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Spring/Summer 2008
While warmer weather encourages more outdoor activities for you and your pets, it also increases the risk of blood, intestinal, and skin parasites. Some parasites to be aware of:
Mosquitoes ~ These parasites typically appear in Vermont around May and can be found until late fall when frosts render them dormant. They are responsible for spreading disease in pets and humans.
Heartworm disease – This disease is spread by mosquitoes which have ingested the immature parasites (microfilaria) from the blood of an infected dog. The microfilariae mature in the mosquito and become infective larvae. When a mosquito harboring infective larvae bites a dog, the infective larvae then enter the dog through the skin puncture and migrate to subcutaneous tissue, fat, or muscle. After undergoing a few molts in the dog’s body, the young adult heartworm migrates to the pulmonary artery and heart approximately 110 days after infection. Six to seven months after infection, adult female heartworms start producing circulating microfilariae. We recommend that all dogs be tested for heartworm at least every other spring. Heartworm preventative should be given beginning June 1st and ending November 1st. It is far easier to prevent heartworm disease than it is to treat it!!
Ticks ~ We start to see ticks in April in Vermont. These annoying parasites are becoming more and more prevalent each year. They are worse between April-June and again between August-October. Ticks are responsible for the transmission of disease to our pets.
Lyme disease – The deer tick carries the bacteria associated with Lyme disease. Borrelia burgdorferi is the spirochete which causes Borreliosis, or Lyme Disease. It is spread mainly through the painless bite from an infected tick. Signs of Borreliosis in the dog include fever, lethargy, depression, lack of appetite, reluctance to move or a stiff, painful gait, joints that are swollen or warm to the touch, pain in the legs or throughout the body, and swollen lymph nodes. In more advanced cases – arthritis, lameness, renal failure, and central nervous system involvement can be seen. Lyme disease signs may come and go, vary in intensity from mild to severe, and can mimic numerous other conditions. In some dogs, the signs are not apparent or may not appear for several months after infection.
Canine anaplasmosis – Another deer tick born disease is anaplasmosis. This disease is caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Anaplasmosis signs include arthritis-like pain in multiple joints, high fever, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea; neurological signs may be present and include seizures and neck pain.
Canine ehrlichiosis – This bacterial disease is commonly transmitted by the brown dog tick. Ehrlichiosis is caused by the rickettsial agent Ehrlichia canis. Ehrlichiosis has three phases of signs – acute, subclinical, and chronic. Dogs experiencing the acute phase may demonstrate signs that include fever, discharge from eyes and nose, lack of appetite, depression, weight loss, and swollen lymph nodes. The subclinical phase can last for years, and dogs may never show any obvious signs. The chronic phase can be either mild or severe. When mild, the disease appears to mimic a vague illness and dogs show signs of obvious weight loss. When severe, signs include eye disease, spontaneous nosebleeds, retinal bleeding and swelling of limbs.
Fleas ~ With the arrival of warmer weather, fleas may become a problem.
Flea induced problems & parasite infections – These ectoparasites cause irritation, itching, flea allergy dermatitis, and anemia with heavy infestations. Also, flea larvae may ingest tapeworm eggs. When your pet ingests the adult flea through grooming or itching, your pet then becomes infected with tapeworm. It is important to control these pests for the health of your pet. Under the proper conditions, the flea life cycle can be completed from the hatching of an egg to laying eggs for the next generation in as little as 16 days. This can make control difficult. Since flea eggs fall out of dog and cat fur, it is important to thoroughly clean places your pet sleeps or plays in. Eggs in these places hatch into very small, worm-like larvae which feed on organic debris, such as the dried blood droppings from adult fleas (also known as flea dirt). The larvae molt and form pupae which spin cocoons from which they emerge as young, hungry adult fleas in approximately three weeks. We have products which can help in the fight against fleas!
With more outdoor activity there are increased risks for trauma. Remember – no matter how smart your pet is, he/she is no smarter than a toddler (if you're lucky). It's up to you to keep them out of the road and free from things that may harm them. Beware of porcupines!!
Having some behavioral issues? We can help counsel you with a variety of training and behavioral problems. We are strong believers in the Gentle Leader Headcollar. This device can make walking the most unwalkable dog a breeze. Call and speak with one of our technicians. Also, we offer obedience training – call and speak with Darlene or Nancy.
The human population is getting ever larger and heavier. Unfortunately the same is true with pets. We can offer nutritional counseling for people whose pets have "weight issues". Call and speak with Karri.
Vaccine recommendations are changing. We will customize vaccination recommendations based on risk and the age of your pet.
Remember medications and prescription foods can be delivered directly to you at home by our partner pharmacy Vetcentric. Call the office (388-2691) for details.
Warm Weather Hazards*
During the warmer weather pets spend more time outside. Some things to be mindful of:
- Be aware of the temperature when pets go outside or for a ride. Cars heat up fast on seemly mild spring days -- even with the windows cracked. Know the signs of heat stroke.
- Heat stroke signs include (but are not limited to): body temperatures of 104 to 110°F, excessive panting followed by huffing and puffing, dark or bright red tongue and gums, staggering, stupor – a staring expression, failure to respond to hearing his/her name, rapid heartbeat, profuse salivation, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, seizures, collapse, coma, and death if left untreated.
- If heat stroke is suspected, seek veterinary attention immediately! Use cool water, not ice water, to cool your pet. (Very cold water will cause constriction of the blood vessels and impede cooling.) Do not aid cooling below 103°F - some animals can actually get hypothermic (too cold). Just because your pet is cooled and "appears" fine, do NOT assume everything is fine. Internal organs such as liver, kidneys, brain, etc., are affected by the body temperature elevation. Blood tests and veterinary examination are needed to assess your pet’s physical state.
- Outdoor/indoor pets should have a constant supply of fresh water.
- Do not let your dog ride in the back of an open pick-up truck. The dog can be bounced around, fall out, or jump out. Deaths and injuries resulting from transporting dogs this way are completely preventable.
- Not all dogs are excellent swimmers, especially if there is an underlying health problem (i.e. heart disease, obesity, geriatric). If taking your pet boating, consider protecting him/her with a life preserver.
- Outdoor dogs need plenty of shade and an elevated, dry dog house with a light, water repellent flap over the door to keep rain and insects out. The bedding in the dog house needs to be clean and dry.
- Make sure pets are up to date on rabies vaccines. Warm weather brings wild animals into more frequent contact with domestic ones.
- Antifreeze or coolant products have a sweet, pleasant taste. Those products containing ethylene glycol are highly toxic. Very small amounts can be lethal to pets! A teaspoon of antifreeze/coolant can be deadly to a cat or small dog. Thoroughly clean up any spills and store antifreeze/coolant in tightly closed containers in secure cabinets. If you think a pet has ingested antifreeze, contact a veterinarian immediately!
- Rat and mouse poisoning products are harmful to pets. Be sure to place all rat and mouse bait in places inaccessible to pets. These can be lethal if ingested by a pet!
- Outside hazards include:
- Algae – found in ponds or other bodies of water; certain forms can be toxic.
- Fire pit/grill – flames can cause serious burns and ashes can cause illness if ingested.
- Compost – particularly if moldy, can be toxic.
- Cocoa bean shell mulch fertilizer, pesticides, gasoline, oil – all contain chemicals that may cause serious illness depending on circumstances of exposure.
- Fences, gates, deck lattice – pets can get stuck in openings and possibly get strangled.
- Swimming pools and hot tubs – never leave pets unattended near uncovered pools, even if they can swim. These are especially treacherous for small dogs. Plastic baby pools can be a deathtrap for smaller dog breeds.
Holiday Hazards*
Easter and Memorial Day present certain hazards for pets. A few helpful hints to keep pets healthy:
Food & Beverages
- It is important to keep pets on their normal diet. Even a small change in diet can result in your pet having severe indigestion and diarrhea. Older pets or very young pets are at an increased risk for these problems due to delicate digestive systems. It is also very important not to give pets poultry bones – these can splinter and cause blockages! Onion, onion powder, greasy, spicy, fatty, or spoiled foods can cause digestive problems. Moldy foods can cause tremors or seizures. Also, make sure pets do not help themselves to these hazardous foods by raiding unattended garbage cans!
- Chocolate is harmful to pets. In general, the less sweet the chocolate, the more toxic it is to your pet. Unsweetened baking chocolate contains almost seven times more theobromine as milk chocolate. A ¼ ounce of baking chocolate ingested by a 10 pound dog can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, hyperactivity, increased thirst, increased urination, and rapid heart rate. Chocolate toxicity does not appear to be as troublesome for cats; although if they ingest a large enough amount of chocolate it may cause problems.
- Gum, candies, or other foods sweetened with xylitol. Xylitol can cause liver damage and death in susceptible dogs.
- Alcoholic beverages can cause serious problems for pets. Keep alcoholic drinks away from pets – it can cause alcohol poisoning. If ingested, the pet can become VERY sick, weak, become severely depressed, or go into a coma!
- Yeast dough is dangerous for pets. Ingested uncooked yeast dough can rise in the stomach causing severe pain. Pets may experience abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, disorientation, and depression. Alcohol is the breakdown product of rising dough – which can lead to alcohol poisoning. Many cases like this involve surgical removal of the dough.
- Coffee, in its many forms (ground, beans, chocolate covered espresso beans), can harm pets. Coffee contains caffeine, which is a stimulant. Depending on the amount ingested and the size of the pet, restlessness, excitation, increased heart rate, tremors, or seizures can be seen.
- Macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs. These nuts can cause muscular weakness, depression, vomiting, disorientation, tremors, abdominal pain, and muscle stiffness in dogs. The effects can last for 1 – 3 days. This reaction has not been reported in any other species.
- Grapes and raisins have been reported to cause harm to pets. Recent reports have implicated grapes and raisins in causing the development of kidney failure in dogs following ingestion of a large amount of grapes or raisins. There has been one case of renal failure reported in a cat upon ingestion of raisins. Veterinary toxicologists at the Animal Poison Control Center are currently investigating these cases to determine the causative agent or disease process.
- Other harmful foods to pets: avocados, garlic, salt, mushrooms, and tea leaves.
Plants
- Be careful with holiday plants and floral arrangements. Some of the plants to watch out for are:
- Lilies – Commonly used varieties include Tiger, Asian, Japanese Show, Stargazer, Easter, and Casa Blanca. They can cause kidney failure in cats.
- Ivy – All parts of the plant are low to moderately toxic. They can cause vomiting or nausea if ingested.
- Hyacinth, daffodil, tulip, jonquil, narcissus, amaryllis, and iris – They are moderately toxic producing primarily gastrointestinal signs (vomiting and diarrhea) after consumption.
- Lily-of-the-valley – This plant is very toxic to pets. Signs of toxicity include upset stomach, vomiting, irregular heartbeat, convulsions, and death, if sufficient quantities are consumed.
Other Holiday Hazards
- Keep candy wrappers, cellophane, and aluminum foil away from pets. If pets ingest these they can cause vomiting and intestinal blockage.
- Make sure all string used to secure roasted ham or turkey and netting are disposed of properly. If eaten by a pet, string and netting may cause serious intestinal problems requiring emergency surgery to save the pet’s life.
- Fake grass can be harmful to pets if ingested. This colorful “grass” can be a choking or intestinal obstruction hazard if eaten by pets.
- Small toys and other plastic items. If swallowed, small toys and plastic Easter eggs can cause pets to choke or even damage their intestinal tracts.
- Nicotine should be kept away from pets. If ingested, tobacco products can be fatal to dogs and cats. Signs of nicotine toxicity often develop within 15 – 45 minutes from the time of ingestion. The signs include excitation, salivation, panting, vomiting, and diarrhea. Muscle weakness, twitching, depression, coma, increased heart rate and cardiac arrest can follow.
- Loud noises associated with parades can scare pets. Pets already predisposed to thunder phobias are at greater risk. These loud noises can cause pets to run away in an effort to escape from the noise.
*References:
Goetz, Rebecca J., Jordan, Thomas N., & McCain, John W. “Indiana Plants Poisonous to Livestock and Pets.” Cooperative Extension Service, Purdue University.
ASPCA/National Animal Poison Control Center. “101 Things You Didn’t Know Could Harm Your Pet.”
Tobiassen DVM, Janet Crosby. “Stay Cool. Stay Safe.” Veterinary Medicine Guide. About.com Veterinary Medicine Guide
Richardson DVM, Jill A. “Pet Poison Safety Tips for the Holiday Season.” Veterinary Poison Information Specialist, ASPCA/Animal Poison Control Center |
