Topics of the Month
May
Spring Hazards
Spring is here! The time has come to worry about what kind of trouble your pet can get into outside when it comes to parasites. The good news is, you can start defending your pet today!
Fleas, Ticks, Worms, and Mosquitoes
TICKS
The most common diseases your pet can contract from ticks are Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, and Ehrlichiosis. Though it is very rare for cats to get these specific ones, there are some tick-born diseases that cats can contract. Felines tend to groom themselves so frequently that ticks have a tuff time staying on long enough to attach themselves. Dogs can be exposed to these infections in almost any outdoor location where deer ticks and brown dog ticks can be found. It is recommended to vaccinate your dog against Lyme disease if he/she spends a lot of time outdoors, such as when camping or hunting.
Diagnosing can be difficult because signs are not often present. The most common signs of infections are loss of appetite, lack of energy, and swollen or painful joints. We can, however, run a simple blood test to see if your dog has been exposed. If that test is positive, we will run additional tests to identify the extent of the infection and other related health conditions. A parasitic disease screen is recommended at every annual checkup.
If caught and treated early, the outcome is usually very good for a full recovery from symptoms. Some of these infections cannot be cured completely, but early intervention usually provides the best prognosis. Products such as Frontline provide a long period of effectiveness to kill fleas and ticks within hours when they come into contact with the treated animal's skin.
These diseases CANNOT be transmitted directly from your dog to you or your family. However, if ticks are found in your area, your family can be risk just like your dog. To reduce the risk, inspect your pet and yourselves several times a day when enjoying outdoor activities.
FLEAS
Fleas are a nuisance, and sometimes painful, to your pet. The adult fleas you may see are only the tip of the infestation iceberg. Immature fleas are hard to see, but may be found anywhere an infested pet has been. They may thrive unseen in many areas of the home, such as carpets, bedding, and cracks in flooring. And, contrary to popular belief, fleas do not only live in warm weather. They can reproduce indoors year-round.
Only 5% of fleas are in the adult stage, which live up to 120 days.
10% are pupae, which can survive up to 174 days.
35% of fleas are larvae, which lasts 5-11 days.
A massive 50% are only eggs, which will hatch within 10 days.
MOSQUITOES
Mosquitoes carry the silent and often fatal Heartworm Disease. It is highly recommended to protect your pet against this disease, typically using a monthly preventative such as Heartgard for dogs or Revolution for cats.
Dogs and Heartworm Disease:
A mosquito transfers heartworm larvae from infected dog to your dog. The larvae develop into worms that live in the heart and its vessels, as well as the lungs of the infected dog. If left untreated, heartworm disease may be fatal to your pet. Over 250,000 dogs in the US were reported positive for heartworms in 2004. The reason it is such a scary disease is because at first, there are no signs. Then, there may be coughing, sluggishness, and reduced appetite. With disease progression comes heart failure, lung disease, or sudden death.
Cats and Heartworm Disease:
A mosquito transfers heartworm larvae to the cat. When the larvae develop into adult heartworms, they eventually die and cause severe inflammation that can be fatal. Most larvae do not make it to adulthood in cats, which means they die in the cat's lungs. The irritation leads to heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD). Most cats with early-stage disease experience HARD signs. Rather than affecting the heart, the larvae affect the lungs and cause breathing problems often mistaken for asthma or bronchitis.
Just because you have an indoor cat does not mean it is not at risk. There is no guarantee that a mosquito won't buzz into your house through an open door or window, and it only takes one bite to do the damage. Preventatives are encouraged for use on both indoor and outdoor cats. If you would like more information on easy to use preventatives, please contact your veterinarian.
WORMS
It's true; worms love to live inside bodies - and not just your pet's. That is why it is so important to keep your cat or dog protected with a monthly preventative. Three of the most common types of worms are roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms.
Roundworms:
90% of puppies are born with roundworms or acquire them shortly after birth from their mothers, and serious infections may be fatal to them. The roundworms live in the intestines of infected animals and may cause obstructions, depriving the host of nutrients. Animals of any age can get roundworms from an environment contaminated by the feces of infected animals. Signs to watch for are vomiting, diarrhea, swollen abdomen (pot belly), or adult worms visible in the feces.
Hookworms:
These are potentially lethal, especially to puppies. Hookworms attach themselves to the intestinal walls or the infected animal and feed on their host's blood. Your pet can be infected by accidentally ingesting larvae in contaminated soil or blades of grass. Hookworm larvae also infect by penetrating directly through their skin. Signs to watch for: Dark or bloody diarrhea, weight loss, pale gums, or weakness.
The monthly preventative Heartgard Plus can treat and control common parasites that can cause zoonotic (transferable from animals to people) disease in humans, including children. The number of cases reported of humans with intestinal parasites rises every year, most of them being in children. Please, protect your pet!
