy or kitty eyes get the better of you, what can you give your pet? Stick with raw or steamed vegetables and fruits. Dark green vegetables such as broccoli, green beans, spinach; carrots; apples and sweet potatoes are healthy, safe treats for pets when they au natural. Problems arise when they are cooked with butter, oil, cream or drippings. You can always give regular dog food or biscuits, as well in moderation. Sometimes your pet just wants to feel included and have a little snack while you eat.

If your pet is know to have eaten a toxic food or substance, call your veterinarian immediately. Daytime emergency care is offered at DPC Veterinary Hospital in Davie, FL. Contact your veterinarian immediately if your pet shows any of the signs discussed above. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call us at (954) 989-9879.

Davie Florida Vet Offers Low Cost Vaccine Wellness Clinic in October

DPC Veterinary Hospital will be holding four Vaccine Wellness Clinics at their Davie Florida location on October 16th, 21st, 23rd & 28th, 2015 from 2pm-5pm. They will be offering affordable vaccine packages for pets including a Feline Wellness Package for $35 and a Canine Wellness Package for $85. Additional options including heart-worm prevention are available.

“Providing low cost vaccinations to help pet owners and the community has always been a big part of our mission.” according to Nancy Abecassis of DPC.

DPC is a full-service veterinary clinic in Davie, Florida. Since their establishment in 2001 they place the care, diagnosis and treatment of pets as their primary concern. They offer a comprehensive and compassionate approach when treating pets. Their pledge is to provide the highest quality of veterinary care at an affordable price. If you would like more information on the Vaccine Wellness Clinics contact DPC Veterinary Hospital at (954) 989-9879.

DPC Veterinary Hospital

6991 Stirling Road

Davie, FL 33314

Ft. Lauderdale’s Leading Vet Offers Summer Safety Tips for Your Pet

Ft. Lauderdale’s Leading Vet Offers Summer Safety Tips for Your Pet

Sometimes it's easy for pet owners to forget that their pets have different tolerances to the hot climate than humans have and that leads to putting them unintentionally at risk. We've put together some simple tips to remind pet owners what they can do to ensure that their cat or dog makes it through another Florida summer without harm.

5 Tips to Keep Your Pet Safe in the Summer

Heat is your pet's number one enemy during the summer. While we like to get outdoors and often take our pets with us, we have to keep in mind that the climate is more dangerous to our four legged friends than it is to us. Be alert to signs of heat stroke in your pet and don't hesitate to get it to a veterinarian for help.

1. Water Safety. If you take your pet with you on a boat, make sure they wear a floatation device. Not all dogs are good swimmers and the ocean, or even a lake is certainly not the same as a backyard pool.
2. Avoid Party Animal Behavior. If you throw a BBQ party outside advise your guests not to feed the pet. The things we like, alcohol, buffalo wings, chocolate ice cream and cake can do serious harm to a pet's digestive system.
3. Symptoms of Heat Stroke. If your dog or cat exhibits excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse, get them to a vet immediately. Animals with flat faces like pugs and Persian cats are more susceptible to heat stroke because they can't pant as efficiently as other pets.
4. Hydration. Make sure your pet has easy access to plenty of fresh, clean water to prevent dehydration. If you have an outside dog, make sure that both the pet and the water bowl have an area that is shaded all day long.
5. Safe Walks. Keep in mind that your pet doesn't slip on a pair of tennis shoes when they go for a walk with you. There is nothing between the hot concrete and their bodies other than the pads on their paws. While those pads are durable they are not indestructible and can blister from the heat. Keep walks short or limit them to grassy areas (if they have not been recently sprayed with insecticides).

These are all simple tips but they are essential for your pet's safety. If you have questions about a specific summertime activity and what, if any risk it poses to your pet, give us a call today and we will be happy to offer our advice.

Microchipping Pets in Hollywood FL : Veterinarian

Give Your Hollywood FL Pet a Permanent ID Card by Micro chipping 

While we all hope our pets never get lost or injured away from home, giving them a way to tell the shelter or veterinarian where they live and who their "parents" are can go a long way in ensuring a happy reunion.

At DPC we use the HomeAgain microchip and lost pet service because we believe that it offers the best value and is the most effective of the microchipping services. The HomeAgain chip is a permanent ID for your pet and will literally last a lifetime. The chip contains a unique identification number that is registered with HomeAgain with your pet's name and owner contact information. The chip can be "read" with a low frequency scanner which all shelters and veterinarians (about 50,000 nationwide) have.

Micro chipping your pet in Hollywood is a quick and simple procedure. At DPC Veterinary Hospital in nearby Davie, our veterinarians simply inject the microchip (about the same size as a grain of rice) under your pet's skin located between its shoulders. The process is very similar to a regular inoculation and your pet will act no differently as it does when getting its shots.

A nice feature of the HomeAgain chip is that it has a patented anti-migration feature that keeps the chip in place. Some chips will "slip" from their location making it difficult for a scanner to read. In fact given the work load at most shelters, if the chip can't be read between the shoulders then the shelter often assumes the pet is not chipped.

You Play the Most Important Role in Getting Your Lost Pet Back

When you have your pet microchipped at DPC our staff will assist you in setting up your registration on HomeAgain. We'll also show you how to enter changes to that information if you move, change a phone number or have any other changes in contact info. It's very important that this record be kept current and you are the only person who can insure that it is.

Ft. Lauderdale Pet Owner FAQs About Micro chipping

Here are a few FAQS we get from Ft. Lauderdale pet owners have about microchipping pets.

1. What are the chances of the pet actually being found and scanned?

At DPC Veterinary Hospital we use HomeAgain as our micro chipping partner and they have an extensive network of rescue shelters, veterinarians and volunteers that are immediately notified when a pet is reported missing. Once you report the pet missing, HomeAgain will send a flash message including date/time/location of when the pet went missing along with a description and even a photo to everyone in the network within a 25 mile radius of your home or known location when the pet disappeared.

2. Can microchips track a lost pet?

No. The chip has no internal power source or GPS function. The chip only contains a unique number identifying your pet. The chip is "read" by a low frequency scanner that all animal control facilities, rescue shelters and veterinarians have. Because there is no power source there is no battery to replace. Your pet's chip is literally his or her ID for life.

3. Does embedding a chip require surgery?

No it doesn’t. The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is inserted under the skin between the pet's shoulders using a syringe. There is no anesthesia required. The process is almost identical to administering vaccines and your pet will react the same way it does when getting shots.

4. Is micro chipping expensive?

NO. At DPC we microchip pets for $40.00 and that includes the first year's registration on HomeAgain. From there it's about $17.00 a year for the lost pet service.