Heartworm Lifecycle (via Trifexis.com)

Heartworm disease is a nasty but very preventable condition. Thankfully we see fewer cases here in the Bay Area than places like Texas and other southern states where it is more prevalent. That said, heartworm disease may be present wherever there are mosquitos and those are found just about all over the United States. Campus Veterinary Clinic advises heatworm prevention as a precautionary measure for many of our patients.

So what are heartworms? Otherwise know as Dirofilaria immitis, these nasty parasites as previously mentioned are transmitted by mosquitos. When infected, dogs may fail to present with any symptoms for years, at which time the worms can reach up to 30cms and number up to 300. They are also capable of living up to 5 years. Did we mention they are nasty?

The worms really start to cause problems when they start migrating towards the heart and lungs via the blood stream. In terms of symptoms, you can expect to see lethargy and a dry persistent cough. In more advanced cases there have been instances of congestive heart failure and death.

Veterinarians typically treat with a medicine called Immiticide. At the time of this writing, this drug is not available due to manufacturing problems. Essentially, this means we currently don’t have a treatment for heartworms. This makes it even more vital that your dog is protected. This drug kills the heartworms after which they are reabsorbed by the body. The treatment lasts several weeks and keeping the dog calm and rested is of utmost importance. Once the course of treatment is completed, a simple blood test should reveal whether the dog is negative for heartworm.

Of course, the best scenario is to never have to treat a heartworm infection at all. If it is determined that your dog has not been exposed to heartworm, you can consult with your veterinarian as to what is the best preventative to use. There are a number of options out there and we at Campus Veterinary Clinic most often prescribe a drug called Trifexis. This monthly tablet combines spinosad  (Comfortis) and milbemycin oxime (Sentinel). While working as a preventative for heartworm, it additionally serves as a flea preventative. Our doctors and staff are always happy to talk with you as to what the best options are for your dog. Please call us anytime during business hours for more information.

There have been no cases reported in California. Incidents have occurred in North Carolina, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey and Virginia.

If you have purchased any of Diamond’s products, you can refer to the website (http://diamondpetrecall.com/recall-home/) on how to proceed. This site will list the production codes that should be located on the packaging of the food. At this time, it appears that the recall does not effect California. If you have questions you can direct them to the company at 866-918-8756.

We will endeavor to keep you updated on any further news associated with the recall.

A standard leash with the lead that snaps onto the collar is best for basic training and every day use. It’s most often made of leather (more expensive but harder to chew through)  or nylon (less durable but waterproof and cheaper). The length is fixed averaging about 6 foot. It keeps the dog close to your side and allows for greater control when training.

Slip leads are the most rudimentary of leashes. They are typically a length of nylon with a loop handle and an adjustable slipping loop. These are most often used in clinical settings and are often seen in agility training.

Lots of pet owners opt for the retractable leash. This leash is usually up to 25 feet long and retracts into a plastic case with a handle. It allows dogs more freedom to move around and explore. However, these leashes are problematic in other ways. The distance it puts between you and your dog allows for less reaction time if a situation occurs. Running into traffic, altercations with other dogs or humans and tangling up with other leashed dogs happen easily. It allows your dog to lead you (versus you leading him or her) and is not ideal when trying to teach the dog not to pull on leash. There is also the risk of the leash snapping if the dog runs with it on. This recently happened with one of our own patients and the owner ended up trying to retrieve a very scared Pomeranian from the busy thoroughfare outside our clinic.

Ultimately it is you the owner that needs to determine what works best for you both. Your ability to control your dog be it due to their size or temperament can impact the decision you make on choosing a good leash. It may also be worth checking in with your regular veterinarian when figuring on the best choice.

Regardless, we should proceed with caution when trying to figure out what’s going on with a sick dog or cat. If you surf the web long enough you can find at least two different answers to one question! Which sites can you really trust? It’s not always an easy to tell what sites are reliable and which are not.

One of the sites we endorse is VeterinaryPartner.com. This site is a good resource for general veterinary questions. It may provide a starting point for concerns you have about what is going on with your pet. It is generated by an organization called VIN (Veterinary Information Network) which is a database trusted by veterinary professionals worldwide. The information is up-to-date and reliable whilst the same can’t be said for a lot of other websites out there.

The bottom line is that the virtual medicine and advice given online is not 100% accurate. It is always best to defer to your veterinarian when in doubt as they often have an established relationship with you and your animal. This collaborative effort between you and your pet’s doctor will provide the best route for safe and effective medical treatment.

 FOOD ALLERGIES

Just like people, cats and dogs can be allergic to certain types of foods. The reactions can develop at any stage in your pet’s life and the more your pet eats the food, the stronger the allergic reaction becomes.

Food allergies may show up concurrently with allergies to pollen, dust, etc. Symptoms include:

• Itching, especially face, feet, trunk, limbs and anal area
• Ear problems, often yeast-related
• Skin infections that respond to antibiotics, but then recur as soon as the antibiotic therapy ceases.

Occasionally dogs with true food allergies may have increased bowel movements, soft stool and vomiting. Food allergies should not be confused with food intolerances, which are not true allergies and generally cause diarrhea and vomiting.

If you suspect your pet has allergies or chronic skin problems, visit your veterinarian. The type of condition and severity of the symptoms will determine how your veterinarian decides to treat them.

Testing for Food Allergies

Redness and hairloss from skin allergies

Your veterinarian may put your pet on an “elimination diet,” which tests to see if your pet is allergic to his current food.  For example, if you are currently feeding your dog both chicken and beef, your vet may switch him to a diet that is strictly venison. Other options include duck, fish or rabbit. The food should contain a single protein source and ideally should not have a protein or starch that you’ve previously fed your pet.   Reading the ingredient list is important to determine what is in the food.  Many diets that are labeled fish or lamb will have many other proteins and starches added.

In cases of severe food allergies, your veterinarian may put your pet on a diet involving hydrolyzed protein. A hydrolyzed protein is a protein that has been broken down into smaller proteins, which minimizes the chance that the protein will elicit an allergic reaction.

Royal Canin and Hills are the two brands of prescription limited ingredient diets and hydrolyzed protein diets we carry.

In order to know if the diet is the right choice for your pet, he must eat nothing else besides the directed food for a minimum of two months. There are no “cheat” days when it comes to an elimination diet. Even a single milk bone defeats the entire purpose of the diet, and your pet will have to start the diet again for another two months. If your pet’s condition improves after two months of strict dieting, we know that the diet is working.  Concurrent skin infections must be controlled or else that will also contribute to itching and make it appear the diet is not helping.

There is no diet that can prevent a food allergy.  Pets can eventually develop allergies to the duck or venison which would warrant a diet change again.  “Grain free” diets are not necessarily better and pets can develop allergies to the ingredients in these diets as well.

Consulting your veterinarian is best before switching diets to determine what course of action is most appropriate for your pet.

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FOXTAIL SEASON IS HERE

Foxtails can pose a serious threat to your pet. It’s shocking, but what may seem like a harmless plant can potentially create serious complications.

Foxtails can be inhaled or they can burrow their way directly through the skin and into the body. Extra caution should be used around foxtails if your pet has a thick coat. Once inside the body, foxtails continue to burrow and could potentially cause trauma to the lungs or other organs.

Foxtail season starts around May, when the grasses start drying out, and is most severe during the summer.

Tips for foxtail prevention:

Anesthesia is often required to remove an internal foxtail so it is best to minimize your pet’s exposure to the plant.

• Check your dog’s feet daily and remove any foxtails.
• For dogs with thick, wooly hair: Carefully comb the coat or give your pet a close whole-body trim during foxtail season.
• Get rid of any foxtails in the yard.
• Be aware of foxtails in your neighborhood and avoid walking your pet in those areas.

Signs your dog may have an internal foxtail:

Nose: Sudden extreme sneezing, pawing at the nose, bleeding from the nostril

Ear: Tilting and shaking of the head, pawing at the ear, crying, moving stiffly

Eye: Sudden squinting of the eye;  Swelling around eye accompanied by tears and mucous discharge

Throat: Gagging, retching cough. Compulsive grass eating, stretching neck and swallowing.

As always, we recommend calling your veterinarian immediately if your pet exhibits any of the above symptoms.

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One of the best examples of this is the seemingly benign aspirin. This common over-the-counter medicine is a staple in bathroom medicine cabinets everywhere. While a great option for our own aches and pains, this drug can be harmful to our pets. Aspirin and ibuprofen can result in stomach ulcers and gastric bleeding. In cats it can cause tissue swelling and excessive salivation and in some cases, death.

In some instances our doctors will advise clients to use human over-the-counter medications to treat their pets. Occasionally, human medications can be quite effective for things such as allergies or nutritional support. That said, it is always better to do so under the supervision of your veterinarian. Avoid the temptation to use your own medications on your pet. It may seem like a good way to save time and money but an unexpected trip to the the emergency room may create an even bigger dent in your schedule and your pocket book!

“We adopted Alfie about 5 years ago from Animal Care and Control in San Francisco. We chose him because he was very noisy and quite the meower and because he was BIG and we’ve always had big boy cats in the past. His shelter name was Brad Pitt, which was fitting because he’s so handsome, but we decided to call him Alfie instead.

He has since settled right into our home. He sleeps at our feet every night, but is far from being a lap cat. He sits on our laps about 20 minutes a year. He comes inside exactly two hours before dinner-time every night to begin what we call “The Vigil.”

Alfie is quite the hunter. He loves catching large rodents and small birds and bringing them into the house (often alive!). He recently “survived” a one-month at-home-quarantine, as mandated by the City of Berkeley after he caught two bats in one week (even though he was fully vaccinated).

We don’t really know how old he is (our best guess is 8), but he still acts like a frisky kitten and shows no signs of slowing down! Although Alfie is the most independent and stereotypically aloof cat we’ve lived with (one of his 200 nicknames is “Aloofie”), he is our most favorite cat of all time and we love him dearly. He’s meowing at me as I write this, and his kitten-like plaintive mews (coming from an almost 17lb bruiser) melt my heart!”

Likes: hunting, Mexican food (he was found in SF’s Mission District and we like to think he liked to go dumpster diving outside Mexican restaurants in his stray cat days), independence.

Dislikes: Rain, the flute (meows when his human plays high notes), being stuck inside.

So what are some things to look for when making this determination? First of all, you should be able to feel the ribs easily despite the fat layer that lies over them. You should also be able see a tuck around the waist when looking from above and the sides.

Even if your pet has a restricted diet and/or exercises regularly, weight may still be an issue. What works for one pet may not work for the other. Weight management plans must cater to the individual animal (just like in humans). It can be a challenge, but our doctors are happy working with you to figure out just the right balance of diet and exercise that will enable a healthy weight. Don’t get discouraged! We can always advise you on additional steps you can take to reach your pet’s goal weight.

Purina has a great chart for dogs and cats that you can use as a visual aid in determining if your pet is where they should be weight-wise. Too often we see obesity in pets as cute or amusing but as veterinary bills escalate as a result the joke is on us as pet owners.

Dogs have a layer of mucus on their noses that not only aids their sense of smell, but additionally assists with temperature regulation. This can vary from dog to dog.

You may notice that if your dog is actively sniffing and awake, the nose is wetter. When at rest, their nose may appear dryer. The mucus on the nose is able absorb environmental chemicals. When the dog licks it’s own nose they are transferred to the olfactory sense organs in the mouth. It makes sense then, that if your dog is running around the park versus snoozing at home there will be a difference in how wet the snout is.

Whether the nose is dry can vary from dog to dog. Most likely you know your dog better than anyone else and what is normal for them. If you notice a prolonged change in the temperature, pigment or dampness of the nose you should contact your veterinarian.

Questions? Email us at *protected email*

Food allergies are reported to be the most common culprit of scooting. Some foods prompt your dog’s immune system to over respond to “invading” proteins. Luckily there are a number of prescription diets on the market now to deal with these allergies.

Another cause for scooting is often the anal glands. These two glands situated on either side of the anus can become irritated or impacted. They contain a liquid that should be released when the dog has a bowel movement. Sometimes the fluid isn’t released as it should be and the glands get impacted and sometimes infected. If this happens, the anal glands can be expressed by either a technician or veterinarian. Some dogs (and cats for that matter) need this done on a regular basis.

If allergies and full glands aren’t the problem then we often suspect parasites are the issue. Tapeworms are the most common parasites we find in dogs in the Bay Area. They are most commonly contracted by eating fleas and if present in the stool can cause itching as well as other symptoms. They can often be identified by the naked eye either in the stool or around the anus.

While we have discussed the most common causes for scooting there may be sources we haven’t mentioned. If unsure, a visit to your veterinarian is the best way to be sure. Whatever the cause, scooting indicates that your dog is experiencing discomfort. Our staff are always available to talk to you further about this and other health concerns at 510-549-1252.