Governor Animal Clinic Helps Dog and Cat Owners
Learn About Pet Wellness

San Diego, CA– To help dog and cat owners learn about the pet aging process and the importance of twice-a-year wellness exams, Governor Animal Clinic is participating in National Pet Wellness Month, a clinic-focused educational campaign sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association and Fort Dodge Animal Health. The campaign provides a wide variety of educational materials to veterinarians and clinic staff to assist them in discussions with pet owners.

“Pets age seven times faster, on average, than people,” said Dr. Kirk Feinberg of Governor Animal Clinic. “What many people don’t realize is that because pets age so rapidly major health changes can occur in a short amount of time. Twice-a-year wellness exams provide the opportunity for early detection, treatment or prevention of potentially life-threatening conditions.”

The goals of twice-a-year wellness exams are to prevent or minimize disease or injury, enhance quality of life, and maximize longevity. Quite often, routine screenings help identify potentially serious problems like liver disease, diabetes, heartworm disease, kidney disease and thyroid issues. Then, the veterinarian can make recommendations to the owner, and possibly make a real difference in longevity.

“Pet owners are strongly encouraged to a schedule that includes twice-a-year wellness exams,” said Dr. Feinberg. “The sooner a veterinarian can detect a problem, the more likely they can take care of it.”

For more information about the pet aging process and twice-a-year wellness exams, you can contact Governor Animal Clinic at 858-453-6312. Additional information is available at the National Pet Wellness Month Web site – www.NPWM.com.

C. Kirk Feinberg, D.V.M.

Signs/Warnings Your Pet Needs To Be Examined By Your Veterinarian.....

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Unintended weight loss

Change in appetite

Changes in activity (lethargic, hyperactive, restless)

Limping

Painful when picked up or touched

Disoriented

Seizures,  loss of consciousness or collapse

Coughing or labored breathing

Panting (during inappropriate times for dogs, anytime for cats)

Pale or blue tinged color to tongue or gums

Excessive drooling

Foul odor

Straining in the litter box, change in urination (location, frequency, amount, color or smell), crying out when urinating

Bloated abdomen

Excessive sneezing

Nose-bleed or bruising anywhere on body

Hair loss

Runny eyes, squinting

Any abnormal behavior

The Vet Cancer Group is full of information.  See below for a link to their site;

Frequently Asked Cancer-Related Questions

What is the most common type of cancer in dogs and/or cats?
Lymphoma is the most common type of cancer we see.  Our oncologists utilize the Power of our Group to assure you pet is to receive the best possible care available, no matter what kind of cancer is being dealt with.  Each morning, our doctors and staff gather together for rounds to discuss the day's cases, collaborate, and learn.

What are some warning signs of cancer?
The following information is written by Dr. Gerald S. Post. Dr. Post is a Board-Certified Specialist in Veterinary Oncology and the Founder and a past President of the Animal Cancer Foundation.
Below are 10 warning signs of cancer in both dogs and cats. Please understand that these are just potential warning signs and should not panic you, but prompt a visit to your veterinarian.

1. Swollen lymph nodes: These "glands" are located all throughout the body but are most easily detected behind the jaw or behind the knee. When these lymph nodes are enlarged they can suggest a common form of cancer called lymphoma. A biopsy or cytology of these enlarged lymph nodes can aid in the diagnosis.
2. An enlarging or changing lump: Any lump on a pet that is rapidly growing or changing in texture or shape should have a biopsy-the removal of a small piece of tissue for microscopic examination. Lumps belong in lab jars, not on pets.
3. Abdominal distension: When the "stomach" or belly becomes rapidly enlarged, this may suggest a mass or tumor in the abdomen or it may indicate some bleeding is occurring in this area. A radiograph (X-ray) or an ultrasound of the abdomen can be very useful.
4. Chronic weight loss: If your pet is losing weight and without a diet change, you should have your pet checked. This sign is not diagnostic for cancer, but can indicate that something is wrong. Many cancer patients have weight loss.
5. Chronic vomiting or diarrhea: Unexplained vomiting or diarrhea should prompt further investigation. Often tumors of the gastrointestinal tract can cause chronic vomiting and/or diarrhea. Radiographs, ultrasound examinations and endoscopy are useful diagnostic tools when this occurs.
6. Unexplained bleeding: Bleeding from the mouth, nose, penis, vagina or gums that is not due to trauma should be examined immediately. Although bleeding disorders do occur in pets, they usually are discovered while pets are young. If unexplained bleeding starts when a pet is old, a thorough work-up should be performed.
7. Cough: A dry, non-productive cough in an older pet should prompt chest radiographs to be taken. This type of cough is the most common sign of lung cancer. Please remember there are many causes of cough in dogs and cats.
8. Lameness: Unexplained difficulty walking-or the favoring of one limb over another, especially in large or giant breed dogs is a very common sign of bone cancer. Radiographs of the affected area are useful for detecting cancer of the bone.
9. Straining to urinate: Straining to urinate and/or blood in the urine usually indicates a common urinary tract infection; if the straining and bleeding are not rapidly controlled with antibiotics or are recurrent, cancer of the bladder may be the underlying cause. Cystoscopy or other techniques that allow a veterinarian to take a biopsy of the bladder are useful and sometimes necessary to establish a definitive diagnosis in these cases.
10. Oral odor: Oral tumors do occur in pets and can cause a pet to change its food preference (i.e. from hard to soft foods) or cause a pet to change the manner in which it chews its food. Many times a foul odor can be detected in pets with oral tumors. A thorough oral examination with radiographs or CT scan, necessitating anesthesia, is often needed to determine the cause of problem.

info@vetcancergroup.com

According to the VPI Pet Insurance company, the top 10 canine medical conditions in 2010 were

1. Ear Infection

2. Skin Allergy

3. Skin Infection/Hot Spots

4. Gastritis/Vomiting

5. Enteritis/Diarrhea

6. Arthritis

7. Bladder Infection

8. Soft Tissue Trauma

9. Non-cancerous Tumor

10. Hypothyroidism