An Ounce of Prevention...

          Just as in human medicine, preventive health care is an important part of caring for a family pet.  “The value of preventive care and early intervention in human and dental medicine has been well established and is acknowledged by the general public” (Journal).  This is actually especially true for pet owners because Muffy and Rover cannot tell us when they start to feel unwell, so having them see a veterinarian at least once a year, especially as they reach their senior years, becomes extremely important.

            People often underestimate the power of preventive medicine for their cat or dog feeling, perhaps, that it costs too much money.  However, preventive care can decrease “the prevalence of some common preventable canine and feline diseases that (have) recently been reported.  These include diabetes mellitus, dental disease, parasitism, and otitis externa” (Journal).  Routine visits – and by that we mean at least annually – can find these problems before they become difficult to treat, which generally makes them more expensive to treat as well.  Early disease typically requires fewer medications and possibly only a diet change, whereas acute, advanced disease can require hospitalization and multiple medications to treat.  This can mean more expense and possibly an inability to correct the problem.  “It has been shown that early diagnosis and treatment, the principal benefits of regular examinations, can dramatically slow progression of such conditions of renal disease, osteoarthritis, and periodontal disease” (Journal). 

 

 

 

            The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and the American Veterinary Medical Association have specific recommendations for regular care for all pets.  These recommendations include:

·         A veterinary examination at least annually.  For many pets, more frequent visits may be appropriate (especially if the animal is considered a senior pet)

·         Annual heartworm testing (even if on prevention) as well as intestinal parasite testing

·         Dental health assessment, with appropriate treatment when necessary (dental cleaning)

·         Year-round broad spectrum parasite control with efficacy against heartworms, intestinal parasites, and fleas

·         Annual vaccinations against diseases such as Rabies, Canine distemper, Canine parvovirus, Feline panleukopenia virus, Feline herpesvirus-1, and Calicivirus.

·         Early disease screening tests

 

There are many reasons we may hear as to why we don’t see a pet every year, but the fact is that preventive care can lengthen and enrich the relationship you have with your pet.  It can also prevent undue suffering your pet may experience from underlying disease that we may only detect through blood work. 

            We know that cats, especially, may be difficult to transport to the vet every year.  This can be stressful for both owner and pet, but there are also tools that can be utilized to make the process easier. If you’d like to know more, please feel free to contact us.  If nothing else, we do offer house calls, and can do almost everything we can do in the clinic right there.  Let us know if this is something you might be interested in.

            We want everyone to have long, enriching, wonderful relationship with their pets, and that is why we recommend regular examinations and assessments for all of our patients.    It can go a long way to making all of them happier and healthier.

 

Citations:

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. September 1, 2011, Vol. 239, No. 5, Pages 625-629. doi: 10.2460/javma.239.5.625

Let Me Put a Bug in Your Ear

Fleas! Fleas! Fleas!  Fleas are both a bane and a boon to the Veterinary clinic.  While there is profit in selling prevention and treatment for flea problems, it is also a conversation we are having constantly and repeatedly, which can be wearying.  There is an abundance of misinformation in the world today about appropriate flea prevention treatments, what works and what doesn’t.  In particular, living in the southern states does not afford owners a respite from the flea population at any time of year, especially as the weather stays continually warm throughout the year. 

Therefore, most people need to treat their house and yard for fleas.  We hear from a lot of clients that their flea prevention is not working, but after asking a few questions we find that the client is not treating their house and yard.  No animal flea product has a real chance to work if their environment is not being treated in order to kill the entire flea life cycle.

Some tips:

·         If you have carpeting in your house, borax/boric acid powder – which can be found in the laundry detergent aisle – is a great way to treat for fleas.  Sprinkle it on your carpet and rub it in with a broom, and reapply after you have done the usual vacuuming 3 or 4 times (be sure to test on a corner of carpet first to make sure there isn’t a reaction).  Borax is safe for pets and humans, and is a cheap way to kill fleas.

·         If you have mostly hard flooring – tile, hardwood, or linoleum – sprays are usually a better option.  We sell Siphotrol Premise spray here at our clinic, and have for years, but you can also buy sprays and treatments at pet stores. 

·         For treating your yard, there are a few options.  If you already have a yard treatment service, simply request that they treat for fleas.  This is not something they necessarily do automatically, so make sure to ask for it.  If you do not have a company that services your yard, you can purchase triazicide granules in the lawn and garden department of any home improvement store.  Granules tend to be more effective because, unlike sprays, they won’t wash away when it rains.

·         Typically the best option for house and yard is a paid service because if the flea problem continues, it is their problem to solve. 

There are many product options for flea prevention for your pet.  Most are great products, although we do not recommend any that you can buy at your grocery store, like Hartz.  These are not regulated by the FDA and can be highly toxic for your pet.  We also do not recommend flea collars, as these are generally not effective (tick collars, on the other hand, are one of the most effective ways to protect your dog against ticks). 

Generally, a once-monthly topical or oral application is sufficient as flea prevention for your pet.  Occasionally, though, if an animal spends time in areas you are unable to treat yourself –for instance, the dog park – it can be necessary to treat them with additional products.  A flea spray such as Adams can be a great supplement to your monthly product and is very safe for frequent use no your pet.  A great time to use it would be to spray it on your dog right after a visit to the dog park to kill any fleas they may have picked up while playing. 

Not everyone needs flea prevention, especially if their pets stay mostly indoors, but remember that it is easier to prevent fleas than to get rid of them.  Fleas in our tropical climate are especially aggressive, and once they take hold in someone’s house, they can be a huge nuisance.

Internet Pharmacies 101

            In today’s economic climate, everyone is searching for a great deal.  The internet has created a marketplace where products are readily available, and because of the multitude of websites offering veterinary products, a client can usually find a pretty decent price for their flea, tick, and heartworm prevention.  However, many of these products are intended for sale only to veterinarians, so purchasing them from an online retailer can be fraught with risk. 

            Manufacturers generally have policies limiting the “distribution of…products only to licensed veterinarians.  Therefore, unauthorized sources of (these) products, including many Internet retailers, do not purchase (these) products from authorized distributors” (elancopet.com).  This means that, when an Internet retailer obtains this product, it is not subject to storage and handling guidelines as it would if purchased through a veterinarian.   They may have been warehoused in unregulated storage facilities for extended periods of time at temperatures not recommended by the manufacturer and could alter the product’s effectiveness.  These products come from unethical veterinarians or foreign sources.  The risk of using foreign-labeled or –produced medications is that their safety, efficiency and purity are not under FDA or EPA regulation.  “Some of the internet sites that sell pet drugs represent legitimate, reputable pharmacies...But others are fronts for unscrupulous businesses operating against the law” (fda.gov).

The primary element missing from the online pharmacy experience is that of the veterinary professional.  When you are purchasing your product from your pet’s doctor, the veterinary staff is trained to check for client compliance in testing and dosing the animal.  “Testing is important even in dogs regularly treated with heartworm preventive products due to the occasional reports of product ineffectiveness…If the test isn’t done, a pet owner could be giving heartworm preventives to a dog that has heartworms, potentially leading to severe reactions” (fda.gov).    We will make sure the animal has been tested annually and that the client has been purchasing the product regularly.  We can also help guide you in the proper administration of the product. 

Most clients believe that they have been giving their heartworm and/or flea prevention without fail, but everyone gets busy in their lives from time to time and forgets a month (or three).  If that happens, we will be able to recognize the lapse and recommend retesting before giving a dose.  People are often surprised when we tell them that they have missed a few months of prevention.  Believe me when I tell you that this lapse happens to nearly everyone during the life of their pet.  Can anyone really say that they haven’t missed even one month of prevention for their dog in the dog’s entire average lifespan of 13 years?

            Another aspect of the product efficacy is that manufacturer’s will guarantee their product ONLY if purchased through a licensed veterinarian.  It means that should your pet develop an adverse reaction or side effect to one of these medications when treated according to the veterinarian and manufacturers’ recommendations, patients who have received these medications purchased from a veterinary hospital will find the drug companies stand behind their product completely and often give full financial backing for your pet’s testing and treatment. 

            Despite all this, we do know that price can still be a problem (although heartworm prevention by itself is generally pretty cheap).  That is why our hospital has a policy to match online pricing of products, as long as the price is not less than what we paid for it (and that should throw up red flags about where that pharmacy has obtained their product).  We also offer veterinary-exclusive manufacturer rebates and promotions. 

            Our primary goal is the safety and health of your pet, and that is why we would prefer you purchase your products through a veterinarian, who is trained to make the best recommendations for you and those you love.

“Purchasing Pet Drugs Online: Buyer Beware.”  http://www.fda.gov/downloads/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm115432.pdf

Cat (or dog) Scratch Fever

Every year in the spring when the weather starts to warm, flowers and trees start to bloom, and pet owners everywhere call their veterinarians with the same complaint: “My pet is driving me crazy with their scratching!”  Allergies and scratching are common complaints among pet owners, but there are a lot of misconceptions about the cause of their pet’s discomfort. 

                Many times we hear from clients that their pets seem to be itchy, but they do not appear to have fleas.  If the pet is on a monthly prevention, this could mean a couple of things.  If the pet is allergic to fleas and is then susceptible to a condition called Flea Allergic Dermatitis, they can be bitten by a flea once and feel the effects for up to two weeks.  In that instance, it is important to have them on a flea prevention that helps to prevent the fleas from being able to bite, like Vectra or Trifexis. 

                The other thing it could mean if Fluffy is still itching despite your flea prevention application is that he or she is allergic to something with which they are coming in contact, be it grass, trees, food, or one of many other things that can be allergenic in our tropical climate.  It’s also important to know that, just like humans, animals can suddenly become allergic to something later on in life that they have never been allergic to before.  We each have a threshold for certain allergens, and sometimes we can hit that at an older age even if we’ve never had a problem with it previously.  “Allergies are due to the immune system overreacting, NOT a weakened immune system, a common client misconception” (Ghubash, 2011). 

                The first steps in treating for allergies involve giving the animal medicated or anti-itch baths, topical sprays on affected areas, and an over the counter antihistamine such as Benadryl, Zyrtec, Claritin or Allegra.  Dosing is specific to the size of the animal, so if you are planning to try one of these, please ask your veterinarian what dose to give your pet.  It is also very important when giving any of these to give only the antihistamine without any added decongestant (such as Zyrtec-D, which can be very dangerous for your pet).  However, plain antihistamines are very safe, and can be used long term. 

                Sometimes, after trying all the available over the counter antihistamines (we usually recommend trying a different one if, say, Benadryl isn’t effective), we find that an animal is still experiencing persistent allergies.  In this case, we have options for more aggressive treatment, including steroid-based allergy injections, a food trial to determine whether it is a food allergy, and prescription medications.  Solving allergy problems can be a long process, and sometimes the only way to alleviate the frustration is with a full allergy blood screen to determine exactly what the animal is allergic to, and then treating with those allergens through immunotherapy.  “Animals with environmental allergies, or atopic dermatitis, can be desensitized to what they are allergic to through the use of allergen-specific immunotherapy.  Immunotherapy ‘retrains’ the body’s immune system, but, even when it works, animals usually require it for the rest of their lives to control the disease” (Ghubash, 2011).

                Just remember when dealing with allergies in your pets that it makes them just as miserable as it makes you when you’re suffering from them, so be patient.  Even when the process is long, more often than not we are able to find a solution. 

Ghubash, R. (2011). Top 5 dermatology questions clients ask technicians.  FIRSTLINE