The Colorado River Toad, commonly seen in Tucson after thunderstorms, get a dogs attention as the only moving object at or near dark. Aflicted dogs roll, rub their faces, act almost as if seizuring, have beet red gums, and high body tempratures. When you see these signs, rinse the dogs mouth from back to front with a garden hose for 5 minutes. After you are done rinsing, please call us right away!
Archive for the ‘Arizona Considerations’ Category
If Dog Meets Colorado River Toad
Wednesday, July 27th, 2011Mosquitoes & Heartworms
Wednesday, June 15th, 2011The El Nino rains with their winds of 1993 blew in the type of mosquito that spreads heartworm among pets. The first cases were seen around irrigated communities like Green Valley (pecans) and Marana. Not only do we have the appropriate mosquitoes, but we have pets from all areas of the US that come here as snow birds, and many of these harbor the worms.
Snake Season in Arizona
Sunday, March 20th, 2011WARNING! Warm weather means snake season right around the corner……One of the most common human bites is the lady of the family bitten on the hand while pulling weeds in the garden. Men are frequently bitten by being macho, killing snakes with shovels, picking snakes up, etc some of these are alcohol related. Call the fire department to have snake removed. Recently saw a private companies truck that performs that service. Dogs and cats that are bitten are actually rooting the rascals out of the yard and protecting their owners and their childern. One third of the bites we saw at the Emergency Service were snake avoidance trained, why expose your pet to this shock collar treatment with stats like this? As logic tells us antivenim is the only real treatment for this problem.
The Menaces of Summer
Thursday, January 13th, 2011Summertime Pet Tips
Pets always need plenty of fresh water. This is especially true in the hot summer months. A 100-lb. dog, being non-active in a cool room needs about one and a half liters of water per day. The same dog, this time active and outside on a 100-degree day, will consume up to ten times more water.
Water should be fresh every day and be kept in an accessible place out of the sun. Cool water is much more palatable and your pet is less likely to become dehydrated if there is cool water available.
Make sure that there is shade available for your pet throughout the day. Temperatures on the ground (at dog level) can be much higher than the air temperature.
Feed and exercise your pet in the morning or the evening when it is cool.
The summer months are the heart of the flea and tick season. If your pet has fleas or ticks, it is important to take steps to eradicate these pests. Remember that it is necessary to treat your yard and house as well. Your veterinarian can help formulate a plan to eliminate these pests.
Never leave your pet in a car even if the windows are left open. Temperatures inside a car can reach lethal levels in a very short time. Also, it is the law.
If you suspect that your pet is suffering from heat stroke or shock, call your veterinarian. Cooling a pet with high body temperatures is important but should be done in a controlled fashion. Your veterinarian is prepared to give the proper instructions and at times, hospitalization is necessary.
Summertime is grass awn time. These awns, sometimes called “Fox Tails”, can become imbedded under pet’s skin or inside the ear canal, leading to draining tracts, abscesses, otitis externa and even hearing loss. If your pet is excessively shaking its head or scratching at its ears, contact your veterinarian.
Something else to watch out for:
Foxtails are grass seeds that have an appearance similar to wheat. They are especially prevalent in summers following wet winters. As the grass awns become dry and brown, their attachment to the grass stem loosens. When an animal brushes against the grass, the awns become lodged in the animal’s hair coat and work themselves deeper as time passes. These awns can actually pierce the skin and pass into the body. More commonly, the awns become lodged in ear canals, vulvar folds and between the toes. This leads to pain, infection, hearing loss and other problems. Foxtail grass awns must usually be removed under anesthesia to ensure that the entire awn is retrieved. An antibiotic injection is given to the animal and antibiotics are sent home for longer-term therapy.
Spiders, bees, wasps, scorpions and centipedes are capable of delivering a painful or poisonous bite or sting. The good news is that most of these bites and stings lead to local swelling and pain without long term consequences. The exception is the Brown Recluse spider. This rare spider delivers a painful bite that leads to progressive tissue death. Ingestion of many of these spiders and insects can lead to rapid onset of severe diarrhea and vomiting. If you feel that your pet has been involved with these unsavory creatures, a trip to the veterinary hospital is in order. Treatment usually involves an injection and antihistamines. More severe cases may involve hospitalization or even surgical removal of dead tissue in the case of the Brown Recluse bite.
Colorado River toads are large toads seen only during late summer corresponding with our monsoons. These toads have glands within their skin, which produce a toxin that is released when the toad is disturbed. The toxin does no harm on skin but it does lead to some severe problems when contacting oral mucosa or if the toad is ingested. The most common sign of toad toxicity is severe profuse salivation. First aid involves flushing out the animal’s mouth with a hose or faucet. In most cases this is all the treatment necessary. If there is any chance that your pet has ingested any part of the toad an emergency trip to the veterinary hospital is in order. A good rule of thumb: The presence of a dead toad or continued strange behavior from your pet after rinsing the mouth warrants a trip to the veterinary hospital. Treatment is usually supportive in nature, as there is no anti-toxin.
Gila Monsters are poisonous lizards found around the Tucson area. Their saliva is toxic and their bite is forceful and prolonged. The pet is treated symptomatically with IV fluids and antibiotics. Treatment may be long term and include blood tests to gauge effectiveness of the treatment.
If you suspect that your pet has been bitten or stung, the safest bet is to call the veterinary hospital and ask advice. These emergencies are usually easily treated and recovery is rapid. Without treatment, some bites may prove fatal.
Rattlesnakes
Thursday, January 13th, 2011Summer and fall are the seasons in which the incidence of rattlesnake encounters are highest. People are out and about hiking, camping or participating in other outdoor activities while enjoying the company of the family pet.
A tremendous amount of misinformation exist dealing with the proper first-aid measures an owner should employ should their pet be bitten by a rattlesnake. This is due in large part to myth and common folklore. The most common signs seen after a rattlesnake bite are swelling of the effected area, puncture sounds (although these may be difficult to see), and pain. Should you suspect that your dog or cat may have been bitten by a rattlesnake TRANSPORT THE VICTIM TO A VETERINARY MEDICAL FACILITY IMMEDIATELY!! Rattlesnake envenomation can be FATAL– owner’s miscalculations of the severity of the bite have cost pet’s their lives, early signs can be misleading.
Studies have shown that the time wasted with first-aid measures, and in some instances the first-aid measures themselves, are more harmful to the victim than no first-aid at all. The use of tourniquets, incision and suction, ice packs, electroshock or other measures seen in the popular literature are most often associated with a worsening of the condition and have yet to be proven effective. Some of these measures have been directly responsible for loss of limbs, and even increased death rates. THE ONLY PROVEN THERAPY AGAINST RATTLESNAKE BITES MUST BE ADMINISTERED AT A VETERINARY MEDICAL FACILITY.
The primary goal of first-aid is to DO NO HARM! The following guide lines should be followed to aid a victim of rattlesnake bite:
- RAPID TRANSPORT TO VETERINARY MEDICAL FACILITY
- calm the victim
- if possible immobilize the affected limb
- try to restrict the victims activity
- do not allow first-aid to delay proper medical treatment
Remember, if you suspect that your pet has been bitten immediate transportation to veterinary assistance could mean the difference between you pet’s life or death.
Kennel Cough
Thursday, January 13th, 2011“Kennel cough” is a highly contagious respiratory disease of dogs. Dogs with “kennel cough” suffer from paroxysmal cough (coughing fits). Most dogs contract “kennel cough” in situations where large numbers of dogs come into contact with each other, such as pet stores, animal shelters, grooming facilities, dog shows and boarding kennels. Like the common cold in humans, the organisms responsible for “Kennel cough” are spread from dog to dog by sneezing and coughing. “Kennel cough” can also be spread by fomites (kennel staff, cages, food and water bowls).
This disease is usually mild and self-limiting although, on rare occasions, the disease can progress to bronchopneumonia. A dry, non-productive cough is the most common clinical sign of “Kennel cough”. Occasionally, some dogs will gag up foamy respiratory secretions and appear to be vomiting. The cough is often made worse by excitement, exercise and pressure on the neck. There may be discharge from the eyes and nose as well.
There are many organisms that have been isolated from dogs with “kennel cough”. The three most frequently isolated organisms are canine parainfluenza virus, canine adenovirus type 2 and Bordetella bronchiseptica, which are bacteria. In general, the viruses alone or in combination with B. bronchiseptica are responsible for the majority of cases. These organisms initially colonize the mucosal lining of the upper respiratory tract, leading to the cough. Secondary bacterial infections of the irritated mucosa are also common. The severe form of the disease is usually a result of mixed infections in unvaccinated puppies, usually from shelters or pet stores.
Infectious tracheobronchitis is usually diagnosed based upon your pet’s history as well as clinical signs and x-ray exams. Additional tests may be necessary to rule out other causes of chronic cough. Valley Fever, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, heart disease and Heartworm disease may all manifest as a chronic cough.
Treatment of Infectious tracheobronchitis varies depending on the severity of the disease. Antibiotics, cough suppressants and anti-inflammatory drugs are usually prescribed. A typical case usually resolves in two to three weeks but in some cases, treatment must be prolonged.
Yearly vaccination is the best way to prevent “kennel cough”. Most yearly vaccines contain parainfluenza virus and adenovirus type 2. Intranasal vaccine for Bordetella bronchiseptica is very effective although not for a full year. For this reason, we recommend the intranasal vaccine be given every six months if your dog is kept at boarding facilities or frequently groomed. Intranasal vaccines provide surface protection (where bacterial and viral colonies form) and become effective about two days post vaccination.
Heartworm in Arizona?
Thursday, January 13th, 2011YES!! While the incidence is low, we do have heartworm in Arizona. There were 641 reported cases of Heartworm in Arizona in the last four years. More and more of these cases are in dogs with no travel history to areas with more pronounced Heartworm problems.
Heartworm, or Dirofilaria immitis, is a nematode which infects dogs. The Heartworm life cycle begins when an infected mosquito bites the dog and transmits infective larvae into the dog’s blood stream. The larvae migrate to the heart and mature into adult worms. The adult Heartworm usually takes up residence in the pulmonary artery and release microfilaria into the blood. Mosquitos then ingest these microfilaria with a blood meal from the dog. The microfilaria mature into infective larvae within the mosquito and are now ready to infect another dog.
Since the desert supports so few mosquitos, Heartworm has never been a problem in Arizona. With the increase in man made bodies of water and with the increasing numbers of dogs traveling to and from areas with Heartworm problems, we are seeing an increase in the numbers of Heartworm positive dogs in Arizona.
Heartworm causes severe health problems in dogs and untreated will lead to congestive heart failure and death. Treatment for adult Heartworm is expensive, time consuming and dangerous to the patient. The alternative, Heartworm preventative treatment, is inexpensive, given once per month and has the alternative benefit of treating and controlling Hookworm and Ascarid infection. Prior to Heartworm preventative treatment, your dog must have a blood test performed to ensure that it is not already infected with Heartworms. Once heartworm preventative treatment has begun, it is necessary to test your dog for heartworms once every two years, especially if monthly doses have been missed or if your pet has gained weight. Retesting prevents occult infections.
We recommend testing and treating all dogs that travel with their owners. In addition, the need for Heartworm preventative in Arizona is increasing. We believe that the statement “Better safe than sorry” may hold true for our dogs here in Tucson. If you have questions concerning your dog’s risk or your current Heartworm preventative, feel free to ask your veterinarian.
Fleas and Ticks
Thursday, January 13th, 2011Fleas and ticks are the two most common external parasites of dogs and cats. Fleas and ticks survive by feeding on the blood of dogs, cats and sometimes people. Flea and tick feeding bites lead to several problems for your pet and for you, including constant itching (pruritis), hair loss (alopecia), hypersensitivity (allergic reaction), and infection and disease transmission.
In order to treat and control flea and tick problems, we must understand the life cycles of these pests.
Flea Life Cycle: The adult flea spends almost all of its life on your dog or cat. The adult lays small eggs which are not sticky and fall off of your dog or cat as soon as they are deposited so they wind up in the places where your dog or cat spends most of it’s time. Eggs generally hatch in about three weeks into larvae. Larvae are geophillic (burrow downward) and photophobic (hate light). This means that they go down, burrow deep into carpet and upholstery or burrow beneath leaves and detritus in the yard. Larvae are the most numerous stage of the flea life cycle but you will probably not see them. Larvae develop into pupae and pupae develop into the adult, which jumps onto your dog, cat or onto you if there is no animal available. And the entire life cycle can occur in three to four weeks. One female flea can lead to 200,000 fleas in as little as 60 days.
Tick Life Cycle: A six-legged tick larvae feeds on the dog or cat for a few days then drops off. At this point, a molt occurs to the eight-legged nymphal stage. The nymph climbs onto the dog or and feeds for about a week at which point it drops off for the second molt into the adult male or female tick. The adult climbs back onto the dog or cat, mates and begins to feed. The adult female feeds for one to three weeks, becomes engorged and drops to the ground (floor) where she lays 2,000 to 4,000 eggs. These eggs hatch into tick larvae, which re-infect your pet. The entire cycle requires two to three months.
In the past, controlling fleas and ticks has been difficult. New products are available which make external parasite control manageable as long as we take into account the life cycles of these pests.
Flea and Tick Control:
Step 1: Treat the pet’s environment. It is very important to kill fleas and ticks where they live when not on your pet. The best way to do this is to hire a professional exterminator. Be sure to explain that you have a flea or tick problem and that you have pets.
Step 2: Kill fleas and ticks that are on your pet. There are several excellent products available for this purpose. Heavy infestations on dogs can be managed with Frontline Spray. Light infestations on dogs and cats may be killed using Frontline Top Spot. Infestations in cats may also be managed with Defend Just-For-Cats Flea & Tick Foam.
Step 3: Prevent re-infection of your pet. This is the area of flea and tick control that has progressed the furthest in recent years. Treatment with Frontline Top Spot kills and repels ticks for one month and kills and repels fleas for up to three months. Frontline Top Spot is simple to apply and can be used on dogs as young as ten weeks of age and cats as young as twelve weeks of age.
Step 4: Interrupt the reproduction cycle of fleas. Program is a once per month treatment for dogs and cats as young as six weeks of age. Program causes fleas to lay sterile eggs.
It is very important to kill fleas and ticks at all of their life stages and to prevent re-infection of your pet. This will maximize the comfort of your pet and minimize cost of treatment and control. When used as directed, flea and tick control products are safe and effective at preventing re-infestation of your pet.
A few myths about fleas and ticks:
Fleas and ticks are only summer time problems. This is not true. While it does get cool enough in Tucson to decrease flea and tick activity, it does not get cold enough to kill them. In addition, fleas and ticks are very happy indoors during the winter months.
Flea collars are all that you need to control fleas and ticks. This is false. Most flea and tick collars do not work well. In addition, allergic reactions to these collars are common.
Feeding your pet garlic will prevent flea and tick infestations. This is not true. Fleas and ticks will bite without regard to diet of the host.
A few fleas or ticks won’t hurt my pet. This is not always true. Severe hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions may develop after a mild infestation. Fleas transmit tapeworms to dogs and cats. Ticks transmit many diseases including canine ehrlichiosis (tick fever).
