Friday 4 15, 2011

Flea, Tick and Heartworm Season begins

Warmer weather signals the start of the parasite control season. Mosquitos carry Heartworm disease and all dogs should be tested and placed on a heartworm preventative before June. Ticks can transmit Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis and other rickettsial diseases. We have already seen cases of Lyme disease this year. Fleas can lead to flea bite dermatitis and tapeworm infestations. Fleas are problematic as once they infest an environment, they can persist for a long time. Fleas and ticks both become active in March.

Fortunately, we have very effective products to help control these pesky pests and keep your pet healthier. We recommend Heartgard Plus and Frontline for dogs and Revolution for cats. All of these products are very safe and effective. Purchasing these products through your veterinarian ensures legitimate, unexpired, high quality medication and keeps the manufacturer warranty in place. In addition, if you purchase 6 doses of Frontline through our office, you are eligible for a free dose, a $14 value.  

Please call to schedule your pet's heartworm test soon and be sure to start Frontline now.  

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Dr. Hale Says Good-bye

After many years of compassionate service at Edinburgh Pet Health Center, Dr. Jennifer Hale is saying good-bye. We wish her the best of luck in the future.  

"It has been a pleasure to practice veterinary medicine at Edinburgh Pet Health Center over the last seven years. I will sincerely miss all the pets and their people and wish I could have personally said good-bye to everyone. I’m taking some time off to rest and relax and then move on to the next challenge. I plan to continue working some relief shifts at Affiliated Emergency Veterinary Services and fill in at different clinics across the Twin Cities. Thanks to everyone!"

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Sparrow the Pekingese makes AKC history!

Sparrow, a six-year-old Pekingese owned by our very own Rhonda Noetzelman, CVT, earned her first flyball title in February, 2011. She is the first Pekingese, EVER, to earn a flyball title. We are very proud of Rhonda and Sparrow's efforts to attain this history-making achievement. Congratulations to both of them!

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Ouch! Dealing with Torn Toe Nails

Dogs commonly will tear or avulse a toe nail, especially when the nails have grown too long. The nail may become caught in furniture, decks, or carpet and when the dog pulls his foot, the nail may crack or be torn off. This can be surprisingly painful and many dogs will not allow the owner to examine the area. When the nail is torn, the "quick" is exposed. This is the location of the nerve and blood supply in the nail. The nail may bleed for quite a while depending on where the break is located.  

We often have to sedate the dog in order to examine and treat the nail. Analgesics are given and a local anesthetic is also placed in the area. The torn nail may be clipped or removed depending on the severity. A bandage is placed to provide comfortable protection for walking on a sensitive toe. Pain medication and occasionally antibiotics are administered as well.

Prevention of this problem is aided by regular (monthly) nail trims. If your pet will not tolerate nail trimming, we can offer tips for desensitizing the dog to the procedure. We can also perform the nail trim for you or demonstrate the technique for owners who wish to do this at home.

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Science Diet National Grand Prize Winner!

Rhonda Noetzelman, CVT is the National Grand Prize winner in Science Diet's National "Make a Difference" diet contest. Rhonda's essay on how Science Diet's Prescription T/d has helped her Pekingese, Sparrow, was selected as the winner. She won free food for life as well as reimbursement for preventative care for Sparrow. Rhonda has always been an outspoken advocate for the benefits of Science Diet and especially T/d as she sees first hand how it has helped prevent periodontal disease in a breed very prone to this problem. In addition, Sparrow's role as a therapy dog means that her breath needs to be as fresh as possible.

T/d has helped maintain dental health for many of our patients. If you wish to know how T/d works and whether it is right for your pet, call us for a nutritional assessment.

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Hormone Replacement Therapy: Consequences for Pets

The increasing popularity of topical hormone treatments in menopausal women is having unintended consequences on their pets. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) patches, sprays, gels and creams contain estrogen. They should be applied on the body where no pets or children may come in contact with them. However, many women using these pharmaceuticals may not be aware of this and will apply them to their wrists, elbows and legs.

Female dogs coming in contact with HRT topicals can exhibit classic signs of being in heat, including a swollen vulva, bloody discharge and possibly hair loss. Male dogs may exhibit mammary gland enlargement and hair loss. Overexposure to estrogens can also have toxic effects on the bone marrow, causing anemia, as well as increasing the risk for mammary cancer. Pets can also ingest the products by licking the owner’s skin or finding the discarded patches.

It is not uncommon for veterinarians to suspect a retained ovarian remnant when presented with these cases, especially when unaware of the owner’s use of HRT. Dogs that have been spayed may have had ovarian tissue left behind. This serves as a source of estrogen as well. Knowing whether an owner is on HRT will prevent the veterinarian from doing unnecessary exploratory surgery only to find no sign of any ovary.

Once a pet is exhibiting symptoms of estrogen influence, it may take months for the effects to go away even after no further exposure is occurring. Prevention is the best strategy. Use gloves to apply HRT patches to areas on the body that will be covered by clothing.
 

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