The Story of Titus......Or "What's that smell?"

February 2, 2012

Titus is a sweet and handsome 2-year-old neutered black lab. 

When Titus's owners were in with their new kitty for an appointmentin early January, they mentioned to me that Titus's breath had been really bad lately.  I had examined Titus within the past 6 weeks and remembered that his owners took excellent care of his teeth.  No tartar or gingivitis was found on his exam.  We talked about how bad breath could also come from an infected tooth or possibly from something lodged in between his teeth.  

Titus came in for an exam the next week.  His mouth did smell unusually bad and the owners mentioned he had been sneezing, too.  The sneezing produced discharge which was sometimes blood-tinged.  He sneezed after I palpated his nose.  He is a very tolerant patient and allowed me to get a good look inside his mouth.  No cause of the foul smell was identified.  The odor was first noticed mid-October, shortly after a hunting trip.  He was otherwise acting normally; no change in appetite or activity level.  Titus was scheduled for a rhinoscopy the next morning to get a good look into his nasal passages. 

During a rhinoscopy a thin, rigid scope is passed through the nostrils of the anesthetized patient and into the nasal passages.  Because this is a highly vascular area, some hemorrhage is expected during this procedure.  The area is flushed throughout the procedure to enable better visualization of the structures to identify abnormalities.  Biopsies can also be obtained if needed.  

Titus's pre-anesthetic bloodwork was within normal limits and he was anesthetized and prepared for his rhinoscopy.  Scoping the left side of his nose was uneventful, but an abnornality was seen in the right nasal passage.  The abnormal object was grasped and carefully pulled from the nasal passage.  We were excited to remove a 3.5 inch stick from Titus's nose.  

Titus recovered from anesthesia uneventfully and went home later that afternoon.  He continues to do well and, hopefully, will be more careful where he sticks his nose in the future!

Indoor Activities for You and Your Pets

January 12, 2012

Temperatures are hovering around the freezing mark and it's dark by the time you get home in the evening....the dog has chewed through another pair of your best shoes....the cat hasn't budged from the couch in 10 hours..... 

The worst of winter is now before us and we need a plan!    

Sure, it's nice to just cuddle up next to Kitty on that couch with a cup of cocoa, but these tips will help ensure that your pets stay active this winter instead of becoming sluggish and bored.

1)  Food ball or treat dispenser:  These are great little gadgets that force our pets to use their heads to figure out how to get to their daily meal.  Instead of taking their favorite part of the day and simply handing it out in their dish, putting their meal into a food ball will allow your pet to get creative in manipulating the ball to earn each kibble. 

2)  Bird feeder or fish aquarium:  Kitty is a ferocious hunter....or, well...she would like to think so, anyway.  Many cats get hours of entertainment watching birds outside the window or fish swimming in an aquarium. 

3)  Obstacle course:  Set up a simple obstacle course for your dog using things around the house.  Use a broomstick, for example, as a jump to send her over when fetching the tennis ball down the hallway.  This will make it more fun for both of you and help to burn more calories. 

4)  Interactive cat toys:  Send kitty running up the stairs, jumping up the wall, or climbing over the couch with a laser pointer or feathers attached to a string.

5)  Hide and seek:  This is fun to incorporate into your flat game of fetch.  Before your dog returns to you, hide around the corner and see if he can find you.  Start out easy and give him lots of praise when he finds you to make this exciting for him. 

6)  Indoor kitty garden:  Catnip can be grown inside for your cat to munch on during the winter to give him a lift and remind him of spring.  This is often sold at pet stores. 

7)  Get out of the house:  Your dog may enjoy a car trip - try an obedience or agility class, let her pick out a treat at the pet store, or consider volunteering with her at a local nursing home. 

8)  Boxes and bags:  Use empty paper bags and boxes to create new places for your cat to explore.  Try stacking them to build a kitty condo.  Add a little cat nip and some toys for a real adventure. 

9)  Tricks:  Both dogs and cats can learn new tricks if you have a little patience and great-smelling treats.  Start simple and be consistent.  Reward the behavior that you want repeated, then start adding the command.  Be creative and soon you'll be ready to show her off to your friends. 

10)  Treasure hunt:  Your dog can learn the command "Find it" to find a special treat or toy.  Start very simply by leaving the treat across the room and guiding him to it.  Once he catches on, make it a little more challenging by hiding it in increasingly difficult places.  Kitty can play, too!  Just sprinkle some of his food along his daily paths for him to find.  If done frequently, he will learn to be on the hunt for it. 


And, of course, save lots of time for cuddling....so grab that cup of cocoa and head to the couch.  Your pets will love spending time with you regardless of the activity!

Welcome!

Welcome to Granite City Pet Hospital's blog!  Here we will be answering frequently-asked questions, discussing cases, and offering tips and tricks to make living with your furry friends more enjoyable for everyone.  Please stay tuned and enjoy a healthy, happy New Year with your pets!

Happy Holidays!
Dr. Alyssa Erlandson