Page 18 - Boca Club News - September '19

Page 18, Boca Club News
Pet News Health & Wellness

You and Your Medical Matters: Fibromyalgia

Pet: Hurricane By Richard Nagler, M.D., a member inability to function at home and at work, depression and

of Broken Sound Club and retired
anxiety. Memory issues, sensitivity to bright light, sounds
Preparedness physician. After graduating from and touch occur.
the University of Pennsylvania
Although there is no specific test for this disease, a

and New York University’s School
classical characteristic is that wherever symptoms of pain
for Your Pet of Medicine, Dr. Nagler served are present, by simply lightly pressing on that area these
his internship and residency at
patients will experience severe jolting pain. Fibromyalgia
Baltimore City Hospital and Johns
must be distinguished from collagen vascular diseases such
Hopkins. He followed that with a as Rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus and Sjogren’s syndrome,
By Dr.Nadrea Sookhoo, DVM, Calusa Veterinary Center, 6900 Fellowship in Gastroenterology at Yale University School as well as thyroid disorders. Blood tests to rule out these
Congress Avenue, Boca Raton, FL 33487 (561) 999-3000. of Medicine, and was then Chief of Gastroenterology at diseases include a normal sedimentation rate, a negative
www.CVCBoca.com Fitzimmons General Army Hospital in Denver. He returned rheumatoid antibody factor, a cyclic citrullinated peptide
It’s that time again. Yes, hurricane season in Florida. We to the Yale Medical School for one year as an Assistant test, and thyroid function tests.
plan for ourselves in case of such a disaster, but what about Professor of Medicine before opening his own successful Fibromyalgia may coexist with other painful conditions:
our four-legged friends? It is important to prepare for a disaster private practice in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. the irritable bowel syndrome with adnominal pain, bloating,
with your pets. Not including them in the evacuation plan During that time, he also served for ten years as Chief of gas and diarrhea, migraine headaches and painful bladder
Medicine at Huntington Hospital in Huntington, N.Y.
can lead to increased danger for not only your pets, but also Fibromyalgia is a disease of unknown cause which syndrome. Temporomandibular joint dysfunction with
jaw pain and difficulty opening and closing the mouth
to owners and first responders. Leaving your pets behind can afflicts four million Americans annually. It is far more impairing speech occurs. It may be precipitated by physical
lead to them becoming lost, injured or dying. Below are several common in women, especially those with a family history or emotional trauma, such as an accident or emotional stress,
steps/points to help avoid such things from occurring. of the disease, although no specific genetic factor has and by a wide variety of infectious diseases.
Make a plan! been identified. Because there is no specific test available There is no cure for this disease. Pain medications
1. Pet collars should be located in an area that is easily to make the diagnosis, it has often been considered to be that are employed, such as Advil, Aleve and Tylenol have
accessible. Also make sure to update your cat/dog tags on the psychosomatic. That is not the case, and fibromyalgia is a variable benefits. Narcotics are ill advised because of the
collar. real disease. What is established is that there are changes in threat of addiction. Muscle relaxants such as Flexeril and
2. Microchips are not GPS! It is important to find out if the brain as a result of repeated nerve stimulations producing Zanaflex may help in some cases. The FDA has approved
the information on your pet’s microchip is up to date with abnormal levels of neurotransmitters, which are associated two antidepressants, such as Cymbalta and Savella, and the
the manufacturer. Without this information, if your pet is lost with the development of brain receptors that overreact to anti-seizure medication Lyrica for treatment of fibromyalgia
there is no way to get in contact with you. If your pet is not pain signals. with some benefit. More recently, the drug naltrexone in
Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread deep

microchipped, this may be a good time to do so. Microchipping muscle pain described as a constant dull ache just under the low doses used in the treatment of heroin addiction has
been effective in some patients with fibromyalgia. Similar
allows you to be reunited with your pets should they get lost skin involving both sides of the body, especially the neck, benefits have been reported with medical marijuana. Regular
during a disaster. back, head, chest, elbows, hips, buttocks and knees. The physical exercise including walking, swimming, bicycle
3. Travelling with your pets: It is important to have diagnosis is made when these symptoms persists unabated riding, stretching, water aerobics and relaxation exercises
your pet’s carrier in an accessible area in case of having to for three months, with no underlying medical condition that designed to increase strength, flexibility and stamina are
leave quickly. Make sure that their names and your contact can be deemed as the cause. The pain is associated with recommended. Occupational therapy to reduce stress is
information is on the carrier as well. You can also try practicing fatigue; it often awakens the patient with sleep disrupted and helpful, as well as sleep counseling. Acupuncture, massage
transporting your pets by taking them for a ride in a vehicle is associated with restless leg syndrome and sleep apnea. It therapy and both Yoga and Tai Chi are useful in relaxing
similar to the one you will be using in an evacuation. is usually complicated by cognitive difficulties with inability muscles, increasing range of motion and relieving stress
Prepare a disaster kit! to focus, pay attention and concentrate on mental tasks, and anxiety.
Make a kit that contains all the important things you would
need for your pets during a disaster (ie: food, leashes, etc). List
should include the following:
- Food and water for two days for each pet. Make sure the
food is in an airtight container. Don’t forget the food and water
bowls! Can opener might be a good idea, too.
- Leashes, Collars, harnesses – all with proper ID tags.
- Poop bags, or litter for cats. Cleaning supplies for
accidents.
- Flea tick and heartworm prevention for one month.
- Make sure to pack any medications that your pet may be
taking. Make sure you have at least enough for two weeks.
Check with your veterinarian in advance for any questions
related to medical advice or filling of prescriptions.
- Assemble a pet first aid kit (you can find information on
how what to assemble in a kit on the AVMA website (http://
www.avma.org/public/EmergencyCare/Pages/Supplies-
Checklist.aspx)
- Important documents for your pets (ie: copy of veterinary
record, vaccinations, prescriptions, microchip information)
- Recent photos of your pets.
- Toys – your pets will be most grateful if you make sure to
bring along their favorite toys to keep them occupied during a
storm.
Plan your evacuation!
• Are you sheltering at home with your pets or are you
leaving? If you are staying at home, make sure that you choose
a room that is pet friendly. Choose a safe room that is in the
interior of the home with few or no windows. Remove any
toxic chemicals or plants that your pet can get into.
• Are you evacuating? If you are staying in a shelter, then
you should contact your local emergency management office
and ask them if they allow pets into the shelter. If you are
planning on travelling with your pet to a different city, then
contact pet friendly hotels along the evacuation route.
Additional recommendations:
Remember to always bring your pets indoors when there
is an impending hurricane. Attaching an emergency sticker to
your door or window indicating there are pets in the household
can also alert first responders in case of an emergency.
We are lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the United
States. The price for living in such a beautiful corner of this
world is the frequency of our storms and hurricanes. Being
prepared for these disasters is key to not only keeping us safe,
but also our companion animal friends!