Friendship Tails

Furla has a FORL!

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Hughes, DVM) — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:05:00 +0000

Furla

I have a few soapboxes that I like to stand on when it comes to advice on how to take care of your pet. Coming in at the top of the list are the importance of spay/neuter, keeping your dog from getting heat stroke and dental disease. Imagine my horror when I discovered that my own kitty Furla had a grade three FORL!

FORL, which stands for feline odontoclastic resportive lesion is a condition that appears to be unique to cats. The lesions are similar to human cavities in that there is a defect in the enamel of the tooth and it is very painful. If your cat is over the age of 5 years old then there is a 72% chance a FORL is present. As with all dental disease, FORLs can lead to increased bacteria circulating in the blood stream resulting in liver, kidney and heart disease.

Furla's teeth before cleaning

These nasty FORLs are usually found along the outer surface of the tooth where it meets the gum line. They can present in many stages requiring dental radiographs to determine if the tooth root is involved. At the beginning stage an enamel defect is present which then progresses as the FORL penetrates the enamel and invades the pulp cavity, they appear as pink or red defects in the tooth where it meets the gum. As the lesion develops it becomes increasingly more painful for your cat. Treatment entails a full dental exam under anesthesia and surgical extraction of the offending tooth.

Every few months (I should do it monthly…) I check all my animal’s teeth to look for any signs of dental disease. Usually with FORLs you can see clinical signs such as difficulty eating, drooling, bleeding along the gums and dropping food from the mouth. However, some cats like Furla to not show any signs at all. At eight years old overall she had lovely teeth with minimal tartar and gingivitis – except for that nasty, painful FORL.

As I managed my feeling of guilt for neglecting one of my animals I immediately scheduled a dental to address the issue. Here is where it gets even worse – they found a second FORL that had completely resorbed which means it had been there for a while. They also found she had a dead tooth that needed to be extracted. This is the perfect example of dental disease that is lurking under the gumline and cannot be found without a full dental exam under anesthesia.

X-rays showing Furla's FORL and tooth root abscess

Furla seemed unfazed by her dental and having two teeth extracted, she was happily snacking on canned food a few hours after she woke up from anesthesia. I have certainly learned my lesson and I hope this serves as a cautionary tale for all pet owners about the important of checking your cat’s teeth regularly. Finding and treating these lesions early will result in a healthier, happier kitty.

Furla and Poppy taking a break

Fashion for Paws 2012 Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Hughes, DVM) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:12:00 +0000

Fashion for Paws was amazing again this year, Frank and I had a great time! The event has taken off raising more than $700,000 this year and gaining national attention. The winner of the model fundraising competition blew the record away and raised $42,000! Marie Osmond was in attendance and that night adopted her very own WHS puppy whom she named George. Frank and I are honored to be a part of such a wonderful organization and so happy that we can help the animals of WHS.

Rich Kessler - photo credit

Michael Bailey - photo credit

Marie and George
Rich Kessler - photo credit

Dr. Bush and Puck the Corgi

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Hughes, DVM) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Puck a few days after surgery

I have written multiple posts about how much I admire and respect neurologist extraordinaire Dr. Bill Bush; you can then imagine how thrilled I was when he started seeing appointments at Friendship on Thursdays. We are so lucky to have such an amazing neurologist right in the hospital that we can refer clients to.

I think the story of Puck the Corgi illustrates just how gifted a clinician Dr. Bush is and the cutting edge treatment options he has available to his patients. Puck presented to Friendship after having multiple seizures for the first time in his ten years of age. Dr. Bush evaluated Puck and immediately suspected that he had a brain tumor, he literally pointed to Puck’s forehead and said, “There is something going on right here”.

Sure enough an MRI at Bush Veterinary Neurology Service (BVNS) in Leesburg confirmed that Puck had a tumor in the olfactory-frontal lobe of his brain. Puck immediately went to surgery for a transfrontal craniotomy to have the tumor removed. A post-operative MRI showed that Dr. Bush and his resident Dr. Hague were able to remove the entire tumor. Puck recovered quickly and was back home in a few days.

Initial MRI - tumor is white area above red arrow

MRI post-op, no more tumor!

Here is where it gets really cool! The tumor was submitted to the Ohlfest Brain Tumor Laboratory at the University of Minnesota where they are performing groundbreaking research in treatment of brain tumors for both dogs and humans. They were able to use Puck’s tumor to create a vaccine that will be administered under his skin to target and kill any remaining tumor cells.

Four months after surgery Puck is doing great and even updates his fans on his very own Twitter feed @puckthecorgi. Visit BVNS’s website for more amazing stories of dogs and cats that Dr. Bush and his team have helped. Remember he is available for consults at Friendship on Thursdays, visit our website for more information.

Fashion for Paws 2012!

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Hughes, DVM) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Frank in 2011

It is that time of the year again; spring is almost here and with the tulips comes Fashion for Paws. This will be my third year participating and I could not be more excited to embark on my fundraising efforts. Last year my Labradoodle Frank and I were very proud to walk down the runway after raising more than $18,000 for the Washington Humane Society (WHS).

This is a cause near and dear to my heart and I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to an organization that gives so much to our community. WHS provides care to more than 30,000 abused, neglected and abandoned animals every year. They are the only open-access shelter in the District which means that at any time if someone feels they cannot care for their pet WHS will accept them. They take in an average of thirty animals per day. This service alone saves thousands of animals from needless suffering.

Sparkle and me in 2010

In addition to the shelters WHS has numerous programs that benefit not just animals but humans as well. Their Humane Education program aims to educate school children about animal abuse to stop the cycle of abuse that so many children grow up with. There is a direct connection between animal cruelty and domestic violence. If we can educate these children to show compassion to animals it is thought that this will translate to other aspects of their life and prevent future violent acts.

The dedicated and tireless officers of WHS’s Humane Law Enforcement are available twenty-four hours a day to investigate reports of animal cruelty. They witness horrendous acts against innocent animals that we all prefer not to think about, a cat intentionally set on fire or a dog left to die in a dumpster after extensive bite wounds. These officers subject themselves to witnessing the worst in human behavior and yet they keep at it day after day in order to keep the animals of the District safe. I feel this is truly commendable.

These are just a few of the many programs that WHS provides to the animals and people of the District. Without them we would be lost and many innocent animals would pay the price with needless suffering. As someone who has dedicated my life to helping animals I am proud to raise money for this wonderful organization, please consider supporting Frank and me in Fashion for Paws this year.

Visit http://support.washhumane.org/goto/frankfor more information.

What to feed in 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Hughes, DVM) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

In this post I will attempt to explain what I think is the best way to feed your dog. After extensive research among veterinary nutritionists, published research and the Internet I have come to the conclusion that the perfect dog food does not exist. Each brand is unique and therefor brings something different to the bowl. Because of this I rotate the brands of food I feed my dogs. I don’t eat the exact same thing every day, so why would I feed my dogs like that.

Dogs developed by eating whatever they could scavenge so it makes sense to me that their gastrointestinal (GI) tracts should always be digesting something a little different. Since every brand and type of food has a different combination of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals; I can be confident that if one brand is lacking something another brand should make up for it (in theory).

Just about every time my dogs eat they get a different combination of food. I have two to three bags of different types of dry food and an assortment of canned foods in my house at all times. I then alternate the dry foods and add in a scoop of canned food to make it a little bit more exciting.

You are probably thinking that suddenly switching a dog’s food like that will result in a nasty bout of diarrhea. This is true if you feed the exact same thing every single day, but if the GI tract is used to being surprised then it adapts quite well. As I said my dogs get a different mix of food at every meal and they have lovely stool.

In addition to their diet I also give all the dogs an omega-3 fatty acid supplement such as those found in fish oil. You can read in my previous post on fish oil and all the amazing benefits it provides to the body. Dogs have a difficult time utilizing the fatty acids found in flax seed or oil so fish oil is a much better choice. There are a variety of human and veterinary products to choose from, just remember to find a reputable brand such as Nutramax or Nordic Naturals.

Given the multiple pet food recalls some owners want to cook for their pets feeling this is a safer alternative to commercial foods. I never recommend feeding a home cooked meal unless the owner consults with a veterinary nutritionist or a website like www.balanceit.com. Without specific guidelines and supplements it is almost impossible to feed your dog a diet that meets all of his nutritional needs. Just throwing some meat and veggies into a bowl is not providing your dogs with the nutrients he needs and will result in health problems.

Despite what many pet foods companies will tell you corn is a viable protein and carbohydrate source that provides many essential nutrients; it is not just filler. I have no problem feeding my dogs a diet that contains corn, however, I don’t want that to be the only grain they eat. This again illustrates why rotating diets is so important in giving your dog a balanced diet.

Finally, the super high protein foods are not necessarily better. Dogs are omnivores like humans and are made to eat a combination of meat and plant material. These diets provide excess protein that you dog does not need and excreting these proteins creates increased work load on the kidneys. In animals that have decreased kidney function these high protein diets are actually harmful and can worsen progression of disease.

This is my favorite brand

I hope this helps you decide what is the best food for your dog; I know it can be overwhelming. Just remember there is no one best food and by rotating brands you have the best chance of providing your dog a complete and balanced diet.

Aggression in dogs

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Hughes, DVM) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:09:00 +0000

I was on WTOP yesterday afternoon (click here to listen) to discuss aggression in dogs after a woman in Alexandria shot her dog as he was mauling her boyfriend. According to the report the man moved the dog’s toy with his foot and the dog lunged at him. He wrestled with the dog until his girlfriend stepped in and shot the dog in the head, killing him. The man sustained five to nine bites on his body; I do not know the severity of these bites. The deceased dog had a history of aggression related to resource guarding that had previously resulted in other biting incidences. The dog was reportedly a Doberman-pit bull mix and I do not know if he had been neutered or not. I mention this because unneutered dogs are more likely to be aggressive than those that have been neutered.

This story is unbelievably horrific on many levels and brings to mind multiple issues related to aggression in dogs that I will address. WTOP asked about certain breeds and if aggression was more common in some than others. The short answer is yes, aggression like any other genetic trait can be selected by breeding two dogs that are more aggressive than others. For example, a desirable trait in greyhounds is predatory aggression, you want a racing dog that has a strong will to chase down something that is running away from it. Dogs with this trait will most likely try harder, run faster and win more races than dogs without it.

Any dog breed has the potential to be dangerous but the larger breeds get more of the blame simply because they have the potential to cause more damage. A five -pound aggressive Chihuahua is going to be much less of a threat than a hundred pound pit bull in any situation. In addition, breeds such as the Mastiff, Rottweiler and Doberman Pincher were initially bred to be guard dogs and aggression is a desirable trait in a dog for this purpose. Perhaps these dogs have more aggressive tendencies somewhere in their DNA but that does not define their personality.

But as we all know in the great nurture vs. nature debate, genetics is only a piece of the puzzle in what makes up any personality be it dog or human. There are many other factors that contribute to a dog being aggressive such as socialization as a puppy, previous training, past experiences and interactions with people as well as other animals. Our dogs do not know how we want them to behave; it is up to us to teach them. It is natural for a dog to guard his food or any other resource he find important to his survival. I am not saying that it is okay or should be tolerated but it is up to the owner to recognize the dog has an issue and take steps to teach him it is not acceptable.

For the most part aggression in dogs is rooted in fear and nine times out of ten the dogs tries very hard to show us he has a problem before biting even enters his mind. Dogs communicate with body language; a turn of the head or flick of the ears can be a very clear signal to the dog but we as humans are generally very bad at picking up on these subtle signs. Often it is after the dog has shown every way he knows how to indicate he is not comfortable with the situation that he finally resorts to growling or snapping. It is not until this point that we humans pick up on the problem at which time it has escalated to a serious issue.

The take home message with this story is listen to your dog, learn to read his signals because I promise he is showing them to you as best he can. If you notice any signs of aggression immediately find a trainer who practices only positive reinforcement and reward based training. Using punishment based or dominance theory methods on a fearful dog are only going to make the situation worse. If you feel that the issue isn’t resolving make an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist, this is a veterinarian who has advanced training in behavior. A great resource is the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior’s website which is loaded with great articles on how you should train your dog and where to find a good trainer.

Remember to always listen to what your dog is trying to tell you, it will only improve your relationship.

NAVC

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Hughes, DVM) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:54:00 +0000

I just returned from the North American Veterinary Conference (NAVC) in Orlando where I had an amazing time learning about the new and exciting developments in veterinary medicine. Since medicine is constantly evolving and recommendations are always changing, all veterinarians are required to participate in continuing education. What makes Friendship stand out among other clinics is that all of our doctors regularly attend national conferences. This is another way the doctors at Friendship make sure that your pet is provided with the very best veterinary care possible.

Essentially, attending a conference is kind of like going back to school but is even better because you get to focus on subjects applicable to what you do every day. I spent the week listening to specialists from around the country lecture on various topics. This helps us to make sure that the recommendations we give our clients are not just appropriate but the gold-standard of care determined by the latest research.

In addition to the lectures there is also a massive exhibit hall where vendors display all the new and exciting products available in veterinary medicine. After attending a particularly disturbing lecture about how difficult ticks are to control and that the incidence of tick borne diseases lick Lyme and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever are on the rise, I made a point to visit the booths and learn more about the newer spot-on preventives that are available. I also made a mental note to be much more vigilant about applying these products to my dogs once a month every single month.

I also am very excited about the Adaptil Collar and immediately put one on Poppy as soon as I walked in the house. The idea is similar to a flea collar but instead of pesticide the collar releases a pheromone that has been shown to help calm dogs and reduce anxiety. At this point I am unable to say if it is helping her but it certainly can't hurt, I will report again in a few weeks with my finial decision. Another cool use of this pheromone is that it comes in a spray that you can apply to a bandanna for more focal control of anxiety. For example, if your dogs hates riding in the car or going to the vet you could put the bandanna on to help him feel better for the limited time he is nervous.

I could go on and on about the exciting tips I picked up but I think I will save them for future posts - stay tuned!

Kitty Food

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Hughes, DVM) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Happy New Year!

As I embark on my annual New Year’s resolution to eat better and exercise more I thought I might once again try and tackle the ever looming question asked by owners: what is the best food for my pet?

Furla, Vegas and Breaker

In truth this is a question without a definitive answer so I will tell you what I feed my pets and why I have chosen these foods. I will start with my three cats, two of which have medical issues that require them to eat prescription diets. Vegas has food allergies and if the majority of food he eats is not venison based he will scratch his face creating horrible open sores.

Because of this Vegas and my other cat Furla eat a combo of dry and canned Hill’s Prescription Diet D/D Venison. Furla doesn’t particularly need this diet but she likes it and feeding it to both of them is easier for me. I feed them mostly canned with only a small amount of kibble for them to munch on during the day. For cats I feel the canned food is better for them as it is higher in protein and moisture that more closely mimics the diet their bodies were designed to process.

Unlike dogs and humans that are omnivores, cats are obligate carnivores meaning all of their required nutrients come from animal tissue. For example cats have evolved to eat multiple small meals that they spend the day hunting, think mice and birds. Giving your cat a huge bowl of dry, carbohydrate-based food that he plops down to inhale at one sitting is not compatible with the development of his gastrointestinal tract. There is a theory that feeding our cats this way has lead to the numerous cases of obesity, inflammatory bowel disease and intestinal lymphoma that we see.

My third cat Breaker has a sensitive stomach and after extensive diagnostics to look for a cause of his frequent vomiting I found that feeding him Hill’s I/D eliminated the issue. For the reasons listed above I would prefer to feed him only canned food but he refuses to eat it.

In addition to their main diets I also like to add in a few things to keep it interesting for them. One of my favorite treats for cats and dogs is Hill’s T/D, which is designed to act like a little sponge packed with enzymatic cleaners to wrap around the teeth and break down the tartar. This is actually a complete diet and can be fed alone but I prefer to use it as treats. I sprinkle a handful on top of the cat’s dry food, they love it and will pick out the T/D pieces to eat first. I firmly believe this stuff works, all of my cats are around 7 years old, have never needed a dental cleaning and have lovely teeth with minimal tartar.

Pieces of T/D

I also like to increase their omega-3 fatty acid intake by giving them Evanger’s Whole Mackerel in Gravy canned food once or twice a week. I have tried squeezing fish oil capsules on their food but it is messy and they refuse to eat it. As I have states before in previous posts I am a firm believe in the magic of omega-3’s helping every body system.

I hope this gives you an insight into how I choose what to feed my kitties and will help you find a diet that works for your cat. There is an overwhelming amount of information about pet foods out there so I encourage you to do some research and speak with your veterinarian about what will help your cat live a long and healthy life.

Happy Holidays!

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Hughes, DVM) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:57:00 +0000

I apologize for my lack of new blogs for the past few months but if you have been missing Friendship Tails then just wait because after the New Year I will be back and better than ever. I am working on a new blog design that should launch in February just in time to start fundraising for Fashion for Paws 2012. I have new tales from the constantly exciting and newly renovated Friendship Hospital for Animals as well as more tips on keeping your pets healthy and happy. Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season and I will see you in 2012!

Season's Greetings from Frank, Poppy, Sparkle and Lilly

In the meantime here is a clip from my recent appearance on DC's Fox 5 with holiday dangers that may get your dog or cat into trouble.

Pet Project - Pets and the Holidays: MyFoxDC.com

Surprising Summer Dangers for Pets

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Hughes, DVM) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:18:00 +0000

Heat stroke is by far the most common summertime danger for our pets but there are a few other things you should be aware of during the warm months.

Cookouts are surprising source of danger for your dog. Any respectable chowhound will spend a fair amount of time searching for a tasty morsel. Chicken and rib bones are usually digestible and rarely result in intestinal obstruction but often cause a nasty case of pancreatitis due to a very high fat content. The pancreas is a gland that lives near the stomach and gets very angry when exposed to a high fat diet. This results in severe abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea that usually require medical attention

Another cookout troublemaker is corn on the cob as it is the perfect size to be scarfed down whole and then lodge in the small intestine. This then causes an obstruction that almost always requires surgical intervention for removal. Signs to watch for are decreased or loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain. If your dog displays any of these clinical signs please bring him to your veterinarian immediately.

Other dangerous food items are onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, chocolate and sugar-free gum. If you think your dog may have snacked on any of these items either see your veterinarian or call ASPCA’s animal poison control 24-hour hotline.

If you are going to have guests staying with you this summer and you have a nosey dog or cat be sure to tell them so they can put away any medications they may be taking. Even over the counter drugs such as Tylenol, Advil, Aleve and Sudafed can be life threatening to pets.

If you notice most of what I have been talking about is directed towards dogs. It is not that I have been neglecting cats but as a general rule they are usually smart enough to avoid most of these issues. You rarely see a cat running around outside in 90 degree weather or jumping up on the picnic table to grab an ear of corn.

The one lapse in judgment that almost all cats suffer from is their determination to eat plants and flowers. Many indoor and outdoor plants and flowers are extremely toxic to cats and dogs causing clinical signs that range from stomach upset to death. The most infamous flower is the Lilly. Kitties only need to eat a small bit of petal or leaf to cause acute kidney failure, which quickly leads to death. The ASPCA website has a comprehensive list of plants that you need to watch out for.

Finally, fireworks and thunderstorms can be a source of fear for your pets. If you notice that your dog or cat does not seem to appreciate the loud noises be sure to take precautions so they don’t run away or destroy your home. Speak with your veterinarian about administering an anti-anxiety medication. Pure sedatives are not ideal and can actually make things worse as your pet is still afraid but too sedate to do anything about it. This then causes a rebound effect and the next time they experience feelings of anxiety it will be much worse.

Also keep in mind during the warm weather fleas, ticks and mosquitoes are out in force. Be sure to administer your pet’s monthly heartworm, flea and tick preventatives. This goes for indoor kitties too, they are still at risk for heartworm disease.

I hope these tips help you and your pets have a happy and safe summer.

Hello Summer!

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Hughes, DVM) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:17:00 +0000

According to weather reports the east coast is about to get slammed with a heat wave this week. I wanted to take a moment to warn dog owners about their pets’ risk of heat stroke. Every summer far too many dogs are brought into Friendship after collapsing due to heat stroke. Unfortunately, despite agressive treatment many of these patients do not make it, which is truly tragic since the event could have been easily avoided.

One of the patients that sticks in my mind as especially tragic was a bulldog that was taken out for fifteen minutes around noon as part of a mid-day walk. He collapsed on his walk and was immediately rushed to Friendship. Sadly, despite aggressive treatment, complications from heat stroke damaged his organs so severely that he had to be euthanized the next day.

“Smushy-faced” (brachycephalic is the technical term) dogs like bulldogs and pugs are especially susceptible to heat-related illness. This is because breed characteristics such as narrow nostrils and elongated soft palates decrease their ability to effectively cool themselves.

drawing by Robert Cole

Though bulldogs and pugs have an especially tough time in the warmer weather, ALL dogs are more susceptible to heatstroke than their human companions are. As if wearing thick fur coats weren’t enough of a challenge, dogs have only two ways of dissipating heat: by panting, and through their paw pads. When the temperature rises, neither of these cool-down tricks works too well. Panting becomes much less effective when the weather is hot and humid and when your dog walks on a scorching sidewalk his paws stay too hot to help him cool down.

If you’re out on a walk with your dog and he collapses, becomes unresponsive or loses consciousness, seek veterinary care immediately. DO NOT try to cool down your dog on your own as bringing the body temperature down too quickly can make a dire situation worse. If for some reason you can’t make it to a veterinary hospital immediately, you can soak a towel in tepid (not cold) water, place it over your dog, and aim a fan at him. Take your dog to a veterinarian as soon as he is more stable.

What makes heat stroke potentially fatal is that the patient can develop a condition called disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) that causes massive and widespread damage to the blood vessels. This quickly results in multiple organ failure and the patient loses the ability to clot his blood. Treatment consists of aggressive supportive care and plasma transfusions, both of which are very expensive and not guaranteed to prevent death.

When it comes to heat stroke, the best treatment is prevention. Here are some commonsense tips to help you keep your dog cool and comfortable.

Avoid taking your dog out during the hottest times of the day. (Quick rule of thumb: If it is too hot for you, then it is definitely too hot for your dog!)
Keep an eye out for unusual behavior: If you are out in the hot weather with your dog and he slows down, lies down or acts reluctant to keep walking, you should let him rest, offer him cool water and head inside immediately.
Make sure your dog has cool, fresh water available at all times.
Never leave a dog (or any other pet) in a parked car when it is even slightly warm out. The temperature in the car can rise amazingly quickly and before you know it you have an overheated animal.
Don’t take your dog running. I am never a fan of running with your dog but in this weather it is an especially bad idea.

Spring puppies and kittens!

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Hughes, DVM) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 11:09:00 +0000

Frank as a puppy

Spring is my favorite time of the year for many reasons but it is the influx of adorable new puppies and kittens into the hospital for wellness care that really brightens my days. If you are looking for a feline family member, this is kitten season and the shelters are overflowing with these tiny little balls of fur. Bringing a new pet into your house can be overwhelming so I have provided a cheat sheet with the top three things you need to focus on to have a healthy and well adjusted new friend.

1. Bring your new pet to the veterinarian right away – All puppies and kittens should come with a health record of vaccines and de-worming medications administered by the breeder or shelter. On your first visit be sure to bring this paperwork, so you and your veterinarian can discuss and plan out an appropriate vaccine schedule. In addition, a poo sample is helpful so your veterinarian can make sure your new buddy didn’t bring home any unwanted friends (internal parasites) with him. At this first visit you can also get him started on preventives for heartworm, fleas and ticks – kittens too!

2. Take your puppy to basic training class – All veterinary behaviorists agree that early socialization is a crucial step in creating a happy and well-adjusted dog. Exposure to other puppies, new people, and places can help prevent your puppy from being fearful and socially awkward. The critical time period is in the first three to four months of life, which is when sociability outweighs fear and they are most open to new experiences.

Poppy as a puppy

Puppies need to be taught how you want them to behave; a training class will give you proper guidance and a safe environment to achieve this. You do not want to let your puppy loose in a dog park until he is fully vaccinated. This potentially exposes him to unvaccinated dogs carrying diseases such as parvovirus and distemper virus. A puppy class or play date in a clean environment with a fully vaccinated, healthy dogs lets your puppy meet new faces while minimizing the risk of disease.

I offer a free monthly class called The Polite Puppy on the last Sunday of every month. We discuss teaching manners and recommendations for wellness care to get your new puppy off on the right paw. You can visit www.thepolitepuppy.org for more information or you can email me if you are interested in joining us. We meet at 3 pm at Happy Paws on Wisconsin Avenue in Tenlytown.

3. Spay or neuter!! – I cannot stress the importance of this enough. In my opinion, spaying or neutering is the single best thing you can do, not only for your own pet but also for the millions of homeless animals living and dying in shelters. In this country we euthanize around four million dogs and cats every year due to overcrowding in shelters.

These simple surgeries that remove the reproductive organs are a direct way to improve the health of your pet. Along with eliminating the chances for many types of cancer as well as a life threatening uterine infection, spaying and neutering can prevent many behavior issues. If the above reasons to spay or neuter haven’t convinced you, consider this: female dogs in heat are messy and it is always embarrassing to have your male dog humping someone’s leg....

Fashion for Paws

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Hughes, DVM) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 23:13:00 +0000

The Fashion for Paws Runway Show was this past Saturday and I could not be more proud of Frank. He was an absolute star strutting down the runway like a supermodel in Paris. We ended up raising a total of $15,512 which far succeeded my initial expectations. The event itself was amazing and hugely successful raising over $520,000. Thank you to everyone for your support!

Fashion for Paws this Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Hughes, DVM) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 12:27:00 +0000

Frank and I are in the homestretch for fundraising for the Fashion for Paws Runway Show benefiting the Washington Humane Society (WHS). The event is on Saturday, we both have our runway looks planned out and we could not be more excited. If you would still like to make a donation you can do so up to noon on Friday but visiting my fundraising page.

WHS is also competing in the ASPCA $100K Challenge and needs your help to win. You can visit http://www.votetosavelives.org/ daily to support WHS in this nationwide contest. I just placed my vote for today and they are currently in 27th place out of the 50 shelters participating. Vote today and every day until April 15th!

For those of you that read my blog for veterinary health information and are wondering when I will start posting non-Fashion for Paws related articles, fear not they are coming. I have many interesting topics that I am working on such as brachycephalic syndrome, my newest thoughts on pet food recommendations, Friendship's new partnership with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and gastrointestinal diseases of cats.

Thanks again to all my wonderful clients, family and friends for their amazing support over the last few weeks, Frank and I will see you on the runway!

Yappy Hour Success!

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Hughes, DVM) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 21:26:00 +0000

The Yappy Hour this past weekend was a huge success! We raised an impressive amount of money for Fashion for Paws and everyone seemed to have a great time. A big thank you to Friendship, Happy Paws, Hello Cupcake, Barkley Square and Something Sweet for their support and generous donations.

Photos courtesy of James Robertson

Frank welcomes one of his supporters

Raffle and Yappy Hour

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Hughes, DVM) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 13:27:00 +0000

This Saturday is the Yappy Hour fundraiser for Fashion for Paws

at Pete's Apizza!

Come by with your dog and spend some time with us from 5-7 pm. For just $10 you will get a Friendship Tote filled with goodies including gourmet dog treats from Barkley Square and FREE PIZZA! There will be a cash bar inside for your beer and wine needs. You can puruse our awesome raffle prizes and each guest gets a chance to win a dozen cupcakes from Hello Cupcake or a St. Patrick's Day inspired dog cake.

Don't miss out on this fun, family, dog friendly event!

Pete's Apizza

4940 Wisconsin Avenue NW

5-7 pm

If you haven't been by Friendship in the last few weeks then you are missing out on a chance to enter the Fashion for Paws raffle and win some amazing prizes.

Friendship Gift Card
Happy Paws sleepover with play days
Gift Basket courtesy of Wagtime
Six month of free food from Royal Canin
Nutramax Gift Basket with Dasuquin and Wellactin
Canine Wellness Gift Basket
Feline Wellness Gift Basket

The drawing will be held on April 5th so there is still plenty of time to buy your tickets!

Nola's story

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Hughes, DVM) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:53:00 +0000

In case you were not familiar with all of the amazing work that the Washington Humane Society (WHS) does for the animals of The District, the following story about a cat named Nola is just one example of why we need them in our community.

Nola was brought in to Friendship for emergency care after a Humane Law Enforcement Officer responded to a call in Northeast DC. A woman had found her curled up on her front porch with severe wounds and smelling of burnt hair. Her whiskers were completely singed off, the tips of her ears were deformed from severe burns and the right side of her body was hairless and covered in an open wound. It was presumed that someone had intentionally set her on fire. What is truly amazing is that despite this horrific act of cruelty she was purring nonstop, wanting only to curl up in someone's arms.

Nola responded very well to treatment and is now safely living with a wonderful foster family while she continues to heal. I am constantly amazed by the ability animals have for unconditional love and forgiveness. It is because of this unending capacity for love that I became a veterinarian and why I believe so strongly in WHS's mission. The animals they protect do not have a voice, therefore it is our moral responsibility to stand up and speak for them.

Watch Nola's story on 9 News Now:

Fashion for Paws Update!

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Hughes, DVM) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 01:26:00 +0000

Fashion for Paws is now one month away and fundraising is in full swing. As of this moment in time Frank and I have raised the most money out of all the other models, we are at $10,150!! Frank is so close to his dream of runway domination and earning the coveted title of "Model Washingtonian of the Year"but we need your help to keep the momentum going.

A huge thank you to Happy Paws, Friendship, BVNS and all my wonderful clients, Polite Puppies, friends and family whose generous donations have made this possible.

There are still many opportunities if you want to get involved.

Stop by Friendship and enter our raffle for a chance to win:

Friendship $150 gift card
Weekend sleepover with play days at Happy Paws
6 months of food from Royal Canin
Gift basket full of Nutramax products
Canine Wellness gift basket
Feline Wellness gift basket

Join Friendship and Happy Paws on March 19th for Yappy Hour at Pete's Apizza!

For just $10 guests will take home a Friendship tote bag filled with goodies, a chance to enter the raffle and all the free pizza you can eat. This dog and family friendly event is not to be missed.

Pete's Apizza
March 19th
5-7 pm
4940 Wisconsin Avenue NW

Attend the Fashion for Paws Runway Show

The main event will be held on April 9th at the National Building Museum. Tickets and tables are still available but selling fast so get yours now.

For more information about Fashion for Paws, to buy a ticket or make a donation please visit http://support.washhumane.org/goto/ashleyhughes

Pet obesity in the news

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Hughes, DVM) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 01:24:00 +0000

Pet obesity is a serious medical issue that can result in a myriad of health problems including diabetes, heart disease and joint disease. The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention just released a new study that reveals more than half of the dogs and cats in this country are overweight. Frank and I spent this afternoon with Fox 5 and ABC 7 to help spread the word about the dangers of pet obesity.

Overweight Problems for Dogs and Cats: MyFoxDC.com

Washington Post Article vs Client Privacy

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Hughes, DVM) — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 01:11:00 +0000

This past Monday, in what I can only assume was a slow news day, a column in The Washington Post seemed to question Friendship's handling of a request for a patient's vaccination information. Click here to read the full article.

A woman who was not the owner of the dog called Friendship to request the information after she had been bitten. The bite occurred while the dog was being walked by the pet sitter. Friendship refused to release the dog's vaccine status without the consent of the owner but did offer to contact the owner, which she declined. The Post's article indicates that she did call the police but also declined their offer to help her. Had she reported the bite to the authorities, as the law dictates, they could have easily obtained the dog’s vaccine status. She apparently chose not to do so and, instead, contacted the Washington Post.

When I spoke to columnist John Kelly last week he told me the woman "didn't want to get the dog in trouble" and that was why she decided not to report the bite. Informing animal control about a dog bite, especially in this situation, is essential. If the dog really just walked up and bit her as the woman described then there needs to be a record of this. What if this happens again? What if it is a child's face next time?

I am in no way saying that this dog is vicious, in fact I don't think I have ever met a mean Greyhound. This was most likely an isolated incident, but if a pattern of aggressive behavior develops there should be a record of it.

In addition, a dog owner needs to be aware if his or her dog is involved in a bite incident, be it with a person, wildlife or another dog. When I questioned Mr. Kelly how it was that both the woman who was bitten and the pet sitter were unable to get in touch with the owner to discuss the event he was only able to say that "the owner was out of town". In the age of smart phones, email and Facebook surely they could have contacted the owner. If one of my dogs were to bite someone while I was away I would want to be notified immediately.

My discussion above is really immaterial, here is the bottom line: at Friendship, we value the trust our clients instill in us and part of that trust requires us to keep all client/patient information confidential. It has been and always will be our policy to not disclose information unless specifically asked to do so by the owner of a patient, another veterinary hospital or other law enforcement organization.

Apart from my position as a veterinarian, as a dog owner I support Friendship's policy and I would think the majority of our clients do too. Please feel free to post respectful comments below.

Friendship Tails The Show "Pet Allergies"

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Hughes, DVM) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 02:53:00 +0000

This can also be viewed on You Tube

Friendship Tails The Show - Poppy's GI troubles

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Hughes, DVM) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:29:00 +0000

Frank on Fox 5 for Fashion for Paws

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Hughes, DVM) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 21:51:00 +0000

Frank and I were thrilled to be on Fox 5 this morning for their "Ask a Vet" segment with Annie Yu. Frank is working hard at raising money for Fashion for Paws and this was a great opportunity for him to get the word out about the event.

Ask A Vet - Friendship Hospital for Animals: MyFoxDC.com

Fashion for Paws!

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Hughes, DVM) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:43:00 +0000

Today marks the start of fundraising for Fashion for Paws. Sparkle and I had a great time last year and raised over $8000. This year I will be walking the runway with Frank who is already planning his outfit, but we need your help to make this happen. There are many ways you can contribute:

Join us on March 19th for a Yappy Hour at Pete's Apizza
Buy a ticket to the event and see Frank strut down the runway in all his glory
Purchase an ad for your business to be displayed in the official program book
Stop by Friendship and enter our raffle for the chance to win many great prizes
Make a direct donation by visiting my fundraising website

In case you are not familiar with the event, Fashion for Paws in now in it's fifth year and has raised over one million dollars for the Washington Humane Society (WHS). Friendship is the emergency hospital for WHS and I have personally treated many of the abused and neglected rescued by WHS Humane Law Enforcement Officer. This has given me a first-hand view into the critical work that WHS provides for the animals and people of our community.

All proceeds from the Fashion for Paws Runway Show directly benefit the more than 30,000 homeless, lost, neglected and abused animals WHS cares for each year. Your donations will also support vital programs such as Humane Law Enforcement, Humane Education, low cost vaccination and spay-neuter programs, Dog Tags and the WHS Behavior and Learning Center.

I would greatly appreciate any help, this organization and the amazing work they do is very close to my heart. To make a donation please visit my fundraising page or post a comment with any questions and I will be happy to get back to you.

Thank you!

Treating Arthritis in Dogs and Cats

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Hughes, DVM) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 11:00:00 +0000

On Thursday I gave you tips to prevent arthritis but if your dog or cat already has signs of arthritis--be it mild or severe--there are many things you can do to help keep him pain free.

Try a specialty diet such as the J/D diet made by Hill’s Prescription Diets, which is specifically formulated for dogs and cats with joint disease. The diet was created using nutrogenomics--a fancy word that means they used DNA sequencing to locate the genes that are active in animals with arthritis and created a diet to alter expression of these genes. Not only is this really cool, but several studies show the J/D diet really works.

It’s never too late for a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement. Along with Cosequin, Nutromaxx also makes a product called Dasuquin, which supplements the glucosamine and chondroitin with a special avocado extract that has been shown to help decrease joint pain. You can also up the ante with Adequan injections. This injectable supplement is administered by a veterinarian and is similar to glucosamine/chondroitin but quite a bit more potent.

Try laser treatment. At Friendship we have a therapeutic laser that uses specific wavelengths of light to decrease inflammation and stimulate healing. During each painless treatment, the laser light interacts with tissues at the cellular level to increase metabolic activity within each cell. A cascade of beneficial effects is initiated, increasing circulation and drawing water, oxygen, and nutrients to the damaged area. This creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness, and pain.

Does it work? You bet. There are more than 100 rigorously controlled, scientific studies that document the effectiveness of laser for many clinical conditions such as joint pain, hip dysplasia, swelling, ligament sprains, muscle strains, bite wounds, traumatic injuries, post-surgical pain and chronic wounds.

If the above methods don’t do the trick, then it is time to start a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medication such as Rimadyl or Metacam. These drugs are extremely effective at controlling and alleviating arthritis pain. I have had clients tell me their dog is running around like a puppy again after starting Rimadyl. The NSAIDs can change a dog’s outlook on life but need to be used carefully. Just like all medications, NSAIDs have side effects. These include gastrointestinal upset, stomach ulcers, liver and kidney disease. Because of these side effects I always recommend monitoring bloodwork every 6 months for all my patients on these drugs. There are other pain medications available but none of them work as well for arthritis pain as the NSAIDs do.

Prevention is the best medicine, as the saying goes. I hope I have given you some tips to keep your pet’s joints healthy. Remember, if you do notice some stiffness, limping or slowing down in your dog or cat, talk to your veterinarian right away. With so many options for slowing down arthritis and keeping your pet pain free, you won’t want to wait to get started.