Why is it so hard to get an appointment with your vet right now?

Why is it so hard to get an appointment with your vet right now?

Fact or Fiction

FACT OR FICTION

 A Dry Nose Means That My Dog/Cat is Sick. False!

It is normal for dogs and cats to have a dry nose. In fact, their nose can vary from wet to dry depending on their activity level

and environmental surroundings. Some breeds may have a drier nose than others but it does not necessarily mean they are sick.

 Dogs See Color. True!

Dogs actually do see in color however their range of color variation compared to humans is much less. Research suggests their vision  is similar to a person who is red

green color blind. While their color range may be more limited compared to their human counterparts, dogs do have some

advantages as well. They have a broader range of peripheral (side to side) vision since their eyes are further off to the side compared to people. Another advantage Fluffy has is their ability to see better in dim light and can detect smaller or more subtle movements with increased accuracy compared to their human parents.

 A Wagging Dog = A Happy Dog. False!

For the most part, when a dog wags his or her tail they are happy. However,  sometimes a wagging tail can also mean they are over stimulated, anxious, fearful, frustrated, or defensive over a situation. Therefore, we have to examine the rest of Fluffy’s body language to determine their mood. As a general rule of thumb,  the position of the tail can help give us an insight into how they are feeling. Typically, a tail that is of a middle height position suggests Fluffy is relaxed, attentive, and happy. If the tail is more vertical, this suggests Fluffy is over confident, over stimulated, or possibly feels threatened. If the tail tends to be down or tucked, this is a sign of submission, fear, anxiety, or defensive.

A Purring Cat = A Happy Cat. False!

While cats due purr when they are happy and content, they also purr for other reasons as well. Purring can also be due to a self soothing behavior if they are anxious, scared, in pain, or feeling ill. Cats will also tend to purr when nursing their young.

written by:

Aisha Kung, DVM

Companion Animal Hospital, Oak Park

New Carside/Curbside Veterinary Service

In Response to COVID-19: Companion Animal Hospitals offer new carside/curbside veterinary service

We know that pets need love and care no matter what is going on in the world - we also know that their human’s health plays a vital role in their overall well-being. In an effort to help keep our human clients healthy, we will be implementing a carside/curbside veterinary service to reduce the chances of spreading of COVID-19, while still being able to provide care for your furry companions during this stressful time. 

Upon arriving at our hospital, please call us from outside and we will provide you with further instructions. If you have an appointment we will come outside to you, bring your pet into the hospital, conduct the appointment, and then return them to you with a full report after the services are completed. We can collect carside/curbside payment at that time, or can process payment over the phone. All food and prescription refills will be brought directly out to you to limit the number of people entering the hospital. If you are feeling ill, please reschedule your appointment until symptoms have passed. 

These are uncertain times for all of us, and we please ask for your patience and understanding as new information is continuously reported and new protocols are established. 

As always, it is our priority to keep your pet happy and healthy – now, we want to make sure their humans stay the same.

If you have any questions, please give your Companion Animal Hospital a call and we are happy to help answer them and address any concerns you may have. 

Written By: Morgan Rhyner, Marketing Manager

Sources: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/covid-19?utm_source=email-mem&utm_medium=coronovirus200311&utm_campaign=coronovirus&utm_term=link&utm_content=covid-19-webpage

CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Dental Care: The Root of Your Pet's Health

Dental Care: The Root of Your Pet's Health

            Who doesn’t love getting kisses from their better half?  No I don’t mean your partner, your dog of course!  It is all fun games until your dog has a mouth that could clear out a room while you are watching the Packers-Bears game with friends.  But again, who wants Bear fans in their home?! (Yes I’m a Packer fan).

How Common is Dental Disease?

            According to the American Veterinary Dental College, periodontal disease is the MOST COMMON clinical condition occurring in adult dogs and cats, and worse yet it is ENTIRELY preventable.  How common you might wonder?  Several studies have shown that in dogs by age 2 or 3, about 85-90% of them have some form of periodontal disease.  This number mirrors what I see in my daily practice.  Other than bad breath, there are unfortunately very few signs of periodontal disease.  As a result, a dental treatment comes often too late for many of these patients and leads to many teeth needing to be removed.

What can you do to prevent dental disease in your pet?

            The good news though, is that a lot of the disease that I see can be prevented with at home care.  This includes brushing of the teeth, chewing on bones, dental prescription diets, and dental chew products.  Before choosing a dental product, talk to your veterinarian of where to find products that are scientifically proven to help reduce dental disease.  He or She will likely talk about the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC.org).  This council will validate manufacturer’s claims of decreasing dental disease.  You can go to this council’s website and look for products that you

can try.  My favorite products to use are “dental diets”.  I look at this as us brushing our teeth once or twice a day depending on how often you feed your dog.  It is easy and dogs love these products.

            

The goal of at home care is the same goal with your own dental health; a beautiful pain-free, functional mouth.  Dental cleanings will still be recommended by your veterinarian, just like we see our dentists regularly.  By doing more frequent cleaning treatments, anesthesia time will be less, there will be less teeth extracted over the course of the life of the dog, and there will be less risk of systemic disease as a result of chronic dental disease.

In closing, I want your dogs to be among your friends watching the game due to the fact that he/she has a healthy mouth.  The more Packers fans the better during a Packers-Bears game!  Please look at the following websites for more information and talk to your veterinarian as well regarding dental cleaning treatments.  

By: 

Nick Juleen, DVM
Companion Animal Hospital Kenosha

Websites:  The American Veterinary Dental College, www.avdc.org and The Veterinary Oral Health Council, www.vohc.org. 

Fleas and Ticks in the Winter: Frozen or Flourishing?

Fleas and Ticks in the Winter: Frozen or Flourishing?

After the first frost of the season, it may be tempting to skip Fluffy’s dose of flea and tick prevention, but contrary to popular belief, fleas and ticks can still be a threat in the winter.

Although near-freezing temperatures will kill adult fleas living outdoors, not all fleas will die in the winter. Fleas can survive outdoors in temperatures as low as 33 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 5 days, long enough to latch onto your dog, enter your home, and find a warm place to hide out for the winter. Without a proper dose of flea and tick prevention, that flea can go on to continue its life cycle in your home.

In fact, one single adult female can lay as many as 50 eggs per day. As your dog shakes, scratches, or lies down throughout your home or yard, those eggs disperse and hatch into larvae that can hide in your furniture before finally maturing to adults and leaving your dog (or even you) scratching uncontrollably.

Unlike fleas, however, ticks can actually survive freezing temperatures. Most ticks will find shelter in leaf litter and lie dormant during the winter months. However, certain species of ticks such as the deer tick (the tick that most commonly transmits Lyme disease) are actually at their most active stage from October to February. Skipping flea and tick prevention for the winter gives those ticks opportunity to transmit potentially fatal diseases to both you and your pet.

So while it may be tempting to forego Fluffy’s flea and tick prevention this winter, it is in your pet’s best interest to continue flea and tick prevention year around and with many different flea and tick preventatives on the market, it is easier than ever.

By Megan Murray, D.V.M.

Companion Animal Hospital of Norridge

What to Expect When You’re Expecting…a Fur Baby!

What to Expect When You’re Expecting…a Fur Baby!

               The excitement of bringing home a new puppy is unrivaled to most, but there can be a lot of uncertainty and questions for new pet parents or if it has been awhile since a new four legged fur baby has been in your home!

               Puppies and kittens make frequent veterinary trips in the first few months of their life to ensure lifelong health. Booster shots, food nutrition, learning about safety precautions and training are all things that new pet owners should understand, and talking to your veterinarian is the best place to start.

               It can be scary for your new fur baby their first few nights at home, and in order to make them feel safe it is important to give them their own space in a quiet, warm area to relax. It is also important to get them in for their first exam within the first week of adoption. We will break down the different core vaccines for both puppies and kittens as well as other simple treatments to guarantee pet health.

Puppies:

• Bordetella
•  Bordetella bronchiseptica is the most common bacterial agent responsible for kennel cough in dogs.  This vaccine is required for boarding but is highly recommended for all dogs.  This vaccine is given one time after 8 weeks of age and some clinics will booster it 3 weeks later.
• Distemper (DHPP)
• This vaccine integrates multiple defenses against distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and parainfluenza. Vaccine is a series of 3 boosters, each given 3-4 weeks apart.
• Leptospirosis
• Lepto is bacteria that is spread through stagnant water where small rodents, wildlife will live and urinate. This can be lethal to dogs and should be given especially when living in cities or by  forestry preserves. This vaccine is a series of 2 boosters, given 3-4 weeks apart.
• Rabies
• This vaccine is mandated by law! This is a one-time vaccine that is given is on or after your pet is 16 weeks old and is good for 1 year.
• Influenza
• Yes, dogs can get the flu like humans. Although this is not considered a “core” vaccine it is better to be safe than sorry if your pets daycare, boarding facility, groomer (etc) were to have a flu outbreak. Vaccine is a series of 2 boosters, given 3-4 weeks apart.
• Lyme
• The prevalence of ticks in the United States is increasing at an alarming rate. In addition to flea/tick preventatives, this vaccine is an extra defense mechanism. And yes, it should be given even if you live in a city. Ticks can travel from wooded areas to alley ways on the bodies of little critters! Vaccine is a series of 2 boosters, given 3-4 weeks apart.
• Fecal Test
• This is done once a year to check if your puppy has any intestinal parasites. But before you get nervous, they are very common and easily treated! It is best to get this done once a year, or if you notice your pet having loose stool.
• Heartworm Test
• This is a simple blood test done to check if your puppy has been exposed to heartworm. If positive, you and your vet will talk about treatments for your pet. If negative, ask your vet about heartworm preventatives that might fit your pet and lifestyle the best.

 Kittens:

• FVRCP
• This vaccine protects against the 5 most common cat viruses that they can be exposed to. Vaccine is boostered 3 times, each given 3-4 weeks apart.
• FELV
• Protects against feline leukemia. Vaccine is boostered 2 times, 3-4 weeks apart.
• FELV/FIV Test
• This is a simple blood test that will be run on your kittens first vet visit to see if they are negative for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus.  
• Fecal Test
• This is done once a year to check if your kitten has any intestinal parasites. But before you get nervous, they are very common and easily treated.

That was a lot of information, but once these boosters are done your pet should only have to come in for their annual exam and annual vaccines! It is important to educate yourself on what your pet needs to stay healthy and keep track of when the boosters for each vaccine are due. In addition to these core vaccines, there are some preventatives for fleas and ticks as well as heartworm so that your pet is not at risk of contracting heartworm or lyme disease from infected mosquitos or a flea wrecking havoc on your pet’s skin.

It may seem like a lot for a tiny four legged animal, but if you start out your pet’s health journey on the right foot, you will have many happy years with your new pet!

Written By: Dr. Megan Moser, Companion Animal Hospital Wicker Park

Help your pup conquer seasonal allergies with Cytopoint!

Help your pup conquer seasonal allergies with Cytopoint!

With warm weather right around the corner, allergies are starting to act up. Just like humans, many dogs are affected by seasonal allergies.  Allergies in dogs show up as skin problems, typically signaled by licking, biting, scratching, etc.  The discomfort from the allergy itself can be doubled when secondary (bacterial and/or yeast) infections on the skin occur. Though it depends on what your dog is allergic to, allergies are commonly seen seasonally in the spring, summer, and fall. 

There are many medication options for seasonal allergies.  All of them have their pros and cons.  Some common medications work well but have annoying side effects.  Others are very safe, but are only minimally effective.  Recently, a new injection known as Cytopoint was added to your veterinarian’s arsenal to combat the itch associated with your pet’s allergy.

What is Cytopoint? 

Cytopoint is an injection works by decreasing the itch associated with allergies.  It does this by blocking IL-31, a cytokine that triggers the process of sending itch signals to the brain.  Cytokines are a protein that signals other cells by binding to receptors on those cells.  Basically, the cytopoint blocks the itch from being felt by the brain and thus stops the licking, biting, scratching, and discomfort associated with allergies.

When given, Cytopoint begins relieving itching within one day and injections last for 4-8 weeks.  They can be repeated as needed.  Cytopoint is very safe for dogs of all ages, even those with other diseases, and can be used with many other common medications.  It has little to no side effects and has minimal effects on the immune system as a whole.

If your dog has signs that may be consistent with seasonal allergies, please don’t hesitate to contact us to see if Cytopoint might be a good fit for you!

Written by: Derek Williamson, DVM

Companion Animal Hospital Vernon Hills

Crawford Animal Hospital

Heartworm - it's not just a summer threat!

Why is it so important to keep your pets on heartworm preventative year round? Check out this video to learn just what heartworm is and the importance of year round prevention!

Rabies Vaccine - Why does my pet need that?

Rabies Vaccine - Why does my pet need that?

These days, we rarely hear about a domestic animal with rabies virus, and when a human gets rabies, it makes the evening news!  However unseen, rabies virus is endemic to the continental United States, which results in many of our wildlife animal friends still affected.  

How common is rabies? 

In the latest epidemiologic report from 2010, the CDC identified 6,153 cases of rabies in animals and 2 human cases.  Of those, 92% of cases were in wild, undomesticated animals.  Domestic species accounted for 8% of all rabid animals reported in the United States in 2010. In 2010, the number of reported rabid domestic animals decreased compared to 2009 among all domestic species except cats.  The principal hosts today are wild carnivores and bats. As you can see, rabies virus is still among us!  Your pet needs the rabies vaccination to prevent possible exposure.  There is no treatment for dogs or cats, and infection with rabies virus for pets is 100% fatal.  And the bottom line is, rabies vaccination is the law.

The law comes into effect if your pet is reported to medical workers or the police for scratching or biting a person, or in some cases, another animal.  If your animal is current on their rabies vaccination, you will get a ticket for the bite/scratch and you are required to home-quarantine your pet for 10 days.  If your pet is not current of their rabies vaccination, you will get a ticket for the bite/scratch and you are required to impound-quarantine your pet at a shelter or veterinary clinic for 10 days.

Rabies vaccines are very safe.  Less that 0.05% of animals have a reaction to the rabies vaccine.  Also, rabies vaccines are 100% effective in preventing rabies infection!

By: Amanda Schnitker, DVM

Shedding Problems?

Shedding Problems?

When to worry about your pet's excessive shedding

Very frequently, pet owners bring their pets to the hospital to assess their pet’s excessive shedding; and frequently, these pets exhibit nothing more than what would be considered normal shedding in household pets.   When a cat or dog seems to suddenly shed its coat in excess, it can raise concerns about underlying disease and concern about fur collecting all over the floors and furniture in the household.

Shedding cycles and fur growth are affected by many factors including environmental temperature, day length period, hormones, genetics, nutrition, general health and numerous other factors.   These various factors will cause different pets to shed different amounts at different times.   Often, I have seen pets that have had routine amounts of shedding for years suddenly shed unprecedented amounts of fur, causing concern for the pet owner.   Even this sudden, unusual amounts of shedding is often not of concern.

If your pet seems to be excessively shedding and you notice bald patches, or the fur coat is thinning to the point where the actual skin is visible where normally skin would not be visible, then the fur loss may be an indication of an underlying health issue.  If your pet is healthy, happy, shows no signs of illness or itchiness and seems to be shedding a lot, as long as there are no signs of gross balding or visible thinning of the fur, your pet is probably experiencing an atypical - but otherwise normal - shed.

article written by:

Scott Petereit, DVM

Companion Animal Hospital Partners, LLC