July, 2008: No more pilling fights? One-Shot Antibiotic Makes Life Easier
Administering daily pills to your cat or dog is no fun at all. As a matter of fact, it is so difficult that many pet owners give up. Of course when treatment is cut short, illnesses may linger or worsen. And if the discontinued pill is an antibiotic, the threat is even broader. If you prematurely stop giving your pet an antibiotic, some bacteria will survive and develop a resistance to the medication. This is one cause of the much-publicized increase in virulent, antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
In June, Pfizer, a leading veterinary drug manufacturer, introduced Convenia, the only single-injection antibiotic available for pets. Used to treat certain types of skin infections in dogs and cats, Convenia has the potential to make life a lot easier for affected pets and their owners. One injection delivers a full, two-week course of antibiotics and eliminates the need for oral medication.
December, 2007: Feline Parasitic Control
As a profession we are trying to educate feline owners about the importance of parasite control, even in our indoor cats, in compliance with the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) recommendations. With such close contact between pets and people, it is important not only for the health of our cats but also the health of our entire family to protect our cats from parasites.Pleaseclick here for Russell Animal Hospital's client letter regarding common feline parasites and ways to prevent them.
August, 2007: Preventing Heat Stroke in Pets
Heat stroke in pets can be a serious problem during the summer. Click here for an important article in PDF format on identifying and preventing heat stroke in your pet.
July 24, 2007: Zoonotic Disease: Controlling Sand Monsters (from AAHA's Pets Matter Issue 2, Volume 4)
As weather warms and families head outdoors, remember that sandboxes, gardens and lawn areas may be home to potentially dangerous parasites. The tiny organisms are introduced to areas where pets go to the bathroom.
These parasites are zoonotic, which means they can be transmitted from pets to people and can penetrate the skin if someone walks barefoot through sand or soil that contains parasites. Protect yourself and your family from these parasites, which can cause serious health problems, such as blindness in children. Talk with your veterinary professional today to learn how.
An easy way to protect family members from parasites is to clean-up pet waste from outside areas, including your lawn. Before bringing a new pet home, schedule a thorough exam so that your veterinarian can recommend the right vaccines and provide a de-worming service.
The following parasites pose risks to pets and people: roundworm, hookworm, tapeworm, ringworm, whipworm, Toxoplasmosis, Giardia, and mange infections. To learn more, visit the Companion Animal Parasite Council online.
“Roundworm (Toxocara) infection is the sixth most common reported disease in people in the United States,” said Elizabeth S. Maimon, DVM, MPH, of Hills and Dales Veterinary Clinic, an AAHA-accredited practice in Dayton, Ohio.
“Hookworm infections represent a reported 4,000 or more cases annually. We know that hookworms and roundworms may live for years in soil,” she added, referring to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Trust the Experts
Maimon warns pet owners that the best medicine comes from veterinarians.
“The de-worming process can take at least three weeks or more to be effective,” she said. “Clients are mistaken when they believe over-the-counter de-worming medication is efficacious. Without a proper fecal [poop] evaluation, one is hard pressed to know what specific intestinal parasites the pet has and [prescribe] the right de-worming agent. Sadly, many intestinal parasite infections go undetected, because they are not visible to the naked eye.”
Jeff Bender, DVM, MS, DACVPM, suggests de-worming for puppies and kittens as early as three weeks of age. “Pets should get routine checks for internal and external parasites,” said Bender, a professor of veterinary public health at the University of Minnesota. “[Exams are] one of the most important public health measures,” Bender explained. “Early evaluation is essential.”
In addition to vaccinations and check-ups, Bender stressed the importance of limiting contact between pets and wildlife, including raccoons and coyotes, to prevent the spread of disease to domestic pets.
Prevention of infection is the best way to keep family members safe, Maimon said. “Raccoons can leave behind Baylisascarids, a dangerous member of the roundworm family that people can inhale, causing dermal [skin] infection and neurological disease.”
Tips to Prevent the Spread of Parasites between Pets and People
June 15, 2007: The Benefits of Pet Health Insurance
Physical exams, vaccinations, medications, flea and tick products, and lab tests are part of a pet’s life. Last year pet owners spent $18.2 billion in pet health care, and many are investigating pet insurance to help with those costs. Pet insurance doesn’t work quite the same as human insurance, as you can see any licensed veterinarian worldwide without co-pays. Pet insurance also tends to be much less expensive than human insurance.
Broad examples of the coverage and options now on the market:
Most plan claims are easy to file. After visiting a licensed veterinarian, owners pay for the visit at the time of the service, fill out a claim form with the diagnosis, and the veterinary staff signs the form. The owners mail the claim form to the insurance company with the original veterinary invoice. Reimbursements are than calculated and sent to the policyholder.
The following are a few companies offering pet insurance for you to compare services.
February 5, 2007: Skunk Antidote
If you are unfortunate enough to have a pet that has been sprayed by a skunk, you know how horrible the smell is and how long it lingers on your pet’s fur. Here is a solution we use to “de-skunk” pets that have been sprayed and we have found this to work quite well.
First of all, mix this in an open container; a one gallon bucket works well. Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide when mixed form a gas which will build-up in a closed container and can explode that container.
Mix and use immediately:
Wash your pet with this mixture and apply a tap water rinse and odor will instantly vanish. Good luck! Feel free to call us with any questions you may have regarding the health of your pet.
December 30, 2006: Cases of Xylitol Poisoning on the Rise in Dogs (from AAHA's biweekly e-newsletter, NEWStat)
The number of dogs presenting with xylitol poisoning have almost doubled in the last two years, according to veterinarians at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Poison Control Center. In 2004, a total of 70 cases were reported compared to 180 as of Dec. 12, 2006. The ASPCA issued a warning to pet owners about Xylitol, a sugar alcohol that is now found in an increasing number of products.
Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, DVM, PhD, DABVT, who works with the ASPCA, said that Xylitol is now found in toothpaste, chewable vitamins, and several sugar-free baked goods marketed to diabetics. Although it seems to be safe for adults to consume, Xylitol stimulates two and a half times the insulin release compared with glucose in dogs, Gwaltney-Brant said.
In addition to gum and certain candies that contain xylitol, some pain medications have small amounts of the artificial sweetener to encourage consumption, say professionals who are tapping the International Veterinary Academy for Pain Management listserv to air concerns.
Large doses of Xylitol can cause seizure and liver failure. ASPCA professionals say that if dogs are treated early with induced vomiting and intravenous dextrose the prognosis is good but that dogs that ingest 0.5 grams per kilogram of weight can develop liver failure and may not recover.
Gwaltney-Brant encourages pet owners to check all product labels for Xylitol and keep them away from pets. Small amounts (0.1 gram per kilogram of body
weight) of the artificial sweetener can cause blood sugar problems and in some cases kill dogs, which is why ASPCA professionals encourage veterinary professionals to warn their clients about this risk.
July 1, 2006: Change in Protocol for Heartworm Testing in Dogs
The Russell Animal Hospital has made a change in protocol for heartworm testing in dogs. For those dogs currently being tested for heartworm every other year we are recommending a return to yearly testing.
One reason for this change is that the American Heartworm Society, who had recommended alternate year testing for dogs who took certain heartworm preventives for 12 months of every year, recently changed their recommendations and now states “annual retesting is an integral part of ensuring that prophylaxis is achieved and maintained.” Another reason for changing to yearly heartworm testing is that some heartworm preventive manufacturers will only guarantee their product if testing for heartworm infection is done on a yearly basis.
A heartworm infection, which can be fatal, is a threat for all puppies and dogs living in the Northeast. Fortunately, heartworm disease is easily detected and, more importantly, easily preventable.
Puppies starting at eight weeks of age should be on a once month heartworm preventive year-round for the rest of their lives. Adult dogs that have never taken a heartworm preventive should be heartworm tested first and then take a heartworm preventive for the rest of their lives.
There are products that can be given on a once –a- month basis that only protect against heartworm infection. Our preference of treatment is to use a heartworm preventive which also is effective in the control of certain intestinal parasites as well. This is important to you and your pet as these intestinal parasites can cause zoonosis which means that they can cause a parasite infection in humans.
Heartworm infection testing is a quick blood test that is typically done at your pet’s annual physical exam. Puppies, after completing their puppy visit series, will have their first adult annual examination at approximately 15 months of age and will start their annual heartworm testing at this time.
At the Russell Animal Hospital we use the 3DX test which not only tests for heartworm disease but also tests your pet for Lyme disease and Ehrlichia. Lyme disease and Ehrlichia are tick-borne diseases that, like heartworm disease, are a threat to pets living in the Northeast. The 3DX test is a snap test that requires a few drops of blood and in most cases you will have the 3DX results by the end of your pet’s appointment.
For more information go to www.heartwormsociety.org
December 28, 2005: LCMV Virus in Pet Rodents (Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus)
As a member of the American Animal Hospital Association, we receive an electronic newsletter, the "NEWStat," and we wanted to share the attached article. As reported in the 12/28/05 edition of the "NEWStat," the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has asked veterinarians across the country to educate clients, especially pregnant women and immune-compromised people, about the associated risk of the Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus and owning pet or wild rodents.
Please click the links below for information about LCMV, one from NEWstat and the other from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), both in Adobe Acrobat format.
Check this page frequently for new health topics that will help you stay informed and keep your pets safe and healthy!
Telephone Hours
Mon. - Fri. 8am to 6pm
Sat. 8am to 4pm
Business Hours
Mon. - Fri. 7am to 6pm
Sat. 8am to 4pm
286 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301
Phone 603-224-2361
Fax 603-225-0556
russellanimalhosp@rahpa.com
