June News Letter
Summer is here and school is out. Vacation time is here and some
of you are planning on taking your vacation away from home. Now is the time to
start planning and booking your plane and hotel reservations. It is also the
time to start looking into places to board your pets, house and pet sitters, or
places that accept pets and what to bring to make the trip comfortable for you
and your pets. Remember that boarding facilities and pet sitters book up pretty
fast during the summer months. Happy Fathers Day to all Dads. Happy Belated
Mothers Day to all you Moms, sorry I forgot last month.
Heart worm Disease In Cats
Heartworms are not only found in dogs. Cats
are susceptible to the disease too. The disease progresses differently in cats
than it does in dogs. In dogs an infected dog has an average of 15 adult worms
living in and damaging the heart. In cats, juvenile worms can cause lung
damage. Cats are very sensitive so that the larvae can trigger a life
threatening immune reaction called Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease,
(HARD). Most immature worms in cats die when they reach the pulmonary arteries,
but serious inflammation can remain. The dead immature worms then go to the
lungs causing more damage. An average of 3 heartworms mature into adults. The
length of the adult worm is approximately 6 inches long instead of the 2 inches
of the immature worms, and the inflammation they cause is even greater.
Eventually, when one of the adult worms dies, it releases potentially fatal
toxins. An estimated 10 percent of infected cats die suddenly from respiratory
failure when a large blood clot forms around the worms in the pulmonary arteries
resulting in a halt of the blood flow to the lungs.
It is very difficult to diagnose HARD because the early signs of the disease are
vague and vary as new mosquito bites occur. HARD symptoms can be the same as
feline asthma, chronic bronchitis and allergic bronchitis. Approximately one
percent of cats nationwide tests positive for adult hearworms.
There is no treatment for heartworms in cats and as of the present, both antigen
and antibody tests are recommended if infestation is suspected. There is
something you, as pet owners, can do to prevent the disease. Advantage Multi
and Heartgard for cats protect your cat against heartworms, if used year round
as you do for your dogs. Ask your veterinarian about heartworm prevention in
cats and what product he/she suggests.
Heartworm Life Cycle:
- Both male and female adult worms must be in an animal's body to produce
their young (microfilariae).
- Mosquitos bite an infected animal and pick up the microfilariae. In
about 14 days, the microfilariae mature within the mosquitos to an infective
stage.
- When infected mosquitos take their next meal, worm larvae enter via the
mosquito bite and continue to develop, first in the animal's tissue then in
the blood vessels.
- In cats, worms mature in about 8 months. They survive two or three
years in the lung arteries and release toxins when they die. In dogs,
larvae become adults in about 6 months and live five to seven years in the
heart and pulmonary arteries.
FYI
- A serving of
pancakes made from a mix, contains more salt per serving than potato chips.
For a 10 pound cat, 2 potato chips are the equivalent of a 5'4" tall person
consuming a hamburger or a chocolate bar.
- Researchers surveying pet owners living in Michigan found that 1 in 3
smokers surveyed said they knew smoking was bad for their pet's health.
Traveling and your pet:
If you are traveling with your pet, there are several things that you should be
aware of.
It is very important to call airlines, hotels and motels to see if they
accommodate pets and what their criteria are.
You will need to know what supplies you should pack. Remember, if you are going
to be someplace where you can't take your dog, is it fair to leave him penned up
in the motel room for 8-10 hours while you visit or sight see?
In some cases, the pet is not going to be a part of the festivities. It won't be
much fun for him to be cooped up in an unknown place for hours without you. Is
there a day care facility close where he could spend the day?
If you take your pet along with you, you might check out the area and find
places that are pet friendly such as restaurants, parks, beaches, day care
facilities, museums, campgrounds, etc.
It is important to check the local listings for veterinarian clinics or
emergency clinics where you are staying.
Make sure you pack an emergency kit for your pet, food, blankets or his favorite
bed, leash and collar, a portable kennel, records from your veterinarian, a
picture of your pet, medication he takes, bowls for his food and water, and most
important, be sure that your pet has an ID tag or microchip. If your pet wanders
off out of town, or out of state, the ID or microchip could better insure his
being returned to you.
It is also very important to be sure your pet is up to date on all vaccinations
and that he is current on his flea, tick and heartworm prevention.
Take your dog to work
day
June 26th, 2009 is national Take Your
Dog To Work Day. Before you do:
- Check with the people in your office to see if they have any allergies
or fears of dogs
- Make sure your boss doesn't object
- Dog proof your workspace so it is safe for your dog
- Bathe and groom your pet before taking him to work
- Prepare a bag of his toys, food, paper towels, potty bags, treats,
disinfectant, and consider bringing a small portable kennel.
- Don't force co-workers to interact with your pet. Pet friendly people
will make themselves known.
- Make sure that no one gives him any food that is unhealthy or that could
make your pet sick.
- If your pet is not enjoying the day at work as much as you thought he
would, have a prearranged plan to take him home. Don't, under any
circumstances, leave him alone in your car or tied outside.
- Understand that many places of business will not approve of this
practice and you will need to respect their policies.
- Be sure your pet is up to date on all vaccinations, free of ticks and
fleas, and has a good disposition with strangers.
New study on cat litters and litter pans
Activated carbon has been incorporated into some litters in an attempt to lessen
fecal odor. One of the reasons for feline inappropriate elimination is the odor
of the litter after they have used the litter pan. A study was conducted to
determine if cats preferred litter with or without the activated carbon. The
results of the study showed that cats preferred the litter with the activated
carbon. Using the litter with the activated carbon may resolve some issues with
inappropriate elimination. The study tested two different brands of litter,
Fresh Step (with the activated carbon) and Arm and Hammer (with sodium
bicarbonate), the cats significantly chose the Fresh Step litter. Not all cats
are the same and their litter pan preferences are definitely different. You may
need to conduct a study of your own and see which litter your cat prefers. Box
size is another cause of litter pan problems. Often the pan is too small and
does not meet the need of the cat. The study shows that a litter pan should be
1 1/2 times the length of the cat, but there is no concrete evidence to support
this fact. The one comparison that the study did perform, the cat did prefer
the large pan to the small or medium pan. According to the study, a cat prefers
clumping litter, activated carbon litter, cedar scented litter rather than the
citrus scented ones, and a larger sized litter pan. Remember that a clean
litter pan, one that is washed and litter changed, is more appealing than one
that has been scooped only.
Staff News
Remember that the promotion on the
Bayer products, Advantage, Advantage Multi, and the Advantix is coming to an end
on the 15th of this month. If your pet is due for their flea, tick and
heartworm prevention, take advantage of this promotion while it is in effect.
The promotion is; one free dose of Advantage or Advantix with the purchase of a
box of 4, and 2 free doses of Advantage Multi with the purchase of a box of 6.
The winner of our Flea and Tick drawing was: Matt Richards. Matt won a free 4
month supply of Advantix over 55 # for his dog "Dash" Thank you for
participating in this drawing.
With summer here and vacations being planned, don't forget to get your pet's
vaccinations brought up to date and make sure they are on a flea prevention.
Another thing to consider now that the doors and windows are open and BBQ's are
going on, is to have an ID on your pet or have them microchipped. Call us if
you have any questions or concerns. 615-361-4646