As the weather warms up, we’ve already experienced a few mosquito bites this year. These 10 facts about heartworms and the devastating disease they cause in pets are more important to know than ever.
Heartworms are parasitic worms that live inside the heart, pulmonary arteries and/or lungs of an infected mammal
Adult worms reproduce in the host animal and multiply in the bloodstream
Dogs, cats, ferrets, wolves, coyotes and foxes can all contract heartworm disease
One thing that makes them different from other parasitic worms? Most others infect the gastrointestinal tract, not the circulatory system
Heartworms can grow to 14 inches in length
Mosquitoes carry and spread heartworm larvae. When a mosquito bites a heartworm-infected animal (often wildlife), the larvae enters the mosquito along with the blood meal
When a heartworm-carrying mosquito bites another animal (often a pet), the larvae spreads to that animal
It takes months for heartworm disease to become visibly symptomatic in a pet. This is the time it takes for heartworm larvae to grow into adult worms
Treatment in dogs is expensive, time-consuming and high-risk for the dog. There is no approved treatment for cats.
Heartworm prevention is the best method to address heartworm disease for dogs and cats. Year-round prevention can come in several forms, from a monthly tablet to a combined flea-tick-and-heartworm medication. Ask your veterinarian which method is best for your pet and lifestyle
For more information, check out our recent article, “Heartworm Prevention: Be Aware!” And contact us if your Fairfield or Cincinnati-area pet is in need of heartworm prevention and other wellness care.
Vaccinate Your Puppy On Time to Prevent this Deadly Infection
Parvovirus can affect dogs of any age, but parvo in puppies is of especial concern. This virus is highly contagious and significantly fatal, especially in younger animals with immature immune systems.
However, with vaccination, parvo in puppies is almost completely preventable. Veterinarians typically give the first shot at six to eight weeks old, and additional vaccinations are given every three weeks, for a total of four vaccinations.
Learning More about Parvo in Puppies
It’s estimated that 900 US dogs each day are diagnosed with parvovirus. The disease attacks the lining of the digestive tract and young immune cells. Symptoms are distressing and painful to the dog:
Lethargy
GI bleeding
Bloody diarrhea
Vomiting
Dehydration
Shock
Sepsis
Puppies are more at-risk from the dangers of this GI virus, because of their small size and weaker immune system. Dehydration happens more rapidly and leads to the more severe symptoms.
Unvaccinated Dogs and Puppies Can Easily Catch Parvo
This virus is spread through contact with fecal matter of an infected dog. Some strains of parvovirus have the ability to live outside an animal for over a year.
Dr. Kathleen Aicher, assistant professor at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, provides details on why parvovirus is highly contagious:
“Parvovirus is very easily transmitted between dogs because it takes very little exposure to cause infection, and dogs who are infected can shed the virus for a few days before they exhibit symptoms, unknowingly exposing other dogs to the virus. The virus is also very resistant to extreme temperatures and cleaning, so it can remain in the environment for a long time, putting dogs at further risk.”
Dangers of Canine Parvovirus– And Expense of Treatment
Once a dog contracts parvovirus, treatment is critical for survival. Shwntel F. Wilson of Westminster University in Salt Lake City writes:
“Mortality rates of canines with untreated parvovirus remain at 90 percent, while aggressively treated parvovirus has a significantly smaller mortality rate window of 5- 20 percent.”
Treatment usually includes hospitalization, which can last two to seven days. Patients require round-the-clock care, so the treatment of parvo in puppies is very costly. Sadly, even with early and aggressive treatment, there is still a significant chance of death.
Save the Puppies from Parvo!
There’s no need for puppies to endure parvovirus and face this tragic end. Vaccination builds your puppy’s immune system to fight off the virus.
Until your puppy has received its full round of parvovirus vaccinations, avoid public exposure to other dogs, like dog parks and kennels.
The plant names link to Pet Poison Helpline’s plant information page. Percentages show the majority proportion of cases (cat or dog). We also give the organization’s toxicity level for each plant.
Easter is early this year, so it coincides with Pet Poison Prevention Awareness month in March. Keep these five tips in mind as you plan your celebrations.
Plastic basket grass: If your pet swallows plastic grass, it can cause intestinal blockages.
Lilies: These plants are very toxic to your feline friends and can cause rapid kidney failure.
Chocolate: This food is very toxic to dogs if ingested.
Easter dinner: High-fat foods can cause GI upset. Leftover bones can cause foreign body (an object that becomes stuck in your pet’s body that shouldn’t be there).
Easter eggs: Real or fake eggs can be harmful to your pets. Spoiled eggs can cause upset stomachs and fake one can cause intestinal blockages.
10 Common Plants Toxic to Pets
Know these common plants that are toxic to cats and dogs. We recommend that you don’t keep the in your home.
Lilies
Philodendron
Oleander
Aloe
Chrysanthemum
Hyacinth
Jade plant
Sago palm
Daffodil
Asparagus fern
You may also want to check out “Top 20 Pet Toxins in Ohio.” Let’s enjoy spring with our pets, and keep everyone safe.
Since 2018, the Pet Poison Helpline has been tracking Toxin Trends by state and making them publicly available. The data are derived from cases called into the organization. In Ohio, you can see that dogs represent the top species encountered at this hotline.
Top 20 Pet Toxins in Ohio Explained
Here’s the graph for the pet toxins that are most commonly the culprit for calls to the helpline. (Remember, dogs represent 90% of these cases).
Some of these items are well-known, like chocolate. Others seem obscure, like #2 on the list, bromethalin. Let’s explore each a little further.
Carprofen: This veterinary anti-inflammatory pain medication also made it to the top 10 list last year. It’s important to follow dosage instructions given by your veterinarian.
Amphetamine combos and methylphenidate: Includes common ADHD medications, along with illicit drugs like ecstasy.
Beta-blockers: Common human heart medications.
Acetaminophen: Common over-the-counter human pain reliever and fever reducer, i.e, Tylenol.
Lilies (Lilium species): True lilies, along with all flowers that look like lilies, are particularly toxic to cats. This includes every part of the plant, from flower to root.
Onions (Allium species): Includes all members of the species, like garlic, shallots, leeks and chives.
Allergy medications: Any medicine with D in the name, i.e., Claritin D or Mucinex D.
Thyroid hormone medication: Large overdoses are the main area of concern.
Cholecalciferol rotenticide: One of the most potent rat and mouse poisons, it’s activated vitamin D3.
Melatonin: Common human supplement, can be found in gummy form
Lisinopril (Zestril): One of the ACE-inhibitors, which is a common heart medication in humans.
Top Symptoms of Pet Toxicity in Ohio
The Pet Poison Helpline also tracks reports of signs of toxicity that caused pet owners to reach out. There are 13 on the list, which is topped by vomiting and drowsiness.
For Emergencies, Save the Pet Poison Helpline Number
Anytime of day or night, you can reach the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. As of this writing, the fee is $85.
Here are their recommended steps if you suspect your pet is experiencing an emergency after exposure to a pet toxin.
15 Tips to Help Your Cat or Dog Enjoy a Safe Spring
Are you starting to get spring fever? So are your pets! As the birds start singing, flowers start blooming and spring cleaning gets underway, take a moment to review our 15 safety tips.
Spring Safety Tips for All Pets
Pets of all kinds need humans to watch out for their safety. Our cats, dogs and other pets are adorable for the exploring, curious natures, but that can sometimes get them in trouble! Consider these five spring safety tips:
When you embark on spring cleaning and airing out your home, remember that cats and dogs may wish to escape from open doors and windows. Watch your pets and use window screens.
Also, keep all cleaning chemicals and solutions out of reach of pets. When you’re actively cleaning, keep them (and yourself!) safe from chemical fumes, as well.
Keep chocolates away from your pets. The caffeine and theobromine in chocolate are toxic to them.
As you start to freshen up your lawn and garden, read the usage instructions for all fertilizers, pesticides and weed killers. Don’t let your pets around these areas until it’s safe.
You and your dog are likely preparing to enjoy the outdoors more as the weather warms up. Let’s keep these five spring safety tips for dogs in mind.
It’s time to make sure that your dog is on flea, tick and heartworm preventative.
Cold and allergy medications are in the top 10 toxins for dogs. As your seasonal allergies start acting up, keep medicines containing pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine away from your pups. This includes medicines ending in D, i.e., MucinexD.
Check your backyard fence for disrepair that may have happened over the winter. With better weather, your dog may be spending more time outdoors, and you don’t want them to escape.
As an extra insurance policy against escape, consider microchipping your dog if you haven’t already. Or, check your dog’s existing microchip to make sure the information is up-to-date
Spring Safety Tips for Cats
Cats typically spend more time indoors, but that doesn’t mean they don’t encounter some spring dangers. Here are five spring safety tips for cats.
Cats require feline-specific flea, tick and heartworm preventatives. Using products made for dogs can be deadly for cats.
Remember that ALL varieties of lily are toxic to cats. This includes Easter lily, Asiatic lily, Daylily, Stargazer lily and even the not-true-lily Lily of the valley. The entire plant is toxic, including stems, leaves, flowers, pollen and water in its vase.
Avoid using plastic grass in your Easter baskets. Cats find this product unavoidably attractive, and it can obstruct their digestive system when ingested.
Now’s a good time to give those litter boxes a deep clean. Scrub them with diluted vinegar and allow them to dry in the sun.
If your cat isn’t neutered or spayed, consider the procedure now. Spring is an active time for cats to go into heat and be on the prowl.
Enjoy a beautiful spring with your pets! And check out our resources for more Pet Safety Tips.
Dental Care Should Be a Top Health Priority for Your Cat or Dog
For Pet Dental month, we want to highlight an interview with Dr. Seth Shirey who shares important information about how pet dental health affects your pet’s overall health and life expectancy.
“This [untreated] mouth will shorten a pet’s life span by a noticeable amount of years… instead of making it to 15, 16, they’re passing away at 11 because they have kidney failure….The smaller the breed, the worse their teeth, so like Chihuahuas, Yorkies, Dachshunds those dogs I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to remove 20 teeth, from a dog’s mouth because it was just rotten.”
When oral bacteria from diseased teeth and gums makes its way into a pet’s bloodstream, this bacteria can affect the animal’s heart, liver or kidneys. This systemic infection causes inflammation and possible organ failure over time.
Pet Dental Month is a Good Time to Make a Dental Cleaning Appointment
Data from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) show that up to 80% of pets will suffer from dental disease by age three.
It’s important to make dental health a priority early in a pet’s life. That starts with an annual dental cleaning appointment. These cleanings remove tartar and plaque above and below the gumline.
What should you expect at a pet dental cleaning? The AVMA shares the basic steps:
Pets are placed under general anesthesia for the health and safety of both the animal and dental care team. Pets are closely monitored the entire time they are under anesthesia
Dental X-rays show what’s happening below the gum surface
A thorough examination of each tooth is made as the cleaning takes place. Veterinarians use many of the same cleaning tools as dental hygienists
It may be recommended to remove one or more teeth, if the veterinarian finds advanced dental disease
The pet is awakened, placed in recovery and usually goes home soon after
At-Home Pet Dental Care
The most important way to promote healthy teeth and gums at home is to brush your cat or dog’s teeth with an enzymatic pet toothpaste once each day. It’s important to use toothpaste made especially for animals. Human toothpaste usually contains flouride, which is toxic if swallowed. For ease of purchasing, look for a toothpaste with the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) seal.
Dr. Shirey says:
“You’re adding years to their life down their life, 11 or 12 you are seeing 14, 15… you can truly add years into patients’ lives by doing these dental cleanings.”
How to Brush Your Dog’s Teeth
We get plenty of questions about how to brush a dog’s teeth. Hopefully, this video guide will be helpful.
Prevention is the most important part of pet dental care. But you should also check out our article “Know the Signs of Dental Disease.” If you have any questions about your cat or dog’s dental health, please contact us.
Winter can be a difficult season for many, including our pets. Refresh your memory on cold weather hazards for your pet, and we wish you cozy cuddles until spring!
Be Prepared for Cold Weather Hazards
Talk to your veterinarian about your pet’s risks in cold weather
Have an emergency kit that includes your pet’s needs in case of severe weather or prolonged power outage
If your dog has a short coat or seems bothered by cold, consider a sweater or dog coat. Check out our winter pet clothing tips.
Consider booties for your dog’s feet, and make sure they fit
Ensure outdoor pets have insulated shelter and unfrozen drinking water
In extreme cold, even outdoor pets should stay inside
Cold Weather Hazards: Avoid Injury and Poisoning
Use pet-safe de-icing products
Quickly clean up any antifreeze spills
Keep your pets away from frozen ponds, lakes and streams
After walks, wipe down or wash your pet’s paws, legs and belly to remove packed snow, ice, salt and de-icing chemicals
Cold Weather Hazards: Know Your Pet’s Limits
Understand your pet’s tolerance for the cold; adjust accordingly
Cats Are Carnivores, But There Are Better Solutions than Risking Raw Food
Recently, we’ve been getting more questions about a raw food diet for cats and dogs. We wrote about the problems with a “Raw Food Diet for Dogs”, and now we’re dishing out the details for cats.
A quick Google search on the subject of raw food diet for cats shows many pro-raw results. It’s important to note that most of these sources also market and sell raw cat food, so their position is going to be biased in favor of their business results.
What Do Veterinarians Have to Say about a Raw Food Diet for Cats?
Cats are obligate carnivores, which means a healthy diet consists of at least 70% meat. A cat’s diet needs to contain:
Animal protein
Fat
Vitamins and minerals
When feeding a cat a raw food diet, it’s difficult to get the balance right between protein and fat, while also accounting for important nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin D, zinc, copper, taurine, calcium and carbohydrates.
Commercially-available cat foods are usually formulated to balance the nutritional needs of cats, and are labeled as such. The Association of American Feed Control Officials has a useful article on “How to Understand a Dog of Cat Food Label.”
Joseph Wakshlag, DVM, an associate professor at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine makes the statement that byprodutcs in cat food can be helpful:
“But I’m actually a big fan of using byproducts,” Wakshlag says. “They have way more nutrients than straight meat. In chicken byproduct, for example, you’ll get things like vitamin A, vitamin D, zinc, and copper — instead of just the protein in a chicken breast.”
So, veterinarians are usually skeptical of raw food diets for cats. Sadly, we see the results of nutritional deficiencies and imbalances, which can seriously affect a cat’s health and quality of life.
Raw food diets are a not recommended and can create serious medical issues for your cat, like blindness from taurine deficiency or other irreversible problems.
Foodborne Illness Risk is High with Raw Food Diet for Cats
Raw meat carries with it the risk of infection from bacteria like Salmonella, Listeria and E. coli. When feeding a cat raw meat, bacteria not only has a chance to spread from preparation surfaces, but also from food bowls, storage locations and wherever the cat may carry it.
When cats kill and eat fresh prey (like mice!), there’s much less chance for the growth and spread of bacteria. Slaughtered meat, however, sits around until consumption, and often grows illness-causing bacteria. This poses significant risk to both the cat, other animals in the household and humans.
If you’re looking into a raw food diet because you have concerns about your cat’s health, reach out to your veterinarian and make sure you’re getting your cat the care they need to enjoy life to the fullest.
From Unexpected (Marijuana) to Perennial (Chocolate), Here are the Most Common Pet Toxins
The Pet Poison Helpline released its Top 10 Pet Poisons for 2023, and there are some notable entries for pet parents to be on the lookout for. Here’s the list, which takes into account all species of pet.
Marijuana Toxicity in Pets
New to the list this year is marijuana. The Pet Poison Helpline reports that it’s mostly dogs who encounter this toxicity. With the passage of Ohio’s Issue 2, we expect to see more cases in our state. On December 7, it became legal to possess marijuana and grow it at home.
The Pet Poison Helpline also provides stats on the pets it serves. Of all incident calls over the year:
88% dogs
11% cats
1% other species, like birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species
Food Toxicities
It’s not surprising that chocolate tops the list, as it’s widely-available and undeniably tasty. Grapes and raisins are of special note, because their toxicity doesn’t seem to be as well-known as other foods. The same goes for onions.
Xylitol is an artificial sweetener used in many sugar-free candies, gums, desserts and recipes. We explored this pet toxin previously: Why is Xylitol Toxic for Dogs?
Medicine Toxicities
Human medicines aren’t meant for animals. Ibuprofen (Advil) is third on the list of most-common toxicities, and Vitamin D3 is a somewhat surprising addition. This list is a good reminder to keep all medicines out of reach of pets (and kids).
Veterinary medicines can also cause toxicity in the wrong dosage or if used for an extended period of time. Carprofen is a common NSAID used to treat pain and inflammation in animals, but overuse or overdose can cause toxicity. Fortunately, there are new treatments available to help with osteoarthritis pain, which we’ve written about:
It’s truly sad when a pet ingests any rat poisons. Both bromethalin and anticoagulant rat poisons make the top 10 list. Rats are mammals, just like cats and dogs, so these poisons are indiscriminately toxic. We recommend using a different form of pest control.
