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Knowledge is Power

Part of being a responsible pet owner is staying educated about your pet's health. Being educated will allow you to make informed decisions about the best course of treatment for your companion, and ensure and long, happy relationship.

Facts about Heartworm Prevention

• The mosquito is the only known vector for transmitting heartworm.
  
  
• The average lifespan of heartworms in untreated pets is 5-7 years in dogs and 2-3 years in cats.
  
  
• Virtually 100% of dogs exposed to infective heartworm larvae become infected; in cats, this number drops to 61% to 90%.
  
  
• Microfilariae are found in the blood of 80%-90% of dogs, while only 20% of cats have these in their blood.
  
  
• Heartworm infection in cats exists everywhere heartworm in dogs exists.
  
  
• The American Heartworm Society (AHS) estimates that only 55% of dogs in the U.S. are currently on a heartworm preventive, leaving 27 million dogs at risk of acquiring heartworm disease.
  
  
• A study performed at North Carolina State University indicated that 25% of cats infected with heartworms were solely indoor cats.
  
  
• Heartworms may infect more than 30 species of animals including coyotes, foxes, wolves and other wild canids, domestic cats and wild felids, ferrets, sea lions, and humans.
  
  
• Prevention is far more effective and less costly than treatment.
  
  
• Research suggests that heartworm disease could be virtually eradicated using available preventives.
  
  
• Heartworms affect cats differently than dogs, but the disease they cause is equally as serious.

 

Recommended Vaccination Schedule for Dogs and Cats

Regular vaccinations are an important part of keeping your new pet healthy. The following is the schedule which Dr. MacQueen recommends as a general guideline. PLEASE NOTE: Every animal is unique, and this information is listed as a general reference only. Your vet will need to decide on the exact schedule that is right for your pet.

Puppies:

6-8 weeks: 1st Distemper shot
12 weeks: 2nd Distemper shot
14 weeks: Rabies shot
16 weeks: 3rd Distemper shot
18 weeks: Final Distemper Booster

We will also perform a Risk Assessment on your dog to see if any other vaccines, such as Lyme or Leptosporosis are warranted. After the initial series of puppy shots, your dog will need to come in for a yearly booster. If everything looks good at that point, Dr. MacQueen may elect to put your dog on a three year booster schedule.

Kittens:

6-8 weeks: 1st Distemper Shot
12 weeks: 2nd Distemper Shot
14 weeks: Rabies Shot
16 weeks: Final Distemper Booster

We will also perform a Risk Assessment on your cat to see if any other vaccines, such as Feline Leukemia, are warranted. After the initial series of puppy shots, your cat will need to come in for a yearly booster. If everything looks good at that point, Dr. MacQueen may elect to put your cat on a three year booster schedule.

 

Preventing Fleas and Ticks

With so many flea and tick shampoos, powders, collars, pills, homeopathic remedies and topical treatments to choose from, how do you decide which is the right choice for your pet? Is it even really that important?

The answer is a resounding YES. Fleas and ticks are more than just a mere annoyance to your pet. They can cause serious illnesses and even death if left untreated. Ticks carry many diseases such as Lyme Disease, Ehrlichiosis, and Babesiosis. Some tick-borne diseases can even be transmitted to humans.

So how do you decide which treatment method to use? At Midway Veterinary Hospital, we favor prescription topical medications which are applied once monthly, usually between your pet's shoulder blades. Topicals have the advantage of being easy to apply, they are generally well-tolerated, fast-acting, and they also work as a preventative. There are several varieties of these to choose from, but we recommend Vectra 3D. You can visit their website here to learn more about their product. Also, if you are thinking of purchasing pet medications online, the FDA urges caution. See what they have to say here.

How do you treat your home, though, if you are dealing with an infestation? First, treat your pet with the afore mentioned topical. Then, treat your entire home with any number of commerically available powders designed to be sprinkled on your carpets. Prior to vacuuming, we recommend placing a flea collar into your vacuum bag- this will ensure that any fleas which escape the powder will die in the bag. Once you have vacuumed up all of the powder, dispose of the bag in an outside receptacle. You may want to also vacuum all of your furniture, as fleas will live in upholstery, too.

Regular grooming and vigilence are key to keeping fleas and ticks under control. After taking your pet for a walk, brush him/her and check for ticks or fleas. While the topical should kill any that have gotten on him/her, the extra vigilence will ensure that these pesky parasites do not gain a foothold in your house. And grooming is a great bonding experience for you and your pet, too!

 

Dentistry For Animals

Dog Dental Facts Puppies have 28 temporary teeth that erupt at about three to four weeks of age. They have 42 permanent teeth that begin to emerge at about four months. Symptoms of gum disease in dogs include yellow and brown build-up of tartar along the gum line, inflamed gums and persistent bad breath. Broken teeth are a common problem, especially among outdoor dogs. According to veterinary dental experts, aggressive chewing on hard objects, such as commercially available cow hooves, is a primary cause of broken teeth in dogs.   Cat Dental Facts Kittens have 26 temporary teeth that begin to erupt at about two to three weeks of age. They have 30 permanent teeth that erupt at about three to four months. Symptoms of periodontal disease in cats include yellow and brown tartar buildup along the gum line, red inflamed gums, and persistent bad breath. Resorptive lesions are the most common tooth disease in domestic cats. Studies show that about 28 percent of domestic cats develop at least one of these painful lesions during their lifetime.   Oral disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem for pets An astounding 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age 3, according to the American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS). Periodontal disease is a common problem in dogs, particularly smaller breeds. Cats can develop painful resorptive lesions. Studies show that about 28 percent of domestic cats develop at least one of these painful lesions during their lifetime.     Oral disease begins with a buildup of bacteria in the pet´s mouth Bacteria, combined with saliva and food debris between the tooth and gum, can cause plaque formulations that accumulate on the tooth. As bacteria grow in the plaque and as calcium salts are deposited, plaque turns to tartar. Bacterial plaque is the most important substrate in the development of periodontal disease. The inflammation and destruction that accompanies periodontal disease results from the direct action of bacteria and their by-products on periodontal tissues as well as the indirect activation of the host immune response. Without proper preventive or therapeutic care, plaque and tartar buildup leads to periodontal disease, which affects the tissues and structures supporting the teeth. Left untreated, periodontal disease can cause oral pain, dysfunction, tooth loss and systemic complications. Tartar has a contributory role due to its roughened surface, which enhances bacterial attachment and further plaque development, and also irritates gingival tissues.     Periodontitis may lead to other health problems Periodontal disease causes red, swollen and tender gums, receding gums, bleeding, pain and bad breath. If left untreated, periodontitis can lead to tooth loss. The inflammation and infection associated with periodontal disease may damage other organs such as the heart, liver, and kidneys, or lead to other serious health problems.     Pet owners should look for warning signs of oral disease Common indications of oral disease include bad breath, a change in eating or chewing habits, pawing at the face or mouth and depression. If any of these signs are present, the pet should be taken to the veterinarian for a dental exam. Broken teeth are a common problem, especially among outdoor dogs. According to veterinary dental experts, aggressive chewing on hard objects, such as commercially available cow hooves, is a primary cause of broken teeth in dogs.     The good news is that pet owners can reduce the risk of oral disease by following AVDS recommendations The first step in preventing oral disease is a routine physical examination including a dental exam. Pet owners should practice a regular dental care regimen at home, which may include brushing the pet´s teeth with specially formulated toothpaste. It´s best to start early, but grown dogs and cats can learn to tolerate brushing. Toothpaste for humans is not recommended because it may upset the pet´s stomach. Schedule regular follow-up care with your family veterinarian and ask about specially formulated foods with proven benefits in plaque and tartar removal.   Dental Care at Home: There are several ways you can care for your pet’s teeth every day. A complete home dental care program for your pet often will include brushing as well as a special pet food that helps care for your pet’s teeth while he or she eats. Even if you aren’t able to brush your pet’s teeth every day, by incorporating a special pet food into your pet’s daily routine, you can provide the dental care needed to keep your pet healthy. Be sure to talk with your veterinarian about the options that exist and which are right for your pet. Brushing Your Pet´s Teeth STEP 1: Introduce a brushing program to pets gradually. Avoid over-restraining your pet and keep brushing sessions short and positive. A cat or small dog can be held in your lap. Praise and reassure your pet throughout the process. STEP 2: At first, dip a finger into beef bouillon for dogs or tuna water for cats. Rub the soaked finger gently over the pet’s mouth and teeth. Make the initial sessions short and positive. STEP 3: Gradually, introduce gauze over the finger and gently scrub the teeth in a circular motion. STEP 4: Finally, you can introduce a soft toothbrush designed for pets. Use a sensitive or ultra-soft brush designed for people or a brush designed for pets. Special pet toothbrushes are available from your veterinarian or specialty pet store. Don’t use toothpaste designed for people because it could upset the animal’s stomach. (Taken from Dental Health Facts- www.petdental.com-© 2009 Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc )

 

Zoonotic Diseases

The term zoonotic diseases refers to those illnesses which can be transmitted from animals to humans. While there are a great many diseases that affect both human and animal populations, only a few are of concern to the average pet owner.

Cat Scratch Disease
Popularized in a 1970s Ted Nugent song, Cat Scratch Fever, few people realize that this is an actual illness spread to humans by a scratch or bite from a cat with the Bartonella henselae bacterium. Generally, the symptoms of cat scratch fever are mild, and may include a small blister or lesion at the site of the original wound, swelling of the lymph nodes, and a low grade fever.

Despite the name, cats themselves are not responsible for the disease. Fleas, or, more accurately, flea dirt (digested host’s blood excreted by fleas) which is caught under the nails of a cat is what carries the infection. Therefore, flea prevention is crucial. Once your pet in on flea prevention, a course of antibiotic therapy can rid your cat of any lingering signs of infection.

Ringworm
Names can truly be deceiving. Ringworm is not caused by a worm. It is caused by a fungus. The kinds of fungi that cause ringworm live and spread on the top layer of the skin and on the hair. Highly contagious, it spreads when you have skin-to-skin contact with an infected person or animal. Often, children get ringworm from playing with an infected puppy or kitten. (Children also pass it to other children in daycare centers and schools) The best defense against ringworm is frequent hand washing, and avoiding contact with anyone that you suspect may be infected.

If your pet is diagnosed with ringworm, Dr. MacQueen can prescribe medication to rid it of the infection. However, you will want to keep your animal isolated from other animals during its treatment, and be certain to practice thorough handwashing after handling your pet.

Salmonella (Taken from Salmonella and Reptiles The Problem and Its Prevention - http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/reptiles/a/reptsalmonella.htm - ©2009 About.com)
In its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report of Dec. 12, 2003, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a new report on reptile associated Salmonellosis (infection with Salmonella bacteria). Salmonellosis is serious and potentially fatal, especially in young children or anyone with a weakened immune system. The CDC estimates that 74,000 cases of Salmonellosis per year are associated with exposure to reptiles or amphibians (directly or indirectly), which makes this a significant public health concern. The CDC report also notes that children are at greatest risk from reptile associated Salmonellosis, and that many reptile and amphibian owners are still not aware of the risks.

This report is an update of a previous one, and notes that that amphibians have also been implicated in outbreaks of Salmonella, so salamanders, newts, and frogs should treated as carriers along with all reptiles.

The CDC report recommends that reptiles or amphibians should not be kept in homes with children younger than 5, or with anyone who is immunocompromised for any reason. Likewise, children under 5 and immunocompromised people should avoid contact (direct or indirect) with reptiles or amphibians, and child care centers should not house these animals. Knowing the risks, these recommendations should be taken seriously.

Intestinal Parasites
There are several varieties of intestinal parasites that may infect your dog or cat that can also be transmitted to humans. These include Hookworms, Roundworms, and possibly even Tapeworms. The Companion Animal Parasite Council has an excellent website with amazing amounts of information about parasitic infections. You can find it here.

Rabies
Few people stop to think that their pet could harbor such a scary disease. But without proper vaccinations, dogs and cats are vector species for the rabies virus. That means that if your pet were to come into contact with a rabid animal, it could become infected. There is no treatment for rabies. It has a 100% mortality rate. There is also no "test" for rabies. The virus lives deep in the brain tissue, requiring that the suspected animal be decapitated in order to be tested. Therefore it is extremely important to keep your pet up to date on all vaccines, especially the rabies vaccine. In fact, state law requires that your pet be vaccinated against the rabies virus.

For humans exposed to the rabies virus, early treatment is vital. Your doctor will administer a series of injections- very similar to the vaccine that we give your pet. Without this early treatment, the disease is nearly 100% fatal in humans as well.