|
Open and Caring Seven Days a Week |
| 2451 Centreville Road | Herndon, VA 20171 |703-713-1200 | clocktowervets@aol.com | |
|
|
LIKE US ON FB:
This area will give our pet owners information or facts that will help in pet care that relates to the Holidays. They may reflect a "Clocktower Doctor's Opinion."
Annual Wellness Examination and Vaccine Update
Antifreeze
Boarding
Christmas
Holiday Foods
Ticks and Lyme Disease
West Nile Virus
Ticks are a seasonal problem. With vegetation growth in the late Spring or Early Summer we see ticks more. We walk our pets along trails or in fields. The ticks vary in size according to species and life stage. Their bite is what can transmit the tick-born diseases including Lyme Disease, Erlichiosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. The use of topical preventives is very effective. Frontline & Revolution are two topicals we recommend. Vaccination to prevent lyme disease is the best way to maximize immunity against lyme disease. Initially two vaccines are given 3 weeks apart and then an annual booster.
A blood sample to check titers is the way we diagnose these diseases.
This is a time when many pets need to be boarded or kenneled as a family goes on vacation. At Clocktower we board cats and dogs we refer to local kennels or in home pet care services. For boarding, all vaccinations must be current, do make a special chart for the kennel if regular medications are given and also note any special diet requirements.
Your pet may miss you while you are away but our staff will try to give each one extra attention while in our care.
Don't forget, we are available 7 days a week if you need information while traveling with your pet.
It is extremely important to have a complete physical examination at least once a year. At Clocktower we give a report card that indicates any problem noted on our exam and also recommendations for testing or care if indicated. We make recommendations as if your pet were our own.
Cats that have had several annual boosters are now being offered a 3 year booster schedule, the annual wellness examination is still very important. This is the recommendation of the Cornell Feline Health Foundation and the American Association of Feline Practitioners. Not all hospitals have reached this level of care. We encourage protection for FVRCP (feline distemper), FELV (leukemia) and Rabies. Heartworm preventive medication and topicals for flea control are also refilled at this time.
Dogs may need boosters for DHLPP (Distemper/Parvo), Rabies, Bordetella or kennel cough or tracheobronchitis if kenneled and Lyme. Heartworm, flea and tick preventives are usually dispensed at this time.
It's October, and the weather is starting to get colder. It is the time of year that many of you will be getting your car ready for winter. Flushing and filling your radiator will probably be one of those jobs.
Be aware Antifreeze is a VERY poisonous liquid. It is also very sweet tasting, so many animals will readily drink it. To give you an idea of how bad antifreeze is, here is an example: 1 tablespoon of a 50% antifreeze solution is enough to kill the average sized cat.
Please be careful and clean up any antifreeze that you spill. If you have animals that are outside unsupervised, be sure your neighbors know how dangerous antifreeze is.
If you suspect that your animal has ingested antifreeze, you must bring them to a veterinarian immediately.
The West Nile virus is currently a hot topic in the world of medicine. This virus is spread by mosquitoes biting an infected bird, and then biting another animal. It has NOT been found to be transmitted from any other animal to people, nor from person to person (thus, birds must be infected). Very recently, it has been suspected that infections can occur due to organ transplants or blood transfusions. It is a disease that can affect many species, however only a few such as humans, horses and birds seem to be severely affected.
It is relatively difficult to become infected, and infection does not mean symptoms will develop. Reports have shown that in areas where mosquitoes are carrying the virus, only 1% are actually infected with it, and of people who are bitten by infected mosquitoes, less than 1% become severely ill. Most people who have become ill have had a compromised immune system for some reason. There have been VERY few reports of dogs or cats becoming infected and even fewer of those animals becoming ill. Therefore, if any symptoms develop in dogs or cats, a veterinarian will most likely evaluate for other diseases first. Diagnostic testing is available if requested or deemed necessary by your veterinarian.
Symptoms in people resemble flu-like symptoms: stiff neck, swollen glands, body aches, fever, skin rash. Symptoms in dogs and cats have been poorly defined, but may include neurologic disorders. The best method of protection at this point is mosquito control: wear DEET containing insect repellant (CAUTION: do not use these products on animals), clean up any free standing water in the area where mosquitoes might breed, and stay indoors during dawn and dusk. Also, be aware if you have any immune suppressive diseases or are on such medication, as you may be at increased risk.
Some communities have taken it upon themselves to use environmental pesticides to decrease mosquito population. While these pesticides probably carry little risk, it is advisable to be aware when it occurs in your community and keep your animals, food/water bowls, toys, etc. inside while it is occurring. Contact local authorities for more information.
It's November, and time to think of the upcoming holidays. Most holidays begin and end with FOOD. Holiday food is delicious, and many of us often want to include our pets in the celebration. This can often lead to serious and possibly life threatening problems.
Bones are a bad idea. Turkey bones in particular are very soft, and tend to splinter when consumed. This can lead to holes in the stomach and infection of the abdomen. This requires surgery to repair, and can be fatal.
Holiday food, which is often rich, can cause inflammation of the pancreas. This is called pancreatitis. Pancreatitis causes severe vomiting and abdominal pain. With intensive supportive care, animals usually live. However, this can be life threatening.
Be smart, leave the holiday cheer to the people.
Christmas means decorations. Here are some helpful hints to keep your critters out of trouble.
Tinsel is a true fascination for cats. They love to eat it. Tinsel can cause the intestinal tract to bunch up, which causes severe problems. Surgery is necessary to remove tinsel. Pine oils from live Christmas trees will drain into the water. These chemicals can be toxic to your critters. Covering the opening with aluminum foil should help keep your pet's nose out of trouble. Mistletoe, Poinsettia, Holly berries are all poisonous and should not be ingested by your pet. Food wrapped under the tree. We often get gifts from friends that can be eaten. We may not know it, but for sure our pets will. We get many calls each year about animals eating chocolate, rum cake, etc., that were wrapped under the tree.