Medical Topics

In order to help you take care of your pets, we have compiled some useful medical information on a variety of pet health related topics.

Internal Parasites

These include tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms which can cause sickness and affect the growth and digestion of your pet.  These parasites are also highly contagious to humans and can cause serious illness.

A microscopic examination of a fecal specimen is required for proper diagnosis.  A semi-annual stool examination is recommended for early detection and treatment for intestinal parasites.  Less often for a strictly indoor cat.

Heartworms

Heartworms belong to the same class of worms as roundworms.  Heartworms spend their adult life in the right side of the animal’s heart and the large blood vessels connecting the heart to the lungs. Medications used to prevent heartworm infections are called preventatives.  The first thing to remember is that preventatives are not used to kill adult worms.  Special drugs called “adulticides” must be used to kill the adults.

A number of heartworm preventatives for dogs are on the market.  Some are given daily and others are given monthly.  There are currently two preventatives on the market for cats.  Some heartworm preventatives, or drugs that are combined with them, will control other parasites including hookworms and roundworms.

Prevention of Heartworm Disease

• Using Preventatives (daily or monthly)
• Routine Heartworm Testing
• Reduce Exposure to Mosquitoes (Remember that mosquitoes can get indoors, so even though your dog or cat may not go outside, they are still at risk.)

Symptoms of Heartworm Disease

• Decreased Appetite
• Loss of Weight and Listlessness
• Cough
• Water Retention in Abdomen

Cats Get Heartworm, Too!

Heartworm is a disease dogs and cats acquire from mosquito bites. Heartworms are actual worms that grow, up to 3 inches, in the heart and impede normal blood flow, killing pets.

Dogs are tested yearly to determine their heartworm status.  The test detects the presence of a hormone coming from adult worms in the heart. The heartworm test for dogs is very reliable.

However, when cats get heartworms they tend to have only a few adult worms in their hearts, compared to dogs. The current tests for heartworm cannot readily detect heartworm infection at this low level. Cats that show symptoms may have chronic vomiting, weight loss, coughing, rear limb paralysis or sudden death.  If your cat goes outside, you need Revolution™ which is applied year-round to protect the cat. Revolution™ is easy to use and prevents your pet from heartworm infection as well as fleas, ear mites and intestinal worms.

Unfortunately, some cats will die without any knowledge of infection from heartworms. We have placed dogs on heartworm preventatives for years and are now placing cats on heartworm preventative, as well.

Heartworm Prevention Programs for Cats:  There are two heartworm preventatives approved for the use in cats, Heartgard™ and Revolution™.  Our doctors prefer Revolution™ for its ease in application–applied to the back of the neck, its safety, and its effectiveness for 30 days. Another reason our doctors prefer Revolution™ is that it kills multiple parasites including heartworms, fleas, ear mites and two stomach worms.

The second preventative is Heartgard™ and its main ingredient is ivermectin.  It is also given monthly, prevents heartworm disease and controls hookworms in cats.  It can be given to kittens 6 weeks and older.  No adverse effects were found when it was used in breeding and pregnant cats.

Pets to People Disease Alert

In the past year, a few clients have inquired about Cat Scratch Disease (CSD).  “Cat Scratch Fever” is an infection from the bacterium Bartonella henselae.  Humans can develop CSD when they are scratched, licked over abraded skin, or bitten by a cat that is infected with B.henselae. CSD is one of the more common diseases people can acquire from animals.  The syndrome develops as a local skin reaction with enlarged lymph nodes and some people may develop a fever, headache or malaise. Individuals taking chemotherapy or are immune compromised are at greater risk of complications associated with CSD.

Cats contract B.henselae from fleas. That is why it is so important to keep your cats on a flea prevention product.  Contact PMC for the flea control product that is best for your cat. Our flea control products are 100% effective, last 30 days and kill the fleas in your house.

Bloat in Dogs

Gastric Dilation-Volvulus (GDV) is most commonly seen in large and giant breed dogs and occasionally in cats.  Breeds at highest risk include Great Danes, Saint Bernards, Weimeraners, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, German Sheperds, Wolfhounds and Bloodhounds. Incidence of GDV increase with age, with giant breeds having it at an earlier age than large breed dogs.

RISK FACTORS (multi-factor)

• Personality-(high stress pets/fearful/moody)
• Family History-(parents, siblings, pups)
• Eating Too Fast
• Fatty Diets
• Stress Inducing Event (anesthesia, surgery, moving, new pet, boarding, constructions, etc.)

WHAT TO LOOK FOR?

• Mild to severe distention of the abdomen.
• Not eating
• Occasional or frequent vomiting, belching or flatulence.
• Restlessness/depression.
• Breathing rapidly or difficulty breathing.

PREVENTION

• Avoid stress.
• Slow down eating (use a muffin pan, balls in bowl) use low-fat diets.
• DO NOT raise the bowl, exercise after meals, or soak the food in water.
• Have water available at all times.
• Tacking the stomach at the time of spay/neutering.

*IF YOU SEE ANY OF THESE SIGNS IN YOUR PET AND THEY FIT THE ABOVE RISK FACTORS, SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY.

Flea Allergy Dermatitis or Bite Hypersensitivity

Studies have shown that there are 15 different antigens in the saliva of the flea.  Each one of these is capable of causing an allergic response in a sensitive cat or dog.  Despite recent advances in flea control, flea bite allergies still continue to be a common problem.

Flea bite allergy is characterized by being a seasonal allergy that is worse during peak flea times in the summer and fall.  Dogs and cats that have flea allergies will bite the base of their tail and scratch frequently.  The bite of single flea can cause hours and days of intense itching.

Note: When fleas are ingested by your pet they will get tapeworm.  Tapeworm is a small, rice size worm seen usually around your pet’s rear and causes quite a bit of discomfort.  A common symptom of this is your pet scooting their rear on the carpet.  A gastrointestinal upset is also a symptom. These are two more reason why a yearly route to control the fleas is important.

Indications of Flea Bite Sensitivity

• Biting at base of tail.
• Loss or thinning of hair at base of tail.
• Frequent scratching.
• The presence of flea dirt. (Flea dirt or feces of the flea will dissolve into a red color if moistened.

Treatment for Affected Pet

Monthly External Liquid: Advantage™ kills fleas and indirectly treats the environment.  This product is very safe and 100% guaranteed if used correctly.  Do not bathe your pet more than once every 2 weeks with this monthly flea control program.

Monthly Flea Pill/Shot Program prevents fleas from laying eggs (birth control) thus breaking the life cycle of the flea.  It is important to understand this is a very good product but because it doesn’t kill the adult fleas this product must be started before you have a flea problem. (springtime)  Once a flea problem exists, then we recommend Advantage™ because it kills the adults within 2 hours of contact.

SPECIAL NOTE:  Many hardware and pet supply stores carry “mimic” flea treatment products.  These products are not the same, safe, effective products carried at PMC.  They have no guarantee of effectiveness.  If not handled properly, they are toxic to the flea, your pet and yourself.

They are not effective because it is just concentrated flea spray in a tube.  Compare the main ingredients between the tube and flea spray and you will see permethrin or pyrethain as the main ingredient.  In the end, you are paying more for a single dose treatment of flea spray which will last about 48 hours.  And remember, it is TOXIC.