Limping is Never Normal: Recognizing Pain in Our Pets

Given this colder weather we'd been having, we thought we'd share some information that can help you stay aware and proactive if your pet, whether old or young, is experiencing some discomfort.

If you have pain in your leg or foot, you tend to put less of your weight on it when you walk, right? Our pets do the same thing, which is to say, limping is never normal. It is always a sign of pain or discomfort. Sometimes, often in hindsight, it is not even the first sign. 

It could be that your dog has been slightly quieter than usual or less willing to run and catch his ball; or your cat may not make the jump onto your bed as readily as she used to, or hisses when you pet her shoulder or hip.

Pets can be masters at disguising their pain. It is our job as pet parents and guardians to recognize these signs, and the job of our veterinarians to get to the root of the issue and help the pet get some relief. 

Sometimes all it takes is a thorough physical exam, other times we may recommend x-rays or other diagnostics to help us figure it out.

Likewise, sometimes treatment can be as simple as pain pills for a few days or may require surgical or other intervention, depending on the injury or illness.

Some common signs that your pet isn’t feeling their best include:

• Low to no appetite

• Decreased mobility/sleeping more (might be the only sign in a cat or pocket pet!)

• Guarding a certain part of the body

• Whining (dogs)

• Meowing more or less than usual (cats)

• Difficulty getting up from sitting or lying down

• Changes in grooming habits or excessive licking of a certain area

• Withdrawing/hiding

If you notice any of these signs in your pet, please schedule an appointment with us so we can investigate further.

Allison Stephen LVT,

Veterinary Nurse

Diarrhea

Some pets seem to have diarrhea on a regular basis, but we are here to tell you that it is never a normal thing. Healthy dogs and cats do not have diarrhea, so we would like to see your pet if he or she is having soft stools.

If your pet is up to date on their wellness exam and vaccinations, the first step for a pet with diarrhea is to check a fecal sample. You can bring one in anytime and we will send it off to the lab to check for internal parasites like roundworms or hookworms.

The bonus effect of monthly hearworm medications like Interceptor Plus (or, even better, Nexgard Plus, which protects against fleas and ticks as well!) is that they also kill these worms, so be sure to keep your pet on it year-round!

Hookworm (Ancylostoma spp.) seen by cytology

Sometimes an internal parasite can be the cause of diarrhea, other times it can be something they ate or even stress. If the fecal exam is negative, it is important that we get you and your pet in for an exam and discussion to get to the root cause of the issue and to ensure that they aren’t dehydrated or having concurrent issues.

Treatment for diarrhea depends on the underlying cause.

We will prescribe a de-wormer in the case of a positive fecal exam, and, no matter the cause, will often recommend giving fluids under their skin to help replenish the water loss.

If the cause of the diarrhea is determined to be a dietary indiscretion (they ate something naughty), treatment may be as simple as fasting your pet for awhile, and then feeding small amounts of an easily-digestible diet for at least a few days to help settle & reset the digestive system. We have prescription foods for exactly this purpose, or you can boil some plain chicken or hamburger and mix it with rice. While this should help settle the stomach, be aware that it’s not a nutritionally complete diet for long-term use.

Call us early if your pet is having issues so we can start supportive care, advise appropriate diagnostic tests and help you manage this sometimes frustrating condition!

-- Allison Stephen, LVT

Team Liaison

AAHA! More progress at MiVet

If you've visited us recently, you may have seen our new separate entrances and expanded consult rooms: we're enjoying getting settled into our new space and having a little more room to work!

At some point soon we should be "moved in" enough to have an open house and show you all what we've been working on.

In the mean time, we're excited to share we have other plans in progress to continue to improve and grow...

AAHA Accreditation: How and Why?

Unless you are a veterinary professional, you may not have heard of the American Animal Hospital Association or the rigorous procedures that clinics go through to earn their accreditation. MiVet is in the process of applying for this distinction and we hope to earn it this Fall.

Only about 15% of veterinary clinics in the United States have successfully earned this esteemed honor. Clinics must implement new protocols, adjust some of their procedures and meet standards outlined in a list of over 900 guidelines provided by AAHA. 

So, you may ask, why bother?

AAHA accreditation is the gold standard for veterinary medicine. It means that we are practicing at the highest level and quality of our industry. 

It also means that we care. 

• We care about the wellbeing of our patients and clients. 

• We care that all of our staff is appropriately educated and trained to do what they do in the absolute best possible way. 

• We care that our doctors and nurses stay up-to-date on the latest changes in medicine and life in practice. 

• We care that all of our employees can enjoy appropriate work/life balance and are as safe as possible both in and outside of the clinic.

• We care that our clinic is clean, comfortable and an easy place to work or to be a client or patient.

• We care that our cat patients have a quiet space away from barking dogs, and that our dental tables have their own space so as to minimize the spread of aerosolized bacteria.

As you can see, it’s a million little practical things and a bunch of larger ideas that all come together to make for the best possible experience for every person & pet that comes into the clinic.

Not only is this accreditation good for our clinic owners and staff, it’s good for our clients and patients as well. Statistics prove that hospitals with this distinction have better clinical outcomes than those without. This means that more pets are healthier, and that’s always our end goal.

We have always aimed to follow best practices for anesthesia and surgery; AAHA accreditation will help keep abreast of current standards

So while you may have already noticed the physical changes to the clinic that came with the expansion, you may also notice some changes in little things like the pain score on your pet’s discharge, or you might hear new recommendations from the doctors that they’ve recently learned about through continuing education. Medicine is an ever-evolving machine, and earning this accreditation ensures that we will continue to evolve as well.

Even seemingly "simple" things like clipping and prepping patients require evidence-based protocols.

In-house testing or sending out to an external lab? Every test we offer needs careful consideration.

Our staff now have a more spacious staff room to eat, drink and rest!

Preventive dental care is of huge importance to our pets health, and a huge focus for AAHA.

Our new enclosures make great anesthesia recovery kennels for dogs... and perfect rabbit habitats!

Thank you to Allison for all your hard work preparing for our AAHA accreditation assessments, and for writing this blog!