Of all the problems that I see in my patients, ear and skin disease comprise probably 40-60% of them. We see dogs with ear and skin infections every day and most of the time multiple times a day. Some of these cases have been treated for months and sometimes years with little success and the owners are understandably tired of treating symptoms that never seem to resolve. What we have to realize is that the majority of chronic ear and skin infections have an underlying cause which is generally inflammation. The infection is just a secondary invasion of already inflamed tissue. Where does the inflammation come from? It is usually allergy-driven. The allergy can be due to pollen, mold and fungal exposure or it can be a food allergy. If there seems to be a time of the year that the pet has flare ups, it is most likely pollen allergies (atopy). Atopic allergies will cause licking and chewing of the feet, skin inflammation in the arm pits and tummy regions and ear infections. Food allergies will cause problems all year (no seasonality) with the ears  being affected along with an inflamed face and mouth. Food allergies will also show an upset digestive tract as well. If these underlying issues are addressed, then the secondary infections will not return as often or at all. In the next two blogs I will cover how to treat pollen and food allergies in dogs and cats along with some of the new diagnostic tests and treatments available for these frustrating conditions.

Craig Buffington DVM

Stonebrook Veterinary Clinic

www.stonebrookvet.com

Wow! What a winter we have had for North Texas! Just when you thought it was over, more snow! This winter has had more snow than any I have seen and that should not be much of a surprise when we look back at all the rain we have had over the last year. One good thing about the rain is the flowers will be out in force this year and we may have a bumper crop of bluebonnets so break out those cameras! Most flowers and plants are not a huge risk for our pets even if they consume them. I get many calls each week about a dog or cat that has chewed or eaten an indoor plant of some type and usually it will not hurt the pet. We may see an occasional upset stomach but that is about it. However, I recently had a patient presented for exposure to lilies and that is a completely different situation.  Especially in cats, lilies are very toxic and they don’t even have to eat them! If they get the pollen on them and lick it off, it can cause kidney failure. Treatment is aggressive IV fluid therapy and monitoring of the kidney values. If too much time goes by before treatment (>18hrs) it may be too late! So if you have cats, it is probably best to not have any lilies in the house, especially with Easter approaching this may be difficult but probably the safest route to take. Most plants and flowers are not this toxic but the lily family of flowers can be deadly!

Welcome to the Frisco STYLE Pets and Animals Blog! I feel privileged and excited to be contributing to the education of the animal loving populace and to the quality of life of our furry family members. I will be posting stories, ideas, information on new veterinary technologies and procedures that will hopefully stimulate feedback and discussion that will benefit our pets and their quality of life with our readers.

Since this is the initial article, I think it appropriate to give a little background on myself so that in the future you will know where I’m coming from and how I developed a passion for animal care.  As with most vets, I started early in life having many different pets at home and was constantly begging my parents to allow me to have a fish, hamster, bird, snake, dog or whatever I could bring home at the time. By the time I was a high school senior, I knew veterinary medicine was the profession for me and began working in different veterinary clinics. I started out in 1985 as a kennel attendant and worked in several clinics in the Dallas area, in central Texas and eventually in clinics on the east coast before entering vet school in 1989 and graduating in 1993. I worked in Ft. Worth as a mixed animal doctor where I treated many different species of animals including: dogs, cats, rodents, snakes, lizards, turtles, pigs, cattle, horses, sheep and goats to name a few. After 4 years in Ft. Worth, I moved my family to a small town of about 10,000 people named Frisco. I had no idea the growth headed our way and enjoyed the small town atmosphere. We have loved the opportunity to grow with the city and develope close relationships with the many caring owners that have come our way. I have been the owner of Stonebrook Veterinary Clinic for 10 years now and have loved being in a town with a great population of animal loving citizens!

To summarize, I have been in the animal care business for over 25 years and I am excited to share my knowledge with you and, as always, learn from you as well. I will try to post a new topic a couple of times a month and if you want me to speak to something that you have always wanted to know about pets please let me know. Some of the up and coming topics will be:

• dentistry and oral care of pets
• what vaccinations are being recommended now
• why neuter or spay?
• heartworm disease in dogs and cats
• how to find a good breeder/puppy or kitten
• nutrition for dogs and cats
• obesity in dogs and cats
• twice a year wellness exams?
• how old is my pet in human years?
• why does my pet need blood work done when he seems healthy?
• is anesthesia safe for my pet?
• allergies allergies allergies!
• what food should I be feeding?

The list is endless! I will do my best to challenge your thinking at times and hopefully give you information that you can use to help you and your pet live healthier, longer lives. I do not profess to be a board-certified-specialist, and I may not have all the answers but I will try to find them in the many resources available to me. The bottom line is the health and welfare of our devoted four-legged family members!

Craig Buffington DVM

Stonebrook Veterinary Clinic
Frisco Tx

www.stonebrookvet.com

… anything have to do with pets and animals in Frisco, Texas.