RexSpecs Vet Check Issue 1

Issue 1 | January/February 2017 | $9.95Muzzle Trainingfor Police PatrolCaninesSecret Service Dogs Let’s Train Health & Wellness for the Thin Blue Line Not on My Watch... Introducing Mike Ritland’s Understanding Macronutrients or My Dog’s Team Dog Online Training

Vet CheckYOUR K-9 PARTNER’S ANNUAL WELLNESS EXAM By Dr. Alexis Newman The Physical ExamEvery handler knows that their K-9 We’ll review an overall physical exam and what partner needs an annual exam and blood this might tell about your partner’s health. Before work, but what does that mean? What do focusing on specific areas of the body, we need the exam and blood work entail? What to evaluate two big-picture aspects - weight and do we learn? Let’s start with the basics. behavior. The first step is to review your partner’s historywith the veterinarian. Don’t underestimate the Monitoring your partner’s weight is important.importance of your input in your partner’s health. As is true with a handler, a dog’s weight can changeIt is important to share any changes or concerns dramatically (although they are typically on a morewith the veterinarian. These may include changes strict diet). Changes in weight - a significant increasein behavior, water intake, appetite, vomiting or or decrease - can indicate underlying disease. Itdiarrhea, or energy level. Any of this information can is important that unexplained weight changes arebe as important as the physical exam. I recommend evaluated. Since you are always with your K-9, youmaking a list of any of any these changes you have may not notice these changes, so it is very importantnoticed prior to meeting with the veterinarian. you weigh your him or her at each veterinary visit.2 6 | workingdogmagazine.com

Prior to even starting the physical exam, watching the K-9’s Below the Neckbehavior is also important. I watch my patients closely whilespeaking with the handler. Is the behavior appropriate? Is he Working our way back from thecurious about his surroundings in the hospital (which is normal), head, a veterinarian will likelyor is he quieter that he should be? Is he typically a friendly dog, check your dog’s thorax, abdomen,but is apprehensive or aggressive during this exam? Or even the genitalia, musculoskeletal system,opposite - a K-9 who is typically very aggressive may be passive nervous system, and lymph nodes.because he feels sick or weak. An unexplained change in behaviorcan indicate pain or discomfort or an underlying illness. Thorax (Chest): VisuallyNext, we begin the physical exam - both visual and tactileexamination of the systems. monitor how your partner is breathing. Panting is normalLet’s Start at the Head: during an exam, but coughing is not. Eyes: The corneas should be clear. Any cloudiness can indicate Listening to the heart anddisease. The whites of the eyes can be a little bit reddened due to lungs with a stethoscope is calledthe stress of the veterinary visit, but if the redness is severe, this can auscultation. It would be unusualindicate infection or inflammation. There are some changes that to pick up abnormal lung soundscan develop in aging dogs, such as pigmentation (darkening) of the on a dog that is not showingedges of the eyes of a German shepherd. However, any changes must any obvious signs of respiratorybe evaluated as to whether they are acceptable changes or something disease. Ausculting the heart isconcerning. an important way to check for a murmur or arrhythmia (irregular The lens in the middle of the eye should be clear in young dogs, but beat). Either of these can indicateolder dogs typically have some cloudiness of their lenses, similar to the underlying heart disease. If anyappearance of a cataract. If a young dog has these changes of the lens, abnormalities are present, the nextthis can indicate the presence of a disease such as diabetes. step(s) may be x-rays of the chest and possibly an echocardiogram Ears: It is not unusual for dogs to have waxy debris in their ears, just (ultrasound) of the heart to determine the underlying causeas people do. The ear canals are an extension of skin, so if your partner and treatment.has skin allergies, these can manifest themselves as ear infections. Theear canals should be a normal color and free of any abnormal tissue. Ifthe canals are reddened, or if there is any abnormal tissue present, thismay require further testing. Signs of an ear infection include redness,odor, discharge, or pain. Ear infections can be frustrating to treat, sokeeping on top of these is extremely important. Mouth (Oral Cavity): Your partner’s personality will determinehow thorough this portion of the exam will be. A thorough examallows for evaluation of the teeth, gums, tongue, and the inside of thelips to assess for any abnormal tissue. If your partner must be muzzledto be examined, then this portion of the exam may not be able tobe performed. You may be able to assist if you are able to lift yourpartner’s upper lip to expose teeth for visual exam by the veterinarian.Most dogs will have some dental tartar, but if it is moderate to severe,or if there is evidence of gingivitis (inflammation and redness of thegums), then a dental cleaning may be recommended. Some dogsneed a dental cleaning every year; others only require a few cleaningsthroughout their lives. This varies among dogs, based on the bacteriain the individual’s mouth, as well as diet and chewing habits. January/February 2017 | 27

Abdomen: Within the abdominal cavity, of Musculoskeletal System: This is your partner’scourse, are numerous organs, including the liver, overall body condition, as well as his muscle massgall bladder, spleen, kidneys, intestinal tract, adrenal and ability to walk. This can be affected greatly byglands, pancreas, prostate (in males), ovaries (in age and conditioning. Just like their handlers, well-females), uterus (in non-spayed females), and the conditioned dogs will be more athletic and able tourinary bladder. Palpation (feeling the texture, size, perform their job without becoming overexerted.and location of certain body parts with the hands) isperformed to assess for pain, masses, or enlargement An aging dog may show evidence ofof organs. osteoarthritis. This may be manifested by difficulty or pain when jumping or rising. It is common for many K-9s to be very tense Osteoarthritis in older working dogs is veryduring a physical exam, which can make palpation common, and I feel it is extremely important todifficult. It is important to go slowly to try to calm treat this proactively. Once a K-9 does developthe dog. If a dog is too tense, or very large, adequate pain or clinical signs, these symptoms must bepalpation is sometimes not an option. The location treated aggressively both to help slow progressionof any pain response or enlargement of organs and improve quality of life by decreasing pain. Iwithin the abdominal cavity can help us to localize believe that if arthritis is well managed and treatedthe problem to particular organ(s). For instance, the aggressively, a dog’s quality and longevity of hisliver is tucked up under the rib cage, whereas the working life can be extended for a significanturinary bladder is located closer to the pelvis. amount of time. Depending on your partner’s sensitivity, it may or If there is lameness or swelling in a particularmay not be easy to differentiate where the problem limb, then that limb will be thoroughly palpatedis located, based on palpation alone. If palpation is to check for pain, change in a joint’s range ofat all abnormal, the next step(s) would typically be motion or crepitus, which is a ‘crunching’ feelingx-rays, and possibly an abdominal ultrasound and associated with bone rubbing against other bone.blood work. Often the hind limbs are extended in order to assess for the presence of any pain, which may External Genitalia: This exam varies of course indicate arthritis of the hips.depending on the gender of the dog. Nervous System: Issues with a dog’s nervous Males: If a dog is intact (not castrated), then the system may manifest in symptoms ranging fromtesticles are palpated for symmetry, pain, or any personality changes (from disease within themasses. The penis and the prepuce (the fold of brain) to difficulty walking due to problemsskin covering the penis) are sometimes examined, affecting the spinal cord, or hind-limb weaknessespecially if your partner has shown any problems due to degenerative myelopathy (DM).with his urination. The latter is a progressive disease of the If a K-9 is showing any symptoms that may spinal cord, similar to ALS. Most common inindicate prostate disease, gloved rectal exam may German shepherds, the disease may manifestalso be performed to feel the prostate. In older intact as a progressive weakness in the hind limbs.males, the prostate is frequently enlarged due to the Discussion of DM is beyond the scope of thiseffects of testosterone. This is referred to as benign article, but additional information can be foundprostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is essentially at VeterinaryPartner.com or ofa.com which is theenlargement of the prostate due to hormones. Orthopedic Foundation for Animals.Symptoms of prostate disease can include strainingto urinate or defecate, or blood in urine or feces. It is important that difficult walking be evaluated to assess whether the changes are due Females: This exam is more limited and typically to pain or weakness (or both). The underlyingwould only be visualization of the vulvar region causes of which may be treated very differently.to assess for any enlargement or discharge. If any Abnormalities of the nervous system may requireproblems are seen during the exam of the external advanced imaging, such as an MRI, to furthergenitalia, x-rays and an abdominal ultrasound may assess the disease.be used to further assess.2 8 | workingdogmagazine.com

Lymph Nodes: There Blood Tests Dr. Alexis Newman received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicineare lymph nodes that can be Annual blood work most commonly degree from Iowa State Universitypalpated in several different consists of several tests, which include: in 1998. Following veterinaryregions of your K-9 partner’s school, she completed a Surgicalbody. Enlargement of lymph Complete Blood Count (CBC): This and Emergency Internship atnodes can indicate infection, California Animal Hospital ininflammation, or certain test gives information on different types West Los Angeles. She has workedtypes of cancer (especially of cells within the blood: red blood cells, with police and working K-9s forlymphoma). If enlarged white blood cells, and platelets. These many years and understands thelymph node(s) are palpated, cells are primarily created within the needs of the K-9, the handler, andfurther testing, including bone marrow. If the cell counts are not police departments. Her passiona needle aspirate or blood normal, then the determination has to of working with police dogs andwork may be recommended. be made whether the bone marrow has their handlers led to starting disease or if there is disease in another Partners and Paws Veterinary Skin and Hair/Coat: part of the body. Services in June, 2013. Dr. Newman also enjoys working withThe skin is actually Chemistry Panel: A routine sporting groups, rescue groups,considered an organ of the and civilian dogs and cats.body. The skin is extremely chemistry panel measures enzymes that For more information visit:important as it can serve as reflect the overall health of the body partnersandpaws.coma protective barrier to the and the organs. Most chemistry panelsrest of the body. Changes in show liver values, kidney values, proteinthe skin or hair can indicate levels, and other enzymes that can reflectunderlying disease. Skin disease of the biliary tract, muscles, etc.is evaluated for changes incolor, masses, or comfort. Thyroid Panel: Typically, we areSkin infections can leadto itching and discomfort assessing if you partner’s thyroid functionwhich can absolutely affect is normal or low (hypothyroidism).the working performance of Hypothyroidism is not uncommon inyour K-9. Skin masses may middle-aged to older dogs, and is treatedbe benign or malignant, with daily medication. A low thyroidand they may or may not hormone level can affect your partner’scause any discomfort, but energy level and put him or her at riskit important that these be for weight gain, even with a normal toevaluated for any treatment lower appetite. With treatment, thisrecommendations. As an disease has a good prognosis.extension of the skin, thehealth of the footpads is also The annual veterinary medical examvery important. Injured and blood testing are very important.or diseased footpads can Recommendations for additional examssignificantly affect the and diagnostics will certainly vary basedcomfort and health of your on your department’s requirements andK-9. Any pain associated of course the age and overall healthwith the feet can affect your of your partner. Findings should bedog’s working performance. compared to the previous year(s) soThis area is examined for that any changes can be evaluated asany changes in color, texture to whether they may be concerning. Itor masses, or even changes is important to have communicationbetween the toes. with your veterinarian regarding any concerns or changes you might notice with your K-9. January/February 2017 | 29