Heartworm Preventive Medication

Although southwestern Pennsylvania has distinctive seasons and a low mosquito population, global warming does appear to be having an effect on our climate. So we now feel that it is advisable to use it year round. Also the Centers for Disease Control does now recommend year round treatment as the larva of roundworms and hookworms can migrate in human and have been know cause medical problems in people. All currently available preventative medications prevent infection with these two intestinal parasites.We currently recommend either IVERHART plus (TM) or Interceptor (TM) as the monthly preventative for your canine friend. The latter product also prevents against infection with a less common, albeit a problemsome intestinal parasite, the whipworm.

Flea & Tick Control

For the a number of years, we have been seeing an increase in the local population of ticks. Currently our preferred product for flea and tick control in dogs is a monthly top-spot treatment, K9 ADVANTIX (TM) . Additionally, it is a repellant to mosquitoes. Since we now know that dogs can be infected with the West Nile Virus and that many dogs develop allergies to the bite of blood sucking insects like mosquitoes and fleas, we felt that this product is an important development.

K9 ADVANTIX (TM) can not be used in cats. Therefore, we recommend either REVOLUTION (TM) which not only protects against fleas, but also heartworms, ear mites, roundworms and hookworms or FRONTLINE PLUS (TM) which protects against fleas and ticks. Both products are top-spot treatment requiring only monthly application.

Feline Diabetes

Dealing with diabetes in cats has always been a challenge. However, it has recently been discovered that a high protein prescription diet can be a great help in reducing the insulin requirement for these patients. In fact, reports are coming in that some cats put on this diet may be able to forego insulin injections entirely. If your cat is diabetic, ask us about this diet.

An additional problem with dealing with the feline diabetic is that the best type of insulin for most of these patients is no longer available through human suppliers. However, it has now become available as a veterinary prescription medication. It requires different syringes than are used for human insulins. So these also must be provided by us.

CANINE INFLUENZA VIRUS (Canine Flu)

Researchers report that outbreaks of canine influenza virus, which causes an acute respiratory infection, have been identified in dogs in shelters, humane societies, boarding facilities and veterinary clinics. First identified in Florida it has now spread to other part of the country including the Pittsburgh area resulting in fatalities in some cases. It is a highly contagious virus causes a clinical syndrome that mimics "kennel cough".

Because this is a newly emerging pathogen, all dogs, regardless of breed or age, are susceptible to infection and have no naturally acquired or vaccine-induced immunity. Virtually 100 percent of exposed dogs become infected. Nearly 80 percent have clinical signs. There are two general clinical syndromes, the milder syndrome and a more severe pneumonia syndrome. The milder disease syndrome occurs in most dogs.

In the milder disease, the most common clinical sign is a cough that persists for 10 to 21 days despite therapy with antibiotics and cough suppressants. Most dogs have a soft, moist cough, while others have a dry cough. Many dogs have purulent nasal discharge and a low-grade fever. The nasal discharge likely represents a secondary bacterial infection that quickly resolves with treatment with a broad-spectrum, bactericidal antibiotic.

Fatalities have been associated with the pneumonia syndrome and, while low at 1 to 5 percent, the fatality rate is still significant to those who have lost there pets.

It takes two to five days after exposure before clinical signs appear. Infected dogs may shed virus for seven to 10 days from the initial day of clinical signs. Nearly 20 percent of infected dogs will not display clinical signs and become the silent shedders and spreaders of the infection.

This virus is spread by respiratory secretions, contaminated objects and even by people moving back and forth between infected and uninfected dogs. The virus is most likely killed by routine disinfectants, such as quaternary ammoniums and 10 percent bleach.

Because there is no vaccine for canine influenza virus at this time and the there is no way to clinical differentiate this from ?kennel cough?, we can now recommend routine vaccination for "kennel cough" for all of our canine patient's. That way we will be able to differentiate cases of canine influenza in patient protected with this vaccine. We are using a vaccine against canine kennel cough has been demonstrated to provide at least a year's protection, although some boarding kennels may require it more frequently.