The heat of summer

Summer is here!  Once again we have long languid days and lots of time to get outside and have fun with our dogs.  However, during these hot summer months our pets are susceptible to overheating.  The best times to get out with your dog are morning and evening when it is cooler.  Avoid the heat of midday.  Leaving your dog in a car even with the windows down can lead to heat stroke.  Remember most dogs have a significant coat that traps heat and they don’t sweat to shed heat.  They are therefore much more susceptible than humans to overheating.  Heat stroke can occur in as little as 10 minutes.  Older dogs, long-haired dogs, brachycephalic breeds (those with short muzzles), and dogs with respiratory and cardiac issues are especially susceptible.  If your dog is outside during these hot days, it is essential that adequate shade be provided along with a generous supply of water.  Don’t leave your dog unattended in a car for even a few minutes. The windshield will magnify the heat of the sun.  Even if you park in the shade, remember the sun moves.  I know of a few instances where the person thought the car was shaded but it wasn’t for long. 

Signs of overheating include panting, drooling, red gums, rapid heart rate, mental dullness, diarrhea, vomiting, seizures, coma, and death.  If you think your furry friend is overheating, taking immediate action is the key to saving his or her life.   The very first thing you should do is cool them down.  Use cool air fans, or immerse in cold water (this is best).  Do not use ice as it is not as effective.  Check their body temperature and when it gets down to 103 degrees F, stop the cooling and get them immediately to a veterinarian.  If they are shivering you’ve cooled too much.  Even if they survive the initial episode, kidney failure, liver failure, total organ system failure, and brain damage are common sequelae.  Most patients need to be hospitalized in the I.C.U.  for days to prevent these subsequent effects.  Even then many patients do not survive.  Time is of the essence here. 

The costs for such intensive care can be significant.  .  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Hopefully you’ve purchased pet insurance to cover such a catastrophe.  Keep your pet cool and safe.

The Importance of Training

One area that is frequently overlooked by pet caretakers/owners is training. While some cats can benefit from training to correct behavior problems, this article will focus on dogs as they compose the bulk of the pets most in need of training.  Unwanted Behaviors is the number one reason dogs are surrendered to shelters and euthanized in the U.S.  Most of these dogs were never given a chance to correct their problems. Either the person responsible for them didn’t try, or ineffective methods were used.  Most people tend to focus on avoiding the situation that led to the unwanted behavior. This insures it will continue and possibly worsen. For example, if the dog jumps up on people and the caretaker then locks the dog away whenever guests are in the home, the dog will never have the opportunity to encounter guests and learn the proper behavior.  The dog is then effectively ostracized by his “pack” for behavior that was likely encouraged when he/she was a puppy.

 There are many unwanted behaviors.  They include biting (which includes “mouthing”), jumping on people (especially children), elimination disorders, aggressive behaviors, unwanted barking, and countless others.  In many cases these behaviors are normal dog behaviors that are just unacceptable in human society.  Often, the dog has simply not been trained to behave correctly in one or more given situations.  He/she just doesn’t know how to react properly.  Just like leashes, dog dishes, vet visits and vaccines, training is an essential part of pet ownership that must be considered and budgeted for before getting the dog.  If you haven’t, consider it now.  It is the rare dog that doesn’t need any training to behave in a manner that is in accord with his or her human caretaker and society at large. A dog that behaves in an undesirable manner will stress and often break the bond the caretaker has with that dog. When that happens, the dog usually finds itself homeless, or the object of ire.  Having a dog that behaves appropriately all the time in any situation is the ideal here.  To achieve this takes time and commitment to training with a well qualified credentialed dog trainer.  Most of the time, the training sessions involve teaching the human how to control and relate to the dog as much as actual training of the dog.  Ask your veterinarian or other trusted animal professional about qualified professional trainers near you.

Thank You Santa Cruz!!

All Pets Veterinary Clinic was named one of the three top veterinary clinics in Santa Cruz by the Santa Cruz Weekly readers poll.  I would like to thank all of our amazing clients who voted in this poll.  It is truly gratifying to receive this recognition.  Sometimes I get caught up in the day to day "trials" associated with veterinary medicine and can lose sight of how much good All Pets has and will continue to accomplish.  An award such as this really delivers a big dose of positive reinforcement. I feel honored to partner with my clients in providing health care for their beloved pets. I could not do this without all of you.  THANK YOU.

Sincerely,   Ken Cholden DVM

Check out the awards in Santa Cruz Weekly at

The Peculiarity of Cats

Cats suffer in silence.  They have a strength and focus and will not be pushed around.  They are among the toughest most stubborn creatures on the earth.  Often when they are in pain or sick they crawl away to some place that is apart from everyone else. They want to be left alone. They don’t want to complain. This is actually dangerous for them because it hurts our ability to get them help.  Of course there are cats that behave differently.  Some will even vocalize as if to tell their humans something is wrong with them.  They are the exception.  For this reason it becomes very difficult to tell when a cat is sick or hurting.  One must assume that if it’s obvious to us humans, the discomfort must be great.  

  As cats age they are more likely to develop chronic illness. Due to the slow progression of such illnesses, the changes are extremely small and barely noticeable from one day to the next.  The cat doesn’t complain and maybe she just can’t jump as high as she used to.  Maybe he is eating a little less, or more, or urinating more, or drinking more.  These are only some telltale signs of a problem. There are many others.  

  Cancer, Osteoarthritis, Chronic Kidney disease, Hyperthyroidism, Dental disease, and many other maladies can be insidious in onset.  You may not notice the early signs.  Many times I see cats with caring and attentive humans that had no idea they had a problem or didn’t realize how bad it was. Since cats won’t talk about their problems, regular evaluations once to twice a year especially as they age are essential to early detection and improved chances of treating a painful or debilitating disorder.  Even if you think your cat is healthy, he should still be evaluated by a trained veterinarian that you have established a relationship with. If you think your cat may be sick, he is and worse than you think.  Don’t wait two or seven days to see if he will get better. Get him evaluated quickly because if it is something serious, the sooner we start treatment, the better the chances are for recovery.