News

‘PROTECTING YOUR PET OVER THE HOLIDAYS’

As the holidays approach, remember that this can be  a dangerous time of the year for our pets.  The winter holidays are the number one time of the year that pets are usually lost. So take some extra holiday recautions;

Holiday Foods- Candy, chocolate,  bones, turkey and fixings, pork, and fish should be kept away and out of reach from your pets. Never give your pet chocolate. It is highly toxic to animals, causing stomach aches, constipation or diarrhea.  Keeping your pet on its regular diet is the best option.

Holiday Deorations- Electric cords, tinsel, glass ornaments, candles, ribbons, plastic or wrapping are all dangerous to your pet.  Hide or cover up electric cords to prevent cats from chewing on them or wrapping around it.

Cold Weather- It’s the time of year to prepare for colder weather, and the changes it brings with.  Pets are naturely prepared for winter, still with some precautions that are necessary.  Letting your pet run freely during this time of year can be dangerous for your pet.  It becomes a lot easier for the pet to become lost and they can easily freeze to death.  Therefore, it is crucial to the following precautions.;

• Always clean snow and ice from your pet to prevent frostbite.
• Observe your pets behavior frequently.
• Feed smaller portions and feed more often as well as making sure fresh water is always available.
• Allow indoor pets outside long enough to go to the bathroom and that’s it.
• Supervsion is alwso important when letting your pet outside.

MICROCHIPS

   Dogs and cats have a highly curious nature, which has the tendency to make wandering common.  There are many factors, such as looking for food or a mate, that could potentially give a dog or cat the motivation to escape from the home.  One in three dogs becomes lost and does not know how to find his way back home.  Each year, millions of lost and abandoned pets are taken in by animal welfare organizations and very few are reunited with their owners.  The main reason why these animals are not returned is that they are unidentifiable.  Think about having your pet microchipped to prevent them from becoming a statistic. 

   A microchip is a unique intergrated circuit that your veterinarian can implant under the skin.  It is a small device, about the size of a grain of rice. The prodecure for implanting a microchip is similar to an animal receiving a vaccination.  After your pet is microchipped, you need to register your information with the microchip company so that they can contact you in case of an emergency.  When your pet is scanned by an animal shelter or veterinary hospital,  his individual number is displayed on a screen.   That number can be linked back to you as the owner, and the microchip company will call and inform you where your pet has been found.   If you want to improve your pet’s chances of getting home in an emergency, microchipping is the best option.

Please feel free to give us a call if you have any further questions about microchips.

‘FLEA AND TICK MONTH’  

October is known to be the worst flea month.  As the weather starts to become cold, the indoor fleas activate and seem to appear when the heat in our home kicks on.  Fleas can be very frustrating to eliminate, especially when they get out of control.  They live on your pet, in the house, and outside. It is estimated that for every flea on your pet there are 100 or more in your house.  This is why early treatment should be considered.  To get rid of these parasites, treating your pet(s),  your house, and often the outdoors, is a must!

For your pet, several once-a-month products are available which are both convenient and effective such as;

–Comfortis– A monthly oral product that does a great job and quickly gets a problem under control.  Note: it does not treat ticks!

– Frontline and Advantage/Advantix– Topical insecticides that kill fleas on your pet for a whole month. Frontline Plus is our recommended product because it also blocks flea eggs and kills ticks.

   Eliminating fleas in your house is the most important part of the treatment as well.  To start , you need to thoroughly vacuum the entire house, especially carpeted areas.    You need to use a product that kills not only adult fleas, but also blocks the development of eggs and larvae such as Siphotrol Premise Spray.  Siphotrol is a direct spray that is applied to every inch of flooring.   The  treatment needs to be repeated in one month to kill the newly-hatched pupae (a stage of the flea that no product can kill).  If frequent treatment was not sufficient, it may be neccessary to then treat the outdoor areas where your pet frequents.

 

Please feel free to give us a call if you have any questions on how to get rid of these pests.

 

WORLD RABIES DAY

   September 28 is ‘World Rabies Day’, and it’s goal is to raise global awareness of rabies prevention and control measures. Human rabies is  uncommon in the United States, so it is easy to forget the impact rabies could have on us.  Thankfully, today we have a strong rabies prevention and control programs available, but remember that more than 55,000 people die from rabies each year in Asia and Africa.

   This year, Maryland had its first case of human rabies since 1976, and this was actually contracted through an organ transplant.  Through the end of August, there have been 284 rabies cases in Maryland, and approximately 400 animals are confirmed rabid in our state each year.   Approximately 1,000 Maryland residents that have recieved rabies post-exposure prophylaxis annually because of exposure to a rabid animal.  In our own Frederick County, there  are usually between 40 to 80 cases of rabies in animals each year.   The most common species involved are racoons and bats, but there are also cases reported in groundhogs, rabbits, horses, and even cats.  (NOTE:  it has luckily been sometime since a case of canine rabies has occured in Maryland.)    

   So what can you do to reduce you (and your pets) risk of this fatal disease?  Of course vaccination if the cornerstone of rabies prevention.   Rabies vaccinations are legally required for all cats and dogs (in Frederick County and in Maryland), and are given every 1-3 years.    It is very important to keep your pet up-to-date.   Human vaccination is also available for persons that are exposed or are at risk of exposure.

    Please feel free to give us a call to check on your pet’s vaccination status. 

 

CANINE INFLUENZA REPORTED IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY

In early September, twenty-two cases of Canine Influenza were reported in Montgomery County, MD.  Two of the dogs died from their infections.    Canine Influenza has been a known canine pathogen since 2004,  but while highly infectious, it’s incident rate has remained low.   Most cases show mild signs with coughing, lethargy, and nasal discharge.    Much like human influenza,  some cases develop more severe signs such as  fever and pneumonia, and can lead to death.    The occurance of these recent cases locally has brought attention back to this disease.

    So, what do you need to do to protect your pet?   Risk factors for contracting Canine Influenza are very much the same as those for Kennel Cough—that is environments where your dog will be exposed to  where multiple dogs gather, such as boarding kennels, animal shelters, dog parks, grooming facilities, and veterinary clinics.    There is a vaccine available for Canine Influenza, and some boarding kennels and veterinary clinics are already requiring it.     Currently, we are not requiring the vaccine at Palmer Animal Hospital, but are offering it as an option.  If more cases of Influenza continue to be reported, widespread use of the vaccine will likely be required.  

     If you have any questions about your dog’s risk for Canine Influenza, please feel free to give us a call!