Friday 4 16, 2010

They're BACK!!! Ticks, fleas, worms and other creepy bugs...

After a long and cold winter, it is wonderful to greet the warm and sunny days of Spring.  But with the warmer weather, we also see the return of parasites just waiting for your pet.  

Ticks were seen in mid-March and mosquitos, carrying the heartworm larvae, will be out in force by May. Fleas are already active and being passed around by wildlife as well as untreated pets.  

In addition to external parasites, the snow melt revealed many forgotten (ignored?) piles of feces that may contain infective internal parasite eggs. Roundworms, hookworms, whipworms as well as one-celled parasites such as coccidia and giardia are transmitted through the ingestion of stools and can lead to diarrhea, vomiting and poor haircoats.  

To protect your pet against the most serious of these environmental threats, we recommend two products that have shown great safety and efficacy over the years.  Heartgard Plus is a monthly chewable preventive treat that will kill developing heartworm larvae as well as control roundworms and hookworms.  Frontline Plus is a monthly topical spot-on insecticide that will kill ticks for one month and fleas for 3 months. Buying your Heartgard Plus or Frontline Plus through your veterinarian will ensure that you are getting unadulterated product and you will be eligible for free doses based on how many you purchase. These savings can be substantial and help bring down the cost of the medications.  

Be sure to schedule your dog's yearly heartworm blood test this Spring and get started on Heartgard Plus by June 1st.  For protection against fleas and ticks, start Frontline Plus now.

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Featured EPHC Website Link: Pet Library

Edinburgh Pet Health Center maintains a diverse library of pet, performance and breed related books for our clients to check out. Come browse our books in the clinic or review the library list on our website.  We have something of interest for every pet owner. Come and check it out!

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Hospital News

Dr. Lisa and her dog, Mellie, had a successful trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the 2010 AKC National Agility Championship trial. Although they did not make it to the Finals round, they did end up 12th overall (scores plus time in three rounds combined) out of 97 dogs in their jump height. Mellie had five out of five clean (mistake-free) runs in the three days of competition. Lisa enjoyed seeing "the best of the best" as the AKC referred to this year's contenders. Lisa and her Phalenes will continue to compete in local agility trials throughout the year. 

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Stopping the Itch-Controlling Pet Allergies

Allergies are an all too common pet ailment. Dogs are more frequently affected and it may be a seasonal or year-round problem.

The most common sign of allergies in dogs is chewing on the feet, chronic ear infections and scratching and licking at their body. Some breeds are more likely to be affected, such as Labradors, Labradoodles, terriers and Cocker Spaniels, but all breeds can be at risk.

If your pet exhibits signs of allergies, an exam will help to outline the extent of disease and rule out other causes of itch such as parasites. Pets can be allergic to indoor allergens, tree pollens, grasses, molds, food ingredients, and most anything else.

Controlling the underlying allergy as well as treating secondary infections are the keys to making your pet more comfortable. We use a wide variety of systemic drugs, shampoos and topical medications to achieve this control. Every allergic pet is unique and will need a tailored plan to best help them deal with this chronic condition.

It used to be very common to have dogs allergy tested and then placed on desensitization injections to control allergies. We now have newer medications such as Atopica which can be very effective in controlling the itch, thus decreasing the need for desensitization. We also can recommend specific hypoallergenic diets to rule out food allergies as a contributor to the problem.

Allergies, also known as atopy, are not "cured", only controlled, and most pets can be made very comfortable and happy with the right combination of therapies. If your pet is suffering from seasonal itch or has a year-round problem, be sure to schedule an exam and see what we can do to help.

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Litter Box Lessons

Cats make wonderful pets as they seem to have few needs compared to dogs. They don't need to be walked and they generally are good about eliminating in a specific place. Many cat owners take their cat's correct use of the litter box for granted, which can lead to problems down the road.  

Some lessons that cat owners have learned the hard way:

1. Do NOT switch cat litters abruptly. Getting a good price on a new kitty litter may seem like a great deal until your cat signals its displeasure by finding a new spot to urinate on. If you must switch cat litters, do so by adding a new litter box containing the desired litter. Once you are sure the cat is using the new litter, you may withdraw the old box.

2. Clean the litter box daily. Many cats prefer a clean box. Avoidance of a dirty box is one of the key reasons why cats start to eliminate in inappropriate locations. Make this a priority in the household and everyone will be happy.

3. Have enough litter boxes for the number of cats in the home. Having too few litter boxes is similar to having one bathroom for a family of five. There are bound to be problems. The rule of thumb is one litter box per cat plus an additional one for multiple cat homes.  So if you have three cats, four litter boxes distributed around the house is appropriate.

4. Don't use hoods or covers on the litter box. When you enclose the litter box, the ammonia smells are concentrated inside. Cats may develop an aversion to their box with such strong odors emanating from it. Cats in the wild prefer to be able to see in many directions while they are eliminating.  Do your cat a favor and remove the hood.

5. Consider clumping litters. These are often soft and preferred by cats for digging. Many brands are available. They are easy to scoop for daily cleaning. Every month or so, dump out the used litter, clean the box and refill with fresh litter.

6. If your cat starts urinating small amounts of urine out of the box, strains to urinate in the box, or appears to use the box frequently, be sure to have him evaluated for a medical problem. Cystitis, bladder stones and other urinary issues are common and if not corrected, can not only lead to poor health, but to a new behavior problem down the road.

Following these simple lessons will help avoid most of the problems with litter box mishaps.

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Winter Weight-Fact or Fiction

As we examine dogs for their annual wellness exams and heartworm testing, we are seeing a high incidence of obesity. Minnesota winters are hard on most of us, but they also affect our dogs. Many pet owners suspend daily exercise and walks during the harshest winter days. Snow, ice and cold collude to prevent us from keeping up with exercise.  

Most dog owners fail to do the one simple thing they should as winter sets in...cut back on your dog's daily rations. This simple act could help keep that winter weight from depositing on your pet's body.  

Evaluating body condition is important so the correct dietary calories can be calculated and adjusted for these periods of inactivity. On a scale of 1-10, a body condition score of 4 or 5 is recommended.

To get those unwanted pounds off now, come in to the clinic and get an accurate reading of your pet's weight. We can let you know if your pet is overweight, and if so, determine a target healthy weight. We can help you figure out an appropriate caloric intake to help your pet take off those unwanted pounds. Often times, it is necessary to switch to a low-fat, high fiber weight loss diet temporarily until the weight comes off.  An appropriate weight control diet can then be instituted to prevent those pounds from coming back. Pet owners are welcome to stop in anytime to have their pets weighed (we recommend monthly for pets on diets).

Now that the weather is warming up, be sure to stick to your resolution to take more walks and exercise your dog more frequently. Between the increased activity and decreased calories, your dog should slim down in no time.

Our advice for next winter?  Reduce calorie intake as soon as the exercise decreases due to the weather. Winter weight is a fact. But it is pure fiction to think it can't be prevented.  

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Puppy Primer

Spring is the time that thoughts turn to puppies! Wonderful, cuddly, fun and furry puppies are a great addition to a family if everyone is prepared for the whirlwind of care and training needed. The following tips will help new owners get the right puppy and help them become a valued member of the family for many years to come.

1.  Pick your breed of choice carefully. Whether you prefer a mixed breed or a purebred dog, all dogs possess inherited tendencies based on why the breed was developed. Hunting dogs, like Golden Retrievers and Labradors are very active, oral-oriented dogs.  If you don't want to have a three-hour play session and worry about the puppy eating everything in sight, perhaps a different breed is for you.  Alternatively, if an active, go for a 10 mile run every day type of dog is for you, maybe a Basset Hound is not the right choice.  "The Perfect Puppy" by Benjamin Hart and "Paws to Consider" by Kilcommons and Wilson are excellent book resources we recommend to help in narrowing down the search for a suitable breed.  We have both of these available in our lending library.  

2.  Buy from a reputable breeder or a legitimate rescue organization. Pet stores most often re-sell commercially bred puppies which are raised under less than ideal circumstances. Often, no health evaluations have been done on the parents. The dam of the puppies has likely had many litters and never been kept outside of a cage. By buying these puppies, you are supporting a very questionable industry. In addition, the puppies are rarely socialized and often have many health-related problems. For more information on buying from a quality breeder, read our previous newsletter article (Autumn 2007) and also consider reviewing the websites of AKC breed clubs of the breeds you are interested in. Always visit the home of the breeder and if possible see the conditions under which your potential puppy was raised. The breeder should be more concerned about where the puppy is going and what it's life will be like, than in getting money from you.  

3.  After you adopt your new puppy, have him or her examined as soon as possible. It is important to be sure there are no congenital or infectious disorders present as well as to set up the important vaccination and deworming series that your new puppy will require. This appointment is very useful for getting timely information on house training, socialization, command training and proper diet, exercise and grooming advice. Spaying or neutering your puppy is highly recommended and your veterinarian will discuss this surgery with you.

4.  Socialize, socialize, socialize your new puppy. Between the ages of 5 weeks and 14 weeks, your puppy is a sponge, learning about life. You want to expose your puppy to as many unique experiences as possible in this time. Visiting parks, stores, other dogs, relatives, friends, kids (of all ages), the vet clinic, and other situations, helps your puppy to see the big world out there. If you isolate your puppy during this all important time, many behavior problems and fear issues may arise.  

Going to a weekly puppy socialization class is one possible opportunity to get your puppy out to see people and other puppies and it is a great learning experience. There are many dog clubs and training facilities that offer puppy classes. Be sure to attend those that use positive reward-based training concepts. We can give you recommendations for puppy training locations nearby. Most puppies should also learn some basic commands, such as sit, stay, come and down and a beginning obedience class is an excellent investment in your new puppy.

5.  Play with your puppy. It seems obvious, but spending quality play time with your puppy will really help to build a good relationship with your puppy that will pay off in better behaviors and a strong bond. Tug toys, chew toys, appropriately sized balls and stuffed toys all can be used to give your puppy good exercise as well as teaching good manners, all while having fun.  

6.  Address any behavior issues right away. Sometimes puppies are shy and reluctant to engage in certain behaviors. Do not ignore this. Encourage your puppy using high value treats and help desensitize them to anything they perceive as scary. Fear based problems can be difficult to control once they are well-established.

By being very involved in your early experiences with your puppy,  you can help them stay healthy and happy for many years to come.

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