What is a Zoonotic Disease??

While many diseases will only affect one species of animals, there are some that will cross from one to another.  A zoonotic disease can be transmitted from animals to people.  As we share our home with pets, as well live in a community with many domesticated and non-domesticated animals, it is good to be aware of those diseases we could easily share. With good hygiene and preventive care, the risk of acquiring something from your pet is minimal, but remember that pets lacking care, feral or roaming pets, as well as wild animals will always pose a threat. 

There are numerous diseases that pets and people can share.  I will focus on the diseases we more commonly encounter in this area.  The first article will discuss parasites and the second will cover other infectious diseases. 

While reading about these parasites can be unnerving, with good hygiene and prevention measures, risk of disease can be kept to a minimum.  The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) website for pet owners has extensive information about many parasites. It is a great resource for pet owners.  The CAPC is the veterinary authority on parasitism.

Roundworms and Hookworms

If you have ever had a young puppy or kitten, your veterinarian probably prescribed a course of dewormer. This is because the life cycle of roundworms and hookworms is very difficult to break. The intestinal parasite exam (fecal sample) we recommend for every pet checks for these and other parasites.  Most heartworm preventatives also protect against intestinal parasites, therefore year around preventative is recommended.  

Roundworm—Pets with these parasites shed eggs when they defecate which will remain in the environment for years! Roundworm eggs can be accidentally eaten by people, most often children. A larvae from the roundworm egg can migrate into the liver, lung, brain, or eye tissues, causing significant and serious illness. 

The raccoon carries a particularly nasty roundworm with similar characteristics. While it can migrate in organs or the eye, it has an affinity for brain tissue. It can affect pets as well as people.

Hookworm—While this parasite’s eggs will not survive in the environment for a long period of time (they are killed by freezing temperatures), they will also affect humans.  The larvae “hatches” from the egg and will penetrate the skin of people that come in contact with it.  It migrates under the skin causing an irritating rash. 

Toxoplasmosis

The intended host of Toxoplasmosis is the cat.  Cats are infected with Toxoplasmosis when consuming small prey, eating raw infected meat, or consuming Toxoplama eggs.  An infected cat will shed eggs for approximately three weeks, but often show no signs of illness. The eggs must be in the environment for 24 hours before they can infect humans. Toxoplasmosis is acquired by humans (or other mammals) through either accidental ingestion of eggs shed by a cat or consumption of immature forms in undercooked meat.  Toxoplasmosis is of particular concern for expectant mothers as it can harm the unborn child.  Immunocompromised people are at higher risk of disease if exposed, as well.  This parasite also has an affinity for brain tissue.  Given the lifecycle of this parasite, an indoor kept cat on a commercial diet poses less threat to an expectant mother than the outdoor and feral cat population.  One may encounter their feces when doing yardwork.  Eggs can remain in the environment for months to years.  Raw meat, particularly meat raised where food animals and cats comingle, can also have encysted immature Toxoplasma organisms.

Human exposure can be limited by daily scooping of litter pans, keeping cats indoors, not feeding raw meat to your cat, proper handling and cooking of meat for yourself, and wearing gloves while gardening. 

With all parasites, picking up pet waste immediately, good hygiene, and preventative care for pets will limit likelihood of exposure.  For more information on parasites and your pet, visit the website for the Companion Animal Parasite Council (www.petsandparasites.org).  

article written by:

Laura Rau-Holl, DVM

Wolf Merrick Animal Hospital, Kenosha, WI

Happy Halloween! Let's Have a Fun and Safe Time!

In my home, Halloween marks the beginning of the high calorie festivities season.  Costume dreams and candy-fetching master plans are at the forefront of the minds of most children, including my own.  It is a fun day for people of all ages, but for our pets, it can be a far different experience.  With some simple precautions, you can make this a much easier day for your pet. 

• Even for an easy going pet, the visiting trick-or-treater’s can be stressful.  Children are noisy and fast moving already, but in a costume and well “sugared”, kids can be terrifying to some pets.  Pets should be kept indoors and may feel more secure in their own space away from the chaos.  If needed, your veterinarian has calming pheromone diffusers that help alleviate anxiety in cats or dogs. 
• The frequent opening and closing of the door offers opportunity for escape.  Be sure your pet is well identified with a collar and tags at minimum.  A microchip affords permanent identification.  Having your pet stay in their own secure space or at least on a leash will lessen the possibility of escape. 
• Burning candles in Jack-o-Lanterns pose a burn risk and fire hazard.  There are plenty of candle-like options available that do not have an active flame. 
• Candy will make your pet sick.  Most people are well aware of the dangers of a pet eating chocolate.  Fewer people know about xylitol, an artificial sweetener found in more and more “sugarless” products, especially gum.  In dogs, a xylitol overdose causes a dangerous drop of the blood sugar as well as liver failure.  Ingestion requires immediate treatment.  Toxicity issues aside, the sugar, wrappers, sticks or plastic parts of candy will cause significant gastrointestinal upset or even obstruction. 
• As cute as pet Halloween costumes are, be sure they are comfortable and fit appropriately.  The pet should be able to freely move and eliminate.  Be aware of small parts on any costume that could be removed and eaten.

So, plan the costumes and treats for your neighbors, friends, and family, but remember to keep your pets safe and secure on Halloween night! 

And - if you haven't already - make sure to enter our Halloween Pet Costume Contest on Facebook for your chance to WIN $100 in hospital credit! See below for information on how to enter. (Again, please make sure these costumes are comfortable and safe for you pet.) Good luck! 

article written by:

Dr. Laura Rau-Holl

Wolf Merrick Animal Hospital, Kenosha, WI

How to give your pet a safe, happy Howl - A - Ween

How to give your pet a safe, happy Howl – A - Ween

Halloween is coming with all its tricks and treats!  For humans this holiday is one of the most popular each year.  However, for pets it can be quite a different story.  Here are some tips to keep your pets happy and safe this Halloween so that your fun holiday doesn’t turn into a true nightmare.  Animal emergency clinics report a spike at Halloween in both hit by cars and poisoning.

Keep your pet safely confined at home

Before the trick or treating starts put your pet in a quiet room with a fun food stuffed toy where you know they will be safe from all the hustle and bustle.  This will prevent your pet from bolting out the door when you answer it for the trick or treaters.

It is best to confine your pet even if you are just having people over for a costume party. All the costumes and commotion can send a normal happy dog over the edge when he can’t recognize his friendly family.  He could be fearful and try to escape or if cornered may attempt to bite because of his anxiety.

Trick or treating is not fun for most pets and it is best to leave them at home.  A leash can easily be dropped or pulled from a hand and your fun night will turn into a search and rescue mission very quickly.

Keep the candy out of reach

Once your pets are freed from the safe room make sure all the candy is out of reach.  Many candies are toxic to your pets and can cause anything from tummy upset to seizures.  No one wants their pet in the hospital for eating something they shouldn’t have.

Always make sure to have the 24 hour ASPCA Poison Control Center Hotline number handy – 888 426 4435.  The hotline charges a fee but has a database of things pets eat and can give your veterinarian life saving advice to treat your pet quickly and effectively.  If you suspect your pet has eaten anything call your veterinarian and Poison control immediately.

Halloween Decorations

Always be careful when decorating your home – these items can be very tempting for curious pets.  Some of the most dangerous decorations are lit candles, rubber eyeballs, glow sticks, fake blood, fake cobwebs, potpourri and strung lights.  These things can cause intestinal foreign bodies, poisonings or entangle your pet and cause them to injure themselves in an escape attempt.

Costumes

Most pets are happiest costume free but if the temptation to dress them up is too much for your to take a few simple rules will help keep your pet happy in their new duds.

Make sure they have full use of both their ears, eyes and legs.  Anything overly restricting may scare your pet and cause them to try to run off. 

Remove any loose buttons or things they could chew / ingest.  A nervous pet will chew more and could swallow these items leading to possible surgery

If your pet shows signs of discomfort while wearing the costume (fidgeting, pawing, scratching, hiding) it is best to remove it and realize they are not having nearly as much fun with this as you are.

Following these tips will help to keep your pet safe and happy at home this Halloween!

article written by:

Dr. Lorene Rockwell 

Wolf Merrick Animal Hospital

10 Ways to Help an Arthritic Dog

When your dog is in pain, you want to help him feel better — fast. Luckily, there are quite a few things you can do to relieve the aches that are an everyday occurrence for dogs with arthritis:

1. Take your dog in for regular checkups so that your veterinarian can monitor your pet’s arthritis and make necessary adjustments to the treatment plan.
2. Getting or keeping your dog slim can help by decreasing the load on his joints. Your best bet: feeding your dog the right amount of high-quality food – we are always happy to help determine what your dog should weigh.
3. Controlled exercise is a must, but make sure you carefully monitor your dog while she plays, walks, or runs. Short amounts of more frequent exercise are better than long periods of exercise.  Low impact exercise such as walking or swimming is better too.
4. As much as possible, keep your dog warm and dry, since cold and damp conditions can aggravate arthritis. Consider investing in a padded dog bed and apply warm compresses to painful joints.
5. Ask us about rehab vets in the area – they can help alleviate pain using cold laser therapy and teach you muscle building exercises you can do at home with your dog.
6. Pain medication, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (commonly called NSAIDs), may help relieve pain. Talk to your veterinarian before giving your dog any medication.
7. The are many supplements that can be used to help improve joint mobility and support better joint functioning for dogs with arthritis. (Dasuquin, Adequan and Fish Oil to name a few)
8. Acupuncture isn’t just for people. This painless technique has shown some success in animals suffering from arthritis ask us for a recommendation for an acupuncturist in the area.
9. If your dog’s arthritis is advanced, surgery may be an option. Ask your veterinarian about the pros and cons of surgery and what you can expect.
10. Be sure to take steps to adjust your dogs environment at home. Some things that can help an arthritic dog include: providing soft supportive bedding for his achy joints, using ramps to help a dog get in and out of a car or up to a bed, and putting down carpeting and secure rugs to help him get traction as he walks.

article written by:

Dr. Lorene Rockwell
previously of Wolf Merrick Animal Hospital

How often should my pet be groomed?

I get asked this question a lot! I wish there was one quick answer that would work for everyone, but there is not.  It all depends on your specific pet and how much time you want to spend brushing and combing in between grooming appointments.  I am always happy to answer this question when I am asked.  It is as important to me, as it is to you, to make sure you and your pet gets the best care.  The simple answer is, for the majority of pets a grooming appointment every 6-8 weeks would be appropriate.  However, there are some exceptions to that.  Let me see if I can break it down for you a little.

Short Haired Dogs

Short, straight haired dogs can get away with coming in a little less often, as their hair doesn't tangle and matt up.  They can usually go anywhere from 8-16 weeks, as long as they stay out of the mud and you don't mind them shedding.

Long Haired Dogs

Long, straight haired dogs should be coming in every 8-10 weeks.  Since they have straight hair, they don't tangle as easily.  But if you wait too long, you may be surprised to find there is matting close to the surface which will most likely have to be clipped out. 

Curly Haired Dogs

Curly haired dogs must be groomed every 4-6 weeks.  A lot of people are drawn to the curly pups because they come with a promise of little to no shedding.  This is a deceiving  promise because, the fact is every dog sheds.  The reason curly dogs don't appear to shed is because the curls catch and hold the hair, while straight hairs fall out to the floor.  This is why it is so extremely important to have a regular grooming schedule to make sure that hair is brushed out and removed before it causes matting.  

I absolutely hate when I have to tell a client that their pet is matted and all their beautiful curls must be clipped off.  Part of being a good groomer is being able to educate and explain to the client why this happened and more importantly how to avoid it happening in the future.  I will always take the time to go over which tools work best, demonstrate how to brush and comb properly, and set up an specific grooming schedule geared towards your pet.  

Cats

For our feline friends, they tend to do most of the grooming work themselves. There are some who can't self-groom due to age or weight and need the help of a professional grooming.  

For short haired cats, matting is not usually an issue. Shedding can become overwhelming for some pet parents. A nice bath and Furminator treatment can do wonders to cut down on shedding. Cats can benefit from this every 4-6 months. 

Long haired cats usually require some combing to help them keep up on their long coat. I usually see long haired cats every 3 months or so to keep them matt free and maintained. Again, if you are unable to brush at home in between groomings a little more often is safer to prevent severe matting. 

At-Home Care

Another huge factor in how long you can go between grooming appointments is how much work you put in at home in between appointments.   You would never leave your hair salon and not brush your hair again until your next appointment, but most people don't think twice about that when it comes to their pets.  I never fault anyone for not having being able to brush their dog every day, or even every week.  But, you need to be honest with yourself, and honest with your groomer.  Life is crazy busy and hectic for most of us.  I'm sure brushing your pet is at the very bottom of your to-do list and that is OK!  It just means you have to get to the groomer sooner rather than later.

The tools you use at home make a big difference as well.  I am always happy to show you exactly which brushes and combs I use on your pet.  Most people use a slicker or pin brush at home.  This is a great tool for getting rid of undercoat and small tangles, but it does not do the job alone.  A comb is a necessity and something most people don't think about using.  The slicker/pin brush is going to fluff up the top layer of hair, especially on curly pets.  This gives the illusion that the hair is all brushed out and free of knots and tangles.  Unfortunately, without using a comb to double check after brushing, you may not see that close to the skin there are some small knots hiding beneath that fluffy top. The longer those knots stay in, the bigger they become and before you know it, you've got a matted pet.  

Scheduling

It is also very helpful to schedule your appointments in advance.  If you set up your next appointment while you are checking out, we are able to make sure you are back in a timely manner.  Especially as we near the holidays, groomers schedules are going to fill up fast!  If you wait until you notice your pet is really due to make an appointment you may find the groomer is booked, sometimes a week or two in advance.  And that time you have to wait may make the difference between being able to brush the pet out or having to dematt and clip the hair down short.  And, if you're anything like me, time flies by without realizing how many weeks it's been.  I know I had a huge list of things to do this summer and it seems like I blinked and here we are heading into fall.   

Dogs that go swimming, frequent the dog parks or go to doggy daycare are also in need of grooming more often because they get wet in dirty water and wrestle around with their friends.

There is also an option to come back to the groomer in between the need for a hair cut.  I have some clients that come as often as every other week, just for a bath and brush out.  For people who are unable to brush and comb at home for whatever reason, this is a great choice to ensure the pets hair can stay clean and tangle free.   

For specific questions regarding your pet, please feel free to call, email, or set up an appointment with me anytime.

article written by:
Jessica Karlos, Professional Groomer
Companion Animal Hospitals Vernon Hills and Mount Prospect

  

Does my dog have arthritis?

With the changing weather, you may soon start to notice that your older dog seems a little “stiff” in the joints.  Arthritis is a progressive degeneration of the joints often seen in older dogs. It may start with subtle signs, such as your dog is no longer willing to jump up on the furniture or into the car, or maybe they are hesitant to use the stairs. You may also notice your pet seems very stiff when they first wake up, but then seems to loosen up as the day progresses. Cold or wet weather can make these changes more apparent.

If any of the above sounds like your pet, a veterinarian can help you determine if it is arthritis that’s bothering your pet. While we can’t undo your pet’s arthritis, the great news is that there are a number of things we can do to slow it down and keep your pup comfortable! The following is just some of the ways we can work to keep your pet comfortable in the face of arthritis:

1.  The biggest thing is weight loss! Excess weight puts excess strain on your pet’s joints. Ask your veterinarian about your pet’s ideal weight and how many calories per day your pet should be consuming to help reach that weight.
2. Dietary supplements, such as fish oil and glucosamine/chondroitin, can help with decreasing inflammation in joints. These can be obtained through your veterinarian (remember that human over the counter products were designed for people, not cats and dogs, so dose adjustment is needed!). You may also find these ingredients in some senior diets.
3. Anti-inflammatories, such a as Rimadyl or Deramaxx, are great methods of controlling arthritis. These medications help to lessen the inflammatory processes associated with arthritis. These medications can be used short or long term. With long term use, your veterinarian will likely recommend periodic blood work to check internal organ function.
4. Injections such as Pentosan or polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (PSGAGs) can be given to your pet weekly initially and then every month or so as determined by your veterinarian. These injections have anti-inflammatory properties and also help to stimulate production of hyaluronic acid (which helps to lubricate your pet’s joints).
5. Pain medication may also be incorporated into treatment protocols for pets who are not responding well enough to the above.

If you are concerned your pet is suffering from arthritis, reach out to your veterinarian. We want your pets to be happy and comfortable as they age!

article written by:

Dr. Erin Walsh

Companion Animal Hospital, Mount Prospect, IL