It is normal for pet owners to be concerned when veterinarians recommend a procedure that requires anesthesia. Most practices use general anesthesia almost everyday. While anesthesia is not totally risk-free, the risk has been greatly reduced by the availability of pre-anesthetic testing, improved anesthetic drugs, state-of-the-art monitoring equipment, and increased veterinary expertise. Today, pets of all ages are acceptable candidates for anesthesia.

Anesthesia brings about a state of unconsciousness so the patient is not aware of what is going on. It blocks pain sensation all over the body. Anesthesia brings about muscle relaxation and suppresses reflex movements and anesthesia also minimizes anxiety and stress for your pet. Anesthesia is required for most surgeries, dental work, and some X-Rays.

The depth and type of anesthesia required for each procedure will vary depending on the procedure being performed and the age and health of your pet. There are different types of anesthetic drugs, including drugs that are injected into a vein or muscle and drugs that are inhaled as a gas. Longer, more painful surgeries require deeper anesthesia, while minor surgeries, routine dental work or some X-rays may only require light anesthesia.

In order to minimize the risk of anesthesia, veterinarians:
• review your pet’s medical history,
• do a physical exam,
• perform lab tests that measure internal organ functioning,
• monitor your pet’s vital signs during anesthesia to recognize and respond to any problems,
• Monitor your pet postoperatively until it is awake from the anesthetic.

You, the pet owner can minimize the risk of anesthesia by following the veterinarian’s pre-surgery feeding instructions. It is very important that your pet have an empty stomach during the procedure to decrease the risk of vomiting and aspiration of food into the lungs. After surgery the pet owner needs to:
• carefully follow the veterinarian’s discharge instruction,
• confine your pet in a warm, dry, quite area as it may be unsteady on its feet,
• do not leave your pet alone wit small children or other pets, as temporary behavioral changes are common for the first few days,
• Contact your veterinarian if your pet isn’t heating or drinking or has not fully recovered after 48 hours of the procedure.

General anesthesia has a wide range of applications in veterinary medicine. It is performed on thousands of animals everyday. Advances in veterinary medicine have greatly reduced the risk involved. The danger in choosing not to perform a necessary procedure far outweighs the risk associated with anesthesia.

Everyone, not just pet owners, should beware of leaving antifreeze where pets can get into it, as it is a common and deadly poison for cats and dogs. Incidents of antifreeze poisoning increase significantly with the onset of cold weather, as people drain their radiators and refill them with new antifreeze.

Cats and dogs will consume ethylene glycol, the major component of most antifreeze due to its sweet taste. Poisoning can occur from just the amount a cat can lick off its feet after walking though some spillage on someone’s driveway. If the animal is not presented to a veterinarian within just a few hours after ingestion of ethylene glycol, then treatment success is rare. Most often death is due to kidney failure since ethylene glycol causes rapid and irreversible kidney damage. By the time you see symptoms of the poisoning it may be too late. Signs vary with the amount of antifreeze consumed and include vomiting, depression, difficulty walking and sometimes seizure-like activity.

The problem is that these signs can show up 3-10 days after the poisoning. Coma and death may occur as soon as 6-12 hours after more than just minimal amounts have been consumed. There is a test available for ethylene glycol toxicity. Treatment can involve administering medication every 4-6 hours for up to 3-4 days or more with continuous, round the clock hospitalization for monitoring of intravenous fluids and laboratory testing of urine and blood. Due to the emergency nature of this problem it may be more advantageous for your pet to go directly to a specialty/emergency facility for the 24 hour/day care required.

It may be impossible to know exactly how much antifreeze has been consumed, but a prognosis for improvement can usually be made within 12-16 hours after treatment has been started. If your pet has ingested only very small amounts and is presented for the emergency treatment immediately and if the animal is beginning to respond after the fourth treatment, then the prognosis may be fair to good. Because of the expense of treatment and the frequency of deaths due to ethylene glycol poisoning the best advice is prevention. There is non-toxic, environmentally safer antifreeze available on the market, and its additional expense is well worth the prevention. When you drain your radiator please make sure no animals come in contact with any of it and use precautions to avoid spillage and dispose of used antifreeze appropriately.

Never leave your pet alone in a car

Spay or neuter your dog or cat

Adopt pets from an animal shelter

Never kick, hit or spank a pet

Spend quality time with your pet daily

Use a non-choking collar on your dog or cat

Provide nutritious food and constant fresh water for your pets

Keep chocolate away from pets; it can poison them

Take pets for annual health exams and recommended vaccinations

Only provide toys approved for their use

Keep pets away from toxic household chemicals

Make sure they always wear up-to-date ID tags

Read books as a family about animal care

Quit smoking; secondhand smoke can cause allergies in animals

Provide pets with plenty of exercise

Make sure they have constant access to shade in the summer, heat in the winter, and a place that’s always dry

Brush you dog’s and cat’s teeth

Groom your pet often

Never give pets any medicine without a vet’s approval

Don’t let pets eat string, yarn and rubber bands; they can cause an intestinal blockage

Keep your vet’s office an emergency numbers handy

Learn CPR and choking rescue for pets

Volunteer to help care for a busy or elderly neighbor’s pet

Be alert when driving to avoid hitting animals

Volunteer at an animal shelter

Buy from companies that don’t use animals in testing

Report animal abuse to proper authorities

Report injured dogs and cats you find to an animal shelter and injured wildlife to a wildlife rehabilitation center

Pick up litter that might hurt animals

Put up a bird feeder

Never buy anything made from wild animals

Leave all wild animals, including insects, in their natural homes

Plant trees and shrubs in your back yard to make birds and other wildlife feel welcome.

For all of you that have received a new puppy for Christmas or are contemplating getting a dog in the future, the best way to save your pets life is by saving your pet from behavior problems. The number one cause of dogs being turned into shelters and/or being euthanized is due to the behavior problems the animals have.

Steps that may help in preventing such problems include the following:
-Meet the dog’s physical needs of food, water, shelter, exercise, and medical care. In order to provide these you must budget to have disposable income.
-Meet the dog’s social needs of companionship. Dogs require the company of others-either dogs or people.
-If you did not have the option to research a breed before acquiring a puppy, do your research now. This is important for mixed breed puppies as well as pure bred puppies and dogs. Look the breed’s purpose historically. What was the dog bred to do? This will help determine the best type of training and activities to participate in with your new family member.

-Aggression can be genetic. An excellent predictor of aggression problems is the dog’s mother’s and father’s temperament.
-Effective socialization can be provided by having the puppy experience regular non-traumatic exposure to people and places. Make sure nothing happens to scare the puppy.
-Have the puppy learn to trust that you will not let anything bad happen to it.
-Enroll the puppy in an obedience class at a young age.
-Neutering intact male dogs as well as spaying female dogs at an appropriate age will reduce dominance aggression in both sexes.

Purina has developed a Body Condition System that you can use to determine if your pets’ body condition is ideal or too heavy. Pets that are in the ideal shape are likely to live a longer and healthier life.

The description for an ideal body condition score for a dog is as follows: “Ribs palpable without excess fat covering. Waist observed behind ribs when viewed from above. Abdomen tucked up when viewed from side.”

It is the owner’s responsibility to help to add healthy years to your pet’s life. Please use the following steps as suggested by Purina’s Life Span Study.

1)Ask your veterinarian for help in recognizing signs of obesity in your dog or cat. Using the Body Condition System to see if your dog or cat is too heavy, too thin or at ideal body condition.

2)You and your veterinarian can create a nutrition plan that feeds your dog or cat to his or her ideal body condition. Adjust the amount you feed as your pets activity level and body condition change.

3)Do not just fill up your pet’s bowl at each feeding. Follow the feeding guidelines on the bags of food to give your dog or cat the proper-size serving for its ideal body condition. For dogs, it has been recommended to divide the daily amount of food into morning and evening feedings instead of having your dog eat only once a day; 2 smaller meals are better for your dog’s metabolism.

4)Shower your dogs and cats with love and attention instead of too many high-calorie treats, especially table scraps. Be mindful of the quality and quantity of treats you feed each day-calories add up quickly.

5)Daily exercise is one of the keys to your dog’s health. Just 20-30 minutes of walking or playing fetch each day can help keep your dog fit. Cat’s need exercise too, but they take a bit more ingenuity to get them to exercise!

If you want to adopt a pet and want to avoid some of the initial major expenses, please see you local SPCA’s. The private shelters usually have the financial resources and requirements to ensure that the pets that are adopted are already spayed or neutered and have had their initial vaccinations. Most will have tested cats for Feline Leukemia and dogs over 6 months will have been tested for Heartworm Disease. You will have saved somewhere between $200-$300 if you adopt a pet completed on its initial vaccinations and surgery. You still need to have a budget if you take on the responsibility and care of another life. Dogs and cats both should be on heartworm prevention all year round, and the cost will vary with the size of the dog. The cost for you cat will vary depending on which product you use and whether you opt for flea control, too. You will need to budget somewhere between $30-$100+ a year depending on the size of the dog and whether you also need flea and tick control.

Good quality food also needs to be in your monthly budget. The premium foods do not always cost as much as the consumer might think. The better quality the food the less the animal might require, so the cost differential may be very small. Your new pet will require booster vaccinations that will need to be budgeted for. If you are a resident of Johnston County you can get your dog vaccinated for Rabies for free by claiming the dog(s) as property and your cats can be vaccinated for Rabies for $5.00. (Please call Animal Control to find out when and where they are sponsoring the yearly clinics and please remember you should not let the rabies vaccine expire just to wait for the clinic but you can take your pets to the Rabies clinics before their vaccine expires so your pet is protected against disease and you are protected legally).

Dogs and cats also need other vaccinations against such as Distemper/Parvo/Leukemia/Kennel Cough and you can check with your veterinarian to get an estimate of how much to budget on an annual basis for the yearly exam.

The Christmas season is rapidly approaching. Christmas is the giving time of year; charity and thinking of those less fortunate are popular Christmas themes. Too bad that people feel that he poor and hungry and homeless only need our thoughtfulness and generosity once a year. All living creatures, whether destitute people or our domesticated animals, have needs that must be met all year round, not just at the holiday season. Some of these needs are tangible items such as water, food and shelter from the weather. Other needs of both man and his beasts are intangible; companionship, affection, a kind work, and relief from pain and suffering. The advantage that the poorest, hungriest human beings have over our four-footed friends is the ability to express themselves verbally so that others understand what they feel and think.

I am comparing and contrasting human being to animals because an animal is not any less of a living creature with basic needs than a human being is. Because animals cannot express themselves nor can they provide for themselves, they are like babies; we as the caretakers must anticipate and perceive their needs and desire. We must put ourselves in their place and be empathetic to their feelings.

Would you want to drink old rank water that has been sitting in a dirty pail in the sun for 3 days or would you like fresh water daily to quench your thirst? When you are hungry to you want an old bone to chew on that gives you splinters in your guts or would you want nutritious fresh food to satisfy your hunger? If you are pregnant or nursing or working hard would you want to lose weight and body condition from not eating properly, or would you like supplemental food and vitamins to maintain your weigh and health? If you or any member of your family is sick or in pain or injured do you wait for the individual to get sicker and weaker before calling the doctor, or would you want o be taken for medical attention and pain relief as soon as possible?

Would you like to be tied up or locked up day after day without the benefit of exercise and some companionship or would you need daily walks and some kind words and a pat on the back? When it is hot do you want to be left without shade and fresh water to suffer heat stoke or would you want to be able to escape the heat and have cool water to quench your thirst? When it is windy or rainy or cold do you want to be left outside to get sick and possibly get frostbite, or would you want to have a house or shed in which to escape from the weather and to warm and protect yourself?

Please think about giving the animals that God has entrusted to you care the same considerations that you give yourself and those in your family for whom you are responsible. Animals need water, food, medical attention, exercise, companionship, love, and value of need all of these. Animals are property; some are used for work, some for sport, some for food, and some for pleasure. No matter what the use of the living creature, please take time during the season for reflection and thoughtfulness to consider the animals in your life. Make a New Year’s resolution to treat your fellow living creatures as you would want to be treated yourself. Remember the verse: All Creatures Bright and Beautiful, All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Things Wise and Wonderful, The Lord God Made Them All.

The trachea or windpipe is composed of C shaped rings of cartilage that are joined by muscle and ligaments to create the tube like structure we breathe through.

Certain conditions can result in the trachea’s losing its tube like shape to that it collapses. When it collapses, air can no longer move freely through it. Then the animal breathes with difficulty and/or exhibit s honking cough.

There are many causes that include trauma to the windpipe from collars, nerve damage, inherited weakness, degeneration of the cartilage in older animals and abnormal air flow in and out of the lungs.

Except for the congenital forms present at firth, most cases of tracheal collapse occur in small breed dogs.

Usually a complete physical examination and X-rays are necessary to confirm a diagnosis of tracheal collapse. Depending on the severity of the condition, treatment may be a change in the pet’s lifestyle and/or medical therapy. In rarer case surgery may be needed. There are some cases that cannot be cured and the treatment goal is to decrease the severity and frequency of breathing difficulties.

Other conditions can aggravate a dog predisposed to having a collapsing trachea. Bacterial infection of the gums, gingivitis, which is usually secondary to tarter and plaque can be carried down the windpipe and cause infection of the membranes holding the rings of cartilage together. When these membranes become more inflamed and infected, the rate of collapse increases. Good oral hygiene can greatly decrease the frequency and severity of some cases of collapsing trachea. There are certain infectious agents that cause kennel cough that make this disease worse for dogs with collapsing tracheas. If your dog goes to the groomer, boards, plays with other pets at a dog park, or goes shopping at pet superstores you want to make sure their Kennel Cough vaccine is given every 6 months. This does not 100% stop infection, but it should help decrease the severity of the signs.

Veterinarians would like to see reductions to a certain category of injuries: dogs injured from owners using inappropriate collars when they tie out their dogs on chains or leads, or from underground electric fences. First of all, choke collars and pinch collars should only be used by people who have had the proper training on how to properly use them. Collars that can automatically tighten should NEVER be used for any dog that is tied or attached by the neck to something other than the leash in a pair of knowledgeable hands. Substantial injury and even death can occur with improper use of such collars. Injuries can include accidental “hanging” because the line gets caught or neck injuries from pulling too hard on the collar. These types of collars are for specific training purposes, not general restraint. It would be ideal to use a harness instead of a collar for both walking a dog as well as tying a dog out. Harnesses don’t have the same potential for hurting the dog. Collars put an immense amount of strain and stress on the upper part of the neck. At a seminar I attended recently a veterinary chiropractor stated in a lecture that many of the medically necessary adjustments on dogs are in the cervical region; the cervical area is the neck region that collars put pressure on when a dog lunges and pulls. There are also specific training collars used to train dogs against pulling and pose less risk to dogs than choke and pinch collars.

Invisible fence collars also pose risk of injury to dogs. The invisible fences work by shocking the dog with electricity when the dog gets near the buried wire. The collar is equipped with 2 prongs that must have direct contact with the skin in order to work. The strength of the electrical shock is set at the lowest setting necessary to accomplish keeping the dog inside the fenced area. Long haired and thick haired dogs should have their necks clipped or shaved in the area where the prongs have contact with the skin. If the hair gets too thick and/or too long and the dog’s owner is not careful, the prongs won’t have good contact with the skin. Then one of several things will happen. One outcome is the shock will be so low the dog can leave the yard and run away, and the owner will turn up the collar to increase the shock. This can cause the dog’s hair and skin to get burned from the increased electrical power that really was preventable. These types of injuries usually go undetected until serious injuries have occurred. It is very important those owners who use this type of collar check the pets often for signs of irritation and injury.

The following are guidelines of the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC).

The CAPC created these with the goal of providing optimal control of internal and external parasites that threaten the health of pets and people.

-Administer year-round treatment with broad-spectrum heartworm preventives that have activity against parasites with zoonotic potential. (Zoonotic diseases are those that animals can spread to humans.)

-Administer preventive flea and/or tick products as soon after birth as possible (consistent with label claims) for the life of the pet.

-Conduct annual physical examination with complete history.

-Conduct periodic (annual is ideal) heartworm infection testing in dogs and periodic testing in cats.

-Feed pets cooked or prepared food (not raw meat) and provide fresh drinking water.

-Conduct fecal examinations every 3-6 months during the first year of life and every 6-12 months in adults, depending on patient health and lifestyle factors.

-Administer deworming treatment of puppies and kittens starting at 2-3 weeks of age and continuing every 2 weeks till 8-9 weeks of age, followed by administration of a monthly preventive.

-Treat nursing dogs and cats along with their offspring

-Tailor parasite prevention to individual environmental, seasonal and lifestyle factors

In the absence of optimal year round heartworm preventive/intestinal parasite combinations products utilize the following protocol:

-Deworm puppies and kittens as above, but continue every month after 8-9 weeks of age until 6 months of age.

-Conduct fecal examinations every 3-6 months in adult pets, depending on patient health and lifestyle factors, and treat with appropriate medications.

-Test for heartworm status yearly in dogs and/or before starting preventive medications.

Additional information can be found at www.capcvet.org

Children need series of vaccinations when young to prevent deadly and contagious diseases and young cats need proper veterinary examinations and vaccinations for a variety of deadly and contagious illnesses. Ideally, kittens should be tested for Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus at 9-10 weeks and then vaccinated for Feline distemper, rhinotracheitis and calicivirus (FVRCP). Feline distemper is also known as feline parvo virus infection or panleukopenia. Feline parvo virus, like canine parvo virus, causes fever, lack of appetite, depression, vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration. The outcome of this disease is often death. In addition, if a pregnant female cat is exposed to panleukopenia, either abortion will occur or the kittens will be born with brain damage.

Feline distemper is a very contagious disease and can be caught from being in contact with other cats’ bodily excretions, from direct contact from infected cats, and possibly from fleas and other biting insects that have been on cats harboring the virus.

Feline rhinotracheitis and calicivirus are both viral respiratory diseases. Infected kittens or adult cats may be depressed, dehydrated, sneezing, coughing, feverish, and have pus colored discharge from both the eyes and the nose. Ulcers may be present on the eyes, tongue and elsewhere in the mouth, vomiting and diarrhea may occur, and blindness or death may be the final result.

Veterinarians have a combination vaccine that will help to protect your kitten and adult cat against feline distemper and the viral respiratory disease. After the first FVRCP (feline distemper combination) your kitten will need a booster 3-4 weeks later and then once a year thereafter.

Rabies vaccinations are required by law for all cats and dogs at 16 weeks of age. This first rabies vaccine is good in North Carolina for 1 year and then each additional rabies vaccine is good for 3 years.

Crate training not only creates a “safe place” for your dog, but it provides you with a housebreaking tool. Dogs naturally prefer to relieve themselves AWAY from their home base. Even a puppy will attempt to “hold it” so it will not mess in its crate. The key is not to abuse this natural tendency, or it will backfire.

First, you must choose a crate that will allow your dog enough space to walk in and turn around. If the crate is too large, then your dog will consider the “extra” space a potty area. Take the dog outside before placing it in the crate, and again as soon as you let the dog out of the crate. Many dogs need 10-15 minutes outside before relieving themselves, so be patient.

Please don’t ask any dog to sit in a crate for hours on end and expect them to be well-adjusted. They need daily social time with their owner. Do not use the crate as a babysitter all day long. In this case, a sturdy outdoor pen may be a better option.

There is a recently new and serious threat to the feline community in North Carolina, Cytauxzoonosis, or C. felis. This is a tick borne disease that can lead to death within a very short period of time, usually within 1 week.

Cats that spend any time outdoors are at a very high risk. The way to help to prevent this very deadly disease is by reducing the cat’s exposure to immature stages of ticks:

1-Keep grassy areas cut short 2-Reduce the number of small mammals in the yard 3-Do not allow cat outside when the grass is moist 4-Use and maintain adequate tick prevention using approved products (see your veterinarian for proper dosage and recommendations since Frontline and Frontline-Plus will protect a cat that weighs less than 10 pounds but cats over 10 pounds will need more frequent dosing or higher dosing if at risk )

Owners should be aware of a sudden decrease in their cat’s appetites or ability to walk. If you notice any suspicious symptoms you should consult your veterinarian as soon as possible. The veterinarian has less than 72 hours to diagnose and institute therapy.

Upon a physical examination, a veterinarian may find a fever, general muscle weakness and pale or jaundiced membranes. Further examination of the blood may show a low white blood cell count or a low platelet count. Depending on what stage of disease the patient is in, there may be elevated levels of various blood enzymes which will appear in more extensive blood work. A cat in the later stages of Cytauxzoonosis will show general organ failure.

Diagnosing and treating may require referral to a specialist for an ultrasound to get cells from the spleen or internal lymph nodes or a bone marrow biopsy to get cells to analyze for the organism. The treatment is specialized and not without great risk itself so the best course of action is prevention.

This disease is becoming more common in NC and needs to be taken very seriously due to the short amount of time allowed to treat for this disease. If you suspect your cat may be at risk, schedule an appointment immediately.

The subject of declawing is very controversial. Some people think that it is a cruel surgery. Other groups view the preservation of furniture and skin as taking precedence. There are countries that have outlawed this surgical procedure as did an area of California.

A true declaw procedure involves the surgical amputation of the very last part of the digit, the part of the bone from which the nail actually grows. In an adult cat and/or a cat that is overweight the healing process can be much more painful and prolonged than with an immature and/or light feline.

My personal opinion is that the procedure should not be done on any older cat or even a younger cat that is overweight. There is an alternative procedure for the dedicated cat owner.

There is a surgical procedure, the tendonectomy, which prevents the cat from extruding the claws without surgically removing any part of the bone or nail bed. The tendon that allows the cat to stick its claws out is surgically cut so the cat can no longer scratch the leather sofa, your toddler or the elderly caretaker on blood thinners. However, these cats require monthly maintenance. The nails will continue to grow and MUST be cut every month. If the cat has a bad disposition or has an owner that even periodically neglects its care then this may not an advisable procedure. In addition, the sheath around the nail must be cleaned even more frequently. Cats would normally be able to stick out their nails when grooming and lick the base of their nails to remove dirt, oils and debris. Since the procedure prevents the cat from moving the nails out of their covering, the dirt, oil and debris builds up around the nail bed and in the sheath and can cause odor, inflammation and irritation if proper hygiene is not religiously applied by a loving and dedicated cat owner.

I sincerely hope that the local shelters and SPCA’s that prevent adoptions to clients that need to declaw cats will consider this as a viable option so that more cats will get loving homes and less cats will be euthanized just because of certain closed minded opinions.

Demodectic mange, like sarcoptic mange, is caused by a microscopic mite that lives in hair follicles. Every mammal, humans, dogs, cats, etc., has small number of these mites normally living in their hair follicles. Each species has its own unique specific demodectic mange mite; human mites only affect humans and dog demodex only affects dogs and cannot be transmitted to any other species. Demodectic mange is NOT contagious. It cannot spread from one animal to other animals or to people as sarcoptic mange does. Demodex, unlike sarcoptic mange, is not usually itchy. If the animal has a secondary bacterial skin infection there may be some types of skin lesions. Demodectic mange is most common in dogs under 18 months of age when the immune system is still developing. It may be seen in geriatric dogs that have a primary disease that is affecting the immune system like cancer, diabetes, thyroid disease or adrenal gland disease. The dog may have one or many circular areas of hair loss anywhere on the body, but the face and extremities are usually most commonly affected. Dogs with more severe cases may have generalized hair loss with redness, scaling and deep infection all over the body. Some dogs may get demodicosis just on the feet and in the nail beds which causes swelling, redness, infection, and may cause the dog to chew its feet. Research has proven that the predisposition for a dog to show clinical signs of these mites is passed on from generation to generation. Because of the hereditary nature of this disease, any animal that has been affect by demodectic mange should be spayed/neutered and never used for breeding. There are a variety of stressful situations that are frequent causes for an animal to be adversely affected by the mites in the hair follicles. Poor nutrition, intestinal worms, weaning, heartworm disease, a dirty environment, pregnancy, being in heat, nursing puppies, a new animal brought into the environment, the household moving, and other infections can all have an effect on stressing the immune system thus causing the dog to break with a case of demodecosis.

Demodectic mange mites are diagnosed by the veterinarian looking at a skin scraping under the microscope. Unlike sarcoptic mange mites, demodex is easier to diagnose but often very lengthy and more expensive to treat. In rare, but severe cases, the animal can die from complications. Treatment often takes weeks or months and the disease is associated with a suppressed immune system so antibiotics are often required as part of the treatment process. The only approved treatment is by a special shampoo and prescription dip of amitraz done by your veterinarian’s office every 1-2 weeks. The shampooing and dipping must be continued for several weeks after the animal appears normal. Animals with long hair need to be clipped or shaved for effective treatment by the dip. Ivermectin daily has been shown to be effective in treating demodectic mange; however, it is not approved for this disease so you and your veterinarian should talk about its extra label drug use and the pros and cons of each treatment option.

Some animals are not able to ever be cured and have to be maintained on treatment for the rest of their lives. If your animal has areas of hair loss have your veterinarian check it to catch a problem before it progresses to the point of a poor prognosis. Keeping your pet vaccinated, dewormed, on heartworm prevention, on a well balanced pet food, spayed/neutered, and clean and happy will help reduce the stressful factors which enable this hereditary, genetic disease from occurring as often.

Most pet owners do not realize the importance of dental care for their animals, but studies have shown at least 80% of all small animals 2 years of age and over already have treatable dental disease. We brush our own teeth twice a day but we tend to forget that our animals need similar oral care. Plaque (or tarter) in animals as well as humans contains bacteria. The plaque mineralizes into calculus within 2 days if it is not removed then more serious disease starts. The pet owner may first notice bad breath or indications of pain when eating or visible redness of the gums (inflammation and infection is gingivitis). Once gingivitis is present, pockets form between the gum tissue and tooth root and this leads to threatening periodontal disease which is a stage where our pets may loose teeth and even may loose bone.

Many veterinarians recommend starting preventative dental care before or at least by the same time that your pet is spayed or neutered at 5-7 months of age. At that time some specialists recommend a fluoride treatment and applying a sealant which is intended to prevent periodontal disease and preventative applications are continued at home. When your pet comes in for dental cleaning/polishing/extractions once there is already dental disease, veterinary hospitals use similar equipment that your human dentist may use.

Before anesthesia, it is recommended that pre-surgical blood work be done in order to try to ensure that anesthesia is as safe as possible. (Pre-anesthetic blood work is not even an option for humans). In addition to checking the internal organ functioning with the blood profile, your pet may be monitored under anesthesia with respirator monitors and EKG machines to ensure that the procedure is as safe as possible. Both the owner and the veterinary clinic staff want the pet to be pain free and comfortable, so it is recommended to provide pain medication before, during and after the procedure. The teeth are charted and probed just as is done by human dental hygienists. Hand scaling underneath the gum line removes any calculus that has become “cemented” to the tooth root. An ultrasonic scaler is also used to remove all the plaque. In order to ensure that there is no remaining tarter, a pink “revealer” stain can be applied that will stick to any remaining plaque so that the teeth can be re-scaled if needed. The teeth are then polished with a special paste that helps to smooth out the enamel. (This is not a bleaching or whitening process). Fluoride and sealants are commonly used; it may depend on where your pet’s dental procedure takes place. Another thing that varies from hospital to hospital is the use of antibiotics. Most dental procedures involve antibiotics to avoid the bacteria from the mouth from entering the blood stream This can be accomplished either by starting antibiotics prior to the procedure and continuing during and afterwards, or may be accomplished by heavy duty intravenous antibiotics at the time of the procedure and based on the severity may be sent home, as well.

Home care after the procedure is essential. Using a sealant, brushing, antibacterial rinses or a combination will help ensure longer intervals between your pet needing another prophylactic dental procedure.

Kittens and Puppies lose their baby teeth just like children and begin to get adult teeth at about 4 months of age. Pets should complete the teething process by about 6 months of age with all adult teeth present. Some pets develop problems during the teething process. For example, retained baby teeth are more common in the smaller breeds of dogs. Retained baby teeth are teeth that should have fallen out when the adult teeth emerged to replace them. In some instances, pets have retained baby teeth and adult teeth at the same time and the baby teeth must be removed ASAP to prevent irreversible damage to the teeth and mouth.

The most common retained teeth are the large K9 teeth (pointed large teeth on the top and bottom on either side of the smaller incisors). The K9 teeth and the upper rear premolars and molars are the teeth that get the most tarter and calculus buildup as the animal gets older. Tarter and calculus cause gums to become infected and recede. This can lead to tooth loss, bad breath and bleeding gums. Once there is an overgrowth of bacteria in the mouth, the infection gets into the blood stream and can travel to the heart, liver and kidneys. Once affected, these organs do not regenerate from the damage caused by the bacteria. This can lead to other serious and life threatening conditions that can easily be prevented.

Dental disease can be prevented or diminished by several methods:

1-Good nutrition; good quality dry food low in sugars, including the use of pet foods that specifically prevent tarter buildup.

2-Brush teeth daily or every other day using enzymatic toothpaste.

3-If brushing is difficult to do, the use of enzymatic dental rinses that are antibacterial help to prevent the plaque and tarter from forming as rapidly.

4-Use dental chews like the Hexachews, Greenies, Cheweeze, CET treats, and similar products that diminish tarter via abrasion and antimicrobial properties.

5-Pulse therapy antibiotics keep the mouth as healthy as possible so that plaque and tarter will not have a good place to live.

6-Have regular dental prophylactic cleanings and fluoride treatments to remove the tarter and calculus before it has a chance to damage the gums and allowing the bacteria to get in to the blood stream.

Cleaning your pet’s teeth annually is not enough. It is important to have a good oral hygiene program in place between dental cleanings. By following a good oral hygiene program, your pet will live a longer and healthier life.

Certain breeds of dogs have problems with reoccurring ear problems. Anatomies that allow the ear canals to stay dark and moist provide the best place for yeast and bacteria to grow.

Breeds with a great deal of hair growing in their ear canals are predisposed since the hair prevents the canals from staying dry and clean. Some breeds are, but not limited to: poodles, Maltese, terriers, and other toy breeds. Mixed breed dogs may also have hairy ears. Keeping this hair removed as part of their routine grooming helps avoid ear infections in these dogs. Dogs with heavy and droopy ears such as spaniels, setters and Bassett hounds seem to be predisposed to having long term (chronic) ear problems. All dogs, not just these mentioned breed mixes benefit from routine cleaning which your veterinarian or veterinary technician will explain and demonstrate for you.

Some of the more common diagnoses of ear problems in dogs include ear mites, yeast infection, bacterial infection, allergic inflammation, genetically narrowed ear canals or a combination of any of the above. Abnormal anatomy of the canal can also occur as a result of chronic infections and inflammation. Low thyroid hormone, a syndrome known as Hypothyroidism, can also be an underlying factor in a dog with reoccurring ear problems.

If ear mites are diagnosed, you should follow the treatment exactly as prescribed by your veterinarian because ear mites are contagious to other animals in the household and potentially to humans. Yeast infections and bacterial infections are common in ear canals that are dark and damp. Therefore, if you bathe your dog or it goes swimming or is outside in the rain it is necessary to use a proper cleaning and drying agent in the ears to prevent infections. If you pet licks its feet and/or scratches and/or rubs its face these may be a sign of allergies and allergic otitis may be seen with these other skin problems or as the only presenting complaint. It is often difficult to diagnose the true underlying allergy. Hypoallergenic food trials and allergy skin testing are often required. Ear cytologies and cultures are needed to diagnoses yeast and bacterial infections that grow on their own or secondarily to the allergies.

If the chronic ear infections do not respond to treatment or if the owner does not follow the veterinarian’s recommendations and the ear infections occur over and over, the ear canals may become so swollen that normal drainage and air circulation to the canal can no longer happen. When this happens an operation called an ear ablation can be performed which will open the ear canal. Long term medical management may still be needed after surgery. The best approach, however, is prevention. Please call to set up a consultation for a thorough ear examination and a discussion of allergies, hypothyroidism, grooming and medicated ear cleaners all as part of a preventative ear care program.

One of the most difficult decisions a devoted pet owner ever has to make is authorizing euthanasia. When a pet’s life has to be ended, grief may be intensified. The decision is never easy. Consider the following questions. Is the accident or illness irreversible? Is life bringing your pet more pain then pleasure? Did you choose quality over quantity of life? Is your animal suffering? Is the animal no longer responsive to treatment?

Animals are survivors. They will often struggle to stay alive until they draw their last breath. Ending the life of a suffering animal, or one with a severely diminished quality of life, is the loving, compassionate thing to do. A final act of caring is seeing that your pet’s life is ended gently. Your animal friend will then close his/her eyes for the last time knowing that his/her trust in you was well placed. A consoling thought for all of us have had to make or will need to make this difficult decision: Death cures all disease, mends all broken bones, breaks all chains and makes you free at last.

Sometimes pets need to be put to sleep for more practical but just as emotional reasons; the owner’s quality of life. Reasons such as:

-The pet that is so incontinent that there is urine or feces all over the house;

-The pet has cognitive dysfunction (senility) and no longer knows where it is, how to find its food and water, and who the people are around it;

-The pet has a cancerous growth that is draining blood and fluid but is inoperable;

-The pet has bitten or attacked children, family members or other animals and is therefore dangerous and a liability to have around;

-The pet’s condition is so costly to treat or maintain that it is not feasible for the family to handle the financial burden.

Before you are faced with the imminent act of euthanizing a pet, it is a good idea to think about the following:

-Do you or your family members want to be present or do you want to say your goodbyes and have the last memory be of your pet alive?

-Do you have the land and ability to bury your pet at home? (Make sure there are no county or city ordinances against this and make sure if you have a well that this act will not endanger your water supply.)

-Would you rather have your pet cremated?

-Would you like to have the ashes returned to you for a private family ceremony or just to keep?

Dogs are the most common host for heartworm disease, but cats can be infected as well and have totally different clinical signs. Cats get heartworm disease less than 20% of the rate in dogs, they have less numbers of adult worms and the worms have a shorter life span. The signs that most strongly suggest a suspicion for heartworm disease in cats include difficulty breathing, coughing and sudden death. Other signs seen in sudden onset illness with heartworm infection may be vomiting, salivation, heart rate abnormalities, fainting, abnormal mental state, wobbling, walking in circles, head tilt, blindness, seizures or diarrhea. Cats that have been infected for a period of time may have signs also seen in dogs with heartworm disease: decreased appetite, weight loss, lethargy, exercise intolerance, cough, difficulty breathing and heart failure.

The difficulty in diagnosing feline heartworm disease is that the available blood tests cannot always detect the presence of the low number of worms cats have in their hearts and blood vessels in the lungs. These tests often only detect female worms so the sex of the worms and their maturity level also affect the test results. The tests available are specific but not exceptionally sensitive. This means that if the test is positive, the cat has been infected, but if the test is negative, the cat still may have undetectable heartworms. Sometimes ultrasound can be used to visualize the worms in the heart for a more definitive diagnosis, but even this method is not always going to show the worms.

There are no good treatment options available for cats as there is for dogs. Studies using the arsenic compounds that have been approved for use in the dog happen to kill healthy cats let alone cats with heartworm disease. Cats with heartworm disease should be placed on a preventative and steroid therapy if there are respiratory signs.

Due to the inability to successfully treat this disease, prevention is extremely important.

In the Southeaster United States, heartworm disease is about as common, if not more so, than Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FELV and FIV). For this reason, heartworm prevention is highly recommended for all cats, both indoors and outdoors. A study published by our very own North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine stated that approximately 33% cats diagnosed there were housed solely indoors.

There are 3 brands of monthly heartworm prevention available for cats. Revolution is applied topically, and Heartgard and Interceptor are pills. Please schedule a consultation for more information on how to prevent your furry children from contracting heartworm disease.

The following items should be kept together in case of emergency with your cat or dog. You may want one first aid kit to keep at home and another one for when traveling with your pet.

1-Rectal thermometer. A pet’s normal temperature is usually 100.5-102.5 degrees F.

2-A tube of K-Y jelly or some Vaseline to lubricate the thermometer.

3-Hydrogen Peroxide in case of certain poisonings to induce vomiting.

4-Benedryl (generic form is diphenhydramine) in the 25 mg tablet form to be given in case of allergic reactions to bites, stings, vaccinations, or other causes of hives and facial swelling. You want the tablet form so that it can be broken into pieces so that all size cats and dogs can be properly dosed. Start out with the weight of your pet in pounds and give approximately that many milligrams by mouth. For example, if your 70 pound Labrador gets stung by wasps then give it 3 of the 25 mg tablets for a total of 75 mg of Benedryl and get it to your veterinarian, or if your 10 pound cat has been bitten by a snake give it ½ of tablet and get it to your veterinarian immediately.

5-A syringe to squirt the peroxide or other medications that might need to be given by mouth.

6-Sterile saline or eye rinse in case of any trauma or irritation to the eyes until you can transport your pet to the veterinarian. Most eye traumas are emergencies; do not wait to seek medical care.

7-Cotton balls and Q-tips to clean cuts, wounds and sores, as well as to have available to clean ears to prevent and treat infections.

8-Antibacterial scrub or soap or betadine to clean wounds, bite or fight wounds and abrasions until you can get your pet to the veterinarian.

9-Gauze and first aid tape and an ace bandage to wrap up a wound or laceration until you can transport your pet to the veterinarian.

10-Tubes of Cortaid lotion, Benedryl lotion, and antibiotic lotion.

11-Keep your veterinarian’s phone number and the phone number of the local emergency clinics with your first aid kits.

Heartworm disease is prevalent in NC as it is throughout a majority of the United States. Heartworms are parasites that live in the heart and lungs of dogs, and, less frequently, in cats, too. Any dog or cat that is not on heartworm prevention can be infected with this life-threatening disease. The adult worms look like spaghetti in the pet’s heart and blood vessels of the lungs. The adults produce offspring, microscopic larva (microfilaria), that float throughout the dog’s blood stream. Mosquitoes spread microfilaria from dog to dog (or to a cat). After the mosquito has infected a healthy animal with the heartworm larva, they migrate to the heart of the dog or cat and grow to maturity. It takes approximately 6 months from the time of the mosquito bite until the heartworm is capable of producing offspring of its own and will be detectable by the veterinarian. The adult worms can cause health problems or death for the animal they have infected. The worms make the heart work harder because they keep the heart from pumping blood properly. They also can cause problems in the lungs as well as interfering with the proper functioning of other body organs. Unfortunately, by the time the worms have caused enough damage for the owner to notice that their pet is sick, the disease is often quite advanced and serious.

Many dogs and cats have heartworms and go for month or years without showing signs until it is too late. Some of the signs include exercise intolerance, loss of weight, coughing, decreased appetite, and breathing difficulties. Cats have less distinct signs. They may just fall over dead, or have some vomiting and coughing. Early diagnosis can be made by blood tests.

The above problems can all be prevented, and in most cases with dogs, treated. All pets, whether inside or outside, should be put on heartworm prevention between 6-9 weeks of age. During the first 6 months of life an infection cannot be detected. After this a dog can be given a blood test to determine if it has heartworms, (a positive test) or is free of heartworms at that time (a negative test). Dogs 6 months of age or older usually should not be put on heartworm prevention without a blood test first. Some of the preventatives can cause a serious reaction or even death if given to a dog that already has a mature infection. Cats do not require a heartworm test prior to starting prevention as the heartworm life cycle is slightly different in felines.

Heartworm prevention should be a commitment for life; it must be given year round for the entire life of your pet.

The most common form for both dogs and cats are given monthly and 1 form for dogs that is an injection every 6 months. One of the monthly preventatives is topical, the rest of the monthly medications are monthly. Many of the preventatives do more than just prevent heartworms. The monthly products can help with flea control as well as intestinal worms. No matter which brand you chose, you need to give it regularly whether your pet stays inside or outside. The medication is based on weight, so if you have a growing dog it is essential to check its weight regularly to ensure the correct dose. For dogs it is recommended that a blood test be done yearly to ensure proper protection against this disease.

Diagnosis of heartworm disease in dogs is most commonly made by drawing a small sample of blood from the dog and examining it under the microscope for the microfilaria.

1-Indoor pets cannot get heartworms.

True or False?

2-Dogs and cats need to on heartworm prevention all year round for their entire lives.

True or False?

3-Heartworms can kill a pet.

True or False?

4-You can diagnose heartworm disease just by looking at the pet or listening to it cough.

True or False?

5-There is a treatment for canine heartworm disease.

True or False?

6-It is safe to start any age dog on heartworm prevention without a veterinary visit first.

True or False?

7-Heartworms are transmitted to dogs and cats by mosquitoes

True or False?

Statements one, four, six, are false. One is false because any dog not on prevention is susceptible to infection. Mosquitoes are not selective; they can easily come into the most well kept homes and infect both cats and dogs than only go outside occasionally. Four is incorrect because a blood test is necessary to diagnose heartworm disease. In some cases, X-rays and ultrasound are necessary, too. Six is inaccurate because any dog over 6 months of age or older must have a blood test prior to starting on the heartworm prevention to avoid the possibility of a reaction in the event the dog is already infected. However, cats do not need a blood test and can be started at any age over 6-8 weeks of age. Dogs under 6 months can be started on preventative without a blood test first. It is recommended to start dogs on prevention when hey are 6-8 weeks old.

Facts. Other species have been found to have heartworms including ferrets, foxes, horses and humans. The dog and the cat are the only species with approved drugs that can be given to prevent heartworm disease. Cats cannot be safely treated to kill the heartworms; they are just treated to make them more comfortable. Dogs can be treated with an arsenic based drug to kill the heartworms, but since treatment is both expensive and risky it is much safer to just prevent heartworm disease. Heartworm disease will kill. Don’t think your pet is immune from this highly preventable disease. Call for an appointment to test your dog for this disease.

Veterinarians recommend heartworm prevention for every dog and cat all year since mosquitoes can live in this climate year round. If a pet is not on heartworm prevention or misses even one dose of monthly prevention it is possible for it to become infected with adult worms living in its heart (heartworm positive).

There are two ways to diagnose heartworm disease. The easiest is a direct smear. This involves looking for babies (microfilaria) in the blood stream. If there are babies then there must be adults to produce the microfilaria. The blood smear test has its limitations. This test cannot be used in cats. Also, many dogs can have adults without babies in the blood stream; if, the dog has immature adults, adults of the same sex, a low number of adults, a long standing infection, or already being on heartworm prevention that has killed the babies in the blood stream.

The second test is an occult antigen test that checks for the presence of adult heartworms. When a dog has missed heartworm prevention a test is required before resuming heartworm prevention and another test is required 6 months later to ensure whether the dog is infected. (Cats do not require testing before heartworm prevention is administered as with dogs. Cats are tested if they show any signs of illness and cats are not treated with arsenic.)

When a dog has a positive heartworm test, the dog needs to immediately and safely be put back on heartworm prevention so no additional worms can develop. When the positive dog is back on prevention, then adulticide (arsenic) treatment is needed to kill the adult worms in the heart and in the blood vessels going to the lungs. Prior to this treatment the dog needs to be on a good quality diet, be free of internal and external parasites and should have a blood profile, urinalysis, fecal exam, and chest X-rays. These tests lets us see if there are any other underlying disease processes going on that need to be addressed before beginning treatment. Treatment involves injections of an arsenic based compound that is designed to kill the worms without killing the dog. Treatment usually involves two injections of arsenic (Immiticide) 24 hours apart, after which the dog is strictly confined for 4-6 weeks. The dog must stay calm and quiet while the worms die, disintegrate and get destroyed by the body. In some cases, if the number of worms in the heart is large or the dog is showing clinical signs such as coughing, exercise intolerance, dull hair coat, weight loss or has some other physical abnormality, the dog is given a single injection. After a months confinement then the two injection series is retried to see if the dog withstands the treatment without adverse reactions. When the dog is sick enough to require the three injection series, the period of strict confinement is repeated for another 4-6 weeks. Six months after heartworm treatment, the blood is retested to determine the success rate of the injections.

Ideally you would start housebreaking a dog when it is a 6-8 week old puppy that you have just adopted, but these techniques can be used on a more grown up dog that you might acquire that is not already housebroken.

In most dogs, eating stimulates the bowels to move. Therefore, your puppy or adult dog will likely need to go outside to defecate after eating a meal. For some dogs this may be 5 minutes, for others it may be 45 minutes; you will have to walk your dog after its meal and time how long it takes until the dog feels the urge to “go”. Learn the dog’s schedule so that you can ensure the dog is taken outside at the appropriate time to avoid accidents in the house or discomfort to the dog from trying to hold it too long.

We recommend feeding dogs 2-3 times a day, depending on the age and breed. It is not as good for their metabolism to be fed only once a day. Feedings should be timed; in general, do not leave the food down all day for the dog to nibble on while you are gone at work. Put the appropriate quantity and quality of food down for 10-20 minutes and let the dog eat what is wants; at the end of 20 minutes remove any remaining food and take the dog outside for a walk. Praise the dog when it both urinates and defecates; make a big deal like when potty training a child. Keep treats in your pocket to reward the dog for “going”. In order for this to most effectively succeed, you need to be with the dog. Having a fenced in yard is the most ideal environment for a dog, but if you just put the puppy or newly adopted dog in the yard and are not there to provide immediate praise the task of housebreaking will be much more difficult or impossible for some. If you do not have a confined area please do not leave your dog unattended outside; this is how dogs get into fights and get hit by cars and run away.

A common mistake clients report is that after putting their dog outside unattended that when the dog comes to the back door (either when called or on its own) to be let back in after supposedly “going”. The owners give the dog a treat for coming to the back door with the mistaken impression that the dog will see the reward for doing its “business” but the dog associates the treat with being at the back door! What the dog learns is not to go outside to do its “business” to get rewarded, but learns just to keep asking to go outside many times during the day and then asking to come back in the house since it has been trained that it will get a treat. The owners have unintentionally rewarded the wrong behavior. We want to reward the dog for doing its “business”, not just asking to come back in the house. This is one of the reasons it is important to stay with your new dog during the training process, even it is raining or at 2AM.

To help keep your yard and neighborhood sanitary and stop the transmission and spread of intestinal worms, please pooper scoop behind your dog every day, whether it is in your yard or you walk your dog and it defecates in your neighbors’ yards. Plastic grocery store bags do a great job when put over your hand inside out, the poop is picked up and the bag is turned over and a knot tied and the bog tossed in the trash can outside.

Some information is so valuable that it is worth reading more than once. There is frequent media attention warning about the zoonotic potential of intestinal worms. Zoonotic means that if an animal has the disease, humans can get infected, too.

Worms that live in the intestines of both domesticated and wild animals can infected humans and cause mild to severe illnesses. Humans become infected from environmental contamination from pets or wildlife feces. As the expert pointed out, “we flush a toilet, the wildlife and pets don’t”. Unfortunately for the public, pediatricians and family practitioners know less about what is zoonotic to children than do veterinarians.

Worms that are intestinal in our pets and wild animals like raccoons can cause a category of disease referred to as Larval Migrans. The subsets of this include: 1-Visceral (worm larvae migrating in the internal organs) can lead to liver disease, fevers, pneumonia, organ failure, stunted growth. 2-Ocular (worm larvae migrating into the eyeball) can lead to blindness 3-Neural (worm larvae migrating into brain tissue) can lead to encephalitis and brain damage. 4-Cutaneous (worm larvae migrating in the skin)

23% of the cases in North Carolina occur in rural areas where the pets get little to no veterinary care, children are left unsupervised and the environment is more unclean. With dogs it is essential that the owners diligently and continuously pooper scoop. Because cats will contaminate kids’ sandboxes and playschool grounds and flower/vegetable special precautions need to be taken to avoid infections.

NEVER get a pet raccoon; it is illegal. In addition, do not leave food out where raccoons can access it near where humans live and play and work. Raccoons set up what is known as “latrine areas” in your yard or nearby natural areas. They can often be found at the base of a tree, on a flat area of roof, on a fallen tree, or some other horizontal surface. Children and humans can get exposed from handling wood that has been cut for firewood. The parasite in raccoon feces have a fast migration in the body, the larva grow fast and have a predilection for brain tissue. Children have been left paralyzed, mentally impaired, or dead from the encephalitis that results.

Hay that is harvested and stored in barns is often contaminated with wildlife feces. This is the hay you are putting in your dog’s house for bedding or feeding/bedding your pet rabbit. Other animals are attracted to raccoon latrines because of the seeds in the feces. Therefore, birds, opossums, squirrels and other wildlife can become infected as well. Hunting dogs have a high rate of contact with wildlife feces.

The following is a plan adopted by a national taskforce to help decrease the potential risk from Larval Migrans:
1-Routinely deworm ALL pets, indoor and outdoor. Treat puppies and kittens every 2 weeks starting at 2-3 weeks old until they are 4 months old. Do fecal exams 2-4 times per year for pets under a year old and do fecal exams 1-2 times per year in adult pets to check for the less common parasites but continue to deworm with a quality product. Keep both cats and dogs on a monthly heartworm preventative that also kills the zoonotic intestinal worms. Oral dewormers can be used 2 weeks after each monthly heartworm pill especially if your child and/or pet are at high risk.

2- Cover all sandboxes.

3-Pooper scoop after your dogs when you walk them in other people’s yards in addition to pooper scooping your property.

4-Reduce stray dog and feral cat populations as well as eliminating nuisance wildlife as these are all sources if infections.

5-Keep children away from contaminated areas and observe their behavior at all times.

6-Wash hands often and frequently and wear gloves when gardening.

7-It may be necessary to treat the contaminated environment with heat such as a propane flame gun, boiling water, steam cleaner or burning straw. For heavily contaminated areas it may be desirable to remove, discard, and replace the top several inches of soil.

8-Use year round quality flea control as the common flea tapeworm of dogs and cats can mature in children who accidentally ingest infected fleas.

For more information go to the Companion Animals Parasite Council web site at www.capcvet.org and bring in a fresh fecal sample from your pet for testing.

In addition to your pet’s routine physical examination, laboratory testing of blood and urine samples plays a very important role in helping veterinarians assess the health of their patients. Laboratory tests can verify that your pet is in good health, but will also help in early detection of infection or disease.

Lab testing of the blood and urine of a healthy pet allows the veterinarian to establish what the normal baseline values are for your pet to refer to in future testing. In some cases, early disease can be detected and proper intervention may be able to slow or reverse or treat the underlying subtle illness.

In a sick pet, lab tests help veterinarians to make a proper diagnosis of the problem and to monitor your pet’s response to treatment.

Lab tests given prior to anesthesia and surgery can identify pets at risk for complications from anesthesia and help us determine which anesthetic technique to use.

All laboratory tests are a just a “snapshot” of the patient at the time the blood and urine samples are taken. Values obtained can vary from test to test and from one day to another for many reasons, so it is very important to remember that a healthy pet can have one or two test results that are outside of normal ranges. Frequently veterinarians will have the tests repeated a few days or weeks later to verify whether the abnormal results were just the way the animal’s results looked that particular moment of the first sample or if the results are consistently abnormal then further testing may be indicated. Veterinarians take into consideration your pet’s clinical signs, health history, medications, nutrition, age, etc., when interpreting the lab test results.

There are four basic categories of laboratory tests that veterinarians may use to asses the health of your pet:

The CBC or Complete Blood count deals with the cells in the blood. A series of tests that measure the number, type and healthiness of blood cells circulating in the blood stream, including the hemoglobin and the red blood cells (RBC) that carry oxygen through the body, the white blood cells (WBC) that help fight infections and inflammation, and the platelets that aid in blood clotting. The CBC is useful in detecting leukemia, anemia, infection, inflammation and dehydration.

The chemistry panel deals with the liquid portion of the blood called the serum. Most chemistry profiles are made up of a series of tests that measure the level of various compounds and chemicals in the blood that evaluates the health of the liver, kidneys, pancreas, adrenal glands, immune system, muscle and bone.

The thyroid function test evaluates the function of the thyroid gland and measure levels of hormone the gland is producing for the blood stream. Most commonly in dogs we are testing for hypothyroidism and in cats we are testing for hyperthyroidism.

The urinalysis evaluates the function and health of the urinary system. A urinalysis measures the color, clearness and concentration of the urine. It also detects abnormalities such as glucose, high protein, blood and while blood cells. This is useful in detecting infection and inflammation of in the urinary tract, kidney disease, diabetes and dehydration.

We recommend a complete laboratory work-up on an annual basis for all our adult 4-legged family members and more frequently when we consider them senior citizens.

The foods we feed and don’t feed our pets will greatly influence their health, the diseases they may or may not get, and the quality and length of their lives. We do not have control over a pet’s genetics, but we do have control over what they eat that can affect their health. Puppies and Kittens need special foods designed for growing bones and organs. Feed only dry food and pick a quality brand; you will get what you pay for. Do not feed cheap generic food in which you can see the hairs and bone fragments in the kibbles. Puppies that will be 55 pounds or greater when fully grown need a specially formulated large breed puppy food instead of just regular puppy food. Large breed puppy food has a different balance of protein, calcium, and phosphorus, to try to prevent bone disorders as the puppy rapidly grows and develops. Once your pet has been spayed or neutered at 6 months of age your veterinarian may suggest a gradual switch to dry adult food to start early prevention of obesity. Neutering does slow down the metabolism which can lead to abnormal weight gain if the calories and exercise of the pet are not strictly monitored. The benefits of surgery far outweigh the potential for weight gain, though.

When switching to adult food, make sure it is specifically for adults. A food that says it is good for all life stages will have the calories and mineral balance of a growth formula which is NOT in the best interest of your pet’s health and longevity. If your pet shows any signs of being plump, put it on light food, measure its daily meals, and make sure it exercises. Cats and dogs should not be fed from the table nor should they be given real bones. Not even if the bones are sterilized, flavored, processed, etc.; bones can fragment and splinter in the mouth and intestines and can cause teeth to fracture. Most overweight pets that veterinarians see are being fed too much of the wrong foods plus too many treats and scraps. Obesity is preventable. Obesity leads to diseases of the liver, kidneys, heart, and pancreas. It can also predispose your pet for having diabetes, arthritis, and cancer. You should be able to feel your pet’s ribs when you pet their side without a handful of fat over the ribcage.

Once your pet is seven years old it is considered a senior citizen. Gradually switch your pet to a good quality dry senior diet that will be lower in protein, lower in fat, higher in fiber, lower in sodium, and that contains glucosamines and chondroitin for joint health. Have an annual geriatric profile and urinalysis performed to catch signs of early disease. There are excellent prescription diets that are designed for such diseases as kidney disease, liver disorders, bladder stones, heart failure, obesity, periodontal disease and many other disorders that require specific dietary restrictions or additions.

Please research your pets’ nutrition so that you can keep your pet healthier by spending money on good quality food and nutrition instead of spending your money on a disease that could have been prevented.

Small furry animals are often given as Easter gifts. Before giving a pet to a loved one or a friend this Easter, please make sure the person wants to be the recipient of a bundle of fur that comes with bundles of expenses and bundles of responsibility. This goes for bunny rabbits and baby chicks as well as dogs and cats.

There are many reasons to have a pet. Pets can be entertaining, be played with and can give love unconditionally. Pets can give new meaning to the life of a lonely elderly person and can teach children about being responsible.

On the other hand, pets are also time-consuming, require training and need medical care that is often not cheap. Pets need regular visits to the veterinarian, periodic bathing, brushing and grooming, and lots of love and attention as much as they need their food and water daily.

The responsibility of owning another living creature is immense. Anyone who is considering acquiring a pet for themselves, their children, or for others, should seriously think about the obligations, responsibilities and expenses of pet ownership, besides the pleasures.

Happy Easter!

When traveling with your pet, whether going to the veterinarian’s office, on a trip, or just out to run errands, please remember a few very important safety factors.

•Be careful when driving with loose cats in your car. They can get under your feet and affect your ability to get to the break or gas pedals.
•Consider childproofing automatic windows. From personal experience, cats can step on the button and roll down any window while you are driving and you will either lose the cat or have an accident trying to stop the cat from falling out.
•Dogs should never ride loose in the back of a pick up truck. They can jump or fall out and suffer life threatening injuries if they are lucky enough to not be killed from the fall or from being run over by the car behind you. I know, YOUR dog would never jump, but there might be a bad driver in front of you, causing you to slam on the breaks and then the dog could go flying over the tailgate. Intact male dogs can be very interested in a smell of a female in heat at a distance, and his love of you might be overpowered by his hormones, so don’t assume he won’t jump. The best way to transport a dog in the back of a pick up truck is to use a cross tie. This requires two (2) leashes or ropes attached to the collar and tied to both the left and right sides of the bed of the truck. Tie the dog so that he/she can walk to the left side of the truck but no get over the edge and can walk to the right side of the truck but not get over the edge I have also seen people hold the dog’s leash through the sliding back window so the dog was well restrained. One rope or leash in general is not a good idea; I have seen several dogs that have jumped over the edge and were injured or killed by either hanging hung themselves or by being dragged since the rope or leash was only attached to one side of the truck. Leaving the back open with a camper shell and an untied dog is just as dangerous. With the dog leaning out like it is a big window one slam on the break or an enticing smell or sight could be the end of your pet.
•Many pampered pooches sit on their owner’s laps while driving. It is very unsafe for a driver to have a moving object between them and the steering wheel. A pet moving around and on and off of your lap may be more dangerous and distracting than trying to talk on a cell phone. I have many caring concerned clients that have purchased seat belt harnesses for their dogs. This is the safest way other than in a crate or carrier to travel anywhere with your pet.
•Eye injuries are common with dogs that stick their heads out of windows. Yes, it’s possible that the dog could get hit by a truck that passes too close to you, but it’s much more likely to be hurt by road debris and particles in the air. Your pet could end of with something as minor as an eye infection to something as serious as a perforated cornea and surgical removal of the eye. If your dog must stick its head out the window, please buy it protective eye wear!

Pet insurance is available for your dogs, cats, and other pets. It works similarly to human insurance. There are several companies providing coverage; check on the Internet or with your veterinarian for a brochure so you contact one of the providers. With human insurance companies pre-existing companies are generally not covered under new policies, the same is also true for pet insurance. You cannot forget that once your pet is sick or injured it is too late to be applying for insurance.

Before you buy or adopt a kitten or puppy or even an adult pet, please do your insurance homework. Many companies for pets have policies that will cover routine vaccines, spay/neutering, preventive medicine, plus illnesses. Policies are also available to cover only major medical events for such conditions as cancer, emergencies, fractures, hospitalization, and other potentially life threatening and expensive procedures. There are very reasonable monthly prices; wouldn’t it be worth $30-$60 a month if it covered vaccinations, heartworm prevention plus a $950 orthopedic surgery or a $3000 chemotherapy treatment?

People rationalize not needing health insurance because “it won’t happen to them”. Unfortunately, the same rational is applied to most pets; however, just as with humans, unforeseen accidents and illnesses occur. Thousands of pets would be saved from euthanasia each year if they were covered; finances would not determine the extent of medical service to be provided. Filing pet insurance is relatively easy and done by the owner. You pay the veterinarian, get a signed copy of your pet’s diagnosis and treatment and submit this with the invoice to your chosen insurance carrier. You are responsible for the co-pay and unapproved procedures; the insurance carrier reimburses the remainder to you.

When you adopt a puppy, make sure you find out what size the dog will be, consider whether it will require any kind of grooming and for what purpose the breed/breeds was designed. For instance, Retrievers, Border Collies and German Shepherds are generally very energetic dogs. They were not bred to be lapdogs. They require a large fenced in area and allot of exercise, attention and stimulation. Bored animals will be more destructive, both to their surroundings as well as chewing sores on themselves. Dogs with long hair coats require regular brushings to prevent matting. Larger dogs still need to be able to be part-time housedogs. No dog should be relegated to being fenced or tied outside when it is freezing or at risk for heat stroke. Smaller dogs like Chihuahua and Terrier mixes are not designed to spend all their lives outside. Plan on the smaller breeds being inside dogs with supervised exercise time outside several times a day.

Dogs that have Cocker, Poodle, Shih Tsu, Lhasa Apso, Yorkie, Schnauzer, and Maltese’s are just some examples of breeds that require going to be groomed at least every 4-8 weeks. This is an expense that must be considered when adopting the right dog for your lifestyle.

The dog’s temperament and suitability around children is also an essential consideration. Many of the toy breed dogs are fragile; children often drop them and break their legs. The smaller breed dogs often tend to be less patient with children and therefore quicker to bite. This can be a legal liability around friends in addition to the health risk of any child’s face or body being permanently damaged.

Besides the size and nature of the pet you adopt, consider the animals past, present and future health status. A major consideration in adopting a cat is whether it has been tested for both Feline Leukemia (FELV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). When adopting a dog, find out if it has been tested for Heartworm Disease and is negative. If the dog is at least 6 months of age it should be tested. You can tell if it is old enough if it has all of its adult teeth and no more baby teeth. A negative test will not guarantee it will be negative in the future if its past medical history is not known, but it is better to start out with a healthy pet. The blood testing for both cats and dogs will vary greatly from shelter to shelter. Usually, but not always, county run animal control facilities do not have the funding to run the recommended blood tests. Similarly, usually, but not all privately run SPCA type organizations will test cats for at least FELV, and you might find an organization that will test for both FELV and FIV. Most of the facilities that get private donations and funding will test dogs for heartworm disease. Some of the dogs are positive and still put up for adoption. These dogs can usually be treated, but it is a significant expense you need to be aware of at the time of adoption.

Spaying and neutering also varies from different adoption agencies. Please check to make sure that: 1- you are adopting a cat or dog that has already been “fixed”, 2- you are receiving a voucher to redeem for the surgery, 3- that you know up front that you will be responsible for paying for and then providing proof of spaying or neutering from the veterinary clinic of your choice within a set time frame.

When you adopt a puppy, make sure you find out what size the dog will be, consider whether it will require any kind of grooming and for what purpose the breed/breeds was designed. For instance, Retrievers, Border Collies and German Shepherds are generally very energetic dogs. They were not bred to be lapdogs. They require a large fenced in area and allot of exercise and a lot of attention and stimulation. Bored animals will be more destructive. They have longer hair and require regular brushings to prevent matting. Larger dogs still need to be able to be part-time housedogs. No dog should be relegated to being fenced or tied outside when it is freezing or at risk for heat stroke. Smaller dogs like Chihuahua and Terrier mixes are not designed to spend all their lives outside. Plan on the smaller breeds being inside dogs with supervised exercise time outside several times a day.

Dogs that have Cocker, Poodle, Shih Tsu, Lhasa Apso, Yorkie, Schnauzer, and Maltese’s are just some examples of breeds that require going to be groomed at least every 4-8 weeks. This is an expense that must be considered when adopting the right dog for your lifestyle.

Besides the size and nature of the pet you adopt, consider the animals past, present and future health status. A major consideration in adopting a cat is whether it has been tested for both Feline Leukemia (FELV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). When adopting a dog, find out if it has been tested for Heartworm Disease and is negative. If the dog is at least 6 months of age it should be tested. You can tell if it is old enough if it has all of its adult teeth and no more baby teeth. A negative test will not guarantee it will be negative in the future if its past medical history is not known, but it is better to start out with a healthy pet. The blood testing for both cats and dogs will vary greatly from shelter to shelter. Usually, but not always, county run animal control facilities do not have the funding to run the recommended blood tests. Similarly, usually, but not all privately run SPCA type organizations will test cats for at least FELV, and you might find an organization that will test for both FELV and FIV. Most of the facilities that get private donations and funding will test dogs for heartworm disease. Some of the dogs are positive and still put up for adoption. These dogs can usually be treated, but it is a significant expense you need to be aware of at the time of adoption.

Most Veterinarians generally would like to see the over population of homeless and unwanted and euthanized pets decrease. However, some people either breed their dogs on purpose or find their dog has become pregnant from a lack of confinement while she was in heat. Regardless the reason, the mother and her unborn puppies still need to be as healthy as possible. Please remember that raising puppies is a commitment of both time and money. Please follow the below recommendations if your female dog is pregnant and you are not planning on having her spayed to terminate the pregnancy.

Within 4 weeks after breeding, the mother's caloric requirements will begin to increase. It is not necessary to add calcium or vitamins to her diet; the best plan is to buy a top quality puppy or growth formula and let her eat as much as she wants during the remainder of her pregnancy and into the first month of nursing the puppies.

Shortly after the 45th day, your dog should be examined by your veterinarian. At this time, the skeletons of the unborn pups should have calcified and are visible on an X-ray; you may want to know how many pups to expect. Your veterinarian can also make sure she is free from intestinal worms and consult you on what to expect when she goes into labor and delivery.

A comfortable area (whelping box) should be set aside for the birth of the puppies. The mother dog should feel at home here and should be able to come and go as she likes while the puppies must remain confined. The whelping box should be in a temperature controlled area; you don’t want the mother and puppies stressed by the extremes of our summers and winters.

The length of pregnancy of the dog is considered to be 63 days though this is not written in stone and a normal range might be 58 to 68 days. When your dog's due date is approaching, you should begin monitoring her rectal temperature with a thermometer put in half way and left for 2 minutes before reading. Do the temperature at the same time every morning. When her temperature drops below 99F (normal canine temperature is 100.5F-102.5F), labor may be expected within 24 hours. Also continue to check her mammary glands for milk production. Some dogs may produce some milk up to a week before they deliver.

If your female dog is in active labor for 1.5-2 hours and has not produced a puppy please consider this as an emergency and seek medical attention ASAP, even if it is at 2AM and you have to go to the emergency clinic. If you fail to act both the mother’s life and the puppies’ lives will be at risk.

Within 24-48 hours of whelping, please have the mother dog checked by a veterinarian to ensure that each mammary gland is active and milk is adequately being produced. Some veterinarians recommend an injection of oxytocin to help clean the uterus out of pieces of retrained placenta and cut down the risk of later infections. Most pet owners do not realize the importance of dental care for their animals, but studies have shown at least 80% of all small animals 2 years of age and over already have treatable dental disease. We brush our own teeth twice a day but we tend to forget that our animals need similar oral care. Plaque (or tarter) in animals as well as humans contains bacteria. The plaque mineralizes into calculus within 2 days if it is not removed then more serious disease starts. The pet owner may first notice bad breath or indications of pain when eating or visible redness of the gums (inflammation and infection is gingivitis). Once gingivitis is present, pockets form between the gum tissue and tooth root and this leads to threatening periodontal disease which is a stage where our pets may loose teeth and even may loose bone.

Many veterinarians recommend starting preventative dental care before or at least by the same time that your pet is spayed or neutered at 5-7 months of age. At that time some specialists recommend a fluoride treatment and applying a sealant which is intended to prevent periodontal disease and preventative applications are continued at home. When your pet comes in for dental cleaning/polishing/extractions once there is already dental disease, veterinary hospitals use similar equipment that your human dentist may use.

Before anesthesia, it is recommended that pre-surgical blood work be done in order to try to ensure that anesthesia is as safe as possible. (Pre-anesthetic blood work is not even an option for humans). In addition to checking the internal organ functioning with the blood profile, your pet may be monitored under anesthesia with respirator monitors and EKG machines to ensure that the procedure is as safe as possible. Both the owner and the veterinary clinic staff want the pet to be pain free and comfortable, so it is recommended to provide pain medication before, during and after the procedure. The teeth are charted and probed just as is done by human dental hygienists. Hand scaling underneath the gum line removes any calculus that has become “cemented” to the tooth root. An ultrasonic scaler is also used to remove all the plaque. In order to ensure that there is no remaining tarter, a pink “revealer” stain can be applied that will stick to any remaining plaque so that the teeth can be re-scaled if needed. The teeth are then polished with a special paste that helps to smooth out the enamel. (This is not a bleaching or whitening process). Fluoride and sealants are commonly used; it may depend on where your pet’s dental procedure takes place. Another thing that varies from hospital to hospital is the use of antibiotics. Most dental procedures involve antibiotics to avoid the bacteria from the mouth from entering the blood stream This can be accomplished either by starting antibiotics prior to the procedure and continuing during and afterwards, or may be accomplished by heavy duty intravenous antibiotics at the time of the procedure and based on the severity may be sent home, as well.

Home care after the procedure is essential. Using a sealant, brushing, antibacterial rinses or a combination will help ensure longer intervals between your pet needing another prophylactic dental procedure.

Dogs are evolutionarily pack animals. Wild canids, such as wolves, coyotes, and hyenas typically live in packs with a lead dog, the alpha dog. Without a strict hierarchy, the pack would not survive. There can only be one leader at a time.

When you bring a puppy or adult dog into your family, the humans become the dog’s pack. The dog will often try to become the alpha dog of the pack, but this is totally inappropriate. The humans are the dominant members and the dog must learn to be submissive. This is NOT accomplished by brutality and physical harm. Dogs must be treated as children. Taught who the boss is, that they must listen, and there are consequences of each action. Children are given both positive and negative responses to behavior to reinforce what the parent desires. The same principles go for raising a dog. If a child has a temper tantrum in a toy store and the parent tries to calm the situation by buying the child what it wants, that is reinforcing to the child that screaming and crying gets them what they want. These are what are more commonly known as spoiled brats. If you try to clean your dogs infected ears or cut its nails to prevent them from growing into the pad, you need to be able to accomplish this task. However, if your dog howls and growls and tries to bite and then you stop the treatment the dog has just won by a temper tantrum and will try it on you over and over.

Neither children nor dogs live in a democracy. With most children there are no votes on going to bed, whether to play in the road or when to say please and thank you. You’re your dog, there should be no “vote” on whether you can look in its mouth, give it a bath, brush its teeth, clean its ears, cut its nails or give it medication.

Children are often taught what acceptable behavior is by reinforcing the positive and punishing the negative. We advocate teaching puppies what a “time out” is since yelling and hitting a dog gets worse results than with a child. We show owners how to handle and restrain their dog so the dog understands who is dominant and in charge (the human) and who is expecte3d to behave and be submissive (the dog). The dog or puppy may not like having its muzzle held or being forced to lie on its back or lay on its side, but this is the best way to train the dog.

Those dogs in the wild? The alpha dog bites the other dogs across the bridge of the nose to exert dominance. While we don’t advocate biting your dog’s nose, we do advocate holding it like a muzzle would, so the dog is being told who is dominant and who is submissive. The dog may scream and squirm, but you are not stopping in from breathing; it is just acting like a 3 year old toddler who isn’t getting what they want. Eventually, if you don’t give in the child and the puppy will learn that there will be positive things to happen if there are no temper tantrums.

When children are but a few weeks old they must be vaccinated to prevent potentially deadly contagious diseases such as measles and whooping cough. Similarly, when dogs are young, they need vaccinations to protect them from life-threatening diseases such as distemper, parvo virus, para-influenza and hepatitis. A young animal is usually protected while still nursing its mother, but after weaning the animal’s ability to stay free of disease decreases rapidly. Puppies need to visit the veterinarian for the first set of vaccinations at about 8 weeks of age, or as soon thereafter as possible. Waiting too long increases the risk of the puppy getting sick.

Just as babies get booster vaccinations every few months when very young, the baby dog also need to get re-vaccinated every 3-4 weeks. A puppy usually needs three combination distemper parvo vaccines every 3-4 weeks starting at about 8 weeks of age with the last series at 16-18 weeks of age. To have the best protection against parvo virus the puppy should visit the veterinarian at 6 months of age for a single parvo vaccination. At this time your puppy should be spayed or neutered. Heartworm prevention, fecal examinations, and dewormings should be initiated with the first puppy visit.

Children also get boosters when they enter school. Puppies need boosters 12 months after they have finished their baby series and then the frequency of vaccinations may be based on your pets’ life style, health and individual circumstances to be discussed with your health care professional.

Distemper is a viral disease that often starts with a runny nose, sneezing, fever and discharge from the eyes. Distemper can progress to pneumonia and may affect the brain and cause seizures, coma and death. Parvo virus causes fever, lack of appetite, bloody diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration. Often death follows; sometimes even if treated these terrible viruses will still snuff out the puppy’s life.

The above diseases that veterinarians vaccinate for are contagious from dog to dog, but not to cats or humans.

Rabies is a vaccine that the law requires all dogs and cats to receive at 4 month old, and is repeated a year later and then every 3 year thereafter here in North Carolina.

Rabies, a virus, is preventable in humans but not treatable. There are vaccines available for our pet dogs and cats and for several species of farm animals including horses. An unprotected mammal infected with this virus will die. If the infected animal bites or somehow gets its saliva into a wound on a human then that human will become infected unless immediately treated with special injections. The best course of action is PREVENTION. We have laws requiring that all dogs and cats be vaccinated for Rabies with penalties and fines for lack of compliance with these life-saving laws. In the state of North Carolina, cats and dogs must receive their first Rabies vaccination between the ages of 12 and 16 weeks. Having a pet over the 4-month age mark that is unvaccinated is considered against the law. The first vaccination for Rabies that your kitten or puppy gets at 4 months of age needs to be repeated 12 months later. The second Rabies vaccine should be valid for 3 years, at which point it needs to be repeated every 3 years thereafter. An exception is that when and if your pet comes in contact with a potential carrier of Rabies, the vaccine should be repeated again in approximately 48 hours. An example of this would be your dog has a fight with a raccoon, which are known carriers of Rabies or your cat brings home a dead bat, another common carrier of rabies. If a stray or unknown animal bites you or any other human, please contact your local animal control officer immediately.

Another zoonotic disease is Ringworm. Ringworm is NOT a worm. It is a fungal infection spread from either pets or soil to humans and other mammals. Being a fungus, it is somewhat similar to Athletes Foot in that it can be very contagious from animal to animal and from animals to humans. It affects the skin of humans and causes a variety of signs on our pets. These symptoms can appear to be like many other skin infections; there may be hair loss, crusting, scaling, redness, and secondary infection. Some animals, primarily cats, can be carriers. This means any cat you may come in contact with may have the ringworm spores on its fur and spread them to you without the cat ever looking sick or showing any signs. If you or your pet has skin lesions then you need to see a dermatologist and your pet needs to see the veterinarian.

Mange mites are one category of parasitic skin disease. The 2 forms of mange affecting dogs and cats that veterinarians deal with are sarcoptic mange and demodectic mange. Sarcoptic mange is also called scabies. Sarcoptic mange is caused by a microscopic tick-like mite that infects the skin. Scabies is very contagious from pet to pet and from pets to humans. Sarcoptic mange can affect any dog or cat; any age, sex or breed can be infected. Dogs are affected much more commonly than cats. The signs include a severely itchy pet with raised or raw red sores and crusty skin in more advanced cases. The areas of the body most commonly affect are the ear, elbows, chest and abdomen, but any area of skin can be affected. Unfortunately, scabies is hard to diagnose but it is easily treated. Because of the difficulty of an exact diagnosis, veterinarians often recommend treatment, and if the pet responds and gets better, the assumption is made that the pet was infected with the sarcoptic mange mite

There are several proven methods to treat a dog with sarcoptic mange. One is to treat with in hospital dipping with a chemical called amitraz. Only two dips are usually required. Another option is to use the topical monthly heartworm/flea product Revolution for killing scabies mange mites. The product may be used more frequently than monthly during the treatment of sarcoptic mange. Cats CANNOT be dipped and Revolution is not labeled to kill sarcoptic mange, but may be used off-label. Ivermectin is also extremely successful in treating sarcoptic mange and the best option for felines. However, injectable cattle ivermectin is not approved for this use in dogs and cats so you need to discuss the pros and cons of all treatment options with your veterinarian.

No matter which method of treatment you and your veterinarian choose, the pet’s environment should be cleaned and treated to kill the mange mites that can live off of the dog. Any other animal pet that has contact with the affected pet should also be treated in conjunction with a consultation with your veterinarian. If any humans in contact with the pet have red itchy lesions see your human medical doctor right away. Medications to stop the pet’s itching and eliminate any secondary bacterial infection may be necessary in certain cases.

If you have an uncomfortable itchy pet(s) and suspect sarcoptic mange mite infection, consult your veterinarian. If humans have been affected by a pet with scabies, the lesions should clear up by three weeks after the environment and the pet have been treated appropriately. The environment needs to be treated weekly for 4 weeks because the life cycle of the mite is 28 days and the chemicals may not kill the eggs that have been laid by the adult mites. Following the proper recommendations for treating the pets and the environment will help to ensure a favorable prognosis for the elimination of a sarcoptic mange infection.

There are a number of reasons to have your pet spayed and neutered.
--First, it increases your pet’s chances for a longer, healthier life by reducing the incidence of certain cancers such as breast cancer, and eliminating uterine, ovarian, and testicular cancer.
--Second, a sterilized pet is a better pet. Sterilized pets are less likely to wander and get injured while looking for mates.
--Males who are neutered early in life are less likely to be aggressive.
--Females avoid the messy heat cycle and the barrage of amorous males at your doorstep.
--And, of course, altered pets cannot contribute to the epidemic of overpopulation from accidental breeding thus reducing the number of animals surrendered to shelters every day.

Many people have excuses for not having their pets altered.
--Some may think that their pet will get fat and lazy. Although spaying and neutering may diminish your pet’s overall activity level, tendency to wander, and increase appetite, pets that become fat and lazy after being altered are usually overfed and under exercised.
--Some may want a pet just like the one they have, but breeding two purebred animals rarely results in offspring that are exactly like one of the parents.
--Some may be concerned that their pet’s personality will change, but any change would be for the better. Altered pets are less aggressive toward other dogs and cats, are less likely to urine mark and wander, and generally have better personalities.
--Some may want their children to witness the birth of puppies or kittens; however, most animals will seek privacy and the middle of the night to have their litters. The after care of neonatal animals can be time consuming and complications with pregnancy or the babies can be expensive.
--Finally, many people are concerned about the risks of anesthesia. Although there is always a slight risk involved, the anesthetics currently used by veterinarians are very safe.

Some facts about some common misconceptions related to spaying and neutering:

-Female dogs and cats do not have to come into heat or have a litter before getting spayed (which is surgically removing the ovaries and uterus). In fact, each heat cycle increases the health risks.

-Female dogs and cats do not have to be 6 months old to get spayed. As long as the pet is healthy and at least 3 months old anesthesia and surgery should be safe if the patient is properly monitored. Since cats can come into heat as young as 5 months old it is often suggested to spay them before that age to prevent both living with a cat howling all day as well as to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

-It does make a difference if your dog or cat is in heat when it is spayed. The surgery does not remove the hormones that are already in the bloodstream. If your pet is spayed in heat, males will still be attracted to her. Therefore, please ensure your pet is kept inside and always under your control for a week after surgery.

-Neutering a male dog or cat does not make him a wimp or a sissy. Neutering only will change those behaviors which are related to testosterone. Neutering should make your dog or cat less interested in roaming (if he is roaming to find a female). If your pet just likes to run away and play with the neighbors pets, then neutering will not guarantee your pet will stay at home! Neutering may also decrease fighting and aggression and territorial behavior. If your dog barks when a stranger comes up the driveway, neutering will not change this warning behavior.

-There are few good reasons to not spay or neuter a dog or cat unless it is a show animal or you are a quality breeder with a pet with a proven pedigree. If you need more information on spaying and neutering please call for a consultation.

1-Stay away from an angry or frightened pet-even your own.

2-Never go near a stray dog or cat.

3-If a stray dog comes up to you, stay calm and stand still. Don’t run and don’t look at the dog. Wait until it is gone before you move.

4-Always ask the owner if it is OK to pet a dog or cat you don’t know.

5- Be gentle when petting a dog or cat. Lightly stroke its back and neck, avoiding the eyes and ears.

6- Never hit, kick, or spank a dog or cat, pull its tail, or otherwise harm it. It may try to hurt you.

7-Play gently with your pet. Stop playing if your pet gets too rough.

8- Leave dogs and cats alone whiled they are eating and sleeping.

9- Never try to take away food or treats from a dog or cat-even as a joke.

10- Avoid newborn puppies or kittens. The mother may fight to protect her babies.

Dogs and cats are wonderful friends and deserve to be treated with respect.

Parents: please take time to review these safety tips with your children.

Children generally learn what they see and hear from their parents. Children who are fortunate enough to grow up in households where the pets are family members and see pets provided with love, attention, medical care and quality of life, are learning to emulate their parents and our next generation will responsibly care for the next generation of 4 legged family members, and so on with each succeeding generation... Children that grow up with neglected irresponsibly treated and medically ignored animals will not necessarily be learning the proper value and responsibility of providing for the life of a creature that is totally reliant on humans for quality and quantity of its life.

Veterinary preventative care is so much less expensive in the long run and as the name implies, PREVENTS pain and suffering. Cleaning the ears prevents ear infections. Any of you with children know how excruciating ear infections can be. Dental care prevents gum disease and rotten teeth. Anyone that has ever had a tooth ache should cringe at the thought of a pet feeling discomfort like that day in and day out. The older, more mature generation can empathize with the aches and pains of arthritis. Maintaining your pets’ weight and feeding nutritional supplements and providing quality exercise can slow the onset of arthritis and there are medications available to make your pets’ golden years more comfortable and less painful.

Heartworm prevention is necessary year round in North Carolina due to our climate. Heartworm disease may not be truly “painful” until the dog or cat is in heart failure. However, when you are at the point when your pet cannot exercise, has difficulty breathing and is in heart failure with fluid in its chest and abdomen, then your dog’s suffering gone to its limit. Heartworm disease is treatable, but due the only available drug, it can be an expensive proposition. Giving the prevention is really so much less expensive and very effective.

Doesn’t it make your skin crawl to think of fleas crawling in your hair, your ears, in your private parts and into your eyes and mouth? How do you think your pet feels with fleas and/or tick infestations? In addition to spreading diseases, these parasites cause skin infection, severe itching and make many many animals miserably uncomfortable. The veterinary profession has so many safe products to kill the fleas and ticks that there really is no good excuse for your pet to be put through this constant torture.

The veterinary profession has brochures and pamphlets and there are library books available that you can read with your children in order to teach them how to value the lives of our pets.

There are many facets to keeping puppies and kittens healthy into adulthood and then into their geriatric years. Zoonotic diseases and parasites are infections and organisms that infected animals that can be spread to human beings. Protection and prevention of diseases in humans starts with protecting and preventing the diseases and parasites in our pet populations. Vaccinations are usually in the form of shots, and dewormings are usually in the form of liquid, pill or capsule. Vaccinations generally protect against viral diseases that are deadly to the pet. The most common zoonotic disease prevented by vaccination is Rabies. Fecal exams of all cats and dogs help identify intestinal worms that can be zoonotic. Regular fecal exams and preventing intestinal worms via monthly heartworm pills that include dewormers not only protect the pets but also the humans, primarily children. Children are at the highest risk due to their exposure to contamination from playing in the sandboxes, dirt and not washing hands after touching places on the pet and in the environment. Worms that live in the pets’ intestinal tract can infect the children through their skin and their mouths and then migrate in the skin (cutaneous larval migrans) and internal organs (visceral larval migrans).

The following are some facts provided by Novartis Animal Health.

-The estimated number of humans that had been exposed to roundworms in the United States during the last study was 2.8%.

-The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimate that 15 million people test positive for exposure to zoonotic parasites annually. Exposure does not mean disease but that is still a very high rate!

-The infection rate for children under 11 years old is estimated to be 4.6-7.3%, the highest risk group.

-The CDC estimates 10,000 cases of visceral larval migrans (roundworms) occur in people each year and 750 cases of blindness in children due to ocular larval migrans (roundworms). This means that the worms have infected the people and attacked their internal organs such as their liver, brain and eyes.

-Nationally one in five dogs is infected with one or more of the following parasites: Roundworms, Hookworms or Whipworms. A 1996 study indicated that the prevalence of unprotected and untreated dogs in Raleigh to be: roundworms 31%, hookworms 69% and whipworms 25%.

Intestinal worms are easily preventable. Have a fecal exam done on your pet 2-4 times a year depending on the risk factors (which you can discuss with your veterinarian.) Keep your dogs and cats on monthly heartworm preventions with built in intestinal dewormers. For dogs, Heartgard, Iverhart, Interceptor and Sentinel deworm for Roundworms and Hookworms. Interceptor and Sentinel also help deworm against Whipworms. For cats, Heartgard, Interceptor and Revolution (topical) will deworm monthly for roundworms and hookworms. Proheart and Revolution in dogs will not protect against Visceral or Ocular Larval Migrans and your dog should have much more frequent fecal examinations. Bringing fresh (within 12 hours old) samples with you for your pet’s examinations will help you, your pet and the veterinary staff. The amount of fecal material that can be acquired during an office visit may not be of sufficient quantity to do an accurate test. Being covered in cat litter or grass will not affect whether the veterinarian can run the floatation examination.

Is it ok to limit a pets access to water or if it was necessary to leave water down all day?

Please, unless your vet tells you to withhold water such as right before an anesthetic procedure, you really need to leave water available to your cats and dogs free choice. Do not just put water down when you feed them once or twice a day or at sporadic intervals that fits your schedule. A lack of water may cause dehydration which can lead to kidney damage, bladder infections, intestinal upset as well as possibly causing other organ dysfunction’s if your pet is on any medication. In addition, if your pet is restricted from water, when the bowl is finally offered, your pet may overdrink and throw up. It is not likely that your pet would be able to drink all the water its body needs during that short interval you offer the water bowl. It is perfectly ok to limit feedings to 20 minutes twice a day, but do not limit water!

There are many products available to help keep your pets eating and drinking area from being untidy. Either pet stores or home improvement stores can offer you a variety of options.

During the summer, pets get hot and cannot sweat like humans. Heat can only be dissipated from the pads of their feet and from panting. With high humidity, sometimes their panting and being in shade will not prevent heat stroke. Inside and outside pets must have access to fresh clean water every day, all day.

In the winter, pets whose bowls are outside must have them checked for freezing at least twice a day. It may be cold enough for a water bowl to freeze over even if it is not freezing on the road surfaces.

Stuffed toys can be ok for the right pet. My definition of the right pet is one who doesn’t eat the stuffing and one who doesn’t swallow the squeaker center, both of which could cause intestinal irritation and/or blockage.

Other items that pets are given include rawhides, Nylabones, tennis balls, Kong toys, Greenies, hooves, pig ears, sterilized real bones, Milk bone type bone treats, rope toys and rubber toys. (Shoes, sticks and rocks the pet unfortunately usually gets on their own).

Seminars given by board certified veterinary dentists have repeatedly brought up the fact that items such as bones and hooves and pig ears can cause serious fractures of the teeth which can be painful and/or very costly to repair via crowns or root canals.

Personal experience as a practitioner with “real” bones, whether flavored, autoclaved, sterilized, etc. are that if it goes in the front end (mouth) it has to come out the back end (rectum). Bones do not soften in the intestinal track and few dogs chew them so finely that there are no sharp edges. These bones can:

-Fracture teeth as above;

-Get stuck in the roof of the mouth;

-Puncture the esophagus and cause respiratory and cardiac problems or death;

-Irritate and/or puncture the intestinal track and cause peritonitis (serious infection of the abdominal cavity linings);

-Cause intestinal blockage requiring surgery;

-Cause vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, lack of eating, blood and/or mucous in stools;

-Get stuck behind the prostate in male dogs that have not been neutered.

Therefore, it is not ever recommended to give pets “real” bones to chew on.

Milk bone type treats probably do very little for the pet unless they are made of a specialized product that helps promote good dental health. Most non-prescription treats have a high calorie count. Many of these chew bones have similar calorie contents as a similar sized candy bar. So, if your pet is on a diet or needs to be on a diet, these types of biscuits are not best for chewing. Greenies take most dogs much longer to chew up and promote better breath and tarter control. Some dogs manage to swallow large chunks of the Greenie if they chew it too fast; these pets should probably be given something that is less likely to cause intestinal upset. Nylabone recommendations are similar to the Greenies; however, they usually do not assist in oral hygiene.

Kong toys are good if the right size is given to the dog; they can also assist in the remedy for separation anxiety. Very rarely can a dog destroy the Kong to where it can be swallowed. Other rubber toys or Tennis balls should be taken away when the dog gets it to the point that a piece could be swallowed. Cotton rope toys are often good since they help “floss” the teeth if chewed regularly, but should not be given to an animal that tries to swallow pieces whole! Rawhides are suitable if you have a dog that will not try to take 3 bites and swallow it whole and if you get good quality. There is a wide range of digestibility for rawhides. The better quality ones will be available through your veterinarian. These rawhides contain enzymes or antibacterial properties that provide dental and gingival care in addition to giving the dog or cat something to chew on!

There are a few important points to be thinking about regarding your pets and the arrival of colder weather.

Once the temperature is 32 degrees F then the water you keep outside for your pets will freeze. Please check the buckets and bowls you have for outside pets twice daily and ensure there is enough clean and unfrozen water to prevent dehydration.

Cats frequently find that crawling up inside truck and car hoods provides warmth and protection. However, these cats are often mangled and mutilated when the engine is started. Please check under your hood and/or bang on the hood before you start your vehicle on cooler days.

Pets should not be exposed to temperatures below 40 degrees F without adequate housing. In this climate, we must consider the wind chill factor. The wind is often what makes the cold so very damaging. Cats and dogs can get frostbite. Dog houses can be faced away from the northeast which is where the worst winds come from. Heat lamps can be carefully wired to provide warmth without the risk of the pet chewing the wiring and getting electrocuted. If possible, bring your pet inside if it gets below freezing. Even garages should have some heat source when the garage is where your pet is kept for protection from the elements.

Antifreeze (ethylene glycol) toxicity claims the life of many animals every fall when people change their antifreeze. Ethylene glycol is apparently very sweet tasting and appealing to pets. A cat can get enough to kill it just from walking through what has spilled on your driveway and then grooming its feet. This stuff is HIGHLY toxic. Please use environmentally friendly antifreeze or be extremely careful when changing your antifreeze to ensure there is not any left which an animal may come into contact. If you suspect your pet has had contact with antifreeze get it to an emergency clinic ASAP!

You mean to be kind when you take your dog in the car with you, but you could be risking its life.

On a hot summer day the inside of a car heats very quickly. In an 85-degree day, for example, the temperature inside your car—with the windows slightly opened—will reach 102 degrees in 10 minutes. In 30 minutes it will go up to 120 degrees. On warmer days it will go even higher.

A dog’s normal body temperature is 100.5-102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. A dog can withstand a body temperature above 106 degrees for only a very few minutes before suffering irreparable brain damage, or even death. Being inside the car interferes with the dog’s normal cooling process, that is, evaporation through panting. Dogs cannot sweat.

Heat stroke or heat exhaustion can also occur outside the car. Dogs in pens or chained up and/or that do not have easy access to shade and plenty of fresh cool water succumb to this horrible death every year.

If your dog is overcome by heat exhaustion, you can give immediate first aid by immersing him or her in cold water until you can transport the dog to your veterinarian.

(The Animal Protection Institute previously published some of this information.)

Pets are like little people in fur coats. Many of the diseases that you are familiar with that affects humans can affect our cats and dogs, too. Our pets’ life spans are much shorter than ours, so they become old or geriatric sooner than we might think. Large breed dogs are often considered geriatric after 5 years of age and other dogs and cats are often geriatric after 7 year of age.

Some of the diseases that are seen more in older pets include: heart valve disease which leads to heart failure, kidney disease which lead to kidney failure, insulin-dependent diabetes, cataracts, arthritis, thyroid disease, a wide variety of cancers, and gum diseases which can lead to tooth loss and wide spread infections. Many of these diseases can cause pain, discomfort or an early death if left undetected and untreated. Due to advances in medicine, some of these conditions can be either prevented or treated if caught in early states. There is much available in veterinary medicine to alter the quantity and quality of your pet’s life.

This is the reason that regular examinations every 6 months are recommended for those pets in the geriatric category. Veterinarians have a variety of tests available to help detect early diseases so treatment can be initiated as well as recommendations to help prevent or delay other illnesses. Blood work, taking radiographs, doing a urinalysis, and a good physical exam with a thorough history can be extremely beneficial as screening tools. Therapies as mild as changing to a specially formulated diet may be indicated in order to prolong the time your cat or dog remains as a loved family member.

It has been said that 1 year of a pet’s life is equal to 7 years of your life. This really does vary with the size and breed of your pet, but to continue this analogy, having your 9 year old dog or cat checked only once a year is equivalent to a 63 year old person not seeing a doctor for any kind of check-up until they become 70 years of age. A lot can be missed in that length of time! Our pets cannot always tell us when they are having a problem.

Please call for specific recommendations on a geriatric work-up for your pet; it may make a big difference in the life of your cat or dog.

Early detection of health problems can save you and your pet from the pain and heartache that illness can cause. As you get to know your pet, you should become familiar with the normal body characteristics, daily habits and personality of your pet. This knowledge will help you to be aware of any changes that occur. Listed below are tings that you can monitor in your pet, between your pet’s regular veterinary examinations. If you find anything abnormal, call your veterinarian as soon as possible to schedule a through exam.

Your pets should be clear and bright. Redness, swelling or discharges are signs of a problem. Eyelids should be smooth. The inside of your pet’s ears should be a light pink. A small amount of ear wax is normal, but a yellow or brown waxy discharge is not. Redness, swelling or foul odors are signs of infection. Head shaking and ear scratching can be your pet’s way of telling you there is something wrong.

Nasal secretions that are clear or watery are normal. Thick, colored or bloody discharge is not.

Examine your pet’s mouth. Teeth should be free of yellow-brown tarter buildup. Gums should be light pink. Bad breath, excessive drooling, inflamed or bleeding gums and loose or missing teeth are an indication of infection. White or blue gums are indications of more serious internal problems.

Your pets breathing should be even and unlabored. Prolonged sneezing, coughing or shortness of breath is not normal. Regarding your pets digestive system, the anal area should be clean and free of discharge. Excessive flatulence may be a sign of underlying disease or incorrect nutrition. Prolonged vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, excessive thirst, frequent urination or blood in the urine or stool are signs of a possible health problem. Check your pet’s entire body, including the head and legs for lumps and bumps under the skin. Watch the feet and nails for signs of injury. Your pet’s coat should be glossy, but not too oily. A dry dull coat, excessive hair loss or odor from the skin can be a sign of incorrect diet or illness. Skin should be free of parasites, redness, sores, and scabs. Excessive scratching, biting or licking of skin or haircoat can signal a problem. As you are checking the skin and coat, pay close attention for signs of fleas or ticks.

When considering your pet’s weight, your pet should not have excessive body fat. You should be able to feel your pet’s ribs, but they should not be protruding or highly visible. Watch for changes in appetite (decrease or increase) and sudden changes in weight (loss or gain).

Behavior changes can sometimes be subtle. Watch for changes in activity and energy level, stiffness or limping, loss of house-training and hiding in dark places. Any prolonged changes in normal habits or behavior patterns can indicate illness and should be discussed with your veterinarian.

Zoonotic diseases are those that animals can transmit to humans. Some examples are Rabies, Ringworm, Intestinal Worms and Salmonella.

Rabies, a virus, is preventable in humans but not treatable. There are vaccines available for our pet dogs and cats and for several species of farm animals including horses. An unprotected mammal infected with this virus will die. If the infected animal bites or somehow gets its saliva into a wound on a human then that human will become infected unless immediately treated with special injections. The best course of action is PREVENTION. We have laws requiring that all dogs and cats be vaccinated for Rabies with penalties and fines for lack of compliance with these life-saving laws. Contact your local animal control or veterinarian should you have questions about your pet being in compliance with the laws

Ringworm is NOT a worm. It is a fungal infection spread from either pets or soil to humans and other mammals. Being a fungus, it is somewhat similar to Athletes Foot in that it can be very contagious from animal to animal and from animals to humans. It affects the skin of humans and causes a variety of signs on our pets. These symptoms can appear to be like many other skin infections; there may be hair loss, crusting, scaling, redness, and secondary infection. Some animals, primarily cats, can be carriers. This means any cat you may come in contact with may have the ringworm spores on its fur and spread them to you without the cat ever looking sick or showing any signs. If you or your pet has skin lesions then you need to see a dermatologist and your pet needs to see your veterinarian.

Intestinal Worms, specifically Roundworms and Hookworms have the potential to be spread from our pets to humans, most often seen in children. Roundworms can be spread from fecal-oral contamination. This means that if you or your child has contact with an infected pet's stool and hands are not washed prior to touching the mouth then the risk of spread has occurred. Roundworms can grow inside the human and move through the body to infect organs, including entering the eyes and brain. Hookworms can be spread by mere skin contact with fecal material from an infected animal. The worm larvae crawl around in the skin and cause Cutaneous Larval Migrans. Because children are at so much higher risk of becoming infected the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) has recommended that your dog and cat be dewormed or checked for intestinal worms every 3-4 months as the best form of PREVENTION. Please call your veterinarian to arrange recommended treatments.

A recent veterinary newsletter contained an interesting article. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) found that there were cases of Salmonella poisonings in humans from contact with pet treats made from the dried ears, hooves, and bones of pigs and cows. A quote from the article was that "Salmonella can cause vomiting, diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps in otherwise healthy individuals and can be fatal in young children, the elderly, or people with weakened immune systems". It was stated that healthy pets rarely become ill but can be carriers and infect humans if they lick you after chewing a contaminated product. The news brief recommended that humans should wash hands with soap and hot water after handling these dog treats, avoid putting the treats on countertops and don't allow children to touch their mouths after touching them until they've washed their hands. Even though the cases requiring hospitalization occurred in Canada not in the United States, the FDA still would recommend that PREVENTION is the best course of action.

If you would like more information on any of these disease please see your veterinarian.

Diabetes Mellitus is a commonly diagnosed disorder in the older cat and dog. Animals are typically insulin dependent, like juvenile diabetes in humans.

Without insulin the body is unable to use the sugars, proteins and fats absorbed from the intestinal tract into the blood stream. The sugars accumulate within the blood and the kidneys become overwhelmed. Normally kidneys can reabsorb the sugars back into the body but when the sugar concentration is too high, sugars spill into the urine. The increase in sugar within the urine causes more water to be lost, too. This is why a diabetic pet often drinks and urinates excessively. The loss of sugars and the inability to use the sugars, proteins and fats by the body results in weight loss and an increase in appetite.

If the diabetic state goes unrecognized a vicious cycle develops. Without insulin, fat cannot be converted into its normal storage form and instead is converted to ketones. The ketones can result in acidic blood, dehydration, overwhelming urinary tract infections and abnormalities in the blood which may result in heart arrhythmias which kills the pet via a heart attack. Diabetic Ketoacidosis can also result in abnormal behavior and coma and is a very serious complication of diabetes.

Diabetes is treated with insulin therapy. The most important goal of therapy is to resolve clinical signs. A well controlled diabetic exhibits a noticeable decrease in water intake and urination frequency and have a more normal appetite.

When a pet is first started on insulin it can take 2-4 days to get the body in balance. This lag phase also occurs whenever the dose is changed or after surgical/anesthetic procedures that can upset regulation. It is essential to watch the pet for signs of low blood sugar: weakness, trembling, twitching, disorientation or seizures. If there are other diseases going on with the pet and/or other drugs being given to the pet then getting the diabetic pet’s insulin level under control will be compromised. Complicating factors include: the pet being on steroid medications, having an underlying urinary tract infection, stress, kidney disease, thyroid disease, heart disease and hormone imbalances. These other diseases must be addressed before attempting to gain control of the diabetes.

The most important monitoring device for the diabetic patient is how they are doing at home. Monitor to see if the pet is still displaying the clinical signs of increased water consumption, increased ruin output and frequency, urine accidents in the home, increased appetite and food consumption. It is important to monitor body weight every month either at home or at the hospital. With control, the animal’s body weight should stabilize and they should gain some weight if they were thin at the time of diagnoses. If the pet was obese to start with it should be corrected because all patients respond better to insulin therapy if they are not overweight.

Signs of poor control can include: weight loss despite an excellent appetite, recurring infection of the skin, urinary tract, or respiratory system

In addition to low blood sugar and diabetic ketoacidosis there are other complications associated with Diabetes Mellitus. These complications include cataracts, blindness, inflammation of the pancreas and digestive tract (vomiting, not eating, dehydration, abdominal pain), diseases of the kidneys and nerves, as well as increased infections of the urinary tract, respiratory tract, liver, anal sacs, tooth roots, ears and skin.

It’s a very frustrating and somewhat common situation. Pet owners by the millions flock to their veterinarians in the hope of relieving their pet’s itchiness. For many people, the constant chewing, licking, and scratching can test their love for their pets.

20 million pets suffer from some sort of skin condition and many of these are allergies. Allergies are an over-reaction of the body’s immune system to a foreign substance, such as pollen or flea saliva. For people with allergies, we sneeze and sniffle as our bodies respond to histamine released by immune cells. Our pets, however, react somewhat differently. Dogs and cats have many more histamine receptors in the skin and fewer in the nose. As histamine is released, the receptors cause an itchy feeling and the pet reacts by scratching at that site. Scratching can generate more histamine release, thereby causing more scratching. The constant assault on the skin by the pet’s claws can actually damage the skin, leading to bacterial infections. Areas of hair loss and oozing sores known as “hot spots” are very common with allergies.

Fleas are often found to be the reason for a pet’s itchiness. However, the pet that is truly allergic to fleas will often appear to have no fleas at all! Why? Because these pets are the ultimate flea catchers, doing everything in their power to bite or scratch the discomfort of the flea away. The flea’s saliva sets off an allergic reaction leading to a flurry of chewing and digging at the skin. Also, when many of these flea allergic pets will get bitten by just one flea it leads to a severe reaction.

Allergies to airborne substances, such as pollen and mold spores, are another reason for itchiness in pets. This is known as atopy and affects many pets from springtime straight through until fall. This condition can be inherited in certain breeds.

If your pet has signs of allergies year round and you see little or no improvement with certain medications, you may have a pet that has food allergies. Contrary to popular belief, food allergies take time to develop and are not due to recent diet changes. Most pets who develop food allergies have been eating the offending food with little problem for years. Common food allergens can include any major protein or carbohydrate source in the pet’s food.

In some mild cases, the itchiness can be treated with anti-histamines or even steroids for a short period of time. However, pet owners need to be aware that allergies are not a condition that can be cured. The good news though, is that they can be well-managed with a team effort from the pet owner and the veterinary team.

In some cases, your family veterinarian may refer you and your pet to a veterinary dermatologist. This specialist has many more diagnostic and treatment resources available to bring relief to your pet. In all cases, you, the pet owner, are a vital part of the team. It will be up to you to make sure that all pets in the household are treated for fleas or that your pet stays on the recommended hypo-allergenic diet and doesn’t sneak other treats!

Allergies are not only one of the most frequent reasons for a trip to the veterinarian, but are also a big reason for pet owners becoming frustrated with their pet. Working with your veterinary team to identify what is causing your pet’s symptoms will help keep your four-legged family member right where he needs to be…with you! Visit www.MyVNN.com to see a video of how pet owners deal with their pet’s allergies.

------------------------------------------- Dr. Sara Lash is a veterinarian with Healthy Pets Mobile Vet and can be reached at www.drsaralash.com or 919-329-7387(PETS)

From the worried looks in the waiting room to the sighs of relief in the recovery ward, this hospital was no different from any other hospital preparing for another long night. Surgical packs were ready, nurses were soothing frantic clients and patients, and doctors were doing their best to save lives. The only difference...this is an Animal ER!

Emergency care for pets has certainly evolved over the last several decades. More recently, dedicated emergency clinics are open and pet owners have access to these during nights and weekends when their regular veterinarians are closed.

Emergency centers and 24-hour critical care hospitals are becoming much more common and many large cities may have more than one. Staffed by devoted emergency veterinarians and team members, these after-hours hospitals are a blessing to people and pets. From the high tech medical equipment in the back to the various amenities in the waiting room, animal emergency facilities provide a similar level of care and compassion that you might see in a human emergency room. And these emergency rooms will be ready for you! From gunshot wounds and fractured legs to puppy parvovirus and cats with kidney failure, the animal ER is prepared for any disaster, big or small, that might come through the door. Beyond the care they provide to our pets, all night hospitals also allow your family veterinarians to get the rest they need to run their own busy office! Each emergency hospital will vary in the equipment and facilities; 24 facilities are most likely to have access to the higher tech equipment and the ability to call in specialists for surgery, ultrasound, CT scans and other procedures for which a smaller emergency clinic may not have the resources. The ability to do in-house diagnostic blood work varies from hospital to hospital too. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with the emergency clinics available in your area and feel free to explore their websites and call to ask questions so you will be prepared if an emergency strikes.

But, the financial aspect of all of this emergency care can be very challenging. While we might not think about the costs of our own tests done at a hospital, all of the x-rays, CT scans, and blood work for our pets do cost money. For many people, the costs of quality care could lead to heart-wrenching decisions. The good news is that an increasing number of pet owners say that they would pay almost any price for their best friend and new options for payment are available. For example, many facilities will offer credit via a third party company such as Care Credit. http://www.carecredit.com/

Emergency care for our pets has come a long way since the late night house calls of veterinarians. Keeping the number of the ER closest to you just might save you some time...and your best friend's life! For those of you in the area covered by the paper, keep these numbers handy VSH (Veterinary Specialty Hospital) 919-233-4911-patients can stay 24/7 http://www.vshcarolinas.com/ NCSU-CVM (North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine)-919-513-6911-patients can stay 24/7 http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/vth/appointments.htm#emergencies After Hours Clinic of Wake County 919-781-5145 only open evenings and weekends http://www.afterhoursanimalclinic.com/ After Hours Clinic of Cary 919 462-8989 only open evenings and weekends no website found

Dr. Sara Lash runs Healthy Pets Mobile Vet and can be reached at www.drsaralash.com

1.In today’s society, many couples choose to delay child-raising and instead turn to pets as surrogate children. Recent surveys consistently show that owners use children’s names for their pets rather than historic “pet” names.

2.These pets become integral parts of the household, joining their owners in many daily routines and being treated similarly to how parents treat their children.

3.When the couple decides to welcome a child into the home, this can cause a change of routine. Any change can be upsetting to any member of the family, including the pet, who are very ROUTINE oriented.

4.Such changes can cause many different reactions, such as destructive behavior, loss of appetite, or house-soiling.

5.Include your pet in the planning and rearrangement that comes with a new addition to the household. Allow them to explore the new room or furniture you might set up in the nursery.

6.Excluding the pet from preparation activity can be very harmful and cause undesirable behaviors and unusual habits. Serious or lingering behavior problems should always be discussed with your veterinarian.

7.Continue the pet’s normal routine but try to expose the pet(s) to an infant or child so that they can get used to the sounds, smells or activities of a child.

8. Have a friend stop by or, if possible, go visit a friend’s home that recently added a baby to their family. This is a good way to socialize and introduce your pet to an infant in a controlled manner.

9.If you have the time allowed by a pregnancy or waiting period for your child, it would be good to slowly limit or decrease the time that you spend with your pet. If you generally spend long periods with the pet, they will need to adjust to less time with you.

10.When the new baby arrives at home, try to keep a routine and make sure that the pet(s) get attention sometime during the day. If the pet has never been around children, always supervise interaction with the new arrival

11.Do not be swayed by “old wives tales” about “cats stealing the breath from babies” or dogs attacking children. Studies have shown that children raised to pets are less likely to be allergic, learn compassion, care and responsibility plus tend to be healthier than those who grow up with out pets.

12.Younger pets do appear to adjust better than older pets, but that may be a factor of the older pet taking longer to adjust to the new schedule.

13.Occasionally, pets will exhibit undesirable behaviors that cannot be controlled and may need to be placed in a different home. While this is rarely necessary, be sure to note that the pet needs to be in a home with NO children or older children.

14.Prior to the child’s arrival, stop by your veterinarian’s office and make sure your pet is up to date on all vaccinations and is parasite free. This will protect not only the baby, but any visitor who might be stopping by.

15.Remember, in many instances, pets were your babies first, so they don’t really understand what is happening sometimes. Make sure to allow special time with them and as your child grows, teach them to respect and treat your pets properly.

16.Pets and newly arrived children can change everyone’s life, but with a little planning, the transition can be smooth and a happy family unit can be the result!

17.Go to www.MyVNN.com for an entire library of on-line pet care videos.

Dog owners, and a growing number of cat owners understand that once -a-month heartworm preventives keep their pets safe from a very serious cardiovascular parasitic disease. Despite consistent use of preventive medications, a significant number of dogs are testing positive for heartworms, especially in the mosquito heavy Southeastern US. Are we seeing the beginnings of a resistance movement? In some cases, careful questioning of the clients reveals some monthly doses of medication were not given, opening the door for potential infection. In other cases, medical records and client compliance appear to be complete, yet the pet is positive on the annual heartworm blood test. Heartworm preventive works by killing immature heartworm larvae that are spread by mosquitoes. In theory, a pet who receives medication each month should be protected and never have a positive heartworm test. Why then, do some dogs test positive?

As unpopular as it sounds, pet owners and veterinarians may have to share the blame. A pet owner who fails to purchase enough preventative medication is putting their pet at risk. Also, research shows that nearly 50% of dog owners who buy heartworm prevention do not give the medication as directed. Likewise, a veterinary clinic that fails to remind their clients about the importance of year-round prevention is doing a disservice to the pet as well. In order to avoid conflict with pet owners, some veterinary staff might overlook the fact that the owner has not been consistently purchasing heartworm prevention. Even our pets are not entirely blameless. Pets that take oral medication and “bury” it or spit it out won’t benefit from its protection. Also, if your pet has an upset stomach the day you give the medication, the complete dose could be lost in a bout of vomiting or diarrhea. In all of this negativity, there is good news. Experts state that the heartworm preventive failure rate is less than 1 in a million; meaning that if your dog takes his medication routinely, the chances of developing heartworm disease is almost non-existent. Finally, all of the manufacturers of heartworm preventive medication guarantee their products. They will pay for heartworm disease treatments if your dog tests positive. Sometimes, it’s easier for people to blame the product rather than admit to a very common mistake, but the fact is pet owner compliance problems may be the biggest reason for more pets with what appears to be heartworm preventive failure. Regardless of the reason, follow your veterinarian’s advice about heartworm prevention. As always, your family veterinarian will have the best advice. Beware of Internet sites circulating unfounded rumors and opinions from dubious sources. To see a video explaining heartworm disease in our pets, visit www.MyVNN.com.

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Dr. Sara Lash runs Healthy Pets Mobile Vet and can be reached at 919-329-7387 (PETS) or www.drsaralash.com

Canine cancer is one of the leading causes of dog deaths. Of the more than 100 million dogs in North America, about two in four will develop cancer and one in four will die from some form of this dreaded disease. In some purebred dogs, the percentages could be even higher.

Some pet owners who live in a metropolitan area have the choice of visiting a veterinary teaching hospital or a specialty center with a veterinary oncologist. Unfortunately, not all owners are as lucky. Sadly, cancer will claim almost 50 percent of dogs over 10 years old, leaving their owners bewildered and unsure of what to do. And of the almost 9,000 veterinary specialists, less than 200 specialize in veterinary oncology. A new collaboration, however, may help provide some answers – and options.

The Morris Animal Foundation (MAF; www.morrisanimalfoundation.org) has launched the Canine Cancer Campaign in an attempt to stop cancer in our pets with a goal to cure this deadly disease within the next 10 to 20 years. Another immediate priority of the foundation is collaborating with cancer specialists ensuring pet owners have access to treatment options and advice. Additionally, the MAF Canine Cancer Campaign brings together research scientists, industry leaders and 44 million dog-owning households throughout the nation in an effort to eradicate canine cancer. Already, multiple scientific endeavors are working towards this end.

Everyone needs to have options; sometimes pet owners feel helpless and think that euthanasia is the only option available. Beyond helping our dogs with new innovative therapies, the Canine Cancer Campaign offers benefits for us as well. Many breakthroughs happening in this research will help fuel further prevention, treatment and even cures for human cancers. Remember, there is hope for dogs and their owners – despite a cancer diagnosis. Many dogs will tolerate cancer treatments well. Your veterinarian will work with you, local specialists and national resources to ensure your pet receives the best outcome possible. To learn more about the Canine Cancer Campaign (www.curecaninecancer.org) or the Morris Animal Foundation, visit www.MyVNN.com for links to their sites as well as a video outlining how you can help defeat cancer in your dog’s lifetime.

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Dr. Sara Lash runs Healthy Pets Mobile Vet and can be reached via www.drsaralash.com or at 919-329-7387(PETS)

The dog didn’t appear nervous at all. He remained still as the nurse stuck a needle into his vein and continued to calmly lie there as his blood flowed into the collection bag. It was as if he knew his donation could potentially save a life. When his contribution was complete, the nurse helped him off the table and he ran to his owner, tail wagging the whole way! Historically, this gift of life would be used at his own veterinarian’s office, likely to save a dog who suffered a severe traumatic accident. Many veterinarians kept a clinic cat or used their own dogs for blood transfusions. But now, your pet’s blood donation could make it across town or even across country. Companies like the Animal Blood Bank (www.animalbloodbank.com) now warehouse critically needed blood products for dogs, cats, and even livestock. These services allow veterinarians access to critically needed blood without the need to stockpile it in their hospitals. The demand for blood products for our pets has continually increased as more owners consider life-saving measures for critically ill or injured pets. Additionally, since some blood products have short shelf lives, busy animal doctors don’t have to worry about expired product when an emergency arrives. Finally, these companies can help insure that your pet receives the right blood type and help avoid any serious transfusion reaction.

Like humans, individual dogs and cats have different blood types. For our feline friends, it is pretty straightforward. Most cats are type A with a small percentage type B and a very few cats are the rare type AB. Severe transfusion reactions can occur especially if type A blood is given to a type B cat. The anti-A antibodies will destroy the donated blood, usually within hours and death of the cat is the usual result. Certain cat breeds are more likely to have type B blood than others. Whereas almost no Siamese cats have type B blood, 20-45% of Cornish or Devon Rex cats could exhibit this blood type. Bengals, and Birmans are breeds that may show the AB type.

Dogs, on the other hand, are a little more complex. To date, more than a dozen blood group systems have been identified. The naming of blood types was so confusing that the International Society of Animal Genetics stepped in and standardized the nomenclature. Dog blood types are now categorized by the Dog Erythrocyte Antigen (DEA) system. Erythrocyte is the medical term for red blood cell. One group that appears to be problematic is the DEA 1.1 group. This blood type is important because a dog who receives DEA 1.1 positive blood will produce a strong antibody response to the blood. About half of the dogs in North America are DEA 1.1 positive. Although an initial blood transfusion might go smoothly, any subsequent transfusions this dog may need could result in a severe reaction and destruction of the dog’s blood cells. To help provide better care, blood banks now offer a variety of blood products tested to accurately identify the animal’s blood type. This service helps to preclude any potential mismatched blood, but is it always enough? Sadly, the answer is no. Beyond just typing, any potential blood from a donor should also undergo a major and minor blood cross match (BCM) prior to any transfusion. Because of the unknown history of many pets and the expense and difficulty of fully typing the blood, some donors could cause severe reactions and even death if their blood is used. In cross matching, the recipient’s plasma is incubated with the red blood cells of the donor (major cross match) and then the donor’s plasma is incubated with the recipient’s red cells (minor cross). If any clumping of blood cells is seen, especially in the major cross match, the recipient is at risk for a severe reaction and the donor’s blood shouldn’t be used. While these protocols of blood typing and cross matching reflect the highest standards in veterinary care, some pet owners could be concerned about the costs. A typical single unit of canine packed red cells costs in excess of $150 and large dogs might need 4 or 5 units before they are stable. Although this might seem pricey, an accurate “type and cross match” actually prevents many potential reactions. In turn, this provides good piece of mind to veterinarians and pet owners and a greater chance of success for the patient! Like the dog at the beginning of the story, your pet could be a hero as well.

Ask your veterinarian about animal blood drives in your area and the requirements for donors. Your pet’s gift could help another family keep their pet a little while longer! For more pet health information, visit www.MyVNN.com.

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Dr. Sara Lash is a veterinarian running Healthy Pets Mobile Vet and can be reached at www.drsaralash.com or 919-329-PETS (7837)

Canine Influenza (H3N8) is a novel canine virus first identified several years ago in groups of racing dogs in Florida. Although the virus has spread to 30 states, it is still not common in most pets. It appears to be more of a problem in a few isolated areas of the country and in shelters and kennels where dogs are housed closely together. Although all dogs are at risk, most cases have been found associated with these situations. The Canine Influenza Virus (CIV) is a different virus than the avian or human flu and it has not infected any humans. The virus apparently mutated from an equine strain of influenza. Influenza viruses can mutate. While rare, we do seem to be seeing more of such mutations. Five different mutations were needed to make this particular species jump from the horse to the dog. Fatal cases of CIV pneumonia have been documented, and the numbers range from as low as1 percent up to 5 percent of dogs infected with the disease. In addition, when the flu is diagnosed in a shelter, they are likely to euthanize all dogs in order to stop the spread of the virus.

The incubation period is two to five days after exposure before clinical signs appear. Infected dogs may shed virus for seven to 10 days from the initial day of clinical signs. The primary symptoms in a dog are a cough and a high fever. If you see any such symptoms you should visit your veterinarian. It is important to know that there are many less severe diseases that show similar symptoms. Currently the treatments we have are supportive care and antibiotics, even if a dog gets this flu virus, it is most likely it will recover with good care from your veterinary hospital. A new vaccine for Canine Influenza Virus (CIV) has been given conditional status by the USDA. The vaccine will be available to veterinarians while the USDA continues to review data provided by the manufacturer. The vaccine is an inactivated virus and helps to reduce the incidence of the symptoms and aids in control of the disease. The virus is not thought to be contagious to humans or other animals. Most flu viruses are very species specific. There is no quick diagnostic test that can be run as of now. However, veterinarians can send blood samples to a diagnostic lab if a diagnosis is needed. Veterinarians are best suited to care for your pet and prevent disease.

All precautions necessary are taken in animal hospitals to prevent spread of any infectious disease. Prevention is best done by avoiding unnecessary contact with other dogs especially if your dog is old, young or has a compromised immune system. Fortunately most dogs are not at high risk of becoming sick. Influenza viruses have taken various up and down cycles throughout history. The CDC is monitoring this disease carefully. It is not necessary to keep your dogs inside. Remember, it is very unlikely your dog will be exposed to this disease. Normal precautions and the advice of your veterinarian will help you prevent any exposure to this disease.

For more information on this and other timely topics please visit http://www.myvnn.com

Sara Lash, DVM
Healthy Pets Mobile Vet
www.drsaralash.com
919-329-7387(PETS)

1)Although some pets are conditioned to cold weather, veterinary experts agree that you should bring outdoor pets indoors if the temperature drops below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

2)Puppies, kittens, and short haired pets should come inside anytime the temperature goes below 40 degrees.

3)For pets with long hair, proper grooming is essential to help them maintain a layer of warming air within their coat. Pets who are heavily matted cannot keep themselves as warm.

4)If your pet must stay outdoors, be sure to provide shelter for your pet. A good “house” will have three enclosed sides, will be elevated off the ground, and will contain generous amounts of bedding such as straw or hay.

5)In cold weather, bigger is not always better. A house just big enough for your pet will warm up faster and retain heat better than something that is too big.

6)Your pet will need access to fresh water that isn’t frozen. Use heated water bowls and replenish them frequently.

7)Antifreeze is a common and deadly pet poisoning during colder months. If you suspect your pet has consumed any antifreeze at all, you must contact your veterinarian immediately!

8)Antifreeze has a sweet taste to pets, so they will readily lap up any spilled material. If you spill antifreeze, dilute the area well with water and sweep excess water into a rocky or sandy area. Cover area with soil to keep pets from licking at the rocks.

9)Cats love to warm up underneath car hoods. If your car is kept outdoors, or if cats have access to your garage, be sure to pound on the hood of the car prior to starting it. Many cats are killed or injured grievously by fan belts and moving engine parts.

10)Pets should not be left alone in vehicles due to the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning or hypothermia.

11)Our pets suffer from frostbite and hypothermia just like we do. Consider keeping dogs on a leash when they go outside. Many curious dogs off leash will explore “frozen” retention ponds, lakes or streams and fall through the ice into frigid water.

12)Older pets may suffer more from arthritis during these months. Ask your veterinarian about ways to help keep your senior pet comfortable during the winter.

13)Monitor all pets around wood-burning stoves, fireplaces and space heaters. These can cause severe burns!

14)This is a great time of year to see your veterinarian about a “winter check up” for your pet. Their advice and expertise can help keep your pet safe and warm!

Surgery is a scary thought for anyone, but advances in human medicine are helping to make patients more comfortable and shortening stays in the hospital. Even our pets are now benefiting from these improvements!

Laparoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive type of surgery, was first performed on a dog back in 1902! In the intervening years, human surgeons have perfected techniques to removal gall bladders, relieve endometriosis, and even help individuals with morbid obesity. Veterinary surgeons are now adapting many of these techniques.

A laparoscope consists of a telescoping rod and lens system connected to a video camera and light source. The surgeon inserts the laparoscope into the patient through a tiny (less than 1 inch long) incision.

The biggest benefit to laparoscopic surgery is the reduced need for a large incision in the abdomen. In the case of human gall bladder removal, traditional surgeries create an incision about 8 inches long. Now, laparoscopes use 4 incisions, all less than ½ inch, to remove the gall bladder. Smaller incisions mean shorter recovery time, shorter hospital stays, and, above all, less pain.

Veterinarians are seeing these benefits and are anxious to export them to our pets. Laparoscopic surgery is becoming a viable alternative for pet owners wanting to provide a human-level of surgical care for their pets. Surgeries that are considered “routine” by pet owners and veterinarians, such as spaying a female dog or cat, are now considered good candidates for the laparoscope.

Veterinarians are not only using this revolutionary new tool for spays, but as an aid to help diagnose disease. Surgeons are able to biopsy internal organs and the procedure often requires no more than sedation and a local anesthetic. Previous protocols for biopsies demand general anesthetic and a prolonged recovery time. With some laparoscopic biopsies, the patient is often ready to go home in less than 2 hours!

And, this high tech gadget can actually save lives too! Many large breeds of dogs are prone to a twisting of the stomach commonly known as “bloat”. The occurrence of this painful emergency condition can be prevented by tacking the right side of the stomach to the body wall, preventing rotation. Prior to laparoscopes, veterinarians would perform exploratory surgery, generating an incision in excess of 6 or 8 inches. The modern laparoscope can accomplish this potentially life-saving procedure through an incision about 1 inch long.

Although this technology is truly leading edge, don’t expect it to show up in all veterinary offices immediately. For some veterinarians, the initial set up cost of the equipment and time to learn the techniques may not be affordable. If you are planning a surgery for your pet, ask your veterinarian about the potential for laparoscopic assisted surgery in your area.

Wildlife fascinates us. Whether it’s the sight of a fox along the roadside or a raccoon ambling across a yard, people often stop in amazement, enthralled by these encounters with nature.

However, there is a darker side to this fascination. As we build more homes in formerly rural areas, contact with wild animals increases. Much of this new interaction has unfortunate consequences for the wildlife. This is evident by the number of dead raccoons, deer and possums along the roadside.

But, we humans and our pets are also in danger in these wild interactions. Along with deer come blood-thirsty ticks and an array of bacterial diseases. Raccoons and skunks bring the terror of rabies to our backyard and even the humble mouse has the potential for spreading deadly Hantavirus. There is a way that we can peacefully co-exist alongside wildlife by knowing the risks and taking steps to avoid them can help keep the whole family safe.

First, as mentioned above, skunks and raccoons are two important reservoirs of rabies in North America. Prior to 1977, rabies was very rare in North Carolina. But, a human managed relocation of raccoons from Florida to West Virginia in the late 1970s has unleashed a new epidemic of rabies in the Mid-Atlantic Area.

Rabid raccoons often become nice and “approachable” and many people are tempted to take the animal into their yards or homes. Raccoons also harbor a significant parasite known as the “raccoon roundworm” or Baylisascaris. These large worms are associated with severe or even fatal central nervous system disease in many mammals. The eggs are passed in the feces of the raccoon and then encountered by other animals, including children. The parasite can also mature in our dogs. This means that it is possible our pets are helping to contaminate larger areas with this potentially fatal worm.

They may be small, but many mice and rats can carry a killer virus. First discovered in the Four Corners region of the US, Hantavirus (or Sin Nombre virus) is now found in more than 30 states. Because of a long incubation period (one to five weeks), many people are unaware of a problem until too late. Thirty percent of affected individuals die. This disease is spread through rodent droppings, urine and saliva. It is possible to become infected after cleaning a house or barn where rodents have been in residence. Thankfully, our pets are not affected by this virus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov), the white tailed deer population in North America is now approaching levels not seen in more than 200 years. Although beautiful to look at, many wild deer carry some unwanted passengers, like ticks.

Ticks are the primary vector for several serious bacterial diseases like Lyme, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and tularemia. As we have built new subdivisions in rural areas or reforested old agricultural lands, these diseases have shown significant increases, both in humans and our dogs.

Finally, a single celled organism known as Giardia is the most common intestinal parasite of people in North America. In fact, people comprise the main reservoir of this disease. But, wild animals, like beavers, muskrats and small rodents also make up an important additional source of infection. This parasite can cause severe diarrhea, loss of appetite, and weight loss in both people and pets. Thanks to modern veterinary medicine and good common sense, it is possible to enjoy our wild neighbors and keep everyone safe.

First, avoiding contact with wildlife is the number one rule. Not only will it help prevent disease transmission, but it will also stop traumatic injuries from fights or chases through the woods.

Avoid the temptation to feed the local wildlife (with the exception of birds). Like our dogs and cats, wild animals become accustomed to regular feeding stations. Although well intentioned, this act will cause wild animals to linger in your yard and puts them in danger.

Similarly, don’t adopt orphaned or injured animals unless you are a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Keeping these animals increases your risk of contracting one of the diseases or parasites mentioned above.

Watch for wildlife defecation areas, like communal raccoon latrines. Using proper protective equipment, remove and destroy the feces.

Vaccinations and preventive flea and tick medications are vital in keeping our pets safe from these dangers. Your veterinarian can help you determine your pets’ risk factors and then guide you to choosing appropriate vaccines and flea/tick preventives.

Our growing urban sprawl and the adaptability of wild creatures means that we will continue to encounter many animals in and around our homes. To learn more about keeping everyone safe, visit www.MyVNN.com for a video on the dangers wildlife can pose to our families.

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Dr. Sara Lash runs Healthy Pets Mobile Vet and can be reached at www.drsaralash.com or at 919-329-PETS (7387)

For us, going to the dentist will often include services ranging from dental x-rays to repairing fractured teeth. And, more pet owners want the same sort of service for their pets. Fixing their pet's smile is a job for the Veterinary Dentist!

Dental x-rays are a common service for us when we visit the dentist. But our pets have not always been so lucky. The importance of these x-rays cannot be overstated. Even if your pet's mouth looks healthy, chances are that some sort of problem lies deeper.

According to dental experts, 42% of cats and 28% of dogs have hidden dental problems. And, since most of the tooth lies under the gum line, veterinarians need help to see what kind of problems are happening below.

Normally, our canine friends should have 42 teeth. But, for many toy breed or short-faced breeds, like Pugs, this number can cause crowding. Additionally, dogs with under-bites and over-bites also occur. All of these conditions can make it difficult and even painful for the pet to properly chew food.

Cats have their own unique dental problem. Due to reasons that are not fully understood, cats can develop a painful erosion of tooth enamel called a cervical neck lesion. As the normal enamel is lost, the pulp cavity of the tooth is exposed to the environment, painfully stimulating the nerves. Extraction of the tooth is often the only solution.

Trauma to pets' teeth is an everyday problem at the veterinary office and might happen due to rock chewing. Police dogs are at high risk for breaking the large canine teeth during their rigorous duties as well. Most dental experts agree that root canals are a better option than simply extracting the tooth.

Even teeth suffering from advanced periodontal disease may be saved with the combination of right owner, cooperative pet and the veterinary dental team. Veterinary oral surgery is now on the rise as pet owners do whatever they can for their four-legged friends. But, a compliant pet and a committed owner are essential if surgery is to be a success.

It takes a whole team to help keep your pet's smile healthy. Talk with your family veterinarian and ask if dental radiographs are available in your area. Find out what at-home dental products are recommended by your veterinarian and be sure to use them routinely. For more information watch a video at http://www.myvnn.com

Sara Lash, DVM
Healthy Pets Mobile Vet
www.drsaralash.com
919-329-7387(PETS)

This time of year brings the potential for many different types of disasters, both natural and man-made. Are you and your pet prepared?

From hurricanes to earthquakes, gas leaks to acts of terrorism, we are all at risk for some sort of disaster. Because events occur quickly and decisions are made fast, you need to have a plan for yourself and your animals in case of a disaster. First and foremost, if you are ordered to evacuate your home, you should plan to take your pets with you. Even anticipated short evacuations can turn into week long absences. Other recommendations include maintaining proper identification on your pets, preparing evacuation kits, and obtaining important medical records from your veterinarian.

Acquaint yourself with the types of disasters that can affect your area. Then develop an evacuation plan for your animals. For pets this may mean putting the small animals in a carrier and into the car for immediate evacuation. For farm animals, you would need to have an appropriate trailer handy and know where you can take each animal to be away from the danger and still receive proper care.

Be sure all your animals have proper identification. Rabies and ID tags are the best form for small animals. Microchipping is becoming a popular form of animal identification. An ID tag on a halter works well for large animals.

An animal carrier and an evacuation kit are the two most important things to have ready in advance. Have your evacuation kit near the carrier or cage and keep the items in it fresh. This allows for fast action. For an evacuation all you would need to do is put your pets in the carrier and grab the kit. An old overnight bag or back pack works well. Some of the most important items to keep in your animal’s evacuation bag would include: any needed medications, leashes, food, medical records, towels for bedding, and a bottle or two of water.

Returning home after a natural disaster has its own important issues to prepare for as well. If you have taken your pet with you, realize that many familiar items may be changed or missing from their environment. Survey your home for potential dangers, such as broken glass. Keeping current photographs of your pets are essential if you cannot take your pet, or if your pet runs off after returning home. These pictures can be used to create “lost” posters for distribution. Checking the local shelters and animal control facilities daily is a vital means to being reunited with your pet. Finally, inform your neighbors and your family veterinarian about your missing friend.

As we have seen in several wide spread disasters, many people will not evacuate without their pets. Leaving your home with your pets does not have to be a disaster, but takes pre-planning and thought.

Prepared by Sara Lash, DVM of Healthy Pets Mobile Vet who can be contacted at www.drsaralash.com or 919-329-7387(PETS)

Recently, billionaire Leona Helmsley made news after her death by bequeathing $12 million dollars for the care and upkeep of her dog, Trouble. Opinions varied from outrage to amusement and a legal battle was narrowly averted when a New York court reduced that amount to a mere $2 million. It is only natural for pet owners to be concerned about the well-being of their four-legged companions, especially if the owner happens to die first. But the unfortunate truth is that many pet owners attempt to leave an inheritance to their pets instead of money for their pets. This simple error could mean your request won’t be met by the probate court. Pets cannot receive an outright bequest of property from a will because animals are considered property themselves. So, leaving money directly to one or all of your pets is not permissible. And, setting up a trust for your pet is not an option because no human beneficiary enforces the terms. Simply put, who will go to court to make sure that your pet is getting the right dog food and that the trustee has not bought a new car with your money? Sadly, there is always the possibility that the probate court, when reviewing your will, could find that your generousness is “capricious” or “frivolous”. Fortunately, there is good news for pet owners who are concerned about caring for their pets who survive them. Following a few guidelines will allow your attorney and the courts to carry out any wishes for your pets.

First, create and carry an “Animal Card” so that if you are injured or die unexpectedly, emergency personnel will know that somewhere a pet is waiting and relying on your return. List the pet’s name, type of pet, location, and any special care instructions. Having your veterinarian listed is also highly recommended. Next, if you plan on providing for your pets after your death, name a human beneficiary who will receive funds to cover the pet’s expenses and be your pet’s caretaker. Although painful to deliberate, your will should provide some instructions and resources for the final resting place of your pet at the conclusion of its life. Many courts will not enforce a “euthanasia order” for your pet due to public outrage and many consider it to be an act of cruelty.

As with all things legal, you should discuss your wishes with an attorney who knows your state’s laws for pet trusts. Some states do allow owners to leave money for pets in honorary trusts, but these are completely unenforceable. Legal experts caution that your wishes could go unsatisfied. As more people keep pets later in life and veterinary medicine continues to advance our pets’ life spans, there is a real possibility that your pet could outlive you. Proactive measures can insure that your pet is not left unattended in the event of your death or disability. Your estate attorney can help organize the best plan for your means. Additionally, your veterinarian may have resources detailing organizations that offer homes for pets who survive their owners.

To keep up to date with all the latest pet health information, visit www.MyVNN.com.

Sara Lash, DVM
Healthy Pets Mobile Vet
www.drsaralash.com
919-329-7387 (PETS)

For more than a decade, pet owners have relied on flea and tick products that claim safe and effective solutions to a persistent problem. Historically, pesticides to control fleas and ticks were harsh and seemingly caused as many problems to the pets as they did to the parasites. With the advent of new topical or “spot-on” products, pet owners breathed a sigh of relief.

But now the EPA has raised a red flag and is warning pet owners about serious adverse effects seen with the use of these products. Citing a “sharp spike” in reported incidents, the EPA has increased scrutiny and may consider restricting their use.

Many different spot-on products are available to pet owners, both through their veterinarians and over-the-counter (OTC) outlets like grocery stores.

Veterinarians have long thought that significant severe reactions were the hallmark of OTC merchandise. After all, some OTC flea and tick shampoos, powders and even spot-on products rely on older, potentially dangerous ingredients. But, even newer medications aren’t immune to problems. Hartz® was forced to change labeling instructions after several highly reported adverse events with their cat product and eventually pulled it from the market.

Along with Hartz, Farnam and Sergeants also make popular OTC flea preventives and they have all seen their share of reactions along with negative publicity. In a Center for Public Integrity (www.publicintegrity.org) investigation, all three were singled out for using “pyrethroid type” ingredients.

Pyrethroids are the man-made cousins of pyrethrins, a naturally occurring insecticide produced by the chrysanthemum plant. Unfortunately, pyrethrins breakdown in sunlight and don’t have any sort of residual effect, making constant reapplication necessary. The improved pyrethroids offered longer lasting protection, but some fear it comes with significant costs.

The maker of Frontline®, says their internal records do not indicate any increase in adverse events associated with that product; the number of reported adverse events has remained consistently low since Frontline’s® introduction in 1996.

Furthermore, Hartz has stated to veterinarians that their products are often unfairly blamed for these reactions because consumers mistakenly refer to Hartz even though they purchased a competitive flea medication.

What can you do to help keep your pet flea free and safe? First, read and understand all label instructions for any flea product you might give to your pet. Veterinarians across the country are reporting many misapplications of the flea medications by owners anxious to stretch their pet health care dollar. Cats are especially vulnerable to misuse of these products but dogs can suffer as well.

Next, never discard the box of flea medication until you are sure your pet has shown no signs of a reaction. The box contains ingredient information and EPA registration numbers that are useful if any adverse event occurs.

Finally, follow the guidance and recommendations of your veterinarian. They completely understand how flea products work and how to handle any potential problems. Your veterinarian will also be up to date on the most accurate scientific data showing which products provide the best protection and won’t harm your pet. This information is important to the health and well being of your pets.

To learn more about fleas and ticks, be sure to visit www.MyVNN.com to see videos or visit www.PetDocsOnCall.com to ask questions of veterinary experts.

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Dr. Sara Lash is a veterinarian running Healthy Pets Mobile Vet and can be reached at www.drsaralash.com or 919-329-PETS (7387)

No one likes to think about a beloved pet growing older. We cringe as the once exuberant puppy needs help up stairs or tires after a short walk. Anti-Aging medicine is the newest clinical medical specialty offered to physicians. So, why don’t we hear more about this for our pets?

Pet owners are demanding a higher quality of medicine for their pets and human medicine is moving from a disease-based model to a preventive, proactive approach. Many veterinarians have shifted towards wellness protocols that get our pets into their offices two, three or even four times a year. More visits mean more chances to find small issues before they become big problems! But, just seeing your veterinarian more often is only part of the solution.

When scientists unraveled the genetic code of our dogs, they discovered our two species share similar mechanisms relative to aging. As we grow older, adverse changes in our cells increase the risk of death. About a third of these changes are genetic in nature. More often, however, they are due to lifestyle and environmental factors. As systems slow down, cells deteriorate faster than the dog’s body can repair them, leading to a decline in function and even appearance. The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (www.worldhealth.net) states that up to 90% of diseases are due to the degenerative process associated with aging. So, earlier intervention by veterinarians might provide your pet with a longer, happier life.

Currently, one aging theory has become almost universally accepted. The Free Radical Theory states that cells accumulate damage from the presence of atoms or molecules with an unpaired electron (“free radicals”). This cellular damage is cumulative and leads to a loss of functionality and then death. By finding ways to reduce the damage caused by free radicals, scientists hope to lengthen the average lifespan. Some experts point towards antioxidants as the answer to free radical damage. Antioxidants slow or even prevent the changes to cells by removing chemicals in the reactions that cause free radicals. Once these chemicals are stopped, damage is reduced or avoided. Antioxidants include compounds such as Vitamins C and E, beta carotene, retinol and melatonin. Many of our fruits and vegetables contain high levels of these antioxidants. However, diet alone cannot provide the levels of antioxidants needed without seriously affecting caloric intake and causing obesity. As with most things in life, more is not always better and in some cases, excess supplementation can result in adverse side effects. Antioxidant benefits are numerous, but the lack of standardization to dosages and clear research is a concern. Many species including man, dogs and cats benefit from antioxidant supplementation, but more studies are needed. Despite this uncertainty, many pet food companies are marketing new lines of pet foods enhanced by antioxidants or touting “fresh fruits and vegetables” in their diets. Nutraceutical preparations are also available that add antioxidants to the pet’s diet with promises of better health.

A better way to reduce the damages of the free radicals is caloric restriction, or maintaining lean body weight. Many different models, from mice and rats to fruit flies, have shown that reducing the amount of calories fed can increase life spans. Even dogs have benefited. A recent landmark study showed dogs fed on restricted calories actually lived almost 2 years longer than their free fed counterparts. Human studies show lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure and a lower body fat percentage as benefits of limiting your caloric intake. So, what does this all mean to you and your pet? Simply put, there is no magic bullet, but veterinary science continues to investigate novel therapies and ideas to help keep our pets with us just a little longer. As with any medication or diet change, you should always discuss use of antioxidants or anti-aging therapy with your veterinarian.

Prevention, early disease detection and prompt intervention, combined with good nutrition, exercise and regular veterinary visits are the cornerstones of your pet’s good health. To keep up-to-date on the latest pet healthcare, visit www.MyVNN.com and www.PetDocsOnCall.com.

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Dr. Sara Lash runs Healthy Pets Mobile Vet and can be reached at www.drsaralash.com or at 919-329-PETSs (7387)

Despite educational programs that start in pre-school, every year more than three thousand people die in house fires. Sadly, those who survive a house fire often lose cherished four-legged family members to the smoke and flames. According to the US Fire Administration’s website (www.usfa.dhs.gov), more than 1.7 million uncontrolled fires occur annually in the US. The Fire Administration does not keep tally, but other groups have estimated that more than 500,000 pets are killed by house fires each year. Why are we so good at saving human lives, but our pets seem to perish?

One potential answer is the presence of smoke alarms in our homes. For more than 30 years, laws have required the presence of these life-saving devices in any home or apartment. But the high pitched alarm that saves so many human lives is not helpful for saving our pets. We all realize that it’s time to evacuate when the alarm sounds, but our pets don’t know that. Worse yet, the unknown sound could scare a pet into hiding, increasing our own risk for harm as we search for the missing kitty or pup. And, the sad fact is that many pets will die in house fires because they are unable to get out of the home. This often happens when the family is away. Rescue personnel are frequently unaware of pets needing help.

The heroic efforts of firefighters may save some pets from the flames, but damage from smoke or carbon monoxide inhalation can overwhelm many. Life-saving equipment, such as oxygen masks, is usually designed for people meaning some animals may die enroute to the veterinarian.

Fortunately, many diverse groups are working to improve the survival chances of pets caught in fires. Many concerned groups, from alarm monitoring companies and humane organizations are looking to save the half a million pets lost each year. As with many tragedies, preventing the occurrence is the best first step. Pet owners are urged to “pet proof” their home and look for potential fire hazards. Always extinguish open flames before leaving your home.

Firefighters are trained to look for window alert signs and make attempts to save pets. These “window clings” are often available from the American Kennel Club or visit (www.adt.com) to obtain a free one. Beyond using the signs, you should always update them as new pets arrive in your family! If you return home to a burning building, you should not attempt to enter, trying save your pets! This is difficult but you need to let the professionals do their job and rescue your animals.

As mentioned, working smoke alarms are helpful to the humans, but if you aren’t there to hear the alarm, your pets could be trapped inside. Pet owners should consider monitored smoke detection services as an extra precaution. By alerting the fire department more quickly, these services increase the chances that your pets will get out safely.

Saving pets from the horrors of fire will be easier thanks to dedicated fire fighting professionals, alarm companies, veterinarians and humane organizations all working together. To keep up to date on all pet related news, be sure to visit www.MyVNN.com or www.PetDocsOnCall.com for the latest and most trustworthy pet health information.

Your information here:

Dr. Sara Lash runs Healthy Pets Mobile Vet and can be reached at www.drsaralash.com or 919-329-7387(PETS)

Cat lovers are abundant across this country as is evident by the more than 80 million pampered felines sharing our homes. But, living outdoors is another huge population of cats that has far fewer admirers and lives in constant danger of imminent death, usually at our hands!

There is no way of knowing for certain, but experts estimate that the feral cat population in North American equals or even exceeds the “owned” cat population. A feral cat is one that is unsocialized to humans and actively avoids contact. Stray cats, on the other hand, are often ones that have left home or are cats that have been abandoned by their owners. These “strays” will often approach humans and even allow petting. All cats, feral, stray and owned cats who are simply roaming the neighborhood are all members of our domestic species, Felis catus.

Traditionally, feral and stray cats are caught whenever possible and taken to local animal shelters. There, if they are calm enough for adoption, they might find a new home, but the vast majority of these felines end up dying at the end of a euthanasia needle. According to Alley Cat Allies (www.alleycat.org) 70% of cats who make it into a shelter are killed, making euthanasia the number one documented cause of feline deaths in the U.S.

Alley Cat Allies started in 1990 proposing to stop the killing of millions of cats. Becky Robinson, one of the founders, remembers walking in an alleyway and seeing a whole colony of “tuxedo cats”. Watching the cats interact gave her insight into the social lives of these “wild” animals and prompted her to work towards their preservation. Since that memorable night, Becky and her volunteers have introduced Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) to the United States. Originally conceived in England, these TNR programs have helped improve the health of many feral cats through vaccinations and sterilization.

In a nutshell, TNR allows volunteers to capture feral cats using humane cage traps. The cats are then taken to participating veterinarians who anesthetize, neuter and vaccinate the animals. After an identifying notch is placed in the cat’s ear, they are allowed to recover in the cage and then returned to their original capture site and their home colony. Caretakers then monitor the overall health of the colony and conduct a population census while providing feeding stations for the cats.

The TNR programs are not without critics though. Bird watchers worry about how feral cats impact songbirds and other wildlife. Neighbors living near feral cat colonies are concerned about cats urinating and defecating in their yards. And, public health officials are concerned about potential transmission of diseases like toxoplasmosis, plague, and rabies. The website TNR Reality Check (www.tnrrealitycheck.com) maintains that there is little proof that TNR programs work to control populations of feral cats.

Ms Robinson disagrees and points to several recent scientific articles that show TNR is a valid principle for controlling and even reducing the size of a feral cat colony. Furthermore, she questions the validity of claims by groups such as the American Bird Conservancy that these cats are the biggest threat to songbird survival.

Cat owners should take care that they are not adding to this controversial issue. Many of the cats in these colonies are abandoned at the site by their owners. Some people fear taking their cats to shelters and feel less guilty about leaving the cat alone outdoors if they know the colony has a caretaker providing food. This, however, is unfair to the people trying to maintain the colony and also exposes your unprepared cat to the dangers of the outdoor world.

If your personal circumstances change so that you are unable to keep your cat, don’t simply leave him or her at the mercy of the outdoors. Contact your local humane groups or shelters for their advice and assistance in re-homing your feline friend.

Dealing with the millions of feral and stray cats in this country will be a controversial topic for many years. But, as Becky Robinson says, “cats have lived on the outskirts of our society for almost 10,000 years. This is a fact we shouldn’t try to change.”

To learn more about the work of feral cat organizations across the country, you can visit www.alleycat.org. To get the most up-to-date and accurate pet health information, bookmark www.MyVNN.com and www.PetDocsOnCall.com as sources of trustworthy advice for you and your pets.

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Dr. Sara Lash runs Healthy Pets Mobile Vet and can be reached at www.drsarlash.com or 919-329-PETS (7387)

The economy is in bad shape and may be for years. Saving money in tough economic times is a challenge. Sadly, some pet owners choose to avoid veterinary visits to reduce expenses. Knowing what care you can safely do at home helps to insure a healthy pet and a healthy wallet. You should also know what to avoid!! First, don’t skimp on preventive care. Vaccinations and parasite prevention are important parts of maintaining your pet’s health and yours as well. Some diseases and many parasites are zoonotic, meaning they can be spread between animals and people. Owners might choose to buy vaccines online or from a pet store. While this idea sounds great, there are many risks. Can you trust that the supplier properly stored the vaccines? Vaccines are delicate biological suspensions and improper preparation could make the whole process worthless. Choosing a lower cost flea product from the store is another option a pet owner might investigate. Before you buy, consider this. The EPA has received more than 25,000 reports of over-the-counter pesticide reactions in pets since 2003. So, although you might save a few dollars on the product, the emergency trip to the veterinarian could cost a lot more! Pet emergencies shouldn’t be a place for shortcuts either. Store-bought topical antibiotics are almost worthless and most of these animals end up coming into the hospital with out of control infections. Avoid bandaging pets without proper training. And never give human medications to pets without veterinary approval!! But don't worry; you can still save on your veterinary bills with a few simple steps at home.

First, (and this sounds very simple) play with your pet! Veterinary behaviorists all agree that a tired dog is a happy dog and happy dogs don’t tear up furniture or get into trouble. Playing with your pet has health benefits as well. A well-exercised pet is less likely to be overweight and suffer from obesity related problems such as arthritis. Next, when exercising your pet, use appropriate restraints and confinements. Pets who roam freely are often hit by cars, get into fights or eat something dangerous. These emergencies can end up hitting your wallet very hard. Even loving your pet is economically beneficial. Petting your dog can help find those little lumps and bumps sooner. Earlier detection generally means better outcomes and usually less expensive treatments.

Despite all of these precautions, some pets will just get into trouble. Veterinary medicine is still a bargain, but most of us would be hard pressed to pay a big veterinary bill out of pocket. Insurance plans are available to assist owners, but even today only a small percentage of people insure their pets’ health. If paying a premium every month isn’t appealing to you, consider investing in a Pet Health Savings Plan. Unlike insurance, the money you pay into the program is yours, allowing you flexibility to use the savings for any emergency.

We all want to keep our furry friends safe and healthy, but it is challenging when just feeding the family stretches your budget. Talk with your veterinarian about your pet’s specific health needs and see what should be addressed immediately and what can wait. You can find more information on how to avoid big veterinary bills at www.MyVNN.com.

Dr. Sara Lash
Healthy Pets Mobile Vet
www.drsaralash.com
919-329-7387(PETS)

Every summer, hundreds of dogs find their way to the family veterinarian after spending just a few hours in the hot sun.

It’s important to remember dogs don’t sweat like we do. Cooling themselves by panting, dogs use the moisture evaporating off their tongue as a means to lower their body’s temperature. Anything overwhelming this natural cooling system leads to heat stroke. With more families away from home during the day, our dogs are often left outdoors where it may be difficult to find shady, cool places and water to drink.

Normally, a dog’s temperature ranges from 100 to 102.5 degrees. In cases of heat stroke, temperatures over 106 degrees are considered to be an emergency situation – temperatures over 110 degrees can be fatal in a matter of minutes. This level of hyperthermia (higher than normal body temperature) can affect every major body system and it’s imperative you get your pet to a veterinarian as soon as you safely can.

Dogs who succumb to heat stroke often show the following symptoms:
• Vigorous panting
• Inability to stand, or weakness while standing
• Thick, ropy saliva, literally foaming at the mouth
• Bright red mucous membranes, although some dogs may show pale or even muddy gums.

Heat stroke can affect any dog, although dogs with short faces, such as Boston, Pugs, and Bulldogs may be at higher risk due their inability to effectively pant and cool themselves. Many people believe that their pet will be fine outdoors. However, inadequate shade and/or water can affect even the most seasoned outdoor dog. Interestingly, heat stroke in cats is very rare. Most animal experts believe that cats are extremely good at finding the coolest spots to lay and also avoid the excessive, excitatory exertions that many dogs seem to thrive on.

If you find your dog vigorously panting on a warm summer day, immediately move the pet out of the environment and into a cooler place. Getting the pet into a shady area with a fan running on him can be very helpful. Using cool, not cold, tap water on the extremities and trunk can also help to effectively lower the body temperature, as well as rubbing alcohol placed on the skin of the stomach. Do not use ice or extremely cold water. Although it seems logical, extreme cold will cause surface blood vessels to contract, forming an insulating area that traps heat in the body, delaying the cooling of the vital organs. Attempting to force your pet to drink is also not advisable. If you suspect your dog is suffering from heat stroke, immediately load your pet carefully into a car and go to the veterinarian. Under no circumstances should you leave your pet alone in the vehicle.

Without these life saving steps, many dogs might lose their lives to the “dog-days” of summer. Quick thinking owners and veterinary professionals can help get them back on their feet in no time.

The last thing any pet owner wants to do on Christmas is rush their pet to the animal emergency room! But, the truth is that many pets are injured or poisoned during these holidays. How can you make sure your holiday doesn’t end in disaster?

1)During the holidays, most animal related ER visits are due to eating something inappropriate. Some foods cause upset stomachs, some are poisonous, and some can cause life-threatening obstructions.

2)We know that 60% of us will share our holiday meal with our pets, but you should follow a few basic guidelines.

3)A small amount of white turkey is an acceptable treat but definitely avoid the turkey skin and the turkey bones! The skin is often fatty and can cause pets to develop pancreatitis, a painful inflammation of the pet’s pancreas. This also applies to ham which is fatty.

4)Poultry bones, especially cooked, have potential to both break off and cause a perforation of the digestive tract or, if large amounts are consumed, could cause an obstruction.

5)Other foods to avoid include: grapes and raisins, excessively salty foods, foods flavored with onion or garlic powder, desserts and sweets containing Xylitol, and chocolates. (See chocolate toxicity calculator below.)

6)All leftovers should be secured behind a pet-proof door.

7)Remember, keep your trash can secure. Many items used in the meal preparation and then thrown away can be dangerous. A turkey string, foil wrappers, etc may smell like food and be eaten by a curious pet.

8)Decorative plants are also a source of danger. Mistletoe and holly can cause vomiting and lilies are often deadly to cats. Poinsettias, despite their reputation, are not deadly and often cause little more than mild stomach upset.

9)Some holiday decorations are also dangerous. Ribbons and tinsel are especially attractive and hazardous to cats. Keep an eye on electrical cords to insure puppies and kittens don’t chew on them.

10)During family gatherings, it might be best to keep pets confined if they are overly anxious. Also, monitor people going in and out of the front door. Pets might take advantage and try to escape.

11)Keep your veterinarian’s phone number and the local animal emergency hospital handy. A quick call to either of them can give you life-saving advice or even help you avoid a trip to the ER.

12)Be sure to visit www.MyVNN.com to see important animal health videos.

In our westernized society, alternative forms of therapy and medicine are often viewed with suspicion and occasionally, outright disbelief. Practices like acupuncture, acupressure or even homeopathy have many critics. Still, when it comes to resolving their pets’ ills, some pet owners are willing to take a chance on a non-traditional treatment.

Holistic medicine is generally defined as medical care of the whole pet, including environment, social and personal factors as opposed to the focus of treating just the disease. Integrative medicine embraces both conventional Western styles with holistic practices. Many people refer to non-traditional medicine as alternative or even complementary medicine.

These non-conventional approaches include therapies as diverse as acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic care, and traditional Chinese veterinary medicine (TCVM).

For some pet owners and even some veterinarians, thinking about alternative medicine for their pets has come about from personal experiences. Although practices such as herbal medicine and homeopathy might be recognized by the public, other therapies might sound a little more exotic.

For all holistic veterinarians, slow acceptance and the potential for scorn and ridicule have been part of their journey.

Considerable skepticism still remains for these alternative therapies. Although the site is geared towards human medicine, www.quackwatch.com has made its mission to disclose health related frauds. Many of the therapies mentioned above are discussed in detail on this site. The major opposition centers on a lack of controlled scientific evidence and dubious diagnostic and therapeutic standards.

The International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) is also trying to combat the “lack of evidence” argument. Through certification processes and collection of case studies, IVAS hopes to bring acupuncture into the mainstream of practice. For pet owners seeking acupuncture, the IVAS seal is an important credential.

Pets, like their human caretakers, are individuals and despite lack of scientific evidence, it is possible that some animals may respond to these treatments. A certified veterinary acupuncturist and noted author on alternative therapies has said to remind owners that integrative medicine is most beneficial for the pet and that many complementary treatments are more mainstream than people realize. Glucosamine was once alternative medicine but now is widely accepted.

When your pet is ill or suffering, make sure you and your veterinarian can reach a diagnosis for your pet before rushing off to try a novel treatment you heard about on the Internet. If you have a strong belief that a holistic approach would benefit your pet, discuss this option with your veterinarian. To learn more about other alternative treatments visit the Pet Health Resources Library at www.PetDocsOnCall.com. You can also participate in interactive holistic medicine forums.

Everyone loves the amazing stories of dogs and cats who travel long distances to find their way back home or even locate their owners in a new city. Unfortunately, these happy tales are the rare exception to the rule. For every pet that makes it back after leaving, there are tens of thousands who never live to see home again!

Humane groups and pet industry experts estimate that more than 5 million pets will be lost this year. One pet in every three will be lost at some point in his or her lifetime. According to the American Humane Association (www.americanhumane.org), of those that roam away from home, less than 17% of the dogs and only 2% of the cats ever make it back to their owners. Sadly, most of the rest will be euthanized in over-crowded animal shelters. Newspapers and on-line ads still tell the sad story of some youngster’s lost pet every day. Why do we see a continuation of this problem year after year?

First, despite leash laws and other ordinances, many families are reluctant to chain their dogs or attempt to keep their cats from roaming. This is especially true in rural areas.

Compounding the issue is that there are more than 200 million pets in North America and only a very small percentage has some form of permanent identification. ID tags and collars are easily removed by unscrupulous individuals or even by the pet in some instances. Microchips help to insure that the pet has some means of identification, but even these implants aren’t foolproof.

In fact, it is a rare pet that actually has a microchip. According to industry data, only about 5% of all pets in North America actually have a microchip. And, even the pets with chips aren’t necessarily any safer. When owners fail to register their pet properly, reunions are delayed or even prevented in many instances. Again, experts from all major microchip companies state that less than 50% of chipped pets are registered with correct and current information.

Other forms of identification, such as tattooing, are very rare and obscure. This fact means that a shelter employee or veterinary office may not even note the presence of a tattoo.

Finally, even though they have good intentions, shelters and rescues are often overwhelmed with pets. A microchip could be missed during a hurried exam or a description of your lost pet might not match what the employee sees in front of him.

In spite of these overwhelming odds, you can proactively help insure that your pet will make it safely home. First, like so many things, prevention and preparation go a long way. Neuter your pet to decrease his roaming urges and consider using both ID tags and a microchip. Obey local leash laws and don’t allow your pet to wander the neighborhood.

Next, if your pet does become lost, act fast! Don’t delay in the hopes that he will simply find his way back. The faster you respond to his disappearance, the better your odds are of finding him safely. Visit local shelters daily.

A new online service, HelpMeFindMyPet.com has recently made headlines across the country for their success rate in finding pets. This pet recovery service offers a nationwide alert system for lost pets.

If you are enrolled at their website and your pet is lost, one call sets a flurry of activity into motion. First, all veterinary offices, groomers, shelters, pet stores, and HelpMeFindMyPet members within a 50 mile radius of your pet’s last known location receive notification via email or fax of your pet’s disappearance. This communication contains a flyer with a picture or description of your pet and any other identifying features or ID numbers. Additionally, using the power of the social media networks, like Facebook and Twitter, announcements are made to help increase the number of searchers for your pet.

According to Jessica Staton of HelpMeFindMyPet, more than 87% of pets reported through their system make it home. Additionally, this service continues to broadcast alerts until the pet is found! Ms. Staton describes numerous incidents of stolen pets being returned because of intense publicity. Other organizations, such as Amber Alert for Pets and FindToto.com also have web-based recovery services.

We all want our family members to stay close to home and to heart. But, like all children, our pets love exploration and adventure too. Work with your veterinarian to make sure all your pets are properly identified with tags and/or microchips. Now, you also have the option to use the power of the Internet in case your pet decides to wander off. To learn more about microchips, visit www.MyVNN.com.

Most people do not realize there are two types of pharmacies. Compounding pharmacies are those that actually make, mix or "compound" therapeutic medications "in-house" as compared to those that simply count and dispense prepared medications. This concept is not new…in fact, for most of this profession's history, pharmacists used their knowledge of chemicals and base ingredients to create the appropriate drug ordered by the doctor. It has only been within the last 50 years that pharmacists have moved from being compounders of medicines to dispensers of pre-made drugs. But even the modernization and convenience of prepared pharmaceutical drugs did not remove the need for many special or out of production drugs to be made on site. Some patients have allergies to ingredients in the medications. Others, especially children and veterinary patients, require unique flavorings to help disguise bitter drugs and improve compliance. And, as the age old joke describes, giving a pill to a cat can be a hair-raising experience!

In fact, compounding pharmacies account for approximately 30 million prescriptions a year across the United States. From bio-identical hormones for human patients to tuna-flavored antibiotics for pets, compounding is an important part of the medical community. Many veterinarians rely on compounding pharmacies to formulate patient friendly medications. A very common example is the use of a transdermal gel to deliver the drug, Tapazole® to cats with hyperthyroidism. Cats with this disease have a propensity for vomiting and diarrhea, so allowing the drug to be absorbed through the skin instead of fighting with a pill, lessens stress on the cat and on the owner! Beyond flavoring and transforming the medicine into a new form, some pharmacies can actually combine two medications into one single injection. This is helpful for patients, like our dogs and cats, who might be difficult to handle for multiple injections during a hospital stay.

What compounding pharmacies can’t do is avoid the drug approval process for a new drug or create a product similar to one already on the market. Some people feel the pharmacy in Florida that accidentally created the lethal injection for a team of polo horses broke the law by compounding a product not approved for use in the US. However, with a veterinarian’s prescription, this is perfectly legal. Critics of these businesses maintain that the FDA doesn’t properly regulate compounded products or that these pharmacists are over-stepping their authority. Despite media stories to the contrary, compounding pharmacies don’t operate outside the law. The Executive Vice President of the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (IACP), says that compounding pharmacies are regulated just like your neighborhood drug store. First, state boards of pharmacy inspect the businesses and even test random batches of compounded drugs for problems. Many of these pharmacies will send samples to independent labs for verification. In addition to the states, the FDA oversees and regulates this industry insuring that no one is circumventing normal drug approval channels or providing unsafe, cheaper drug alternatives to the public.

Also, the IACP has implemented a Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board (PCAB) so that patients can trust and feel comfortable with the high quality standards that are in place. Since its inception in 2004, about 50 of the more than 3500 individual compounding pharmacies have met the standards and 110 more have applied for accreditation. The PCAB is a voluntary process and pharmacies are not required to join.

Millions of household pets, horses and other animals owe their better quality of life to these pharmacists continuing to uphold a long-standing tradition. If you are concerned about your pet’s medication or a reaction to a drug, please communicate this to your veterinarian. To keep up to date on animal health news or to get more information about your pet’s health needs, visit www.MyVNN.com or www.PetDocsOnCall.com.

Robins and many other songbirds are often the heralds of springtime and warmer weather just around the corner. Unfortunately, a new report is stating these welcome spring visitors are quite possibly spreading a serious disease of humans and pets…Lyme Disease!

While it is true that states near Connecticut account for almost 90% of all cases reported, Lyme Disease can be found in all 50 states and is truly a global disease.

Ticks are the primary vector for spreading Lyme Disease to people and also to dogs, cats and even horses. Usually, ticks will acquire the disease causing bacteria by feeding on infected rodents, the primary reservoir. Deer also play an important role as expanding populations import large numbers of ticks into new areas of the country.

But now, researchers at Yale have found that robins, blue jays and other common birds are also reservoirs of this illness. Furthermore, the nymph and larval stages of the tick life cycle can be carried by the birds across distances and into the yards where pets and people often roam.

Thankfully, transmission is fairly rare with only about 1% of all tick bites resulting in Lyme Disease. But, human cases have more than doubled in the last two decades and pet cases, especially among dogs, appear to be more common as well.

Furthermore, veterinarians are well-equipped to discover and treat this disease. Animals with positive results are usually started on a course of antibiotics depending on the severity or even presence of clinical signs.

Pet owners have several different options to help prevent tick exposure. Although tick killing collars are available, most people choose a topical “spot-on” type of medication. A product like Frontline® has shown good results by killing ticks before the bacteria can be transmitted to your pets. You should always follow your veterinarian’s advice for these products as some of them, especially those sold over the counter, can be harmful to cats.

Vaccines to prevent Lyme Disease from occurring in dogs are also available. Like all vaccines, there is controversy surrounding their use, but some experts feel that vaccinating dogs in Lyme-endemic areas helps to minimize cases and reduce disease and stress in pets. These vaccines work by generating antibodies that can kill the bacteria while it is still in the tick!

And, one of the most economical and satisfying ways to keep pets safe from ticks is to spend a little time each day brushing and grooming your pet. Experts agree that the Lyme bacteria needs about 18-24 hours in order to transmit to your pet, so a little daily pampering with brush and comb could find ticks before they can cause disease!

Even though ticks might be flying into your yard, the protection for your pets doesn’t have to be “fly by night”. Working with your veterinarian, you can find the safest and most economical plan for keeping your pets tick free.

MRSA has been termed by the press as a “super-bug”. This refers to the resistance this bacteria has against several types of common antibiotics, especially those in the penicillin family. S. aureus is commonly found on the skin on people and it is estimated that about 2.6% of Americans carry MRSA on their skin or in their nasal passages. Worldwide, an estimated 53 million people are thought to be carriers of MRSA. First identified in 1961 in the United Kingdom, cases of MRSA have increased greatly in recent years. More than 94,000 people in the US are infected with MRSA each year and 19,000 die. This fact makes MRSA more common than AIDS in the US.

MRSA is commonly associated with infections acquired from hospitals (nocosomial infections). MRSA infections have increased hospital stay costs when compared to routine staph infections. In 30 years, the percentage of staph infections that are MRSA has increased from 2% to more than 63%. MRSA has acquired a gene which binds penicillin and keeps the antibiotics from interfering with cell wall synthesis.

MRSA can also colonize the noses of our dogs and have been found on pigs and horses as well. Some equine hospitals have reported MRSA outbreaks.

Early data shows that MRSA may be a problem in our pets. Veterinary surgeons have reported MRSA associated with dogs that have had limbs amputated. It is important to remember that 90% of skin infections in dogs are actually associated with a different species of bacteria, Staphylococcus intermedius. Currently, a study at the veterinary college at the University of Missouri at Columbia is studying the possibility of MRSA spreading from pets to people. Because MRSA is common among healthcare workers, these pet owners will be divided into three groups: 1) those that are human health care workers, 2) those who are veterinary health care workers, and 3) non-health care workers.

The study is being partially funded by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Indiscriminate antibiotic use and the misuse of antibiotics have been implicated in the rise of MRSA worldwide.

Go to www.MyVNN.com to see a large library of pet health care videos.

The joy of raising a new puppy or kitten to be your constant companion is one of life’s greatest experiences. In a crazy economy, mixed up politics and stressful family lives, pets can actually bring a cohesive and loving touch. So if you want to add a little unconditional love and lots of fun at home, a new pet may just be what the doctor ordered.

There is no doubt that we find the little round heads and big eyes of young puppies and kittens irresistible. Millions of new pets find their ways into our hearts and homes each year. Studies show pets are a very positive addition to families or singles and even empty nesters! Pets relieve stress, add joy and give us love unconditionally.

So a new pup or kitten may be just what you need. If you’ve rescued a pet in need of a great home, all puppies and kittens have requirements that you must know before bringing them home.

Prepare for day to day needs, like food and playtime, plus the on-going needs, like vaccines and preventive care, and for those unexpected things, like emergency care or behavioral problems.

It’s common sense that puppies and kittens need adequate amounts of food and clean water to grow to their potential. What’s less well known is that your choice of food could have a huge impact on the health of your pet.

It’s easy to become confused by the many brands, flavors, and styles of pet food – all claiming they are best. When looking for a proper diet, please ask the advice of your veterinarian. Also look for companies that make a real effort to help consumers understand our pets’ nutritional needs – and not just sell a slick image or push celebrity endorsements. Remember, some of the best medicine isn’t medicine at all – it is nutrition!

Whether new owners are trying to save money or they were told “all his shots are done”, inadequate preventive care dooms many young animals to suffer some terrible diseases. Feline distemper, canine parvovirus, heartworm disease and severe intestinal parasite infestations are just a few of the serious medical problems seen routinely in veterinary offices.

Your veterinarian will save you money and heartache by providing advice about vaccines and preventive care. Although Internet sites and forums might seem like great places for education, many sites provide poor advice and even wrong information. Your veterinarian will customize an individualized vaccine protocol and give the needed de-worming treatments to keep your pet safe. When it comes to your new pet and your veterinarian – an ounce of prevention REALLY is worth a pound of cure.

Likewise, your pet’s mental/social health is as important as his physical well-being. As a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist says, “help your puppy do the right thing. You won’t get the chance to redo or undo behaviors learned during this formative time.”

Behavioral problems are a leading cause for relinquishment and even euthanasia of pets. By spending some time working with your new pet through obedience and socialization classes, you can help prevent life-long issues. Having the right toys and providing plenty of play time with the family is another great way to have a behaviorally healthy pet.

Then, there are always the miscellaneous items you will need: crates to help with housetraining, litter boxes for the kittens, scratching posts, treats, leashes, collars and stain/odor removers for accidents. Today we have great pet super stores where you can find limitless choices of these essential things.

All told, Americans spend about $40 billion dollars each year on their pets. An average family might spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on their dogs and cats each year. Sadly, emergencies and serious illnesses add to this number. Pet insurance and pet health savings plans can help reduce or eliminate some costs, but common sense and responsible ownership will have the greatest impact.

Many people can’t resist the cuteness of a puppy or kitten, but, bringing a new pet home comes with a great deal of responsibility and a little bit of cost. But science and centuries of experiences shows us that animals bring a rare richness to our lives, and this is especially true in stressful times. To learn more about new pet care, be sure to see the library of videos at www.MyVNN.com

It doesn’t matter if the bug has six legs or eight. Pet owners despise both fleas and ticks and the annual nuisance they cause. You aren’t aware of it, but relieving pets of these pesky parasites might also prevent some nasty diseases.

Does the mere sight of a tick make you queasy? Do fleas on your pets cause an edgy, “itchy” feeling? Fortunately, working with veterinarians, you can ease your pets’ discomfort and provide a sense of relief. What’s even better? Each dead flea or tick is one less potential vector for some pretty serious diseases. Both fleas and ticks subsist by drinking the blood of other animals. Thousands of flea species exist along with hundreds of ticks. Whenever these parasites take a blood meal, they have the potential to carry blood borne diseases from one animal to another. Experts from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) state that 75% of all emerging diseases are zoonotic in nature, meaning that they are passed from animals to people. Fleas and ticks are important vectors in this type of transmission.

Here are a few important diseases transmitted by fleas and ticks:

Lyme Disease, a serious infection in people, is perhaps the best known of all diseases spread by ticks. In 15 years, cases of Lyme have more than doubled in the United States with 93% of the cases occurring in just ten states. Dogs in states where the disease is endemic are also susceptible, often showing lameness, fever, and possibly even neurological signs.

Despite its name, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is common throughout North America. This is another tick borne bacterial disease that can have serious consequences for people and pets. About 1200 people contract RMSF annually especially in the western and southeastern states. Dogs have served as sentinels for this disease, but symptoms are vague. Without treatment, this disease is fatal in both dogs and humans.

Ehrlichia are types of bacteria that specialize in living inside our white blood cells. Many military dogs returning from Viet Nam were diagnosed with this disease, although it is found naturally in the United States as well. Humans, dogs and cats can all become infected through tick exposure. Affected animals will have low blood cell counts, fevers and occasionally severe bleeding, kidney disease, and neurological disorders.

Tularemia is an extremely rare disease also known as "rabbit fever". Ticks can spread this disease to dogs and humans, but cats are most susceptible. Many cats are infected from ingesting diseased rabbits. Infected cats may show symptoms from mild anorexia to oral ulcers and severe dehydration. The CDC even has concerns that tularemia could be used as a potent biological weapon.

Other tick-borne diseases include anaplasmosis, southern tick-associated rash illness, and tick-borne relapsing fevers.

Like ticks, fleas can carry various bacterial agents, including tularemia mentioned above. However, it’s the "Black Death" or bubonic plague that has greater potential for destruction. Fleas pick up the disease-causing bacteria from rodents and can then infect both cats and humans. More than a dozen cases of bubonic plague are diagnosed in the US annually.

Fleas can also carry bacteria that cause Cat Scratch disease in humans and many different blood parasites that affect both dogs and cats. Despite all of the doom and gloom, many of these diseases can be treated successfully if they are caught early. In addition, working with your veterinarian to provide protection against these parasites can keep the whole family, two and four-legged, safe. Compared to the cumbersome and toxic chemicals of the past, the products available today from your veterinarian are very effective and quite safe. Using products like Frontline Plus, in conjunction with environmental treatments creates an integrated pest control plan that will help keep fleas and ticks out of your home and even your yard. And experts agree that is the key in effective control of these bugs.

Many different flea products are available over the counter in retail stores, but these products lack efficacy and have been implicated in toxic overdoses of pets. Play it safe…get the most modern and safest flea and tick control from your veterinarian, use it as directed and rest assured that you are providing the best protection for the whole family. To learn more about the deadly diseases carried by fleas and ticks, visit www.MyVNN.com to see a video.

Pets share our homes, our kitchens, and, in some cases, even our beds. Unfortunately, they might also be sharing some unwanted guests - WORMS! Unlike fleas and mosquitoes who sometimes give us a break during colder weather, these parasites can cause problems all year long!

Most people don’t realize it, but most all puppies and kittens are born with roundworms, hookworms or even both. In the vast majority of cases, these worms are passed from mom to the babies either during pregnancy or during nursing after birth. Left unchecked, these tiny monsters can cause poor growth, diarrhea, vomiting, or even death in young animals.

Adult pets aren’t immune to these parasites either. Pets who consume other animals’ feces, eat grass, or even those who catch and eat infected rodents might end up with bloody, runny stool or vomiting caused by the worms.

But beyond their immediate effects on the animals, there is an even more sinister side to these pests. Both roundworms and hookworms are zoonotic, meaning that they can be passed to humans. Children are especially susceptible and can suffer blindness, seizures or organ dysfunction. In extreme cases, young children have lost an eye to roundworm infections.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that almost 14% of the U.S. population is infected with roundworms. That’s nearly 40 million people! Why aren’t we aware of this danger?

The answer lies in the life cycle of these parasites. After the larval worms make their way to the puppies’ digestive tract, they mature into adults over a 3 week period of time. Then, the real danger begins. Adult female worms begin shedding enormous numbers of eggs into the environment. It’s not unusual for more than 200,000 eggs to be shed every single day by a single female.

Now, imagine a mother dog with a litter of 9 puppies. Including mom’s contribution, even if each pup had only one female worm, more than 2 million eggs are being deposited daily into the yard where the puppies…and your kids, play. Multiply that by the number of days until the pups get an initial de-worming and you can see why this is a problem that has not gone away.

Roundworm eggs are also very hardy, able to survive for about two years in the environment. This makes places such as dog parks or other areas where dogs roam, potential danger zones for becoming infested. Dogs can even pick up roundworm eggs during the winter time!

Thankfully, hookworm eggs are often killed by freezing temperatures, but in areas of the Southeastern U.S., hookworm larva can survive in sandy soil, emerging to penetrate bare skin. In people, this infection causes an intense itching sensation along with redness and swelling along the migratory track of the hookworm larva. Dogs often present with hair loss on all four feet and thickened, damaged skin on the lower legs.

Due to the prevalence of these worms in our pets, the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC, www.petsandparasites.com) has developed “strategic de-worming” protocols as a means to help protect both people and pets. Starting with puppies and kittens, CAPC recommends providing a de-worming medication every 2-3 weeks from two weeks of age until 12 weeks. In addition, pet owners are urged to use monthly heartworm prevention products that contain medication to control these intestinal parasites. Both dogs and cats should take these products every month, all year round!

Parents should teach children to wash their hands after playing with the pets or playing in the yard where pets defecate. Since the eggs are microscopic, you won’t see any evidence on the kid’s hands, but a thorough washing will help insure these parasites won’t end up infecting your children.

It’s also a good idea to check your pet’s stool sample routinely. The short life cycle of these parasites means that a severe infestation can occur quickly. Also, many other parasitic worms and protozoans pose some danger to our pets and these can all be found with a routine fecal sample. Your veterinarian can help you determine how often to test your pet’s stool based on previous exposure and geographic area.

Our pets are a big part of our lives and we want to share as much as we can with them. Playing it safe and following your veterinarian’s guidelines for de-worming could mean that you can share a much longer, healthier life together! To learn more about intestinal parasites, visit www.MyVNN.com for video resources.

During cold winter months, pets can come into close contact with a variety of ice melting compounds during walks and even in their owner’s driveway.

Rock salt is simple sodium chloride, the same chemical as table salt. It is commonly used due to its inexpensive cost.

Rock salt can be harmful to metal, concrete and plants and is generally only helpful at temperatures above 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

Rock salt is unlikely to harm pets unless large amounts are eaten. A dog can die by ingesting more than 10 grams per pound of body weight, but that would be equivalent to a 10 lb dog eating quarter pound of salt.

Symptoms of sodium toxicosis include neurological signs, vomiting, drinking excessively and urinating more than normal as well as seizures.

Calcium chloride, potassium chloride and magnesium chloride are used as ice melts in colder temperatures (down to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit).

Prolonged skin contact or ingesting large amounts of these other salts can be harmful to pets.

Urea, a common fertilizer, is also used in some areas to melt ice. It is useful in temperatures down to minus 21 degrees. Urea can cause environmental problems due to the fact it adds nitrates to runoff water.

Safe Paws is an ice melting product that combines the best of all of these products. It contains an amide/glycol mixture. It’s not corrosive to metal nor does it contaminate water with nitrates.

This new product will work on ice down to minus 2 degrees Fahrenheit and does not cause skin irritation like other ice melting products. The company does mention that it could cause stomach irritation if ingested.

When ice melting products are used, it’s a good idea to wipe down your pet’s feet after returning inside. This will lessen the amount of salt he carries in with him.

If your pet has a large amount of any ice-melting product on his fur (from rolling or walking through it), bathe the pet and monitor for skin irritations.

Consider the use of cat litter or sand for traction and also try combing sand with ice melt products for the best of both worlds.

Until recently, people showing concern for the environment were sometimes referred to as tree-huggers, hippies, even eco-nuts! But the more we understand about climate change and our impact on the environment, the more we want to protect our natural resources – and pet owners are no exception to this trend.

And as we become a greener society, companies are delivering. From organic pet foods and treats to beds made from recycled materials, choices and green alternatives are becoming more readily available to the consumer.

At SimplyFido® (www.simplyfido.com), pet owners can purchase dog toys made entirely of cotton and organic dyes. And according to their website, only natural dyes, like clove, are used. And because of their dying process, each toy has a unique appearance, making it one of a kind!

Planet Dog (www.planetdog.com) makes all natural hemp collars, leashes and harnesses, as well as toys made from 100% recyclable materials.

And when playtime is over, eco-conscious dogs and cats sleep on PoochPlanet® and SmartyKat® pet beds from Worldwise (www.worldwise.com).

These comfortable beds are filled with fiber created from recycled plastic bottles. Worldwise estimates that every year, 30 million bottles that could have been destined to landfills end up in comfortable, eco-friendly pet beds.

Commercial or organic, some of your pet’s diet will ultimately end up in your yard or litter box. Although it doesn’t seem glamorous or trendy, eco-friendly waste disposal is gaining nationwide attention.

For example, officials estimate that a town with 100,000 dogs will produce 25 tons of waste daily. Some of the waste ends up in the town’s water supply and affects recreation areas for people and their pets.

Since dog feces can contain potentially harmful bacteria and parasites, some cities have started a campaign urging dog owners to “scoop the poop.”

Some cities provide biodegradable Mutt Mitts in dispensers around the area, to reduce the amount of dog waste and potential for disease.

Similarly, Poop Busters in another city provides environmentally friendly canine clean-up crews for dog shows and even personal property.

If clean up crews aren’t an option, you can still reduce the amount of dog waste in your yard and local landfill. The Doggie Dooley system (www.doggiedooley.com) provides your canine his very own personal septic system and will help protect your family from parasites.

For the feline lovers, several companies offer environmentally friendly, biodegradable cat litter. GPC Pet Products (www.gpcpet.com) is making a scoopable and flushable cat litter from whole kernel corn. Next Gen Pet Products (www.nextgenpet.com) also produces biodegradable cat litter derived from green tea leaves and sawdust. Both companies claim improved odor control when compared with standard litters.

With more than two million tons of cat litter ending up in US landfills annually, these products offer better options for environmentally conscious cat owners.

Keep in mind that like you, your veterinarian wants only the best for you and your pet. Keeping your veterinarian informed about your thoughts and concerns is a great way to keep communication lines open! To see some eco-friendly pet diets, products and toys in action, visit www.MyVNN.com for a video.

According to a recent marketing survey, about 17% of all dogs exhibit signs consistent with a condition known as separation anxiety. Video footage of pets left alone can show excessive pacing, extreme vocalization and, in some cases, a rampage of destruction. Doors are chewed, furniture destroyed and other pets go as far as injuring themselves on their cage or other objects. Sadly, some owners won’t or can’t tolerate this sort of behavior and the pet ends up being relinquished to a local shelter and often euthanized.

Beyond separation anxiety, other pets suffer from an obsessive compulsive type of behavior known in veterinary circles as abnormal repetitive behavior. Dogs that endlessly chase their tails, big cats in zoos and even stalled horses that pace tirelessly are all examples of this compulsion. Our pets can also suffer phobias due to thunderstorms and even fireworks.

Veterinarians noticed these pets were behaving similarly to people with mental disorders. Various human anti-depressants were tried to lessen these behavioral issues. In some cases, the medications appear to have a lasting beneficial effect. Now these drugs are commonplace in a veterinarian’s arsenal of dealing with behavior issues.

In fact, many owners prefer the convenience of a medication to the hard work, time requirements and discipline of behavior modification. It is not uncommon for pet owners to request a pill despite the fact that the right type of positive behavior modification or changes in the pet’s environment might do the trick.

Of course, there are critics who feel that we have focused too much on medicating our pets and not enough on how to enrich our pet’s environment. In a New York Times article, Dr. Ian Dunbar, a noted veterinary behaviorist, is quoted as saying that he has never needed to resort to drugs to resolve a behavior problem. Although he acknowledges that pharmaceuticals can help in some circumstances, his main thrust is that we shouldn’t set up pets in unhealthy lifestyles and then rely on drugs to correct it. Sound advice for humans as well!!

Veterinary behaviorist, Dr. Valarie Tynes of Premier Veterinary Services wonders if “we are not putting dogs in realistic, appropriate situations and are we not teaching them how to behave in unusual situations.”

Likewise, Dr. Melissa Bain, a veterinary behaviorist with UC Davis has commented that our own expectations of how we interact with pets have changed drastically in the last 30 years. So, what’s the best way to make sure that your family won’t experience a behavioral “meltdown” with a pet? First, realize that pets are not an item of convenience. Unlike video games or electronic gadgets, our pets can’t be turned on and off at our discretion. They need a stimulating environment and plenty of activity to thrive in our homes. Owning a pet requires a commitment to the animal’s mental well-being in addition to their physical health.

Next, look at your schedules. If both parents work full time jobs and the kids are busy in multiple school activities, who is going to engage with the pets on a regular basis? Pets left alone often are at a higher risk to develop abnormal behaviors.

Investigate and learn about the type of pet you want. For busy, on the go families who aren’t home much, an energetic dog like a Labrador or a Dalmatian might not be a good match. There is definitely a genetic basis to certain behavior issues, and some breeds have a strong need to “work”. Failure to provide the pet with the proper stimulation and socialization can set them up for potential behavioral problems. Finally, always consult with your veterinarian if any abnormal behavior occurs with your pet. Some behaviors are linked to medical conditions, so a good physical examination could help resolve the issue. Your veterinarian may offer a referral or you can find veterinary behaviorists at www.avsabonline.org. Another option would be a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists at www.animalbehavior.org. And, although they are not “cure-alls”, there is a place for some medications in dealing with issues relating to our pet’s mental health.

Dr. Tynes reminds us that we shouldn’t fixate on the “Disney Dog stereotype of perfect pets”. For whatever reason, we tolerate less imperfection in our pets, yet we are failing to prepare them for what is a novel and rapidly changing world.”

Poison Prevention Week starts March 14th and runs through March 20th. This annual observance was started in 1961 and is designed to highlight the dangers of poisonings and how to prevent them. More information is available at www.poisonprevention.org.

Although originally created to focus on preventing poisonings of children and adults, this week is a great time to discuss potential dangers to our pets as well.

The Pet Poison Helpline service has released this list of most common toxins for our pets.

Xylitol, a sweetener found in many sugarless gums, desserts, and other baked goods, can be toxic to our canine friends. The compound can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, or, in some cases, liver failure.

Human pharmaceuticals are also on this “most common” list. Through accidental or purposeful ingestion, many pets are sickened by over the counter pain relievers (such as aspirin, Tylenol® or NSAIDs like Aleve®). Another common poisoning occurs when our pets get into an owner’s antidepressant medications.

With Easter approaching, many families will chose flowers to decorate their homes. Flowers of the Lily family can be deadly to cats and ingestion of a few petals or even the pollen can cause severe kidney failure.

Chocolate is another potential poison that is prevalent during Easter. Dark chocolates and baking chocolates are more dangerous than milk chocolate, but enough of any chocolate can cause abnormal heart rhythms, vomiting, and hyperactivity in dogs. (See chocolate toxicity calculator below.)

Springtime also puts people in the mood for yard work and cleaning. Be wary of using certain fertilizers for your lawn and garden if they contain organophosphates and/or carbamates. These poisons can cause severe seizures, respiratory failure and death in pets.

Many pets will find pest control products, like snail bait or rodenticides. Rat poison toxicity is seen in many emergency veterinary hospitals and will eventually kill the pet without intervention and treatment.

If you see your pet ingest any of these poisons, you need to contact a veterinarian immediately. Sometimes, severe damage can be avoided with prompt medical attention.

Keep your veterinarian’s office number along with the local emergency hospital available on your cell phone or near your home phone. You can also reach the specialists at Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680.

Three legged dogs and cats are not an unusual sight in veterinary clinics. Pets often lose limbs due to severe trauma, cancer or even hereditary defects. On-going research in the field of prosthetics could allow these pets to function like their four-legged friends and just might benefit humans as well! Dogs and cats appear to move almost normally with three legs so amputations are often offered for injured pets. However, new insights into how our pets manage pain and disabilities may soon change this perception. A veterinarian certified in canine rehabilitation says that “a three legged gait can take a toll on other limbs and the spine due to abnormal posture.” Young pets could experience even bigger problems. “Living longer with 3 limbs makes these animals more prone to disc problems and possibly severe cases of arthritis”. Pets with concurrent problems, such as hip dysplasia and cancer, could do worse after amputation. But, help appears to be on the way. Orthopets is working with veterinary surgeons to utilize titanium implants in the pet’s leg bone as an attachment for prostheses. Most prosthetic devices are known as “socket prosthetics”, that is, the stump of the limb is placed inside the prosthetic and everything is held up with straps. Owners often find these cumbersome and pets are likely to chew on the apparatus.

New technology, known as an integrated prosthetics, may open up more possibilities for how prosthetics are used in humans. By using the implants, these devices appear “to allow the patient a greater sensation of the ground.” One day amputees will change their prosthetic foot as easy as someone can change their shoes. This is beneficial for changing weather or environmental conditions.

Many animals benefit from the work at Orthopets. Orthopets has developed orthotic braces and prosthetic devices for llamas, orangutans, and even sheep. Although all of this is great news, there are still some obstacles to overcome. A big concern with the new integrated prosthetics is how the skin of the pet will mesh with the titanium of the implant. Additionally, providing the needed education to pet owners and veterinarians will likely take time. Both integrated and socket prosthetics require that enough limb is left after amputation to control the device. Finally, many pet owners may be concerned with how much a prosthetic might cost in relation to simply removing the leg.

The good news, though, is that options are available for pets whenever serious disease or trauma threatens one or more of their four legs. If you are faced with an unfortunate circumstance where you and your veterinarian need to contemplate removing a pet’s leg, ask how the surgery will affect your pet and whether prosthetics is an option. To see some heartwarming stories how prosthetics are helping pets, visit www.MyVNN.com to see a video.

Statistics show that about one in four North American adults are considered obese. But, this epidemic is not limited to our continent nor is it confined to our species. More than half of our dogs and cats are overweight or obese. So, should your pet start an Atkins Diet? According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), 43% of all dogs and 53% of all cats are classified as overweight. What’s worse, an additional 10% of all dogs and 19% of all cats are considered obese! These expanding numbers are a warning sign of our pets’ expanding waistlines! Veterinarians and pet owners are showing concern over the increase in numbers of portly pets. An overweight pet is more prone to heart problems, poor skin condition, lameness, and serious illnesses, like diabetes. A ground-breaking study actually details how pets who free feed live an average of two years less than pets with limited calories. Other factors can add to your pet’s propensity for weight gain too. Specific breeds, such as Labradors and Cockers, are at higher risk for becoming chubby as are most non-purebred cats. And, although spaying and neutering your pet won’t make them fat, their metabolism and energy needs actually do decrease. This means that neutered pets are at a higher risk for gaining weight if we don’t pay attention to their diet and exercise.

Without realizing it, many owners contribute to pet obesity through good intentions. Some pets get twice as many meals each day because no one is in charge of feeding. APOP says that pet owners should open a dialogue with their veterinarian about their pet’s weight. Most pet owners know their pet is overweight but many are unsure of how to proceed. The very first step should be a good thorough physical examination and associated blood work. This will help rule out diseases that cause weight gain, like hypothyroidism in dogs. Next, devise a diet plan with your veterinarian for safely reducing the number of calories being fed while also increasing the calories being burned through activity. Veterinarians recommend avoiding a self feeder or leaving food out for our pets all day long. Like us, our pets will do better if they eat small meals more frequently rather than one large meal in the evening. Finally, make exercise a priority. Two or more brisk walks each day for our pudgy pooches and thirty minutes of playtime with your flabby tabby can help them lose that excess weight. Above all, stay in communication with your veterinarian. You may run into temporary setbacks or even obstacles which will require a revision of your pet’s diet plan. With your love and commitment, your pet can lose that excess poundage which, in turn, could add years to your pet’s life. To learn more about weight loss and our pets, visit www.MyVNN.com to see an informative video.

Many dog owners admire the unique looks and personalities of purebreds, but also worry about the fate of millions of pets euthanized each year. What many people don’t realize is that there are specific breed rescue organizations for almost every breed of dog, placing dogs in need to new homes. Rescue groups are an invaluable resource in the on-going battle to keep millions of pets from being euthanized. With armies of volunteers, these organizations not only rescue their specific breed from shelters and other situations, but provide them with medical care. In many cases, these dogs are rescued just days – even hours – before euthanasia is scheduled.

The success of rescue groups is due in part to their method of pairing dogs with owners. In a shelter situation, most people pick a dog with little or no guidance but with a breed rescue, both dogs and applicants are carefully screened to help find the right match between an individual dog and its new family. This point can’t be stressed enough. Many of the millions of pets found in shelters each year are “repeat surrenders.” Behavior issues, medical problems, or lack of knowledge keeps these pets returning. In breed rescues, the overall goal is to find each and every dog its “forever” home. Compared to shelters, purebred rescues as well as local well organized rescue groups have high success rates placing dogs in lasting homes. By evaluating the dog’s personality and thoroughly screening the potential owners, rescue groups have become proficient at matching the right dog to the right person. In addition, education about the breed before the adoption and strong follow-up support after adoption helps new owners through this transition period.

Care should be taken when looking for a breed rescue. Look for an organized rescue with a good website that is updated regularly. The rescue should have 501c3 non-profit status and a set adoption process. You must have patience when adopting from a breed rescue. Expect to fill out an application, provide references and have a home check done; in most cases, a good rescue organization will probably take one to three weeks for the entire adoption process. New owners should expect to pay an adoption fee or donation, ranging from $100 up to $500. Ultimately, these groups are all non-profit. Adoption donations and fees allow the rescues to provide continued care for their foster animals and reach out to more dogs in need. You should avoid individuals without an organized structure who adopt pets without doing home checks or allowing animals to go home the same day.

Dogs aren’t the only lucky recipients of this type of attention! Purebred cat rescues exist, as well as rabbit rescues, horse groups and even organizations devoted to rescuing exotic pets such as turtles and other reptiles. If you want to acquire a new purebred pet, consider saving a life as well! Look for a breed rescue in your area. An easy way to find rescues is to search for your breed on the Internet. Go to Google.com and type your breed into the search box along with “rescue” and your state. Check out www.petfinder.com and www.akc.org as well.

Talk with your veterinary staff about local resources and rescue groups. To learn more about the phenomenal work being done by these lifesavers, visit www.MyVNN.com.

Rabies! Instantly we picture a fearsome dog, foam slathering from its mouth as it prepares to attack. Here in North America we are extremely lucky. Vaccinations have practically eliminated the threat of rabies from our domestic animals. Further, ongoing programs are attempting to halt the spread of rabies among wildlife. If we have done such a great job, then why should we continue to be concerned and vaccinate our pets? Are we still in danger from our ancient foe? The simple answer is a resounding YES! 55,000 people die from rabies each year around the world, mainly in Asia and Africa. This is unfortunate because with prompt medical care, rabies in humans is 100% preventable. An even sadder fact is that a good percentage of those deaths are children.

More than 100 children die from rabies worldwide every day. Overall, one person is killed by this disease every 10 minutes! Rabies is a viral disease that can affect any warm-blooded animal, but our close association with dogs brings this killer home to our families. Our vaccine programs have caused the number of rabies cases to virtually vanish in the West and the Centers for Disease Control even declared canine rabies “extinct” here in the US. But because of the serious public health risk, pet owners should avoid becoming complacent about vaccines, especially in light of the CDC announcement. There is a huge reservoir of rabies among wildlife and it is not unimaginable that those strains could infect our pets. The ease of world travel could allow someone to unknowingly bring home a rabid pet.

Here in the United States, more than 20,000 prophylactic doses of human rabies vaccines are given annually. The goal is to eradicate terrestrial rabies as quickly as possible. We need to raise awareness and help people understand how they can help eliminate this threat. Keeping yourself safe from rabies is easy by following these steps. First, stick to your veterinarian’s guidelines as well as your local ordinances with regards to vaccinating your pet. Laws vary so be sure you understand your responsibility. Second, avoid contact with wildlife. Rabies still exists in large reservoirs in wild animals. Be especially wary of bats. Most human rabies cases in North America are the result of a bat bite. Finally, encourage neighbors and fellow pet owners to vaccinate all of their pets. Modern medicine has almost succeeded in solving the rabies problem, but it is not gone yet!

To learn more about rabies and its effects on pets and people, visit www.MyVNN.com for important pet health videos.

Rabies. Almost everyone knows how scary this disease is- because it is fatal to both people and pets. Most people believe that rabies is well under control due to vaccinations and regulations. But what you may not know is that every spring and summer, we see an emergence of rabies. Worse yet exposure to rabies can happen in your own backyard.

The reason rabies continues to be of concern each year is because of a “spillover” of the rabies virus that lives in the wildlife population. Spring and summer are the seasons when most wildlife is very active and on the move, and there is an increased exposure of our pets to wildlife - even if you live in the city. While it is true that the majority of rabies cases occur in wildlife, most exposure to humans occurs when they are bitten by a domestic animal that has been exposed to rabies. That is why current rabies vaccinations are so important for our pets.

The primary wildlife reservoir hosts are bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, and wild dogs. These are also the wildlife that our pets are most likely to encounter. The primary hosts vary in different parts of the country. Keeping both dogs and cats vaccinated, and limiting your direct contact to wildlife is the best way to protect you and your pets from rabies. Rabies vaccination regulations also vary from state to state and your veterinarian is your best resource for rabies information. In North Carolina, the law requires all cats and dogs to be initially vaccinated at 4 months of age. This first vaccine is valid for 1 year and then usually each booster thereafter is valid for 3 years. Some veterinarians choose to not use the brands of Rabies vaccinations that are licensed for 3 year protection, therefore, in those cases your pets will need to be revaccinated every 12 months.

Still, with all of the knowledge and vaccination protocols available, each year, there are rabies incidents reported in people, so it is important to know what to do if you think you may have been exposed to rabies. The rabies virus is usually transmitted in the saliva through a bite. Everyone should consider ANY animal bite - whether from wildlife or pets - as an emergency and get prompt medical attention. Animal bites should also be reported to your local animal control so that proper quarantine measures can be taken if necessary.

Any wildlife animal that bites a person or pet will be euthanized and tested for rabies immediately. But what if the bite is from a domestic animal? If a person or pet is bitten and the dog or cat is vaccinated and appears healthy at the time of the bite, the pet will need to be confined for 10 days and observed. Depending on the circumstances and the county in which you reside the pet may be confined at the local animal control facility or the pet may be quarantined by its owner for the ten days. No anti-rabies shots would be required. Unvaccinated pets may be required to be euthanized and tested. If the owner is unwilling to do this, the pets must be quarantined for six months and vaccinated before release. If a vaccinated pet is bitten by a rabies suspect, the pet must also be quarantined.

The reason for these time periods is due to the incubation time of the rabies virus in the host. Studies show that unless the virus is shed in the saliva, it is not transmitted. Only late in the disease when the virus has reached the brain and caused an encephalitis does the virus shed in the saliva and therefore able to be transmitted. Most of the signs are very obvious within three to five days of the quarantine and observation period.

Rabies vaccination for your pets – dogs and cats - is still the number one prevention you can take. Keep proper rabies and identification tags on your pets at all times. Always maintain control of your pets, and have them spayed or neutered to help reduce the number of stray animals in your community. Report any stray or wildlife animals to your local animal control. Do not try to capture an animal yourself. Consider any stray animal as a rabies risk.

You can watch an interesting video about Rabies by visiting www.VetNewsNet.com.

With more than 80 million cats as pets in North America, it would seem that our cats are really the “top dog” and living a great life. But many cat owners are unaware of two significant and deadly feline diseases.

Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) belong to the retrovirus family. Other retroviruses include HIV, the cause of human AIDS. Like the AIDS virus, FeLV and FIV hinder the host’s immune system, making the cat more susceptible to common infections.

Feline Leukemia is not actually a cancer, but the virus can cause several types of cancer in the cat. This disease is associated with more illnesses and deaths of cats than any other infectious agent. Studies in the US estimate more than 2 million cats are carrying and spreading the virus. The FIV virus is less prevalent but still may infect almost 1 million cats in North America.

Cats carrying either of these viruses may not show any signs of illness. In fact, due to the ability of the viruses to hide in the cat’s cells, many cats can go years without any apparent symptoms. This is a problem when new cats are introduced to the household. FeLV is considered to be a “social contact” disease. It is generally spread through intimate contact between cats, such as grooming or sharing water bowls.

FIV, on the other hand, is a disease typically spread by sexual contact and fighting. Bite wounds between unfriendly cats is a common method of transmission. It should be noted that neither disease can be spread from cats to people…it is not possible to catch AIDS from your cat.

The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) recommends testing all cats routinely to help prevent transmission of both diseases. Any sick cat should be tested, regardless of any negative results from previous testing.

Likewise, anyone considering adopting a cat should have the pet tested. Even if this is your first cat, testing is imperative. If you are like most of the cat owners, you will end up with at least two cats and either FeLV or FIV could be a problem.

Fortunately, there is some good news in all of this. First, both of these viruses cannot survive outside the body for long periods of time, making transmission from the environment unlikely. Second, it is possible for cats with either disease to live for many years. Finally, in some cases, vaccinations can limit the spread of these diseases.

Vaccinations for FeLV are available and there is a vaccine for FIV but it is extremely controversial due to the risk of secondary disease and the fact that the cat will always test positive and thus if ended up in a shelter could be euthanized. The AAFP highly recommends testing cats for both diseases prior to vaccination and FELV vaccines should only be used in cats that are at risk for FeLV; please discuss carefully with your vet all the pros and cons.

Despite all the doom and gloom of retroviruses, the outlook for cats is promising. Your veterinarian will help you make the right decision about the need to vaccinate your feline friend. You can see all the guidelines at www.aafponline.org or visit www.MyVNN.com to see a video detailing these diseases.

Like our teeth, dogs have an inner chamber of the tooth known as the pulp cavity. This hollow cavity (or chamber) contains the blood and nerve supply of the tooth. Anyone who has ever broken a tooth can surely empathize with the pain your pet will feel. To make matters worse, fractured teeth put the pet at high risk for developing serious infections of the gums, the nerve or even the underlying jaw bones. Millions of pets do suffer from serious dental disease. These pets may also exhibit behavioral changes due to their pain. Unfortunately many of these pets are relinquished to rescues or even euthanized. Your pet doesn’t have to suffer from dental disease and you don’t have to tolerate “doggy breath”. Making a dental plan with your veterinarian will not only prevent dental disease, but may stop other health problems as well.

The first step is to have your veterinarian do a complete oral exam on your pet. Note any areas of excessive tartar build-up and any other concerns, such as fractured teeth, bleeding gums or ulcerations in the mouth. Next, if appropriate, schedule a complete dental cleaning with your veterinarian. Cleaning will remove the tartar and plaque, reducing bacteria that cause serious illnesses, such as heart disease. Using digital x-rays allows the veterinarian to see under the gum line, a crucial step in preventing future dental problems. After the cleaning, your veterinarian may apply a barrier sealant to help repel plaque-causing bacteria. This high tech - low cost – sealant gel is easy to continue at home and will help prevent further build up of plaque and tartar.

Home care is a vital part of maintaining your pet’s dental health. From routine brushing to special water additives and chew toys, your veterinarian can help make caring for your pet’s teeth easier. Some foods are even designed to help remove plaque build-up! The best news? These products not only remove plaque, but help to minimize bad breath. For some pets, they just might be lifesavers as well. To see what you can do to protect your pet’s smile, visit www.MyVNN.com to see a video.

Ending a human life is not legal, so people with terminal illnesses and less than 6 months to live often enter hospice care. This relatively recent development in medicine focuses on the comfort of the patient and less on heroic medical or surgical measures. In other words, caregivers put the patient’s comfort first, not an attempt at any type of cure. Another important aspect of hospice care is that the whole family is included. Relatives and friends can say good-bye in peace rather than sitting in hospital lobbies or crowded waiting rooms.

Now, thanks to caring veterinarians, technicians and other support personnel, hospice care for pets is becoming a reality across the continent. Websites like www.pethospice.org introduce concerned pet owners to the concept of caring for a terminally ill or disabled pet.

With a shorter lifespan, our pets seem to leave us all too quickly. And, the availability of an “easy death” through euthanasia has potentially robbed some owners of quality time with their beloved dogs or cats. Veterinary hospice care aims to provide a higher quality of life for those pets, even if the time frame is only a few days to a few weeks.

Just like in human hospice, veterinarians feel that the final days for the pet should be spent in comfort among familiar surroundings and loving family. The director of Pawspice in California feels that the goal of pet hospice is help pet owners determine the quality of life for their pets. If the pet owners and veterinary staff can meet the basic desires at a satisfactory level, there is justification for preserving the lives of the pets. At Pawspice, the five “H’s” of hunger, hurt, happiness, hydration and hygiene, along with the pet’s mobility are rated each day. Of course, the goal is that the pet is having more good days than bad ones.

Through judicious use of pain-relieving medications and comfort techniques, veterinarians help pet owners bring ease to pets struggling at the end of their lives. Many veterinarians will teach owners how to administer a variety of medications as well as how to clean wounds or control minor bleeding.

Owners should try to plan ahead, especially if they care for a disabled pet or a pet recently diagnosed with a terminal illness. Most importantly, the involvement of the family veterinarian is crucial in providing the appropriate palliative care.

Some owners find comfort in providing various amenities to their pets. Heated pet beds, mobility aids and even special harnesses designed to aid the pet in getting up from lying down are all available to aid the pet owner during this stressful time.

Finally, pet owners should consider developing a support system to help them when the task of caring for the pet becomes an emotional or physical challenge. Grief counselors, relatives, and even good friends can help provide strength at critical times.

No one wants to see their pets suffer, but the diagnosis of cancer or the onset of a debilitating injury does not automatically mean instant euthanasia. As Dr. Villalobos says, “palliation means to make things better and I like this word because it has pal in front of it. We are making things better for our pal!” Ask your veterinarian about hospice care options in your area or visit www.pethospice.org for additional information.

To learn more about advances in veterinary medicine, visit www.MyVNN.com and www.PetDocsOnCall.com.