Warning Signs

Our pets become such regular parts of our lives that we may sometimes forget how good they are at hiding illness. The truth is, all pets should see a veterinarian at least once a year, even if you choose to have them vaccinated at a vaccination clinic. Cats, much better at hiding illness than dogs, should see a vet every 6 months. Of course, this is the ideal and in most cases not a reality. Most of us don't even take ourselves to the doctor as often as medical professionals advise, but we are always aware of how we are feeling. Because our pets cannot talk to us, it's important to be aware of how changes in their behavior, appearance, appetite, energy or overall being may be signals that something is wrong. There are, of course, some obvious signs that most pet owners are aware of. Increased drinking and urination can be signs of diabetes or other illnesses. Any change in appetite, whether an increase or decrease, can be a sign of a problem. It is easy to overlook some of the more subtle signs such as a lapse in normal grooming habits or laying around more than usual may be the early signs of illness. It's very important to keep an eye on your pets weight as changes (a gain or a loss) are often a sign that something is going on. It can be hard to spot weight changes, especially if they are very gradual, but it may be a good idea to weight your pet at home every few months if possible, or bring them in to your vet for a weigh-in. Give us a call and we will be happy to schedule a free weigh-in visit. Below is a checklist of changes to be aware of. If you've noticed any of these or other changes in your pet, it is a good idea to bring him or her into your veterinarian for a wellness exam! Warning Signs Checklist: Increased or Decreased Appetite Increased or Decreased Drinking Lapse in Grooming Habits Trouble or Hesitancy in Climbing Stairs or Jumping Lapse in Housebreaking or Litterbox Use Decreased Energy Hair Loss Excessive Licking (usually at paws, sides or hind end) Excessive Salivation Weight Gain or Weight Loss Scooting (rubbing their bottom on the ground) Cloudy Eyes or Bumping into things Head Shaking or Ear Scratching Bad Breath Vomiting or Diarrhea Straining to go to the bathroom Frequent Urination or Discolored Urine Change in Behavior Coughing or Sneezing Limping or Lameness Scratching Foul Skin Odor Lumps or Bumps (big or small) Reluctance to Exercise

It's Tick Season Again! Winters' in its thaw and spring is on its way, which means the ticks are heading out to play! For those who took a break from Heartgard and Frontline, time to start them up again to keep your pet feeling fine. So dust off those boxes and put a sticker on the date. Protect your pet before it's too late!

Case of the Month Tick Borne Diseases Lyme Disease and Anaplasma By: Dr. Glenn Zeitz, VMD Oakley, a 3 year old Wheaton Terrier, seemed perfectly fine on Saturday but by Sunday afternoon he became very quiet, did not want to play or eat and slept most of the afternoon and evening. On Monday morning he began to limp as well. When I examined Oakley, several of his lymph nodes were enlarged and he had a fever of 103.5 F. He was also very sensitive when I tried to flex several of his joints. I took blood to perform a complete blood count (CBC) and an in-house test for tick borne diseases. He was positive for both Lymes and Anaplasma (formerly known as Ehrlichia). The CBC showed that his platelet count was very low at 50,000 (Normal should be greater than 200,000). We immediately started Oakley on doxycycline, an antibiotic, and Previcox, an anti-inflammatory. Within 48 hours his limp was gone and he was starting to eat. Within 7 days he was back to normal. We continued the doxycycline for 30 days to be sure all of the tick borne bacteria were killed. Tick Biology - The area we live in is infested with ticks that can carry various bacterial diseases. Ticks prefer temperatures between 40 degrees and 85 degrees, so most tick activity takes place from early March to June and late September into December. Depending on the severity of the summer and winter we can see some tick activity all year round. Many people feel they can distinguish between the Ixodes tick that carries lymes and other types of ticks. However, very few actually can tell the difference. Since all types of ticks carry different diseases it is no longer important to distinguish a dog tick from a deer tick. Tick prevention is of the utmost importance. Lymes Disease - I believe that Lymes bacteria causes mild illness and limping, but rarely makes a dog very sick. Sometimes the symptoms in dogs are so mild and short lived that the owner does not think much of it to bring the pet to the doctor. The dogs that are infested with Lymes bacteria, only, may even return to normal within a few days. HOWEVER the bacteria will stay active in the body causing damage. This is why we currently recommend that most dogs that test positive take the appropriate antibiotics whether or not they are showing clinical signs. We have a very effective vaccine for Lymes. Studies show that the vaccine will prevent disease in 96% of dogs. That leaves only 4 out of every 100 vaccinated dogs open to infection. There is no way to know which dogs are not protected by the vaccine. Lymes disease does not affect the platelet cells or the lymph nodes. Because Oakley's CBC showed a drastic decrease in platelets, I suspected Oakley had Anaplasmosis as well as Lymes. Anaplasma (Ehrlichia) - Anaplasma, another tick borne disease, is on the rise in our area. This is a potentially very serious disease that if not picked up in its early phase will become a chronic infection with no real cure. The anaplasma bacteria will make a dog very sick with fever, enlarged lymph nodes and life threatening low platelet cells. The most recent belief is that 40 % of the dogs infected with Lymes also have Anaplasma. Fortunately veterinarians use the same antibiotic, doxycycline, to treat both of these infections, but unlike Lymes, there is currently no vaccine available for Anaplasma. Zoonosis - There does not appear to be a difference in the incidence of tick related diseases in people living in households with pets vs. households without pets. This is because once a tick gets onto a dog it tends to stay on that dog and feeds only once. Ticks do not feed, drop off and reattach to another living thing. However, it is possible for pets to bring ticks into the house on their fur that may end up on your floors in search of a host. Monthly flea and tick prevention is highly recommended to prevent ticks from attacking you or your pet.