Priest Lake Veterinary Hospital, P-LLC
June 2010 News Letter
Happy Father's Day, and happy first day of summer. What a May we
had. I hope that everyone is safe and has recovered from the flood. It is
going to take a long time for Nashville and surrounding areas to recover and
clean up after this storm. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who
suffered loss during that terrible time. On a brighter note, the children will
be out of school and vacations are being planned. There are many places across
the country that are pet friendly. If you need information on these places,
call the states' or cities' Chamber of Commerce. We also have a list of kennels
that board in the area.
Canine Distemper is on the rise.
In Austin Texas, animal health officials
and veterinarians state that there is an increase in canine distemper. One
veterinarian has reported 70 dogs carrying the virus or showing signs of the
disease in the past couple of months. The viral illness is highly contagious and
often lethal to dogs but it can be prevented by vaccination.
Outbreaks can occur anywhere. Don't take the risk of your dog getting this
virus. Make sure your pets' vaccinations are up to date. Cats are not immune
to distemper. It is a different strain and not transmitted from cat to dog or
vice-versa. It is very important that pets are vaccinated against distemper.
Vaccines are not expensive and worth the cost when you compare it to the loss of
your pet to a disease that can be prevented. Puppies should have a series of 4
vaccinations and adults should have a booster once a year. Symptoms of
distemper may vary. These are a few of the signs to watch for:
conjunctivitis, cough, depression, anorexia, vomiting, fever, neurological
signs, damaged tooth enamel, ocular lesions, arthritis, and bone lesions.
These are ways the disease can be spread: aerosol (sneezing coughing, etc),
contact, and on your clothing. Animals that recover from distemper are immune
to the virus, but recovery is rare. Call your veterinarian today and make sure
your dog's and cat's vaccinations are up to date.
Dementia in Pets
A study by the University of California,
Davis, revealed that 39% of senior dogs show signs of "doggy dementia", a canine
condition that compares to Alzheimer's disease in humans. Most cases of doggy
dementia are found in smaller breeds, mainly because they live longer than most
large breeds. One of the veterinarians on this study suggests that improving
your pet's diet may help the progression of the disease. Clinical signs to
watch for include: increased sleep, decreased attention to surroundings,
elimination indoors, anxiety, failure to recognize owner, and barking
aimlessly. If you have noticed any or several of these symptoms, see your
veterinarian to have your pet examined, and eliminate any underlying reasons for
these symptoms. A medication is also available that helps improve many dogs
with this disease.
Cat Scratch Fever
Cat scratch fever (Bartonella
henselae) is transmitted by infested cat fleas that bite the cat and then when
you are scratched by that cat, the disease can be transmitted to you. It is a
serious problem and is associated with several human illnesses. Advantage Multi
was shown, at the end of a 3 month study, to prevent the spread of the disease
by the cat flea. Regular use of Advantage Multi is recommended to help stop the
spread of cat scratch fever as well as other diseases and parasites.
Fleas, please, go away
Do you wonder why you are
still seeing fleas after you have administered flea prevention? All pets in the
house should be treated every month. After you apply the preventative, it will
kill the fleas on the pet. The increase of fleas seen after application is
normal. Flea eggs deposited in the premises before the treatment continue to
develop. Fleas will emerge for at least a couple of months regardless of the
flea prevention used. The population actually worsens before it improves
depending on the number of eggs previously deposited and the survival of the
larvae.
Other critters get into your yard and they also have fleas on them which drop
off, hatch and jump onto your pet to be carried indoors and it takes a while
before those fleas die as well. Remember, opossums, raccoons, stray cats and
dogs, as well as squirrels also carry fleas and are hard to contain. The flea
product is killing fleas but the dog or cat is constantly being re-infested.
The best defense is to keep flea preventative on all your pets every month
whether they are inside only or inside/outside.
Strong Bond
Most people consider
their pets to be stable and rarely depressed, states a study by the
Associated Press-Petside.com. They also found that one in ten animal owners
would turn to their pets to talk about their problems. The survey found that
33% of married women say their pets listen better than their husbands, while 18%
of married men say the same about their pets and wives.
Three more ways that pets help people
Pet an animal and fight depression-
Therapists have been known to prescribe a pet as a way of dealing with and
recovering from depression. No one loves you more unconditionally than your
pet. A pet will listen to you talk for as long as you want to talk. Petting a
cat or a dog has a calming effect. Taking care of a pet, walking with it,
grooming it, and playing with it, takes you out of yourself and helps you feel
better about the way you spend your time.
Working with a counselor- Some mental health therapists use a dog
in therapy. A dog in the office may help someone be more at ease, but that's
not all. A remark to or about a dog may reveal what's really on a patient's
mind. One therapist tells about a couple in his office who started bickering.
The dog, which usually just slept during the session, got up and wanted out.
He used that to help the couple see how their fighting affected others,
especially their children.
Pets are natural mood enhancers- It only takes 15 to 30 minutes
with a cat or dog or watching fish swim to feel less anxious and less stressed.
Your body actually goes through physical changes in that length of time that
makes a difference in your mood. The level of cortisol, a hormone associated
with stress, is lowered and the production of serotonin, an important chemical
associated with well-being, is increased. Reducing stress saves your body a lot
of wear and tear.
These studies were reported on the petswebd.com website. I have been including
three of these articles each month.
Clinic News
Remember that the Bayer
promotion for the Advantage, Advantix and Advantage Multi will be ending at the
end of August. Make sure you get your refills before that time.
Are your pets' vaccines up to date? Has your pet had a fecal examination within
the last 6 months? Pets are outside more now and exposed to other animals. You
may think that your pet is free of parasites, but other animals may have
contaminated your yard and your pet.
Heart worm prevention is going to be very important this year due to the flood
and standing water. Mosquitos are going to be worse than usual. Be sure your
cats and dogs are on heartworm prevention. Check to see if your dog's heartworm
test is up to date. We suggest that the heartworm test is run at least every
other year. Once a year is the optimal precaution.
If you would like to removed from
this mailing please email me at plvh@bellsouth.net or call the office at
615-361-4646