Heartworm
- This article is to help you understand why it is important to protect your dog against heartworm.
Heartworm disease is an infectious life-threatening, cardiovascular disease spread by mosquitoes. Over the past few years, the incidence of the disease
has increased significantly in the United States and Canada.
What is a heartworm?
Heartworm is a large parasitic roundworm that lives in the heart and large vessels of the dog. They produce immature worms (called microfilarea) which circulate in the blood.
How does the heartworm cause disease and what are the signs?
The adult heartworms clog the heart and blood vessels which prevents the heart from functioning properly. The signs of disease include: breathing difficulty, coughing, weight loss and exercise intolerance.
How is heartworm spread?
This deadly disease is spread by mosquitoes. The mosquito bites an infected dog and ingest the microfilarea in the dog's blood. These mature worms grow partially in the mosquito and when this mosquito bites another dog, the ineffective larvae are passed to that dog. The larvae develop into adult worms in the heart and the cycle continues.
Can heartworm disease be treated and prevented?
Heartworm can be prevented by a medication that will kill the infective larvae spread by the mosquitoes. This medication comes in 2 forms: a tablet given daily or a tablet given once monthly. Both are highly effective in preventing heartworm if given properly. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR DOG BE TESTED PRIOR TO STARTING ON THE PREVENTATIVE MEDICATION AS SEVERE REACTIONS CAN OCCUR IF THE MEDICATION IS GIVEN TO AN ALREADY INFECTED DOG. The test is very accurate and requires only that a small blood sample be taken.
A dog that is already infected with heartworm disease can be treated, however the treatment is both costly and hazardous!!
When should the testing and preventative mediation start?
The infection is not detectable until 5-6 months after the dog has contracted the infection, therefore the testing should be done in April and May so that dogs may start on the medication on May 1 for the daily medication and June 1 for the monthly medication. The medication is given until the end of the mosquito season which is the end of October. Puppies born in this area during the winter months do not need to be tested their first year and can go directly on the medication.
It is recommended that you consult your veterinarian and have your dog tested and placed on a preventative program so that you may continue to have a healthy pet and to contain the spread of the heartworm disease.
Rabies
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Rabies is a virus that attacks the central nervous system of its victim, that is the spinal cord and the brain. It is carried in the saliva of the
host and is usually transmitted by a bite would. However, merely being licked by a rabid animal may also communicate rabies if the saliva reaches
a sore or an open wound.
- Avoid any wild animal that is displaying abnormal behaviour. This includes allowing you to approach it.
- Vaccinate all pets, even if they don't go outside. Rabies is transmissible to humans, therefore very responsible pet owner should have their cats and dogs vaccinated. Any risk is too much!
- Keep your animals on a leash even if it is vaccinated. Rabid animals can physically harm your pet.
- Carrier wildlife are typically nocturnal. It is best to keep your cat indoors at night.
- Avoid touching dead animals. They can still contain the rabies virus.
- Never attempt to kill a suspected rabies carrier, as they will often behave unpredictably.
It is estimated that as much as seventy percent of the domestic animal population remains unvaccinated against rabies. In the past ten years, about 16,000 humans have been treated for rabies and approximately half have contracted it from dogs or cats. This can easily be prevented by vaccinating your pets and by following the precautions outlined above.
If you suspect an animal has rabies - DO NOT APPROACH IT. Call your veterinarian or local animal control officers.
If you suspect exposure to rabies by you or your pet, contact your veterinarian immediately. Due to the very real human health hazard, this is a federally reportable disease. When in doubt, please call your veterinarian.
Carriers
Fox, skunks, and raccoons are the most common. Fox rabies in our area (Hamilton, Ontario) has been drastically reduced thanks to a highly successful bait drop program by the Ministry. We may, however, soon be dealing with a high incidence of raccoon rabies. Department of Agriculture tracking of the spread of this particular rabies strain has shown a rapid increase of positive cases up to the southern Canadian border: the Niagara escarpment of Ontario in particular. Don't be fooled by the name...although different strains are named after the species in which they prevail, all can be transmitted to any warm blooded animal.
Symptoms
There are three stages of clinical disease; the incubation period, excitive stage and paralytic stage. The length of each stage varies greatly from one case to the next, as do the clinical signs.
Controls
Having a Safe Summer
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(Tips to avoid potential health hazards)
Summer is here again, bringing with it long hot days and lots of fun. Summer also brings with it an increased risk of certain health hazards to our pets. A little precaution can go a long way in protecting your pets from these seasonal health threats.
Here is as list of tips to help keep your pets healthy and happy this summer:
1. NEVER LEAVE PETS IN PARKED CARS UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. The temperature inside a parked car during hot summer days can easily reach 120 degrees F. Dogs and cats are very susceptible to heat stroke which is a potentially deadly condition. If you must leave your pet in a parked car please do the following:
- open windows and vents as wide as possible without providing an escape route or put your pet in a well ventilated cage inside the car and open the windows fully.
- provide water
- check the car every ten minutes
If your pet is panting, has a staring or anxious expression, feels warms or feverish, has a rapid heartbeat or is vomiting, then lower his temperature quickly by spraying with or immersing in cool water and call your veterinarian immediately.
2. Keep your pet's kennel or dog house in a well ventilated and shaded area where your pet can avoid the midday sun and heat.
3. Avoid excessive exercise during hot weather as this can lead to heat stress.
4. Keep plenty of fresh drinking water available at all times.
5. Keep your pet's vaccinations up to date. Dogs out walking in parks and other areas may pick up infections such as parvo virus if an infected dog has been in that area even several days previously.
6. Poisons put out against rodents, snails, slugs, ants and other insects are also toxic to pets - be carefully to prevent your pet access to these products.
7. Lawn herbicides can also be poisonous - keep your pets out of the yard while spraying herbicide and for 3 days afterward
8. Mosquitoes are as annoying to pets as they are to us. Do not leave your pets outside during the mosquito season unless protected by a safe mosquito repellent. Duo Cide is a flea spray which also contains mosquito repellent. Human sprays may not be safe for pets as they may be toxic if taken orally and many pets will lick themselves and ingest some of the spray. Mosquitoes also carry heartworm disease. See your veterinarian about starting your dog on a medication to prevent heartworm disease.
9. Keep your pets well groomed. Long and matted hair may need to be clipped to help keep your pet cool and prevent skin infections. Many dogs love to swim and it is a great form of exercise. Do not allow your dog to swim in any water you would not swim in yourself - bacteria and toxins in polluted water can be a hazard to your pet's health. Swimming can also predispose to ear infections if water gets in the ears. Check inside the ears on a regular basis looking for signs of discharge or excessive redness. If either are noticed, call your veterinarian.
Spaying / Neutering
What is a spay?
A spay (ovariohysterectomy) is an operation to remove the ovaries and uterus from a female dog or cat. This is a permanent form of birth control for female pets. Once a pet is spayed, heat cycles and pregnancy can no longer occur.
What is a neuter?
Neutering (castration) is the surgical removal of both testicles or testes of male dogs or cats. It is the primary method of sterilizing male dogs and cats.
Why should I have my pet spayed or neutered?
Mating instincts of unneutered dogs and cats are very strong. You may be responsible for unwanted litters if your pet is given freedom to wander. Pet overpopulation is the number one reason why millions of cats and dogs are euthanized each year. Spaying and neutering can help control the pet population and reduce the numbers of dogs and cats that are abandoned or must be destroyed.
There are certain health benefits to spaying or neutering your pet. An unspayed female may develop infections of the uterus or mammary (breast) cancer. Mammary cancer affects nearly one in ten female dogs who are not spayed, but its rare in spayed females.
A neutered male is less likely to roam and fight other animals. There is also less risk of developing prostate infections or prostate cancer.
When is a good time for this operation?
Six months is the most common age to spay or neuter a dog or cat. Female pets do not have to go through a heat cycle nor do they need to have a litter prior to the surgery. If spayed before a heat cycle, mammary cancer is extremely rare.
What happens during the procedure?
A spay is a major surgery in which a general anesthetic and sterile surgical technique is used. there may be mild discomfort for one or two days after the surgery; however most pets will recover quickly.
Neutering also involves the use of general anesthetic and sterile surgical techniques, and recovery is usually uneventful.
Is the surgery dangerous?
Although there is always risk in any anesthetic or surgical procedure, the risk is low on a young, healthy pet. Higher risks certainly occur in the older patient if infection or cancer exist.
Will this change my pet's personality?
In male dogs, the sex hormone testosterone increases aggressive behaviour. The lower level of testosterone following the neutering procedure will reduce the dog's aggressive tendencies toward other dogs If you have your pet neutered at six months of age before the testosterone levels get high, you should not see any change in your pet's behaviour related to the surgery.
Will my pet become fat and lazy?
A spay or neuter may slightly decrease body metabolism. However, proper diet and regular exercise have greater influence over your pet's weight and health than does sterilization surgery.
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