Barnyard Veterinary - Barnyard Veterinary Service & Supply

Old Cats, Kidney Disease and Diets

Posted on August 17, 2016 by Sandra Wahlert DVM Posted in Education .

My old cat has just been diagnosed with kidney disease. Should I feed her a special diet?

The stage of renal disease that the cat is in and the clinical symptoms the cat displays helps determine the dietary plan for the pet.

In general, many veterinarians will recommend a prescription renal (kidney) diet for cats with elevated kidneys values. Diets such as Hill’s Science Diet K/D, Purina ProPlan’s N/F, and Royal Canin’s renal line have high quality proteins in decreased amounts compared to those sold in most grocery and farm stores. Controlling the protein level decreases the amount of harmful phosphorus in the diet.

Additionally, these diets have reduced sodium and higher levels of potassium and omega-3 fatty acids. This combination of nutrients helps the cat maintain body condition and muscle mass. Research shows that feeding prescription diets will increase the length and quality of life for your cat.

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Can I Give Shots?

Posted on April 19, 2016 by Sandra Wahlert DVM Posted in Education .

Regular exams with vaccinations are an important part of your pet’s health care.

Why should I have a veterinarian give my pet’s vaccinations when I know how to give a shot myself?

Certainly some pet owners feel comfortable administering their own pet’s vaccinations and they might even offer to do the same for a friend. However there are some problems with this.

First, the pet misses out on the opportunity to get a physical exam from a licensed veterinarian. I regularly counsel owners of apparently healthy dogs and cats about dental disease, preventative care, obesity, behavior, nutrition, arthritis, and allergies, among other things.

Secondly, if vaccines aren’t administered at a veterinarian’s office, you have no legal proof that the vaccine was given or that it was given correctly. Most pet boarding facilities, dog groomers, housing complexes, other veterinary offices, and city/state entities require legal proof of vaccination. Legal proof is especially important when it comes to rabies vaccinations as the disease is lethal to both pets and humans. Strict rules about rabies vaccination and control are established by governing authorities.

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No Foolin’, Heartworms are serious stuff

Posted on April 13, 2016 by Sandra Wahlert DVM Posted in Education .

When it comes to heartworms, you can’t tell just by looking. Play it safe. Your veterinarian can perform a simple blood test for heartworm disease.

April Fool’s Day has come and gone, but don’t be a fool about heartworm disease.

Heartworms are a blood parasite that is transmitted by mosquitoes. The disease affects the heart, lungs, and pulmonary (lung) vessels of dogs and sometimes cats and can be fatal.

Treating heartworm disease can be very expensive and very miserable for your pet. Occasionally they can even die from the treatment due to the death of the adult worms.

Heartworm is found throughout North America

Heartworm disease is regularly diagnosed in South Dakota even though the risk of contracting the disease is lower than it would be in a southern state like Texas. Current recommendations from the American Heartworm Society are to use a monthly preventative and periodic testing (most often yearly, depending on the region).

Monthly treatments like Heartgard are easy to give, generally cost less that 10.00-20.00/month depending on the size of your dog and may have additional ingredients in them to control other common parasites.

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The Cone of Shame

Posted on March 9, 2016 by Sandra Wahlert DVM Posted in Education .

The “Cone of Shame is also called an E-collar, Elizabethan Collar or buster collar

Why must the “Cone of Shame” be endured?

Most dogs and cats hate having an Elizabethan or buster collar installed around their neck. Unfortunately it is sometime a necessary evil. These collars help prevent a dog or cat from self-mutilation in the event of a wound.

Once the itching/scratching cycle can be stopped, then the pet will likely become more comfortable. Sutured incisions or wounds usually take about 10-14 days to heal sufficiently for the sutures to be removed. If the pet licks the sutures out before this time the whole wound that you just spent a lot of money on to get fixed will come apart.

Depending on the severity and nature of the wound and your dogs personality, a clear collar, neck brace type collar, soft collar bandage, or body stocking may be substituted for the traditional white plastic E-collar.

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