News you can use: Everything you need to know about Parvo!!

What is Parvo?

Commonly known as parvo, this disease is caused by canine parvovirus (CPV-2). Infection with parvovirus is most commonly seen in young, unvaccinated puppies. The virus is very hardy in the environment and is resistant to many common cleaners and disinfectants, under the right conditions it can persist for years. Puppies become infected through oral or nasal contact with fecal material or objects/surfaces contaminated by the virus. Parvovirus is highly contagious to other dogs, after they become infected, and often before they start showing any signs of illness, they start to shed the virus in their feces. This viral shedding continues even past the point of recovery and other dogs in the area are at serious risk. The good news…parvo is preventable!

What does Parvo do?

Once canine parvovirus enters the body through contact with fecal material containing the virus or fomites (objects, people, surfaces, etc.) contaminated by the virus, it begins to replicate and spread throughout the body. The virus has preferences for certain tissues in the body to infect, including the small intestine, the bone marrow, and lymph tissue. The virus infects and destroys cells in these tissues causing the clinical signs that we commonly see. Because the small intestine is affected we see vomiting and bloody diarrhea, along with non-specific signs of illness like lethargy, anorexia, and fever. In a puppy these signs can rapidly progress to dehydration, collapse, shock, and ultimately death. 

Diagnosis

Parvovirus can be diagnosed with a quick ELISA test that most veterinarians have in hospital, used on a sample of fecal material. This test is very accurate but a false negative is possible if it is early in the disease before high viral shedding. Routine bloodwork can also help with a diagnosis as infected dogs often have very low numbers of white blood cells due to the virus destroying the bone marrow.

Treatment

Parvovirus is treated with supportive care until the dog’s immune system can fight off the virus. Aggressive treatment must be started as soon as possible if parvo is suspected. Treatment includes fluid therapy, anti-nausea medications, antibiotics to prevent secondary bacterial infection, and nutritional support. There are potential complications of parvovirus that may require surgical intervention.

Most deaths occur within 24-48 hours after clinical signs appear. The risk of rapid death, severe complications, and the cost of intensive hospitalization demonstrate why prevention of this disease is so important.

Prevention

Parvovirus is largely preventable with vaccination! Parvovirus vaccines should be administered to puppies at approximately 8 weeks old, 12 weeks old, and then 16 weeks old. They should get another vaccine at 1 year of age and then they can be vaccinated every 3 years. Adult dogs should be kept current on their parvo vaccinations to prevent any risk of infection.

Reducing exposure to the virus is also an important consideration. Puppies should not be taken to parks, pet stores, puppy classes, etc. before they are fully vaccinated. Prompt removal of fecal waste can help prevent the spread of parvovirus, and areas where infected puppies have been should be properly disinfected.

Contagion

Canine parvovirus is highly contagious. Sick puppies should be isolated from other dogs as soon as infection is suspected. Please alert your veterinarian to the signs that you are seeing before you bring your puppy into the waiting room so they can take precautions to protect the other patients. Puppies diagnosed with CPV are hospitalized in an isolation ward to protect them and other pets in the hospital. CPV is not contagious to humans.

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Shilo Gardner, DVM

News you can use: Heartworm disease- What you really need to know!!

What is heartworm and what disease can it cause in our pets?

Heartworms are large worms (potentially up to one foot long) that live in the pulmonary arteries of dogs or cats (the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the lungs), but can also be found in the heart and lungs themselves.  Heartworms can be found in dogs, cats and ferrets as well as some wild animals such as wolves or coyotes.  Since dogs are a natural host for heartworm, adult worms living inside dogs can mate and produce offspring that can be transmitted to other dogs.  Heartworms in dogs can cause damage to not only the heart, but also the lungs and arteries.  Signs of heartworm disease in dogs can include cough, exercise intolerance and weight loss.  When large numbers of worms are present they can back up into the right side of the heart severely affect the amount of blood that can enter the heart and be pumped to the lungs, this is known as caval syndrome and can be life threatening.  Cats, however, are not a natural host and those that become infected often only have a small number of worms that often do not mature to adults.  Heartworm disease in cats is more respiratory in nature but is still a serious concern.

How is heartworm spread between pets?

In order for transmission of heartworm between animals to occur mosquitos must be present.  When a mosquito bites an infected dog and ingests blood from that animal they can pick up immature heartworms called microfilaria that are being produced by the adult heartworms.  Within the mosquito the microfilaria will mature to a stage that can then be transmitted to a new dog or cat when this mosquito bites them.  It takes 6 months for the heartworms to mature within the tissues and the blood of the newly infected animal, but once mature they can live for a significant period of time.

What is the risk of your pet acquiring heartworm disease and how can you prevent it?

At this time it is difficult to determine what factors may increase the risk of heartworm transmission in a given area.  However, we do know that heartworm disease has been diagnosed in all 50 states and infection rates can vary.  The American Heartworm Society recommends ensuring your pet has a heartworm preventative for all 12 months of the year.  A variety of heartworm preventatives exist for both dogs and cats.  All heartworm preventatives target only the immature heartworms, not the adults.  It is important that both outdoor and indoor pets are given a heartworm preventative as mosquitos can easily enter the home. Prevention is extremely important in cats as the disease can be difficult to diagnose and the treatment currently used in dogs cannot be used in cats.  All heartworm preventatives target only the immature heartworms.  Your veterinarian can recommend and prescribe the product that is best for your pet to help protect them from heartworm disease all year long. 

How do you test for heartworm?

Testing should be performed annually for dogs even if they are on a monthly heartworm preventative to ensure that the medication is working correctly.  All dogs, except for puppies under 7 months of age, should be tested before they are started on a heartworm preventative or if they have been off a heartworm preventative for any length of time.  The timing of testing is different with cats because diagnosis of heartworm in cats is more difficult.  The test in dogs is a simple blood test that can sometimes be run right in the clinic.  In cats testing also includes diagnostic imaging because they typically have such low numbers of worms present when they are infected.  It takes a minimum of 6 months for an animal to have a positive test after they have been infected with heartworm. 

How is heartworm disease treated?

Your veterinarian will come up with a specific treatment plan for your pet once the diagnosis of heartworm disease has been confirmed.  It is important to note that the larger the worm burden is the more severe disease can be and the more difficult it may be to treat.  Treatment is different for cats and dogs, but can involve multiple medications and take several weeks to complete.  6 months after the treatment regimen is completed a repeat heartworm test will be performed to confirm the success of treatment. 

For more information on heartworm disease and how to prevent it in your pet please seek the advice of your veterinarian or access the American Heartworm Society website. 

Never Forget! your pets monthly heartworm medication again. VCA HomeDelivery will safe you money and deliver your pet's monthly medication to your door, the day you need it. All you have to do is call 'Fido' to the door and give him his mail. For more information about home delivery for your pet visit store.vcahollywood.com

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Rebecca Mycock, DVM

News you can use: Home Dental Care for your pet!!!!!

An important part of your pet’s overall health is good oral hygiene.  Just like in humans, preventing dental disease requires regular cleaning to remove any buildup of plaque and tartar on your pet’s teeth.  There are a variety of things you can do at home to help keep your pet’s mouth clean.  All the methods that will be discussed here are targeted at minimizing the buildup of bacterial film, of plaque, and preventing the plaque from mineralizing into tartar. 

  

Home Oral Hygiene:

Brushing: Of the home oral hygiene methods, brushing is by the most effective way to keep your pet’s mouth clean.  Ideally brushing should be done daily, but brushing several times per week will still be effective.  A soft bristle tooth brush and pet specific toothpaste are the only materials you will need.  Human toothpaste is not made to be swallowed and can upset your pet’s stomach if used.  Most pets will allow you to brush their tooth, but a gradual approach is best to get them used to it.  It is often best to start by holding up their lips for short periods of time for the first few days and then proceeding to massaging their gums with your finger or a piece of gauze for another few days before introducing the toothbrush.  Some pets prefer finger brushes or dental wipes, so it is important to be patient and find what works best for your pet.  Lastly, try to make it fun for your pet and make sure to offer the lots of love and reward during the process. 

Oral Rinses and Gels: Another home oral hygiene method you can try is chlorhexidine oral rinses or gels that are squirted into the mouth or applied to the outside of the teeth. These are designed to be safe for pets but can have a bitter taste that some pets will object to. 

Diets and Treats: There are a variety of diets and treats on the market that formulated to help decrease dental disease.  Some help to remove plaque through mechanical action based on the shape of the kibble, while others have ingredients to help prevent tartar buildup.  For dogs, rawhides or various chew toys can be beneficial.  However, bones and antlers should be avoided as they can lead to broken teeth. 

Choosing products that are beneficial for oral hygiene can be difficult as there are so many options out there.  The Veterinary Oral Health Council Seal of Acceptance can be found on various products that have been found to meet the VOHC standard for preventing plaque and tartar buildup on pet’s teeth.  A complete list of the products with this seal can be found on their website (www.VOHC.org). 

Veterinarian’s Role: As important as home oral hygiene is, it is also important to recognize if at any point your pet needs dental care to be provided by your veterinarian.  Some of the most common signs of dental disease can include: obvious bad breath, loss of teeth, discoloured or stained teeth, pain associated with their mouth, as well as appetite or weight loss.  Your veterinarian can perform a full physical exam, including an oral exam to assess what dental care your pet may need.  This typically includes a full oral hygiene procedure and full mouth dental radiographs done under general anesthesia to ensure patient safety as well as to fully clean the teeth, both above and below the gumline.  Regular veterinary visits can help to determine the need for professional dental cleanings and allow you and your veterinarian to come up with a home oral hygiene plan that is best suited for your pet in order to help prevent future dental disease.   

VCA HomeDelivery delivers all of your pets food, treats and medications right to your door. Let us do the heavy lifting for you. For more information about home delivery for your pet visit store.vcahollywood.com

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Rebecca Mycock, DVM

News you can use: Everything you need to know about Lepto!

What is Lepto?

Leptospirosis is a disease that is caused by the bacteria Leptospira. There are many different strains of this bacteria that can cause disease in dogs. It is most commonly seen in warm climates where it rains regularly, aka Florida, but is found worldwide. Lepto is spread through the urine of infected animals so nearly every dog is at risk. Rodents are the primary reservoir of this bacteria, so if your dog comes into contact with water, soil, grass, basically anything that is contaminated with the urine of rodents or other wildlife they could be infected. The good news…lepto is preventable!

What does Lepto do?

Once the Leptospira bacteria get into the body through contact with the urine of infected animals they enter the bloodstream and invade tissues and organs, commonly settling in the kidneys. This causes acute kidney injury in dogs. Signs of acute kidney injury include lethargy, vomiting, anorexia, abdominal pain, and either urinating too much, or not enough. Lepto can also affect the liver and cause acute liver disease. Additional signs you may see include muscle pain, stiffness, diarrhea, fever, edema, and inflammation of the eyes.

Diagnosis

Since the signs of leptospirosis are non-specific your veterinarian may recommend several diagnostic tests to start with, including routine bloodwork, urinalysis, radiographs, and ultrasound. If their suspicion for lepto remains high after routine diagnostics they can send out urine and blood to look for bacterial DNA and antibodies.

Treatment

Leptospirosis is treatable with antibiotics and supportive care. Supportive care can include fluid therapy, anti-nausea medications, liver support, and GI protectants. Depending upon the severity of kidney failure, more intensive measures like dialysis may be needed. With early initiation of treatment, the chances of recovery are good but there is still a risk of permanent kidney and liver damage. The risk of permanent damage even with treatment is just one of the reasons why prevention of this disease is key.

Prevention

Leptospirosis is largely preventable with vaccination! The currently available Leptospira vaccines cover multiple serovars and have been shown to provide good clinical protection and reduce bacterial shedding in the urine. Puppies should be vaccinated for lepto starting at 12 weeks old followed by a booster 2 weeks later, and then annually after that. Adult dogs that have never been vaccinated also need the initial vaccine and a 2 week booster. It’s never too late to start vaccinating and protecting your dog!

Reducing exposure to potential sources of Leptospira bacteria is also an important consideration. Preventing your dog from drinking from or swimming in lakes, rivers, ponds, or any standing water, and avoiding contact with wildlife and rodents is always a good idea.

Human Risk

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease, which means that it can be spread from animals to humans. Human leptospirosis most often results from direct contact when swimming recreationally; however, transmission from an infected pet is possible. When lepto is suspected, basic precautions to avoid contact with the dog’s blood and urine are taken. Owners of dogs diagnosed with leptospirosis should contact their physician.

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Shilo Gardner, DVM