Protecting Your Pets From Holiday Hazards

While you are busy making your plans for Christmas, please don’t forget to include your pets in all the festivities. The holidays are a time for giving, but there are some things that you should not share with your furry best friends; no matter how nicely they may ask!  Once you know the hazards, a little precaution and prevention will make the holidays a happy time for everyone. Below is some information that we hope you find useful.

Some of the more common holiday hazards include:

BONES:  The holiday turkey or chicken will leave a lot of tantalizing bones, but don’t feed them to your pet.  Beware of steak bones as well.  Small bones or bone chips can lodge in the throat, stomach and intestinal tract.

FAT:  Those wonderful potato latkes (watch the hot oil!), gravies and potato skin can cause severe gastrointestinal upset as well.

HOLIDAY PLANTS:  Holly and mistletoe are extremely poisonous when eaten.  The lovely poinsettia may not be truly poisonous, but its milky sap and leaves can certainly cause distress.  With so many hybrid varieties available each year, the best approach is to keep the plants out of your pet’s reach.

CANDLES:  Lighted candles should never be left unattended.  This is even more important if left at kitties’ eye level or within puppies chewing zone.  An exuberant tail, a swat of a paw, and candles and hot wax can quickly become disastrous.  Anchor candles securely and away from curious faces and feet.

PINE NEEDLES:  Check around holiday boughs and trees frequently.

Ingested pine needles can puncture your

pet’s intestines if sharp enough.

HOLIDAY TREE:  Make sure your tree is well secured.  If you have a tree-climbing cat or a large dog with a happy tail, anchor the top of the tree to the wall using strong cord or rope.  Preservatives often used in the water in a tree stand can cause gastric upsets, so be sure to make it inaccessible or don’t use

them at all.  Avoid sugar and aspirin additives in the water as well.

ORNAMENTS:  Sharp or breakable ornaments, dreidels and even aluminum foil should be kept out of reach.  String objects, especially tinsel and ribbons, are to be safeguarded at all costs.  They are thin and sharp and can wrap around the intestines or ball up in the stomach if ingested.

STRESS AND COMPANY:  With everyone coming and going, watch out for open doors and sneaky pets.  Make sure your pets have collars and tags on in case of escape.  Ask guests to keep an eye out for pets underfoot and remind them that sometimes your normally friendly dog or cat may be less than willing to deal with enthusiastic children and rooms full of unfamiliar people.  Provide a special, quiet place with a blanket and fresh water for your pets to retreat to when the festivities get too stressful. 

ELECTRICAL CORDS:  Holiday lights mean more electrical cords for kittens and puppies to chew.  Be sure to secure your cords out of the way.

CHOCOLATE DANGERS: Theobromine, a naturally occurring alkaloid found in the cocoa bean, can be harmful even in small amounts.  Theobromine can cause vomiting and restlessness in pets.  Larger doses can be fatal.  The lethal dose of theobromine depends on the size of the dog and the type of chocolate.  Ounce for ounce, baking chocolate has 6 to 9 times as much theobromine as milk chocolate.

Estimates of the smallest amounts that can be fatal are:

4 – 10 ozs. of milk chocolate or ½ - 1 oz. of baking chocolate for small dogs.

1 – 1 ½  lbs. of milk chocolate or 2-3 ozs.  of baking chocolate for medium sized dogs.

2 – 4 ½  lbs. of milk chocolate or 4 – 8 ozs. of  baking chocolate for large dogs.

See your veterinarian immediately if some of these signs are noticed:

·         Restlessness

·         Hyper, excitable

·         Vomiting or diarrhea

·         Seizures

·         Muscle spasms

ANTIFREEZE:  During the colder months, a routine automotive practice is to use antifreeze in your radiator or windshield washer fluid.  Antifreeze is sweet tasting to your pet and they may be tempted to drink it.  Antifreeze is extremely toxic and often fatal to pets when ingested.  Even a small puddle spilled on your driveway  is of concern.

OUTDOOR DOGS:  Please realize that the nutritional requirements for an outdoor dog are a lot higher than for an indoor dog, especially during the colder months.  If concerned, please consult your veterinarian regarding the dietary changes required for your pet.  Shelter during the winter months is especially important.  Your pet will require a well insulated dog house, raised off the ground, with the entrance facing away from the prevailing wind.  The shelter should be just large enough for your pet to lie down comfortably.  Ensure that the water supply is checked regularly as it may freeze.

WACKIEST NAMES FOR PETS FOR 2011

Fido and Fluffy, step aside

Dogs

1. Pickle Von Corndog
2. Lord chubby Pruneface
3. Badonkadonnk
4. Ninjastar Dangerrock
5. Dog Vader
6. Flopsy Squeakerton
7. Molly McBoozehound
8. Bettie Poops
9. Geez Louise
10. Barnaby Bones

Cats

1. Purr Diem
2. Bing Clawsby
3. Cleocatra
4. Admiral Pancake
5. Optimus Pants
6. Chairman Meow
7. Boo Manchu
8. Watts In A Name
9. Chenoa Azure Marshmellow-Puff
10. Senor Nachos

Please feel free to share your own wacky name.

Stats compliments of VI Pet Insurance - taken from actual clients.

NEW APPROACHES TO TREATING CANINE SEPARATION ANXIETY

While destructive behaviour can sometimes be a normal outlet for dogs, some destructive behaviours may be due to underlying anxiety.  For example, when destruction is directed at doorways, windows, and exit points, rather than garbage cans, food cupboards, or a pair of leather shoes, further assessment is needed to confirm whether this may be due to separation anxiety.

 A diagnosis of separation anxiety typically includes one or more of these symptoms:  destructiveness, distress vocalization, house-soiling or other signs of anxiety such as salivation.  Signs usually arise immediately following the owner’s departure.  If any of these behaviours are seen when family members are present, other causes should be considered.  Evidence of destructive behaviours or house soiling should be easy to identify when family members return home, but vocalization ranging from whining to howling may often go undetected except when severe enough to disturb neighbours.  Video monitoring is useful to verify the diagnosis as well as to monitor the efficacy of a treatment program.  Dogs with separation anxiety often have hyper attachment and begin to show anxiety as the owner prepares to leave. 

Dogs suffering from separation anxiety are panicked, fearful, and traumatized when left alone.  Successful resolution of separation anxiety usually requires a combination of behavioural management and medication.   The behaviour program should focus on teaching the dog acceptable and alternative behaviours in which to engage when alone.  Provided the dog’s daily needs are adequately met, training should focus on encouraging the dog to find a safe retreat to rest or play with its favourite toys, so it can learn to settle and occupy itself away from the owners. During these sessions, attention seeking behaviour must be ignored, while settled behaviours should gradually be increased and positively reinforced.  Some dogs may be less anxious when crated or confined as they find some comfort from this routine; others are more panicked.  Since pre-departure anxiety is often associated with the handling of keys, mobile phones or shoes, desensitization and counter-conditioning can be as simple as picking up keys or a briefcase, giving a favoured treat or toy, and setting them back down without leaving. Repetition teaches the dog that departure cues may be pleasant and not always associated with actual departures.  Family members should practice non-emotional departures and greetings.  Punishment never alleviates anxiety and has no place in the treatment of separation anxiety. 

At actual departure times, food puzzle toys, chews and favoured treats can be provided to distract and occupy the dog.  However, in the short term it may be necessary to find day care until the behaviour program and medication can be effectively implemented.  Another option in the short term is to give benzodiazepines such as alprazolam prior to departure to reduce anxiety for a few hours.

Since dogs with separation anxiety are highly anxious when left alone, behaviour modification should be combined with drug therapy both for the well-being of the dog and to improve treatment success.  Clomipramine (Clomicalm, Novartis Animal Health), is currently licensed for the treatment of separation anxiety and a chewable fluoxetine tablet (Reconcile, Elanco) will be also be available this fall.  The primary action of both drugs is to enhance serotonin transmission, but peak effect may not be achieved for three to four weeks.  The advantage of using veterinary approved drugs is their proven efficacy, predictable bioavailability, palatability, access to technical support as well as the client education material that you and your staff can use to help guide the owner through the behaviour program.  Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP, Intervet Schering Plough) has also been shown to be effective alone or in combination with medication.

Often families attribute their dog’s misbehaviours when left alone to vengeance or spite. However, dog owners need to understand that the behavioural signs are due to anxiety and distress and that medication can help alleviate their dog’s suffering. 

Product information and client support is available from recondile.com, dap-pheromone.com, or request client education material from your local industry representative.

This article was co-authored by Drs. Colleen Wilson and Theresa DePorter.  This article was first published in the OVMA’s September/October 2010 issue of Focus magazine.

Meeting the Behavioural Needs of the Indoor Cat

Elimination

An indoor elimination area will be required that is desirable for both the owner and the cat.  Litter boxes filled with commercial litter will usually do the trick since cats generally prefer to eliminate in a substrate in which they can scratch and dig.  However, for some cats the type of litter; the number, size and type of litter boxes, litter cleaning, and litter location; may be issues that need to be addressed to ensure that the box is consistently used.

Feeding

Most cats free feed or are fed a few times a day.  However, in an outdoor environment cats hunt, capture, kill and eat about eight mice per day.  Therefore, as alternatives to hunting, cat owners can offer toys that require rolling, batting, or pawing to release the food.  By filling these toys with small measured amounts of food throughout the day, eating will require far greater time, effort and expenditure of mental and physical energy.  Food can also be scattered or hidden throughout the home to encourage food seeking activities.

Social Interactions

Although there is a great deal of individual variability, cats are a social species.  Social times with the owner and/or other cats are an important part of the day both for comfort and play.  Prey type toys attached to a wand or rope can be dangled and pulled in front of the cat to stimulate prey hunting.  However, studies have shown that chasing a toy may further heighten the cat’s level of arousal even though the novelty of the toy may quickly wear off.  Therefore, two or three toys should be offered at each play session, followed by a small meal or feeding toy to redirect the cat’s attention as well as to simulate prey capture.  Training the cat to learn a few simple commands such as come or sit using treats or catnip, also provides a positive form of social interaction as well as an important tool for further communication.

Object play, exploration and scratching

Cats may also have an interest in spending time exploring or playing on their own.  Offering shelled walnuts or ping pong balls to bat around, toys that hang from door knobs or play centers and food filled toys (discussed above) can all help to meet this need.  For scratching, make sure that the surface texture, location and structure of the scratching post appeal to the cat.  Also, provide places for climbing and perching, novel objects to explore such as cardboard boxes, and a comfortable bedding area.

Neutering

This is usually a necessity in males to reduce urine marking, intercat  aggression, and a desire to roam, and to eliminate the heat cycles of females. 

Prevention

Once appropriate outlets have been provided for each of the cat’s behavioural needs, preventive measures including confinement, closing off rooms, or the use of booby traps (e.g. SSScat motion detector spray, double sided tape, upside down carpet runners) might then be used to help prevent or discourage what is undesirable while encouraging what is desirable.  Punishment by the owner should be avoided as it is likely to be ineffective and will weaken the bond between cat and owner.

Gary Lansberg Bsc, DVM and Colleen Wilson, DVM

Set Your PVR's!

Our very own Dr.Wendy will be on television again this Sunday November 6th on the Rogers television show "Your Pet Your Vet". 

The show airs on Sunday at 5:00pm on Rogers Cable 10.

Another Award Nomination for Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic!

Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic Nominated for Two Summit Awards. Ontario Vet Clinic recognized for commitment to their patients, clients and community.

CALGARY, 17 October, 2011:

Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic was recently voted the “Clinic of the Year” by "Tech News" a Canada-wide journal published by the Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians. The competition judges on the basis of exemplary patient care, progressive medicine, excellent client communication, as well as contributions to the community. The staff at the Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic are keen ambassadors of the human-animal bond, and volunteer many hours through complimentary events.

The Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic “Junior Vet Program” was started in 2003 as a way of introducing young people, ages 10-14, to veterinary medicine. The program runs in the spring and fall over a six week period, with topics including diagnostics, x-rays, emergency medicine, first-aid for pets, surgery and exotic animal medicine. The program is free, and has graduated over 300 children. Each September, the clinic participates in the Clarington Municipality’s Safety Day to provide information to the public on zoonotic diseases such as rabies, leptospirosis and internal parasites. They also have run the “Celebrate Your Pet Day” for the last two years. The day is held on the clinic grounds and includes information booths, a clinic tour, exhibits from various exotic and pet associated businesses, games and a pet show for dogs, cats and exotics. It is a fun- filled educational day for pet lovers in the community. All proceeds from this event are donated to an animal related charity such as the Durham Humane Society Rebuilding Fund.

This on-going commitment has recently been recognized with nominations in the Animal Wellness and Community Collaboration categories for the Summit Awards, which will be presented at the 6^th Annual International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies (ISUAS) being held at Montebello, QC October 19-22 2011. According to ISUAS awards committee chair, Joe Mauro, the Summit Award for Animal Wellness, sponsored by Pet Secure Pet Insurance, recognizes a Nominee’s efforts to improve the overall levels of wellness for animals of pet families in a particular client base, community or industry sector.  Community Collaboration recognizes programs, codes of conduct, best practices, or legislative framework delivered across multiple sectors of the companion animal industry that improve levels of service and care provided to animals and people in a community.

The 2011 Summit Award winners will be determined by current ISUAS delegates and Alumnus in good standing, who will cast their ballots via a confidential computerized voting system. Award winners will be announced at a gala reception on Friday, October 21^th, 2011.

An initiative of PetLynx Corporation and its industry partners, the ISUAS is a gathering of executive-level thought leaders from all four sectors of the companion animal industry – animal control/legislation, animal health/wellness, animal welfare and animal services. The Summit is designed to enable participants to advance state-of-the-art urban animal strategies and implement these strategies in their communities.

The Summits for Urban Animal Strategies [Summit] attract Executive Thought Leaders from North America's Companion Animal Industry to develop strategies that will create and sustain healthy communities for pets and people. Executive level discussion, networking and world class speakers facilitate the executive working sessions.  The Annual Summit Awards are presented in conjunction with the Summit each October and bestow the recognition of industry peers upon individuals and organizations who are achieving success in each summit award category. The International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies will be held in Montebello, Quebec from 19 – 22 October 2011.

http://www.tsuas.com / Follow the conversation on twitter with #ISUAS, during the live tweeting event October 19-22

The Summit Awards are focused on the value delivery area of the companion animal value chain. While the sponsors and allies who support and sponsor the Summits for Urban Animal Strategies are value providers (green ring) or members of the national and regional support groups (blue ring) all of the Summit Awards are focused on the value delivery area of the value chain (pink ring).

The value delivery area of the companion animal value chain is further divided into four sub-sectors, which are used to determine the merit basis of some of the Summit Awards. These sub-sectors are:
Animal Control & Legislative Enforcement: includes bylaw enforcement agencies, licensing agencies and municipal agencies whose primary focus is to protect people from animals.
Animal Welfare: includes humane societies, SPCA's and rescue groups whose primary focus is to protect animals from people.
Animal Health & Wellness: includes veterinary clinics, emergency hospitals, behaviour, chiropractic and therapeutic services and other service providers that focus on the health and wellness of animals.
Animal Services: includes all those service providers and value deliverers such as retailers, breeders, kennels, groomers, media, daycare and other services which are required by people and the animals they care for.

Celebrate Your Pet Day this Saturday!!!!

RABIES. The threat is out there.

During the summer months when our families and pets spend more time outdoors, it’s important that we not forget the ever-present threat of rabies. It’s hard to believe that in this day and age, people in Canada can still die from this disease. And every year, over 1500 Canadians are treated for exposure to the rabies virus.

Rabies is a disease of the central nervous system that is most commonly transferred by saliva in a bite or lick from an infected animal. If exposure to the rabies virus goes untreated, it is virtually always fatal. The disease ravages the brain and spinal cord, leading to paralysis and coma. Unfortunately, symptoms in the early stages can often be mistaken for the flu, so people may not even realize they’ve been infected.

Over 3,200 animals have been tested and confirmed positive for rabies in Canada in the last decade. The most common carriers are skunks, bats, foxes and raccoons, whose habitats increasingly include urban environments. One chance encounter with an infected animal can result in the family pet bringing this life-threatening virus into your home. Federal Government statistics indicate that approximately 60 percent of human exposure to rabies is through contact with dogs or cats that have contracted the disease.¹

We have noticed a trend that many cats go for years without their annual physical examination and vaccines, including Rabies. You may not be aware that it is against provincial law not to vaccinate your pets against Rabies. Even indoor cats can have surprising exposures to Rabies through bats flying into the house or the cat accidentally getting out.

Protecting your pet is your best defense.

• The most effective way to safeguard you and your family is to have your pet vaccinated against rabies. Your veterinarian can recommend an appropriate program.
• If you or a family member are bitten by any suspect animal (wild or domestic), wash the wound thoroughly and seek immediate medical attention.
• If you come into contact with an animal that is behaving abnormally, keep a safe distance and contact your local health unit or animal control immediately.

You can learn more about rabies through visiting your veterinarian or through the following websites:

World Rabies Day:

http://worldrabiesday.org/

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources:http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Rabies/index.html

1 Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety; http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/rabies.html

Celebrate You Pet Day & Fundraiser

Celebrate Your Pet Day & Fundraiser

You Are Invited to our 3^rd annual

“Celebrate Your Pet Day” Fundraiser at

 

Saturday October 1st, 2011

1 pm – 4 pm

Where:  on our Clinic grounds,

 2826 Hwy. #2, at the east end of Bowmanville

Parking: kindly donated by the Maranatha Christian Reform Church

across the highway at 2805 Hwy. #2

- Featuring -

FREE PET SHOW   for dogs, cats and exotics from 2- 4 pm.  Councillors Willie Woo and Ron Hooper will be judging.   All pets must be up to date with their vaccines.  Please see our website for the many categories and an entry form.  We prefer you pre register so please fax, drop off your forms, or call us with your information.  You can also register the day of the show between 1 – 2:00 pm.

SPECIAL GUESTS  from the Bowmanville Zoo for an up close and personal experience!

MICKEY THE WONDER DOG (as seen on television) will be performing his amazing tricks!

EXOTIC ANIMALS on display from D & D Exotics, Jackie’s Critters and Nova’s Ark

DURHAM AVICULTURAL SOCIETY will be here with some of their avian friends

BBQ AND REFRESHMENTS

CLINIC TOURS are available with INFORMATION BOOTHS on pet health

There will be a quiz and an opportunity to win an amazing prize!

AMAZING SILENT AUCTION

SPARKY THE FIRE DOG will be here to greet our guests

AND MUCH MUCH MORE…

Visit us at www.bowmanvilleveterinaryclinic.com for a pet show entry form and for more information or call us at 905-623-4431

Jerky Treat Warning

A long-running mystery in the United States involving illness in dogs fed chicken jerky treats is receiving fresh attention in the wake of reports that canines in Canada are getting sick, as well. 

Kristin McEvoy, a spokeswoman for the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, said last week that the association in the past month received about a dozen reports of dogs that had eaten various brands of chicken jerky developing a kidney disorder mimicking the genetic disease Fanconi syndrome. 
In this disorder the dog shows signs of vomiting and lethargy, with the unusual finding of sugar in the urine even though they are not diabetic. Their bloodwork shows signs of liver and potassium problems. Usually supportive care and discontinuing the treats is enough to treat the problem.

The cases occurred across the country: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario, McEvoy said, and involved dogs small and large, from shih tzus to retrievers. 

The development of Fanconi-like syndrome in dogs associated with consumption of chicken jerky is new in Canada but has been ongoing in the United States since fall 2007. 

Between September 2007 and January 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received more than 150 complaints about chicken jerky. The products were sold under a variety of brands and variously referred to as treats, strips and tenders but had one thing in common: They were made in China. An FDA investigation failed to identify any contaminants. However, the agency issued cautionary statements about chicken jerky in 2007 and 2008.

In the United States, reports have continued intermittently. Laura Alvey, a spokeswoman in the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, said that in the past year, the agency received 67 reports — 10 in June alone. 

Owing to the unresolved mystery, many veterinarians are cautioning clients to avoid all jerky treats, and/or products made in China or elsewhere in Asia. 

 

Safe easily available treats to feed your dog in small amounts include MediCal treats, carrots, green beans, bananas, or apples, cooked or raw. Avoid onions, raisins and grapes since occasionally these can cause toxicity problems in dogs.  

 

Here at the Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic we have now made it a clinic policy not to sell any treats produced in China or elsewhere in Asia.

New Logo

At long last we have our new logo!
We think it's pretty fantastic; don't you agree?

Your Pet Your Vet

Our very own Dr. Wendy Korver will be appearing on "Your Pet Your Vet" this Sunday June 26th @ 5:00pm. Check it out on Rogers TV channel 10 and 63.

 http://www.rogerstv.com/page.aspx?lid=12&rid=2&sid=3250

 

Your Pet, Your Vet - Durham Region - Rogers TV

Ach-oo! It's Allergy Season!

As plants and flowers burst into life this spring, so too do the symptoms of hay fever. Humans are not the only ones who suffer. Blooming plants, grasses and flowers can trigger allergic reactions called atopy in dogs and cats. The allergy is similar to the hay fever that makes people suffer. Your pet reacts to inhaled particles such as mold, pollen and dust. Instead of sneezing, however, pets typically have itchy skin and will persistently scratch, lick and bite to get relief. Just as in people, pets inherit a predisposition to the allergy. If left untreated, dogs and cats with seasonal allergies will scratch or lick themselves constantly. That brings on problems that can last long after hay fever season ends. With all that scratching and licking dogs and cats often create sores that become secondary infections.
If your pet shows signs of atopy for less than 3 months out of the year your veterinarian may prescribe an oral medication, like cortisone, to control itching. In severe cases, your veterinarian may recommend a skin allergy test to identify allergens (substances that trigger the allergic reaction in your pet).
The veterinarian then gives injections of the allergens in minimal doses to build up immunities in your pet's system. Other treatments for allergies include immunotherapy, antihistamine steroids and medicated shampoos.
Allergies make life miserable. If you suspect your pet is suffering from seasonal allergies, visit your veterinarian.
It’s not just pollen and grasses that you need to protect your pet from; this time of year is when many owners start using fertilizer, weed killers and pesticides in their yard. While talking to your vet ask about chemicals and plants that may be hazardous. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to animals offers an online guide to pet-safe gardening at  www.aspca.org/pet-care-tips/pet-safe-gardening.aspx
This guide provides tips for safe use and storage of material and a list of toxic plants.

Vaccination Recommendations for Dogs

Every dogs immunization needs may vary according to the many different diseases prevalent in the environment and the relevance of those diseases to its individual wellness.  We are here to help you evaluate these risks and address your pet’s specific vaccination needs.

Vaccination is a valuable preventive measure against infectious disease, and can help avoid potential illness and hardship for both you and your dog.  Vaccination is a relatively inexpensive and safe way of preventing diseases that jeopardize the life your pet and may cost much more to treat.

Organisms that can cause disease are prevalent in most dog populations.  Fortunately, regular booster vaccination protects against outbreaks of disease caused by these organisms.  Your participation in the process of regular vaccination of your dog protects your pet and helps protect the greater population of dogs in your community.

Pet vaccination offers the additional benefit of reducing the threat of zoonotic illnesses in humans.  Rabies is the most important of these diseases.

You can rely on your veterinarian as the best source of accurate pet health information.  During your visit to your veterinarian your pet’s risk of disease will be assessed and an appropriate vaccination program will be recommended.  Regular vaccination visits and physical examination of your pet go hand-in-hand in ensuring continued good health for your “best friend”.

Nervous System Diseases

Rabies.  This is a fatal viral disease of all mammals including dogs, cats, livestock and humans.  Infected wildlife and unvaccinated animals are the source of this virus.  Rabies is a major health hazard so it is extremely important that your pet be vaccinated against it.  In many cases vaccination is required by municipal law and for travel outside Canada.

Distemper.  Vaccination against distemper virus is essential for all dogs.  Nearly every dog will be exposed to distemper virus in its lifetime, and when infection occurs it is often fatal.  Distemper virus attacks many body organs, such as the nervous system.  Symptoms include listlessness, fever, coughing, diarrhea, vomiting and discharge from the eyes and nose.  In its final stages it may cause convulsions and paralysis.  Death may occur one to three weeks after infection.

Contagious Respiratory Disease or Kennel Cough

Canine Cough, Tracheobronchitis.  Several types of bacteria and viruses are known to cause infection and inflammation of the lungs and respiratory passages of dogs.  Primary among these are adenovirus type 2, parainfluenza virus and Bordetella bronchiseptica.  The stress associated with boarding and increased exposure to these organisms commonly results in “kennel-cough” in susceptible dogs.

Gastrointestinal Diseases

Parvovirus.  This highly contagious and debilitating virus is spread through infected fecal material.  It is a very hardy virus and can survive outside its host’s body in the environment for extended periods.  In severe cases it can lead to shock and death.  Vaccination against parvovirus is extremely important for all dogs.

Tick-Borne Disease

Lyme Disease.  The bacteria which cause Lyme disease in dogs and humans is carried by species of ticks commonly found in some regions of Canada.  Lyme disease is very difficult to diagnose due to the incubation period and vague, arthritic, flu-like symptoms which may accompany it.  Lyme-causing bacteria damage many different organs as the disease progresses including the liver, heart, nervous system and kidneys. Infective ticks as small as the head of a pin may inhabit urban and rural lawns and gardens as well as fields and forests.  Cool, wet weather in the spring and fall increases your pet’s risk of contracting Lyme disease.

Infectious Disease of the Liver and Kidneys

Adenovirus.  This virus is spread between dogs by contact with urine, feces, and other secretions from infected animals.  The liver is the primary organ affected and death due to hepatitis is possible in severe cases.

Leptospirosis.  This is a serious bacterial disease of mammals including dogs and humans.  Many organs may be attacked by the leptospira bacteria; however, the liver and/or kidney are the most frequently affected.  Symptoms of the disease may include fever, vomiting, lethargy, abdominal pain and increased urination.  Diagnosis can be difficult and if left untreated, death may occur.  Leptospira bacteria are harboured in the bodies of wildlife, rodents and livestock and are expressed in the urine of infected animals.  Any surface water which becomes contaminated by this urine represents a source of infection to your pet.  Increased rainfall may elevate your pet’s risk of contracting leptospirosis as the organism favours wet, warm conditions.

There are many serovars of Leptospira bacteria; however, specific serovars may predominate in specific geographic regions.  Common serovars in Canada include Canicola, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Grippotyphosa and Pomona.  Leptospirosis is the world’s most common infectious disease shared by both animals and man.

All of the above diseases can be prevented by vaccination. Please give us a call if you have any questions regarding your per’s lifestyle, and we can decide together which vaccines are most appropriate for your pet.