Heartworm prevention for your dog is important—something we don’t want to forget as we are engaged in the fun of summer with our pets. Dogs contract heartworm, which is, in reality, a parasitic round worm, through mosquito bites. The end of July is in the midst of the peak season for mosquitoes, although they are out most spring and summer months—even early Fall. As long as the temperature is above 50 degrees and the wind is 5 mph or less, mosquito danger, and therefore susceptibility to contracting heartworms, is high.

Heartworms can take up to 3 months from the date of contraction to enter the bloodstream. Although called heartworms, they typically end up residing in the pulmonary artery. Around 6 months after infection, the now adult heartworms begin reproducing and giving birth to live young. It is at this adult stage when dogs typically begin showing symptoms.

Symptoms that your dog has heartworms can vary, but they typically begin as a simple cough. The symptoms then progress to reluctance to exercise and easy exhaustion. Weight loss, fainting, and coughing up blood are also symptoms before ending up with congestive heart failure.

As a dog owner, it is important to take preventative measures against heartworm infection, such as reducing exposure to mosquitoes, blood testing, and preventive medication. Although difficult, reduce your pet’s exposure to mosquitoes in the first place. Consult us to have your dog blood tested, especially before administering preventive medication on your own. Your veterinarian will recommend how regularly your dog should be tested and when to take preventative medication.

May is Pet Cancer Awareness Month

            May is Pet Cancer Awareness month.  Cancer causes nearly 50 percent of all disease related deaths in pets per year and cancer is the #1 natural cause of death in older pets, according to Veterinary Oncology & Hematology Center.  The cause of cancer is to some degree unknown, like in humans, but genetics, over-vaccination and environmental/food toxins play a part. 

            Following are the early pet cancer signs as identified by The Veterinary Cancer Society:

1.      Abnormal, persistent swelling

2.      Sores that do not heal

3.      Loss of weight

4.      Loss of appetite

5.      Bleeding or discharge from any body opening

6.      Offensive odor

7.      Difficulty eating of swallowing

8.      Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina

9.      Persistent lameness or stiffness

10.  Difficulty breathing, urination or defecating

If you are seeing any of these warning signs, see your veterinarian immediately. 

Physical exams are key to catching and treating cancer early and increasing your pet’s chance of survival.  “We are looking for things that aren’t obviously noticed by the owner,” says Dr. Suzy Ahrens of Minnesota Veterinary Hospital.  Many owners overlook the importance of annual exam for young animals and bi-annual exams for senior pets.  Dog Topics.com reports over 50 percent of dogs over the age of 10 will die of cancer.  “We can palpate the abdomen, check for masses and perform rectal exams.  Anal sac tumors can be cured if found early enough.  That is certainly something an owner isn’t going to notice,” adds Ahrens.  “Lab testing can check for early renal disease, which can be slowed with a diet change.  The same thing is true for some liver disorders.  Thyroid disease is easily treated in the early stages.”  

            Annual exams for young animals and bi-annual exams for senior pets are essential in monitoring your pet’s health.  If your pet is due or you are seeing any of the above signs, make your appointment today!

           

The Importance of Vaccinations

Why do Puppies/Kittens Need a Series of Shots?
When a puppy or kitten is born, its immune system in not yet mature and wide open for infection. Fortunately, the mother produces specific milk, called colostrum, in the first few days after giving birth. The colostrum is rich in antibodies and the puppy/kitten will take on their mother's immunity. After the first couple of days, regular milk is produced and the puppy's/kitten's intestines undergo what is called closure, which means they are no longer able to take antibodies into their systems.

Maternal antibodies against different diseases wear off after different times. We do know that by 16 to 20 weeks of age, maternal antibodies are gone and the puppy/kitten must be able to continue on its own immune system.

While maternal immunity is in the puppy's/kitten's system, any vaccines given will be inactivated. Vaccines will not be able to "take" until maternal antibody has sufficiently dropped. Puppies and kittens receive a series of vaccines ending at a time when we know the puppy's/kitten's own immune system should be able to respond. We could simply wait until the puppy/kitten is old enough to definitely respond as we do with the rabies vaccination but this could leave a large window of vulnerability if the maternal antibody wanes early. To give puppies/kittens the best chance of responding to vaccination, we vaccinate intermittently (usually every 2 to 4 weeks) during this period, in hope of gaining some early protection.

When a vaccine against a specific disease is started for the first time, even in adult animal, it is best to give at least two vaccinations. This is because the second vaccination will produce a much greater response if it is following a vaccine given 2 to 4 weeks prior.


What Vaccines Should My Pet Have?
What vaccines are recommended to an individual pet depend on many factors: what kind of exposure to disease does the animal have, what diseases are common in the area, what kind of stress factors are in the home situation, etc. When you consider the multitudes of vaccine types and combinations and the many different situations dogs and cats live in, it is not too surprising to find that almost every veterinarian recommends a different group of vaccines.


Core Vaccines
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has published guidelines for vaccinating your dog and cat. Vaccinations are divided into "core" vaccines that every pet should have, and "non-core" vaccines that a pet should have depending on exposure risk.

Core Vaccines For Cats

• Feline Distemper
• Rabies

For more information on feline vaccines, please visit our website: Feline Vaccinations

Core Vaccines For Dogs

• Canine Distemper
• Rabies
• Bordetella (Protects against Kennel Cough; most veterinarians recommend for dog parks, boarding, grooming, etc.)

For more information on canine vaccines, please visit our website: Canine Vaccinations

*The Rabies vaccine is important even for indoor-only cats & non-social dogs, but when you consider the consequences of rabies exposure and the legal consequences of owning a biting animal, it is not hard to see why this vaccine is important*


Can Vaccines Hurt My Pet?
Some muscle soreness, lethargy and mild fever persisting for a day or two are considered common reactions to stimulation of the immune system. Vaccine reactions beyond this are unusual but possible. Allergic reactions characterized usually by facial swelling and hives are strong signs that special care should be taken in administering vaccinations. Since allergic reactions potentially can become worse with each episode, it is important to take heed of these signs as severe reactions can result in shock or even death.