A Letter from Dr. Goodman

Don't be jealous, but the Goodman family just returned from a vacation in Minnesota where we did all the things one does when it's 5 degrees outside and there are 4 feet of snow on the ground. We went cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing, ice skating, and for the girls - visited the Mall of America. The bright sunny days in the snowy landscape were stunning but it wasn't all good of course. Sarah & I are training for the Eugene marathon and running on snow is like running in sand dunes - very difficult. And my winter driving skills are a little rusty (thankfully we had only "near misses" involving the rental car). Lastly, I offered to shovel my sister-in-law's driveway after a heavy snowfall thinking what great exercise it would be. Halfway thru the ordeal I came crawling into the house with excruciating back pain & muscle spasms. "Oh, I'm so sorry Laird." My sister-in-law said. "I guess I should have told you: I do have a snow blower!"

Now we've returned to Tigard and my back has recovered, the Christmas lights and tree are down, the New Year celebration (as well as the Minnesota Vikings football season) is over, and the resolutions are in place. My oldest daughter Jenny returned to OHSU where she is pursuing an accelerated RN degree; Sarah returned to her Special Education degree at University of Oregon. Myself and the staff are excitedly preparing for National Dental Health month. We're excited because we are updating our dental suite with two new state of the art dental stations! This will allow us to stay on the cutting edge of oral health care, mirroring our commitment to excellence in all areas of your pet's health. Mostly, we are excited because we know how important oral hygiene is to your pets' health and well-being.

Sadly, 85% of pets over three years of age have periodontal disease. We all know our pets don't complain much when something is bothering them so lift up your pet's lip and take special care to look at those back teeth. If your pet has red or swollen gums, heavy tartar build up, or bad breath, he/she probably has periodontal disease. The good news is this is reversible in the early stages - but only with an anesthetic dental cleaning. Clients often ask me "How long will my pet live?" To some degree, the answer lies with you. Quite simply, pets live longer (and more comfortably) if given proper dental care! To help celebrate Pet Dental Health Month, in cooperation with Purina, we're offering a nice discount of $50 as a mail in rebate when you purchase a small bag of Purina's dental diet with your dentistry. If your pet has food allergies and is on a prescription diet, we'll offer a $25.00 discount - and we'll even throw in a complimentary toothbrush and toothpaste to get you started on home care. I invite you to take a moment to check out our informational picture story on our web site, "Arlo Gets His Teeth Cleaned-the Murrayhill Way!" Then call the hospital to schedule a dental evaluation and cleaning. The benefits to your pet will be a longer life and a more comfortable, fresher smelling mouth!

The most exciting news for Murrayhill Veterinary Hospital is the addition of Dr. Liz Altermatt. Besides her excellent diagnostic and clinical expertise, she brings a level of compassion and caring that you've come to expect in all of the doctors at Murrayhill Veterinary Hospital. You'll read more about Dr. Altermatt later in the newsletter. Zoey and I, along with the entire staff at Murrayhill Veterinary Hospital would like to wish you a happy and healthy New Year for you and your pet(s)!

Sincerely,
Dr. Laird Goodman

Dr. Goodman is the Medical Director and Practice Owner of Murrayhill Veterinary Hospital. He lives in Tigard with his family and enjoys spending time with his Golden Retriever, Zoey and his three cats, Lilly, Eileen, and Annie.

Dr. Goodman's Bio

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Please Welcome Dr. Elizabeth Altermatt

"I believe it is important to be an example for the younger population. As a mentor, I am able to use my knowledge, skills and experiences to help educate and influence students in our community as well as the students who are the future of our profession."

Dr. Altermatt's Bio

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How to Keep Your Pet Safe and Have Fun During the Oregon Winter
by Dr. Michele Zawadzki

As an avid snowboarder, I love to go to the mountain, and have always enjoyed bringing my canine companions along. While I hit the slopes, they hang out in my car in the parking lot at Mount Hood Meadows. Although the ambient temperature appears cold, there are often blindingly sunny days up at the mountain, so if you are like me and enjoy bringing your dog along, please be aware that dogs do not have a way to readily cool themselves, especially when left in the car. As a rule, dogs pant to help keep themselves cool, and can disperse a little body heat by sweating through their foot pads. If possible, leave a window or 2 cracked and try to park in a spot that offers more shade, or use a windshield cover to keep the interior of your car cooler, and thus avoid your dog overheating. When you do take a break from the slopes so that your dog can stretch its legs, please be careful to monitor them in the parking lot where they may potentially be injured by another dog or vehicle.

If hiking in snow, please remember that your dogs feet can freeze in the snow and that ice can accumulate around their foot pads and digits. If possible, take a look at the underside of your dog's feet and make sure they have not sustained injuries or lacerations to their footpads and nail beds from running around on sharp, icy surfaces.

For any dog spending time outside during the winter months, a commonly overlooked issue is a frozen water source. Even when you fill your dog's water bowel daily, the overnight temperature can cause the water to freeze, thus making it impossible for your pet to be able to drink. If you spend a lot of time outside with your dog during the winter months, consider investing in a coat or some booties for them. In Oregon, we are extremely lucky that we are close to both the mountain and the ocean. We also live in a very dog friendly environment that allows us to maximize our free time with our pets.

Have a wonderful winter season, keep warm and take care.

Best Wishes,
Michele Zawadzki, DVM

Dr. Zawadzki's Bio

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Please Welcome...
Our New Practice Manager, Amanda Long!

Hello Murrayhill, my name is Amanda Long, and I am very happy to be a part of Murrayhill Veterinary Hospital. I am looking forward to doing all that I can as the new Hospital Manager. Continuing the high quality care given to our patients is a top priority for me, as our animal friends deserve only the best. I have a long history in veterinary medicine, which began in Michigan, where I grew up. I went to college at Michigan State University, where I received a certificate in Veterinary Technology in 2005 and Bachelors in Finance in 2007. While in college, I worked for Michigan State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital as a receptionist, a veterinary assistant, a licensed veterinary technician and as an oncology technician. I was drawn to Oregon due to my work with an Oncology doctor whom I had met in Michigan. For the last 3 years I have worked with VCA Raleigh Hills as their oncology technician, while obtaining my Masters in Healthcare Administration from Marylhurst University. The amazing reputation of Murrayhill Veterinary Hospital is not only a result of having quality staff and doctors, but also having outstanding clients. You are a part of the foundation that holds this hospital together, and I look forward to strengthening this bond. Please feel free to stop by and say 'Hi' as I hope to meet each and every one of you, pets and owners alike.

Amanda's Bio

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Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease
by Dr. Elizabeth Altermatt

That's it. You've had it. After spending the morning in and out of the litter box at least a dozen times, your cat has now had the nerve to squat and pee right in front of you on your brand new carpet. You try to control your temper as you shoo him into the bathroom and get started cleaning up his mess. Half way through cleaning, you discover you are wiping up just a few drops, and they are stained red with blood. Uh-oh. Your cat may have Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease. Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease, or FLUTD, is the term used to describe inflammation in your cat's bladder due to an unknown cause. FLUTD may also be accompanied by tiny crystals in the urine that can eventually accumulate and plug the small tube, called the urethra, that empties the bladder. As the bladder then becomes blocked and distends with urine, your cat continues to strain in an attempt to empty the bladder. This can become a life-threatening emergency, due to build-up of metabolic wastes in the bloodstream that are normally flushed out in urine. Not to mention this is extremely painful!

Although FLUTD is one possible reason for bladder inflammation, it is not the only cause. Bladder infections, bladder stones, and in older pets, bladder tumors all cause painful, blood-tinged urination. Straining is the most common symptom of urinary tract inflammation in the cat, however, other symptoms include small, frequent volumes of urine (sometimes even just drops), blood in the urine, licking of the genital area, and urinating outside the litter box. When the urethra becomes obstructed, more life-threatening symptoms include painful vocalizing, vomiting, lethargy and anorexia.

If you suspect bladder inflammation in your cat, he or she should be taken to Murrayhill Veterinary Hospital immediately. To better diagnose the cause of your cat's symptoms, we will need to test blood and urine samples to identify crystals and bacteria as well as look for life-threatening metabolic complications. Imaging of your cat's bladder with radiographs or ultrasound may also be recommended to identify bladder stones or growths. If a specific reason for the inflammation cannot be identified, your cat is most likely experiencing FLUTD.

Once a diagnosis is made, we will work quickly to get your cat feeling better, with treatments such as fluid therapy, pain medication and antibiotics. A special diet and supplements may also be recommended to try to prevent recurrence of your cat's symptoms. If your male cat is experiencing a urethral blockage, he will need to be hospitalized to have a urinary catheter placed, to relieve the obstruction, and to manage his life-threatening metabolic condition. Seeing your cat in pain as he or she tries to use the litter box can be a scary experience. We at Murrayhill Veterinary Hospital can help you and your cat by quickly identifying the cause of the problem, and by giving the prompt and necessary treatment to get your special friend comfortable and on the way to recovery.

Sincerely,
Dr. Elizabeth Altermatt

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