Dental Disease and your pet

Just like people, our pets can get plaque buildup, gingivitis and periodontal disease.  When periodontal disease occurs it can affect not only the teeth but other organs as well.  Studies have been done showing that dogs and cats lifespans can increase if their teeth and gums are healthy.  We carry CET dental kits which have toothbrushes and toothpaste for both cats and dogs.  Remember you can't use human toothpaste as dogs and cats swallow the toothpaste.  A relatively new product, Oravet, is used once weekly to keep plaque from building up on the teeth.  It is a gel that is applied with an applicator and has been shown to dramatically decrease tartar buildup.  We also carry CET Dental Chews and Nolvadent oral spray to help decrease bacteria in the mouth.  We also carry a prescription diet TD by Science diet that helps to decrease plaque build-up. Please call to schedule your pets dental check-up.

Lyme Disease and Anaplasmosis

Even though it is cold outside, don't be fooled into thinking ticks are gone.  Unfortunately we see Lyme disease all year.  We are still diagnosing Lyme disease and last year we saw a number of cases throughout the winter months.  We recommend that you continue to use Frontline on a monthly basis so that your dog/cat is protected as well as the humans in your family.  Remember if a cat or a dog brings an infected tick into the house that tick can not only infect the animal but the people in the house as well.  It's better to be safe then sorry, so keep up with the monthly dosing.  Anaplasmosis is now being tested for along with Lyme disease on your annual blood test.  It is another tick borne disease that can cause disease in your dog.  Signs generally include lethargy, lack of appetite, fever and possible bleeding.  If your dog tests positive we will go over the treatment options with you.  Just like with Lyme disease it is important to prevent tick bites so use Frontline Plus every month.

Bartonella and cats

Bartonella is a bacterial disease that cats get from ticks and fleas.  We have been seeing the disease a lot lately, especially in shelter animals and stray cats.  It can cause chronic upper respiratory disease, gingivitis, gastrointestinal disease and even diabetes.  A simple blood test will let us know if your cat/kitten is infected.  Another reason to be concerned is that Bartonella can be passed to people, "Cat scratch disease" , through scratches so it is important to test your cat and treat if necessary.  Treatment is a 3 week course of antibiotics and then a retest of the blood 6 months later.  Please call our office with any questions or to set up an appointment to have your cat's blood drawn.

Heartworm Disease

Both dogs and cats are at risk for heartworm disease in our area.  Mosquitos are the carriers of this parasite and they are out in force in the spring, summer and fall.  Fortunately there is an easy way to prevent heartworm disease and all it requires is either a once a month pill or a liquid on the back of the neck.  This past winter we have diagnosed 2 dogs with heartworm disease.  The disease can end up causing congestive heart failure as well as blood clots.  Cats too are at risk and all outdoor cats should be protected monthly.  Cats with heartworm can present with vomiting, difficulty breathing or no signs at all. The products we carry are Iverhart Plus, Interceptor and Revolution for dogs and Revolution for cats.  Ask us which product best serves your needs.

Arthritis

With winter some older dogs experience worsening of their arthritis.  A lot of older dogs with joint disease are already on Rimadyl (a non-steroidal antiinflammatory), Deramaxx (another non-steroidal antiinflammatory) or Cosequin (a nutraceutical of glucosamine and chondroitan).  There is a new diet on the market now that seems to be working wonders with older dogs and their chronic joint disease.  J/D by Science diet is a diet that has been shown to help alleviate the signs of arthritis in older dogs.  In clinical trials they found that dogs were significantly less painful after being on J/D.  It comes in both canned and dry.  J/D can be used by itself or with any of the arthritis medications that we prescribe.  Please contact us if you would like to try this new diet.  It is not available over the counter so please call our office if you would like to try it.  Keeping your older dog comfortable is important not only to you but to us as well.

Treatment for Cardiovascular Disease

If your dog has been diagnosed with valvular disease or dilated cardiomyopathy there is a new drug that has been shown to increase both quality and quantity of life.  Pimobenden is a new medication that has been helping dogs with both early and late congestive heart disease.  It helps your dogs heart pump more efficiently which will reduce coughing, and increase their energy level.  It has been used both in Europe and Canada for years and has just been approved for use in the United States.  If your dog is currently on heart medication or is a newly diagnosed heart patient please call us to schedule an examination to discuss adding on this new medication.  You will be amazed at how much better they can feel in a short period of time.