MEET THE TEAM!

This year, we welcome four amazing veterinarians that not only have a tremendous passion for pet care, they each bring a unique focus to our practice that compliments our team.

Learn more about Dr. Crystal Ware, Dr. Alexandra Lovirnic, Dr. Corey Young and Dr. Veronica Alamo on our website and follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see the softest side of patient care. (that is all of the puppies, kitties and snuggles we can get.)  

24 Hour Emergency Care is Seeing an Increase in Pet Care

By now, we have all experienced the surge in emergency patient care that the veterinary has seen. Our clients have had to learn new standards for scheduling appointments and procedures for their pets and we have had to revise communication to ensure current expectations are set. With that said, our Emergency/Walk-in service has felt the effects of these measures and therefore we have made some temporary adjustments to our availability. It is our hope to keep you well informed about these changes so that you continue to feel comfortable when referring your patient to us for care.  

 

While we make every effort to provide 24/7/365  Emergency Service to our community, the following days & times we will have a modified ER/Walk-in schedule. Specialty pet services are Monday-Saturday: 7:30am-7pm by appointment only.

Modified Emergency Hours:

Friday, Dec 17th

Emergency/ walk-in service begins at 11am.

Appointments only 7am-11am

Tuesday, Dec 21st

Emergency/ walk-in service begins at 4pm.

Appointments only 7am-4pm. 

Saturday, Dec 25th

Emergency/ walk-in service only until 10pm.

There will be no new patients admitted after 10pm on Christmas Day. 

Tuesday, Dec 28th

Emergency/ walk-in service begins at 11am.

Appointments only 7am-11am

Saturday, Jan 1st

No Emergency/ walk-in service on New Year's Day. 

Closed for Emergencies.

Only existing hospitalized patients will be seen on New Year's Day.  

 

We are grateful for your continued partnership in pet care and we appreciate your patients as we adjust to new challenges. We are proud of the role our 24/7/365 emergency service plays in our community. It is our goal to resume the 24/7/365 services that you have come to reply on.

Please contact us on our dedicated referral line to reach our doctors and staff 24/7/365.

  

 

When being the worst makes you first.

For over 75 years, we have been our community's pet healthcare provider. Founded as a small general practice, we have grown to become a wellness, specialty, and emergency pet care center. Our emergency service is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. A doctor is always in.

While many veterinary practices had to close for times during the pandemic, during quarantine, we actually added more general service care hours to accommodate the growing pet community. Now as we begin to enjoy more moments of "business as usual" in many areas of our lives, we are well prepared to continue to serve our community. 

With that in mind, we want to remind you that our emergency room is here for your pet's care. Whether you are a client of our GP practice or a patient of a community veterinarian, our 24-hour emergency service is here to help you in your times of need- just like a human ER!

Therefore when choosing us for emergency care, these are some things we think you should know.

Upon arrival in our emergency room—whether during overnight or regular hours---the first stop is triage. In triage, a veterinary nurse typically prioritizes each patient's condition into one of three general categories:

Priority Level 1- Immediately life-threatening

Priority Level 2- Urgent, but not necessarily immediately life-threatening

Priority Level 3- Less urgent

Categorization is necessary to ensure that a pet with a life-threatening condition is not left waiting just because he or she arrived a few minutes later than a pet with a less severe problem. A veterinary triage nurse will record the pet's vital signs (pulse, respiratory rate, and capillary refill time) and get a brief history of a pet's medical history and medications. In some instances, the pet will be brought to the ICU to be triaged further. Their temperature, weight, and blood pressure can be accessed. This information will help us determine the pet's appropriate triage level and establish expected wait times. 

After triage, the pet will be checked in. This is not very exciting however, during check-in important information like the owner's best form of contact and pet's primary care veterinarian information is collected to ensure that the entire care team is well informed about the services provided in this emergency. 

If a pet's condition is life-threatening, then this check-in process may be completed while the pet is being treated. 

Once triaged and checked in, pet and owner can wait in the lobby or their car for the first available veterinarians. It is reasonable to expect this wait time could be extensive.

Pet owners should always communicate with the practice if their pet's triage level changes. During emergencies, being worst makes you first. So, the longer you wait the better may be a good message about your pet's health but it may not be as good for your patience. In these instances, a pet owner may consider scheduling an appointment for conditions that are triaged at a Priority Level 3.

Don't miss, A K9 Cause Fundraising Event for the Retired K9 Officers Healthcare Fund!!!!!!!!

VCA Hollywood is proud to share "A K9 Cause Event", created through the partnership of Sheriff's Foundation of Broward County, American Heritage School and VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital to raise money for the healthcare costs of retired K9 officers in Broward County.

Started almost two years ago, the Retired K9 Officer Healthcare Fund RK9OHF, in partnership with VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital has touched the lives of  the K9 officer that protect our South Florida community.

In retirement, canine officers are no longer financially supported by the department they served. Their handlers, or partners, often voluntarily ‘adopt’ these animals to live out their retirement in comfort. It is the belief of the RK9OHF that the cost of healthcare should be supplemented. In accordance with that belief, a partnership was established with the RK9OHF and VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital to provide the best in wellness care to these officers and to cover a portion of those costs. American Heritage School supports this goal.

American Heritage School is hosting a Silent Auction of original works or art, including drawings, paintings, ceramics and photography Saturday April 6, 2019 in the lovely Black Box Theatre on campus. These special works of art will be available this "A K9 Cause Event" 100% of all funds raised from this event will benefit the Sheriff's Foundation of Broward County's Retired K9 Officer Healthcare Fund.

Inspired by a little boy's passion for animals and art, A K9 Cause is meant to raise money to "fund this fund". 

Where: Black Box Theatre, American Heritage Campus
             12200 W Broward Blvd,
             Plantation, FL 33325

When: 7pm-April 6, 2019

What: Original Artwork Auction
For information about how you can support and attend visit, https://www.retiredk9cause.org/

How much do you know about your pet's dental health? Test Yourself!

How much do you know about your pet's dental health? Test Yourself!

Take this quiz to find out.

Oral health in dogs and cats

Dental health is a very important part of your pet’s overall health, which is why February is National Pet Dental Month!! At VCA Hollywood we want to take dental awareness further and offer more saving. 

Through March, your precious pup and fancy feline can enjoy our 20% discount on their professional dental cleaning. Dental health  problems can cause, or be caused by, other health problems. Your pet’s teeth and gums should be checked at least once a year by your veterinarian to check for early signs of a problem and to keep your pet’s mouth healthy.

How much do you know about your pet's dental health?  Test Yourself!

What is veterinary dentistry, and who should perform it?

Veterinary dentistry includes the cleaning, adjustment, filing, extraction, or repair of your pets' teeth and all other aspects of oral health care. These procedures should be performed by a veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary dentist. Subject to state or provincial regulation, veterinary technicians are allowed to perform certain dental procedures under the supervision of a veterinarian.

The process begins with an oral exam of your pet’s mouth by your veterinarian. Radiographs (x-rays) may be needed to evaluate the health of the jaw and the tooth roots below the gumline. Because most dental disease occurs below the gumline, where you can’t see it, a thorough dental cleaning and evaluation are performed under anesthesia. Dental cleaning includes scaling (to remove dental plaque and tartar) and polishing, similar to the process used on your own teeth during your regular dental cleanings.

Oral health in dogs and cats

• bad breath

• broken or loose teeth

• extra teeth or retained baby teeth

• teeth that are discolored or covered in tartar

• abnormal chewing, drooling, or dropping food from the mouth

• reduced appetite or refusal to eat

• pain in or around the mouth

• bleeding from the mouth

• swelling in the areas surrounding the mouth

Some pets become irritable when they have dental problems, and any changes in your pet’s behavior should prompt a visit to your veterinarian. Always be careful when evaluating your pet’s mouth, because a painful animal may bite.

Causes of pet dental problems

• broken teeth and roots

• periodontal disease

• abscesses or infected teeth

• cysts or tumors in the mouth

• malocclusion, or misalignment of the teeth and bite

• broken (fractured) jaw

• palate defects (such as cleft palate)

Have your pet’s teeth checked sooner if you observe any of the following problems:Your pet’s teeth should be checked at least once a year by your veterinarian for early signs of a problem and to keep your pet’s mouth healthy.

Periodontal disease is the most common dental condition in dogs and cats – by the time your pet is 3 years old, he or she will very likely have some early evidence of periodontal disease, which will worsen as your pet grows older if effective preventive measures aren’t taken. Early detection and treatment are critical, because advanced periodontal disease can cause severe problems and pain for your pet. Periodontal disease doesn’t just affect your pet’s mouth. Other health problems found in association with periodontal disease include kidney, liver, and heart muscle changes.

It starts with plaque that hardens into tartar. Tartar above the gumline can often easily be seen and removed, but plaque and tartar below the gumline is damaging and sets the stage for infection and damage to the jawbone and the tissues that connect the tooth to the jaw bone. Periodontal disease is graded on a scale of 0 (normal) to 4 (severe).

The treatment of periodontal disease involves a thorough dental cleaning and x-rays may be needed to determine the severity of the disease. Your veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary dentist will make recommendations based on your pet’s overall health and the health of your pet’s teeth, and provide you with options to consider.

Why does dentistry require anesthesia?

When you go to the dentist, you know that what’s being done is meant to help you and keep your mouth healthy. Your dentist uses techniques to minimize pain and discomfort and can ask you how you are feeling, so you accept the procedures and do your best to keep still. Your pet does not understand the benefit of dental procedures, and he or she reacts by moving, trying to escape, or even biting.

Anesthesia makes it possible to perform the dental procedures with less stress and pain for your pet. In addition, anesthesia allows for a better cleaning because your pet is not moving around and risking injury from the dental equipment. If radiographs (x-rays) are needed, your pet needs to be very still in order to get good images, and this is unlikely without heavy sedation or anesthesia.

Although anesthesia will always have risks, it’s safer now than ever and continues to improve so that the risks are very low and are far outweighed by the benefits. Most pets can go home the same day of the procedure, although they might seem a little groggy for the rest of the day.

What about “anesthesia-free” dental cleanings?The American Veterinary Dental College does not recommend dental cleanings without anesthesia because they do not allow cleaning or inspection below the gumline, where most dental disease occurs, and can result in injury to the pet or the person performing the procedure.

What can I do at home for my pet’s oral health

Prevention of the most common oral disease in pets consists of frequent removal of the dental plaque and tartar that forms on teeth that are not kept clean. Regularly brushing your pet’s teeth is the single most effective thing you can do to keep their teeth healthy between dental cleanings, and may reduce the frequency or even eliminate the need for periodic dental cleaning by your veterinarian. Daily brushing is best, but it’s not always possible and brushing several times a week can be effective. Most dogs accept brushing, but cats can be a bit more resistant – patience and training are important.

There are many pet products marketed with claims that they improve dental health, but not all of them are effective. Talk with your veterinarian about any dental products, treats, or dental-specific diets you’re considering for your pet, or ask your veterinarian for their recommendation.

Source: https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/Pet-Dental-Care.aspx

Human Quality Diagnostic Imaging for Pets

As a leader in specialized veterinary medicine, VCA Hollywood has always offered the best care for our pet community.                                                                      3D Video of Canine Scan

Now offering the only 64 Slice CT (computed tomography) Scanner in So.Florida Veterinary medicine, we provide human-quality advanced diagnostic imaging for your pet. This means we deliver the highest resolution images available with significantly less anesthetic time, quicker return of interpretations and ultimately more timely diagnoses and treatment for your precious pet.

Your veterinarian may recommend a CT scan for conditions including pre-operation evaluations, neurological disorders (disk disease, seizures, etc), orthopedic disorders, nasal disease as well as many other conditions which may benefit from CT imaging. 

 Your primary care veterinarian will tell you if a CT scan is right for your pet.

 

Quick-Facts about CT Imaging

Our human-hospital grade technology is now available for your patients too.  

Read more to learn about our Haemonetics Cell Saver 5+ and Toshiba 16 slice CT

What is new at VCA Hollywood?

VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital strives to provide the latest technology in veterinary care with our new 64 Slice CT machine.

What is a CT Scan?

CT stands for Computed Tomography. It is basically a series of very fine X‑rays that the computer then assembles into a 3D image. CT scans are especially helpful in evaluating the skull, brain, sinuses, inner ear, eye sockets, spine and discs, bones, joints, and soft tissues.

How does this make us different?

●       Quality-VCA Hollywood HD CT Scans offer greater resolution than traditional diagnostic imaging tools because of our 64 slice scanner.

●       Value-VCA Hollywood’s CT scans an affordable diagnostic- gets more comprehensive answers more quickly then other diagnostics

●       Availability-CT Reports are read by a board-certified radiologist and standardly provided within 24 hours of scan. “Stat” reads are also available.

Toshiba 16 Slice CT

Our 64 slice CT machine produces high resolution images, requires less anesthesia time and generates quicker reports and results, allowing for more timely diagnoses and treatment plans.

CT include:

* Pre-Surgery Examination-Each pet is given a thorough examination before surgery allowing us to determine anesthesia risk before surgery.
* Intravenous Catheter-The catheter gives access to a vein so that the doctor is able to administer drugs and fluids.
* Intravenous Fluids (During Procedure)- The fluid is a balanced electrolyte solution helps to combat anesthesia-induced drop in blood pressure. The exact rate of fluid administration is determined based on the pet’s body weight, hydration status, etc.
* Anti-nausea Medication (Cerenia)-Dogs and cats may have a propensity to vomit due to some of the pain prevention medications and anesthesia they receive. Cerenia is highly effective in controlling nausea allowing your pet to feel more comfortable. Pets treated with Cernia before surgery are shown to have a better appetite during the recovery process.
* A pre-anesthetic tranquilizer/analgesic (pain medication)-Administered to decrease stress, anxiety and preemptively address discomfort Scans are reviewed by our Board Certified Radiologist with standard results returned within 24 hours. Stat reads available at additional fee.  

Healthy skin is in! Protect the skin your pet is in.

In human medicine, patients see their family doctors for routine wellness checks and general health concerns. But often, the primary care doctor recommends a specialist. The same is now true of veterinary medicine. Get to know our Veterinary Specialist in Dermatology, Dr. Melanie Hnot [NOT].

Does my dog need a manicure?

Symmetric Lupoid Onychitis in dogs
Do you have a dog whose nails are brittle or where the nails have started to fall off? Symmetric lupoid onychitis (SLO), an immune-mediated condition that affects your dog’s nails and paws. I’ve seen this recently in some patients so I wanted to give an update on this dermatologic disease. 
Luckily, this disease isn’t that common, but if it’s your dog, you want to bring them to your veterinarian right away. 

What is it?
SLO has been reported in many dog breeds. I’ve seen it in Vizslas, Greyhounds, German Shepherds, Giant Schnauzer and mixed breed dogs. Commonly occurring in middle age, dogs can present with brittle nails or with nails falling off on multiple paws. Understandably, this can be painful and discourage your pup from walking or playing. This disease usually only affects the feet so dogs are typically still eating and drinking normally.

What can I do?
The best way to diagnose this disease is to biopsy an affected nail. The biopsy is helpful because it can differentiate SLO from other diseases.
Treatments for SLO varies as does the response of from each dog. Often a combination of treatments are used. Some dogs respond to strict diet trials, whereby a food allergy causes this disease. Other dogs respond to omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, doxycycline (an antibiotic) along with niacinamide (a B-vitamin) and some need stronger medications like prednisone. Nails grow slowly so treatment can take time. Most patients need to be treated for at least 8 weeks before seeing improvement and dogs may need treatment lifelong. Even with treatment, the nails can grow in abnormally. We also want to make sure our patients are comfortable so pain management is part of the initial plan. 

The good news, most patients respond well to treatment of SLO.

Itchy Cats

Itchy Cats
Ever had a cat that is licking excessively or scratching so much the skin bleeds?  Hopefully not, but if you have an itchy cat, you know heartbreaking it can be to watch.  If you’ve been reading up on the multitude of causes of itching in cats online, you might get discouraged.  We’re here to help guide you through the process of figuring out what’s making your cat itch!!

What causes this?
There are many causes of itching in cats. They can include parasites, infectious diseases, allergies, and behavioral issues, among other diseases. Your veterinarian will take a detailed history to learn more about your cat and will then perform their exam. Looking for parasites is one of first things we want to do. We see a lot of flea allergy dermatitis (inflammation of the skin) so we will want to perform a combing to check for fleas. Some cats are fastidious groomers and can lick fleas off of their hair coat before we even find them so we often recommend a flea prevention. Looking for other parasites is important too. Superficial and deep skin scrapings can be taken to look for certain types of mites. Skin cytology can be helpful to look for bacteria and yeast infections and testing for ringworm can be performed.

Could it be allergies?
Once parasites and infectious diseases are ruled out, the next step is determining if your cat has allergies. Allergies can be caused by fleas, foods or even pollens, dust mites and molds in their environment. 

What can I do?
A strict, prescription 2-3 month diet trial may be recommended to see if your cat has a food allergy.  We know that cats can be picky eaters, which is why we have multiple dry and canned foods to try.  If environmental allergies are suspected, allergy testing can be performed.
With all of these possible causes, we recommend taking your cat to their veterinarian so they can help you determine the cause of itching and help treat it.

*New product update in cats: Revolution Plus is a new topical preventative for cats. It helps to provide protection against fleas, some ticks, heartworm, roundworms, hookworms and ear mites. It requires a prescription so you will need to talk with your veterinarian to see if it is an option for your cat.

A veterinary dermatologist is an expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of animal skin, ear, hair, nail, hoof and mouth disorders. Our specialty teams work closely with your pet’s primary care veterinarians to develop the best possible treatment plan for your patient.  If you have questions about our dermatology services or any of our other specialized services in Surgery, Cardiology, Internal Medicine or Emergency & Critical Care, please contact us via our website at vcahollywood.com, by phone at 954-920-3556 or by email at au1000@vca.com.

Unconventional dog food suspected in heart disease!!!

Investigators scrutinize grain-free kibble with exotic proteins 
September 4, 2018 (published) 
Edie Lau 
For The VIN News Service


Fuji seemed her usual fun-loving doggy self the day Lloyd Taplin took the Labrador retriever outside their home in Ohio for a game of fetch. But very quickly, Taplin realized something wasn't right.

"I threw the ball once, she brought it back and just melted in a puddle at my feet," Taplin recounted.

Up to that point, Fuji had been active and healthy, apart from having skin allergies. After collapsing in the driveway, Fuji, then age 9, was able to get up woozily. Taplin rushed the dog to an emergency veterinary hospital, where she was diagnosed with a serious heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM.

DCM isn't rare in dogs but typically, it's seen in particular breeds, usually large ones. Doberman pinschers. Great Danes. Newfoundlands. Boxers. Irish wolfhounds. Cocker spaniels (an exception to the size rule-of-thumb). Labrador retrievers aren't on the usual-suspect list.

It turns out that Fuji's case is among a recent spate of canine DCM diagnoses not explained by heritage. Instead, the common thread is diet: Affected dogs have been on narrow diets of commercial dry foods that are grain-free and/or contain exotic meat proteins and/or a limited mix of ingredients, particularly potatoes, or legumes such as lentils or peas.

Fuji ate a kibble consisting primarily of kangaroo and lentils. A second Lab in the same household, 4-year-old Pippin, also had allergies and ate the same food. In July 2017, seven months after Fuji's diagnosis, Pippin started coughing. Her veterinarian detected a heart murmur and recommended she see a cardiologist.

Taplin scheduled Pippin at the same time that Fuji was due for a follow-up visit, two months later. In retrospect, Taplin said, "We were really stupid." While Pippin seemed OK in July, still able to run, by August, she was coughing badly. Taplin and her husband took the dog to the cardiologist then, but it was too late. Pippin died in September.

Hundreds of reports 

As of Aug. 24, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had received reports of about 200 cases of dogs with heart disease potentially related to diet. Of those, 140 have diagnoses of DCM, according to Dr. Martine Hartogensis, deputy director of the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine Office of Surveillance and Compliance.

The agency checked its log of pet food complaints. "Sure enough, we had about 25 to 30 cases in our database," Hartogensis said in a telephone interview.

In its public notification, the agency elaborated: "Diet in cases reported to the FDA frequently list potatoes or multiple legumes such as peas, lentils, other 'pulses' (seeds of legumes), and their protein, starch and fiber derivatives early in their ingredient list, indicating that they are the main ingredients. Early reports from the veterinary cardiology community indicate that the dogs consistently ate these foods as their primary source of nutrition for time periods ranging from months to years. High levels of legumes or potatoes appear to be more common in diets labeled as 'grain-free,' but it is not yet known how these ingredients are linked to cases of DCM."

DCM (https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952598) is a disease resulting in an enlarged, weakened heart that is unable to pump blood efficiently. Often progressing over time, the condition can cause fluid buildup or sudden death. Dogs with DCM may tire quickly, cough, and have a labored and increased rate of breathing. More dramatic clinical signs are episodes of sudden weakness, fainting or collapse.

Although the link between DCM and diet was — and continues to be — undefined, Hartogensis said it was compelling enough that the FDA believed alerting the veterinary community at large and the general public was warranted.

"Veterinary cardiologists were very concerned," she said. "They said, 'Please do something. We've seen enough of these cases that we think something is going on, and we want people to be aware of it.' " She added, "Lentils, potatoes, these kinds of ingredients have exploded in the market."

Grain-free is all the rage

Grain-free and "limited ingredient" pet foods are so popular that in stores such as Petco, one of the largest pet retailers in the country, such formulations dominate the central aisles. Traditional recipes containing grains such as corn and wheat are relegated to the outer realm.

"A significant portion of consumer demand is for grain-free, and that's reflected in both our online and in-store assortments," Dr. Whitney Miller, Petco's director of veterinary medicine, said by email.

According to a petfoodindustry.com blog post, "Pet food ingredients: What's hot and getting hotter? (https://www.petfoodindustry.com/blogs/7-adventures-in-pet-food/post/7161-pet-foodingredients-whats-hot-and-getting-hotter)" grain-free pet foods claimed 43 percent of the pet specialty market in 2017, with $3.4 billion in sales. (The pet specialty channel comprises mainly pet stores. It doesn't include mass-market, online or grocery channels.)

Pet-food makers say the rise of grain-free varieties during the past 10 years is fueled by pet owners' desire to style their pets' eating habits after their own. "Many people today have become increasingly interested in their own diet, following trends such as lower-carb diets, and their food and nutrition philosophies carry over when selecting food for their four-legged family members," Dana Brooks, president and CEO of the trade group Pet Food Institute, said by email.

Asked whether any pet food makers who invest heavily in grain-free formulations are considering shifting to more conventional blends, in light of the health concerns, Brooks replied: "It is important to note that the FDA has not recommended any recalls or advised any dietary change for healthy pets — their investigation is in its early stages .... PFI members also are investigating any possible links [between diet and DCM in dogs not predisposed to the condition] and are carefully reviewing their formulations to assess and ensure nutritional adequacy."

To date, news about the potential problem with grain-free diets hasn't altered consumer buying patterns, according to Miller at Petco. "We've seen no measurable change in demand since the FDA alert in July," she said.

Confounding factors 

Because multiple brands are involved in suspect cases, researchers and the FDA are reluctant to publicly name names. Furthermore, evidence doesn't suggest that any particular ingredient needs to be completely avoided. The issue is proportion, not presence. "Those ingredients [such as potatoes and peas] have been in pet foods for years, 30, 40 years," Hartogensis said. "It's the amount that has changed."

 At first, the culprit generally appeared to be grain-free formulations, but understanding of the problem is evolving rapidly. Researchers say now that identifying the problem as grain-free diets is at once too narrow and too broad.

Trying to more accurately characterize the issue, Dr. Lisa Freeman, a veterinary nutritionist at Tufts University, coined the term "BEG" diet, for boutique, exotic and/or grain-free. "I think all of those are suspect at this point," Freeman said.

Exotic diets have unusual meats such as kangaroo, alligator, bison, venison and the like.

"We don't know much about the nutritional value of those protein sources like we do chicken and beef," observed Dr. Darcy Adin, a veterinary cardiologist who is part of a team at North Carolina State University working on the puzzle. "So that's one potential cause."

At the same time, grain-free formulations aren't all implicated. "It doesn't seem to be that all grain-free diets are represented in these [affected] dogs," Adin said. Another confounding factor, she said, is the fact that "the majority of foods on the shelves are grain-free."

It could be, Adin said, that affected dogs have a predisposition to developing heart disease on particular diets.

A further possibility is that a high content of legumes such as lentils and peas somehow reduces bioavailability of other nutrients, or causes an interaction among nutrients that leads to disease, she said.

The complicated role of taurine

One nutrient deficiency most associated with DCM is that of taurine, a sulfur-containing amino acid found abundantly in meat. Veterinarians discovered 30 years ago that the majority of cats with DCM were taurinedeficient as a result of eating any of several brands and formulations of commercial cat foods. Giving the cats taurine supplements cured the disease. Changing the formulation of cat foods to include more taurine largely eliminated the disease. Today, DCM in domestic cats is rare.

(Among reports the FDA has received of potentially diet-related DCM in pets are three reports involving seven cats. The agency said the causes in those cases, logged in 2015 and 2016, were undetermined.)

In dogs, the role of taurine in DCM is unclear. Unlike cats, dogs can synthesize taurine from methionine and cysteine, common sulfurcontaining amino acids found in lots of foods. Consequently, no industry standards exist for taurine supplementation in dog foods.

Researchers attempting to discern the role of taurine in the development of typical cases of DCM found that "the vast majority of dogs with DCM had normal taurine levels," according to a Morris Animal Foundation article.

However, a few breeds have been found to be susceptible to developing DCM related to taurine deficiency: cocker spaniels, Newfoundlands and golden retrievers.

Among recent cases of DCM in atypical breeds, changing the diet and adding taurine has improved or reversed the heart disease in many instances. That's true even for dogs who didn't present with low taurine levels, said Adin, who offered an example of seven patients she and her colleagues followed. After the dogs were changed to a grain-based diet and given taurine supplements, they showed significant improvement in three to nine months, she reported. (Whether the improvement came about because of the added taurine, the different diet, or both is an open question.)

While taurine might be a factor in some cases of DCM, Freeman cautioned against assuming it is true of all cases. "There are dogs with taurine deficiency, both typical and atypical breeds, but there are also dogs, both typical and atypical breeds, that do not have taurine deficiency," she said.

"Then, there are the typical breeds of dogs with DCM that has nothing to do with diet but is the result of their genetic predisposition," she said.

At the same time, DCM in individual members of those typical breeds could, in fact, be diet-related. "We saw a doberman [a typical breed] last week that had taurine deficiency," Freeman said. "His condition is improving with diet change and taurine supplementation."

Which food to give? 

Tracy McGlinchey, a pet owner in Connecticut, has been reading up on dietary factors in DCM since her 3-year-old Boston terrier, Millie, was diagnosed in July. The first sign that something wasn't right surfaced the weekend after the Independence Day holiday, when Millie developed a random dry cough. "Think: cat with furball," McGlinchey said. "Nothing terrible. You half ignore it."

On Monday, McGlinchey's 16-year-old daughter noticed Millie breathing fast and shallow. They took the dog to the veterinarian. An X-ray revealed an enlarged heart. An immediate trip to the emergency hospital for an echocardiogram showed DCM.

Millie is prone to allergies, and McGlinchey believes potatoes are the cause, so she's always steered clear of foods containing potato. Millie seemed to do well on a kibble composed of venison, lentils, peas and chickpeas. When the brand was discontinued, McGlinchey switched Millie to a boutique blend the first four ingredients of which are anchovy meal, peas, fava beans and sunflower oil.

Now that Millie has heart disease, McGlinchey is diving deep into ingredient labels, and trying one diet after another. Millie likes them all, but McGlinchey hasn't found one that she loves.

"Finding grained foods is challenging," she said. "Everything is grain-free. And if it doesn't have grains, then there's a lot of potatoes. And the peas. It's crazy."

She's been searching in pet stores rather than grocery stores, which are more likely to stock traditional brands, because buying pet food at the supermarket is "almost embarrassing," McGlinchey said, half laughing at herself. "Like buying your kids a soda."

She understands that the grain-free movement is fed by marketing. She said, "Who says dogs shouldn't have grains?"

Freeman, the Tufts University veterinary nutritionist, said grains are perfectly fine ingredients. "Grains do not contribute to any health problems, and are used in pet food as a nutritious source of protein, vitamins and minerals," she said.

While many pet owners may feed grain-free and/or limited-ingredient formulations in an attempt to control allergies, the pet might not actually be allergic to a food or foods, according to Freeman. It might be allergic to pollen, molds and/or dust mites instead, she said.

Even if a dog with skin or gastrointestinal problems gets better on a different diet, that doesn't mean that the improvement is attributable to a change in ingredients. Changing the diet brings changes in fat level, fiber level, fiber type and digestibility, too, Freeman noted. "While owners commonly think it's the ingredients that helped, many other factors also changed that are more likely to have caused the improvement," she said.

Millie's case has caused her veterinarian, Dr. Neil Marrinan, to change his ways when it comes to talking about diet with dog owners. Earlier in his career, he would advise them to feed a variety of foods, regularly changing brands and ingredients. After awhile, although his opinion remained firm, he stopped offering it. "People [have] ... a preconceived idea of what they want to feed their dog, and [they] come to the doctor for validation," he said. "Unless I heard something that seemed out of the ordinary, I would avoid commentary."

No more. "It got out of hand, these narrow-cast diets," Marrinan said. "It's cause for us to say, 'This is not good.' "

He's back to speaking up now. His advice: "I recommend varying the diet to include grains, with meat as the first ingredient."

Complete article can be seen on 

https://www.vin.com/members/news/default.sapx?pld=210&id=8700146

What is new at VCA Hollywood?

What is VCA Hollywood really?

For over 70 years, VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital’s mission has been to provide the highest quality of pet care through state of the art technology with clear communication to our community.

To that end, we have added new services and specialties to our practice to make this truly a one-stop shop for your pet's needs.

What is new at VCA Hollywood?

Welcome the recent addition of our new Toshiba 64 Slice CT machine. This new technology provides minimally invasive diagnostics that yield fast, efficient, practical and specific answers to our diagnostic questions. 

What is a CT Scan? Why would my pet need it?

CT stands for Computed Tomography. It is basically a series of very fine X‑rays that the computer then assembles into a 3D image. CT scans are especially helpful in evaluating the skull, brain, sinuses, inner ear, eye sockets, spine and discs, bones, joints, and soft tissues.

Brass tacks!

Highest quality. CT Scans offer greater resolution than traditional diagnostic imaging tools because of our 64 slice scanner.

Fair price. Our CT scans are an affordable and comprehensive diagnostic.

Availability-CT Reports are read by a board-certified radiologist gets more comprehensive answers more quickly then other diagnostics