Fleas and Ticks

Fleas and ticks are more than mere nuisances. They cause distress in dogs and cats and, more important, they cause disease. On-again, off-again preventive programs are not the optimal way to safeguard the health of pets and their families.

By the time a pet owner notices fleas on a pet, the fleas have injected salivary proteins, transmitted infectious agents and begun laying eggs. Ticks can transmit disease agents to a dog or cat before the pests are found and removed. Reactive treatments are insufficient to prevent disease in pets and their owners.

The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) guidelines call for year-round, lifelong prevention of common external parasites, including fleas and ticks. The guidelines recommend using parasite control methods that consider the lifestyle and health of the pet, managing the pet’s environment, and preventing infestation to protect the health of the entire family.

Most insecticides effectively eliminate existing fleas from dogs and cats within 4 to 24 hours after application. While this helps relieve pet discomfort, reinfestation is common. Repeated applications often are necessary to bring the problem under control, and long-term control methods should be used to prevent reinfestation. Avoiding initial infestation altogether by placing pets on life-long prevention programs is the best option for pets and their owners.

Tick control is vital, since these bloodsucking parasites can transmit disease to pets and owners. Nearly a dozen tick species are encountered by U.S. dogs and cats. Most are potential disease carriers, transferring diseases as prevalent and concerning as Rocky Mountain spotted fever (Rickettsia rickettsii) and Lyme disease (caused by Borrelia burgdorferi). While not a perfect solution, disease transmission can be reduced by keeping pets on effective tick control programs and by vaccinating your dog for Lyme Disease.

Seasonal prevention is inadequate. While seasonal flea and tick control seems appropriate in many regions of the U.S., sporadic treatment makes it difficult to prevent initial infestations. Due to changing climatic conditions, flea and tick “seasonality” also is changing. Experience over the past 10 years shows every year has the potential to differ from the previous year. Determining start and stop dates for seasonally timed applications may be impossible, and geographic differences affect flea and tick prevalence and seasonality.

The best prevention for flea and tickborne disease is clear: year-round prevention of flea and tick infestation. Call us or visit our website at www.newhartfordanimalhospital.com for more information.

 

http://www.capcvet.org/expert-articles/the-case-for-year-round-flea-and-tick-control

Halloween!

Halloween is right around the corner! While this day focuses on children, candy and costumes, we should remember that our pets can get into mischief as well.

7 things you can do to make Halloween safer for your pet

Don't feed your pets Halloween candy, especially if it contains chocolate or xylitol (a common sugar substitute found in sugar-free candies and gum);

Make sure your pet is properly identified (microchip, collar and ID tag) in case s/he escapes through the open door while you're distracted with trick-or-treaters;

Keep lit candles and jack-o-lanterns out of reach of pets;

If you plan to put a costume on your pet, make sure it fits properly and is comfortable, doesn't have any pieces that can easily be chewed off, and doesn't interfere with your pet's sight, hearing, breathing, opening its mouth, or moving. Take time to get your pet accustomed to the costume before Halloween, and never leave your pet unsupervised while he/she is wearing a costume;

Keep glow sticks and glow jewelry away from your pets. Although the liquid in these products isn't likely toxic, it tastes really bad and makes pets salivate excessively and act strangely;

If your pet is wary of strangers or has a tendency to bite, put him/her in another room during trick-or-treating hours or provide him/her with a safe hiding place;  keep your pet inside; avoid letting your pet outdoors during trick or treat hours.

Taking a few simple precautions will help insure 

your children and your pets have a safe and

Happy Halloween!

What To Do About Animal Cruelty

Hitting defenseless animals, keeping them chained without exercise or leaving them exposed in severe weather all count as abuse. Mistreating animals can (and often does) escalate into domestic assault. Studies have shown a link between violence toward animals and violence toward spouses, children and elders. If you witness an animal in imminent danger, you should get the authorities involved by dialing 911. Avoid taking action by yourself. The police will respond. You can choose to remain anonymous, or by identifying yourself, you can help in future prosecution.

Hoarding occurs when someone possesses multiple animals without providing adequate food, care and sanitation. Hoarders often fail to understand the consequences of their actions and may exhibit signs of mental illness. Reporting hoarding can be a first step toward getting that individual into new or additional treatment. Call your local animal control officer or police department. Those agencies have the power to remove the animals or take corrective action, and they’ll involve social services if necessary.

Neglect is the most common form of cruelty and it’s on the rise. As more Americans struggle with financial difficulty, many pets are put at risk of starvation, abandonment and death. Neglected animals may belong to neighbors you’ve known for years. They may try to hide the neglect due to embarrassment.
 
What Happens After You Report?
Most animal control officers view seizure and criminal charges as a last resort. Generally, officials or volunteers will attempt to educate the owner and provide that person with alternatives. If charges are brought, animal cruelty can range from a misdemeanor to a felony in certain cases.

Unfortunately, most states don’t have the resources to investigate and prosecute all incidents fully. You may have to follow up on your original complaint to make sure action was taken. Email your state legislators, and let them know that animal cruelty is a serious issue. It’s going to take persistent action to strengthen ordinances, laws and enforcement.

Nonprofit and volunteer organizations are on the front lines and under financial pressure as more and more animals arrive in their care. Look for rescue societies, shelters and community resources in your area, and volunteer or donate. Many nonprofit groups coordinate with authorities on cruelty issues. You may be able to report incidents through them.

If people stay observant and have the courage to act, it can make a huge difference! 

For more reading and local resources, visit the following URLs: www.aspca.org/ and www.humanesociety.org/.
http://www.healthypet.com/petcare/DogCareArticle.aspx?title=When_Stopping_Animal_Cruelty_Its_Good_Be_Nosy

Dog Bite Prevention

Did you know that ...

 

• 4.7 million people in this country are bitten by dogs every year
• children are by far the most common victims
• 800,000 Americans receive medical attention for dog bites each year
• children are far more likely to be severely injured; approximately 400,000 receive medical attention every year
• most dog bites affecting young children occur during everyday activities and while interacting with familiar dogs
• senior citizens are the second most common dog bite victims

There are a number of things that you can do to avoid dog bites, ranging from properly training and socializing your pet to educating your children on how, or if, they should approach a dog. Information is one of the best preventions.

 

How can you protect your family?

 

Be cautious around strange dogs, and treat your own pet with respect. Because children are the most common victims of dog bites, parents and caregivers should:

• NEVER leave a baby or small child alone with a dog.
• Be alert for potentially dangerous situations.
• Teach children – including toddlers – to be careful around pets. Children must learn not to approach strange dogs or try to pet dogs through fences. Teach children to ask permission from the dog's owner before petting the dog.

 

Dog Bite Emergencies

 

If you are bitten by a dog, here is a checklist of things you should do:

 

• If the dog's owner is present, request proof of rabies vaccination, and get the owner's name and contact information.
• Clean bite wound with soap and water as soon as possible.
• Consult your doctor immediately or go to the emergency room if it's after office hours.
• Contact the dog's veterinarian to check vaccination records.

 

Abandoned Animals

The other night, one of our doctors returned to the office to finish up some work. He noticed a small box by our emergency door and went over to investigate. Luckily he did because there were two little kittens inside. Although the kittens were in a box, the temperatures would have been about 30 degrees that night. They would not have survived.

We understand how hard it is to care for pets sometimes. There are limited choices of what to do with pets that can no longer be cared for or that may come into our possession unexpectedly. The local shelter is crowded and often pet owners do not want to leave their pets in a place where they may be euthanized, especially if sick.

Fortunately for us, we have a terrific staff and our clients are generous, loving care-givers. We will certainly nurse these kittens back to health and adopt them to a good home once they are old enough. While we cannot be a rescue to every animal that needs a home, often we can help when someone is faced with a similar situation.

I encourage every animal lover who is reading this to consider becoming a foster to abandoned or unwanted animals. Fostering is temporary until a permanant home can be found. There are so many pets that need help. If this is something you think you can do, consider calling or emailing us. As we continue to see a rise in abandoned animals, the only alternative to an overcrowded shelter or euthanizing a healthy pet is to develop a solid foster program. 

One pet at a time, together we can make a difference.  

What is Leptospirosis And Should I Be Concerned? 

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that is contracted by animals from animals. It is a disease that veterinary industry experts recommend vaccinating dogs against. This is because Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans.  However, there are still plenty of veterinarians who do not vaccinate their canine patients for Leptospirosis. This means there are many dogs (and wildlife) that are infected with Leptospirosis and consequently, shedding the disease. There really is no way to know which animals have it and which don’t.

Leptospirosis is caused by a spirochete bacterium called leptospira. Leptospires travel across mucous membranes and broken skin. People become infected with Leptospirosis from contaminated soil or water as well as from direct contact with the urine, saliva or blood of an infected animal. Animals that carry Leptospirosis can include cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, rodents, foxes, raccoons, squirrels and many others.

Clinical signs of Leptospirosis are often nonspecific. They include fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weakness and stiffness.  Leptospires multiply quickly once they enter the blood stream and spread to many organs, primarily the kidneys and liver. The severity of the disease depends on a number of factors including the immune system of the animal or human being exposed and the virulence of the organism being transmitted.  

Leptospirosis is treatable with antibiotics but the success directly correlates to how ill the patient is and how soon the disease is diagnosed.  It is important to seek medical attention for your pets from your veterinarian or for yourself from your physician as early as possible. The severity of disease can vary as can the speed at which it replicates in the body. 

To help prevent leptospirosis, all dogs should be vaccinated against the disease.  The vaccine does not provide 100% protection as there are many types of leptospirosis.  At New Hartford Animal Hospital, we vaccinate with most technologically advanced vaccine which protects against the four most common strains found in the USA.  Because this is a bacterial disease, the highest level of protection is achieved by vaccinating your dog biannually. Many pet owners are reluctant to vaccinate twice a year but even once a year provides some protection. Not only by vaccinating are you protecting your dog but also your family. 

Other steps to prevent leptospirosis include rodent control and avoiding any contact with urine and blood from your pet or other animals.  As always, good hygiene is paramount in preventing disease.   

For more information on Leptospirosis in humans visit: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/factsheets/infectious/leptospirosis.html

Why Nutrition Matters

It is well accepted that as humans, our individual health is influenced on a daily basis by environment, genetics, and nutrition. For the last several decades, veterinary medicine has focused more on the role proper nutrition plays in our pet's overall health. Veterinarians increasingly recognize that nutrition enhances a patient's health through all life stages, maintains quality of life, and provides therapeutic support following disease or injury.

AAHA and AVMA recommend that every dog and cat receive nutritional assessment appropriate to their age and lifestyle during each examination. Nutritional factors that must be considered are age, activity level, lifestyle, body weight and condition, medical history, underlying disease, current medications, and diet.

 

Starting dogs and cats out on a good balanced diet early in life is a form of preventative medicine that is almost always cost effective in the long run. There are diets that minimize periodontal disease, prevent urinariy tract infections, or control weight and all are good examples of how nutrition can help prevent disease and illness later in life. Nutrition truly is the foundation for well being.

Ask your veterinarian for their nutritional recommendations and give your pet the best chance at great overall health!