Cat Carrier’s make a big difference in how well visits to the veterinarian go.  For Many reasons we want your cat to have a good experience when they come here. First, so they don’t bite us! Second, they are much easier to work with if they’re more relaxed. Third, we like cats! – they are each distinct and wonderful individuals, we care about them and don’t like making them feel insecure or scared.  So .  .  .      Here are some tips :

1. Get a carrier like this that has easy releases to open the top.

This type of carrier is preferred for numerous reasons; the top can be removed to allow easy entry for the cat, once in the exam room we can remove the top allowing the cat to be examined yet still feel reasonably cozy and safe.

2. Make the carrier a familiar place at home by leaving it in a room where your cat spends a lot of time. Allow them to get comfortable with it and enjoy it. This way they’ll  associate it with things other than just trips to the vet office.  Be patient, it may take weeks to get them used to it.

3. Place familiar, soft bedding inside the carrier. Cozy bedding is comforting and bedding/ clothing with your scent can make cats feel more secure.

4. Place treats, catnip or toys inside the carrier to encourage the cat to enter at home.

West Coast Dog and Cat Rescue took in 5 cats from a hoarding situation. We got to know (and care for) 4 of them; Curacoa Meow, Kitty St. Kitts, Oahu 2, and Maui. They are all sweet. The two that are pictured are Curacao Meow and Kitty St. Kitts (coolest names ever).

This is Whitney. She is a Lane County Animal Shelter Cat. Whitney just had surgery to remove cancer from her ear tips. White cats are prone to sunburn and subsequent skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma). Fortunately, most case respond well to having the cancerous area removed. She is sweet and should heal quickly, THEN, she’ll be looking for a new home!

Meet Peaches 2. This is kind of a funny picture, don’t be fooled she’s not hissing – she was very well behaved. Just caught her in a funny pose. She is from West Coast Dog and Cat Rescue group. We provided basic service care for her, getting her ready to be adopted. She is looking for a home.

Meet So Shai. She is a shy yet very sweet dog being cared for by Luv-A-Bull / Luv-A-Little rescue group. She stayed with us for a day and had a combined procedure in which we spayed her and performed some corrective work on her teeth (extracted baby teeth that had never fallen out and were causing periodontal disease around the canine teeth). If she isn’t already spoken for, she’ll be looking for a home too.

These are some kittens in foster care with West Coast Dog and Cat rescue. They are young and very sweet (barely hold still for a picture). They are healthy and in a couple months they’ll be looking for a good home.

This is Peabody. He is a very friendly cat that was at Lane County Animal Service and is now in the care of West Coast Dog and Cat Rescue group. He was visiting us to evaluate his eye condition = Entropion (lower eyelids roll in and the hair rubs the eye). He is a good candidate for corrective surgery and will likely have it done soon.

Meet Cookie. A young poodle from our friends at the rescue group Luv-A-Bull / Luv-A-Little that needed some dental work. Very sweet dog that after a little visit here has all healthy teeth (extracted a few incisors and cleaned all the rest).

This is Hugo. He’s a rescue kitty from West Coast Dog and Cat Rescue. He has a scarred right eye which is stable. He has a scarred right ear too, it was so damaged that the ear canal was completely occluded and predisposed to constant ear infections. We did a surgery called a Lateral Ear Wall Resection to open up the ear canal and relieve the underlying predisposition to ear infections. He’s been a great patient and we look forward to seeing how he looks as it heals (it looks a bit rough right now – so our picture is of his “good side”!). Hopefully we’ll get to take a follow up picture in a couple weeks.

Meet Truman. He is a rescue kitty from West Coast Dog and Cat Rescue. We provided some basic veterinary care for him today. He has a healing abscess on his right cheek, he was recently neutered, and is FIV positive. He was a fighter, now he’s a “lover” (and needs a home).

Meet Luna. She visited us today for some basic veterinary care. She is from the rescue group = West Coast Dog and Cat Rescue. She needs a home and is very sweet. She is deaf and has some special needs

Q Street Animal Hospital Newsletter May 2012

Happy spring to everyone,

This past February and March we offered a special on Dentals 10% off! (which included the dental, extractions, dental radiographs, antibiotics, and pain medication if needed). We had a great response and did 60 + dentals and normally would do maybe 20 in that same time frame. We feel like we were able to offer a worthwhile value and numerous people were able to take advantage of the opportunity.

The down side was that we’ve been realizing that there were even more people that wanted to do it, but didn’t know about it. So, we decided to offer the same deal for May! And to advertise it better, with a newsletter, facebook updating, and web-page notification (qstreetanimalhospital.com). Please visit our web page and in the featured articles section there is an article on dentals which explains why dentals are so important, it also explains the anesthesia, and the dental procedure.

Other noteworthy items from the writer and editor here at Q Street Animal Hospital:

For Dog Owners

• Flea season is upon us. Quality flea products                                                                   can be a tremendous help, but there are so many products. Some products combine features such as heartworm  prevention, tic control, and ear mite elimination. As a part of our exams we can help tailor the right product to your pets needs.

• Skin and ear allergies with secondary infections are everyday conditions that we see. If your pet’s ears are smelly and/ or if their skin is itchy with rashes = bring them in. Skin and ear conditions can be challenging, but in the vast majority of cases we can achieve dramatic improvement.

For Cat Owners         

• Fleas again are a big issue. Most cats respond well to consistent monthly flea product use. Although, some products have not been working as well as they used to – so be sure to discuss it with us in your next exam.

• Yearly exams to check your cat’s health helps us to know your cat better and to catch problems early. Updating vaccines can be very important for preventing contagious diseases. Vaccine protocols vary depending on your cat’s exposure level and figuring out which vaccines are appropriate for your pet is best determined within an exam.

• Outdoor cats roam and get into more trouble in the warmer months. We see a lot of cats that get nasty bite wound abscesses from late night fights.  Ideally try to bring them inside at night, this will reduce the likelihood of bite wounds substantially. Some bite wounds seal over and fester for days, the abscess meanwhile causes surrounding tissue to necrose and eventually slough. Whenever possible, bring them in for an exam if you know they got into a fight. We can usually find the wounds and treat them before they go through any “festering” process.

Enough talk about gross stuff. Again, please check out our Website (qstreetanimalhospital.com) There are not only featured articles on Dentals, but on Skin and Ear disease as well. There is also a medical library that is great for looking up specific disease conditions. Plus there are numerous links. For FUN, check us out on facebook!

Q Street Animal Hospital

Good 'ol one eyed Reuben

Newsletter   Feb. 2012

Happy 2012 to everyone. Hopefully the New Year is treating you and your pets well! Getting to know you, our clients, is an ongoing privilege and caring for your pets is our passion. We look forward to seeing you and your pets in 2012.

We have a few new things to share: Laura, one of our certified veterinary technicians who has been with us for 3 years, has moved on. She has taken a management job with the City of Eugene Spay and Neuter Clinic. We wish her well and thank her for all of her hard work. At the same time we welcome Demi, a certified veterinary technician with many years of experience. She is settling in and doing a great job. Our last bit of news is that we are now seeing Rabbits, Rats, Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, and Gerbils!

Rescue Kittens

Community Services For the past 7 years the doctors and medical team have strived to make improvements and be progressive. We’ve made many changes to the practice to better serve our clients. Many of you don’t know that we are also committed and involved in many community services.

• Greenhill Humane Society – We help out as needed, providing radiographs and some medical care. Dr. Swanson has served on the board of directors and helped set up their current surgery suite.
• Lane County Animal Services – We’ve gotten to know many of our fellow colleagues there. We intermittently provide medical and surgical care to patients.
• WAG (Willamette Animal Guild) – Our practice manager serves on the board of directors, doing her part to diminish dog and cat over-population issues.
• West Coast Dog and Cat Rescue – We’ve had a close relation ship over the past 2 years, providing medical and surgical treatments to over 100 patients.

• Luv-a-Bull – We’ve enjoyed getting to know and develop a relationship more recently with them. We’ve treated over 30 patients within the last year.

• Greenhill Humane Society TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release) program – We donate time spaying and neutering feral cats.
• ProBono – We donated products and provide services for them as well.

Grade 3 dental disease

If you haven’t had a chance, please visit our website at QStreetAnimalHoospital.com. (If you’re reading this = then you’re already here!).  Within the web site there are educational articles, staff information, and a guided photo tour of the clinic. Also, visit our facebook page (Q Street Animal Hospital) and see some fun photos.

A food allergy is a reaction to food that involves the body’s immune system. It is usually always a protein particle in the food that is responsible for reactions. Your dog may itch, lick, and chew paws, flank, groin, neck, and ears. The itching can be during all seasons. A small percentage of food allergy dogs may only have chronic otitis. The dog may also have some gastrointestinal signs such as chronic vomiting, diarrhea, belching, and frequent bowel movements. Food allergy dogs often have both varying degrees of skin signs and gastrointestinal problems that persist.

Many people erroneously assume itching due to food allergy requires a recent diet change of some sort. In fact, the opposite is true. Food allergy requires time to develop; most animals have been eating the offending food for years with no trouble.

There are other sources of allergies, so check with your veterinarian before pursuing food allergy diagnosis and treatment on your own.

How to Perform a Food Trial
The Basic Principle To determine whether or not a food allergy or intolerance is causing the skin problem, a hypoallergenic diet is fed for a set period of time. If the pet recovers, the original diet is fed for up to two weeks to see if itching resumes. If we see recovery with the test diet and itch with the original diet, then food allergy is diagnosed and the pet is returned to either the test diet or another appropriate commercial food indefinitely.

What Is a Good Hypoallergenic Diet? The traditional method is the use of a novel protein and carbohydrate source; that is, something the pet has never eaten before. In the past, lamb has been the protein source of choice as American pet food companies had traditionally failed to produce lamb-based pet foods. Unfortunately, recent production of lamb and rice-based foods has removed lamb from the acceptable hypoallergenic diet list.

Fortunately, many pet food companies have discerned the need for diets using unusual protein and carbohydrate sources with a minimum of additives. Foods can be obtained based on venison and potato, fish and potato, egg and rice, duck and pea, and even kangaroo. It is important that during the diet trial no unnecessary medications be given. No edible chew toys (such as rawhides or bones) should be given. Treats must be based on the same food sources as the test diet. (Beware of rice cakes, though, as wheat is commonly used as a filler.)

Above are some of the common hypoallergenic canine diets that we use.

Below is a feline hypoallergenic diet that we frequently use.

The Hydrolyzed Protein Method More recently a new approach has been introduced using therapeutic diets made from hydrolyzed proteins. This means that a conventional protein source is used but the protein is broken down into molecules too small to excite the immune system.  Below are the hydrolyzed diets that we carry.

For original/related article see www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=652

Meet Jasper, he has an ear infection.

What you will see: Symptoms of the disorder will be visually apparent; your dog will begin to shake its head, and then scratch at its ears as the infection becomes uncomfortable for him/ her.  When examining the ears, the tissues around the outside ear will appear swollen and red.  A smelly discharge that may be yellow or black in color could be evident.

In the illustrations you can see that the dog’s ear canal has a vertical and a horizontal component. This conformation predisposes dogs to ear infections as debris must work its way upward rather than straight out. Bacteria and Yeast are normal inhabitants of the ear canal, but under certain circumstances they will proliferate resulting in a full blown ear infection. In some cases allergies, grass awns, tumors, or ear mites can be the underlying cause that initiates an infection.

Diagnosistic Steps: 1) Otoscopic examination of the ear canal including the ear drum.     2) Ear Cytology =Taking a swab of the ear debris, making a smear on a microscope slide, using a special stain, and examining the slide on the microscope.  3) Culture and sensitivity of ear debris to see specifically which bacteria grows and what antibiotic will work on it.

How to Treat:

1. Thorough cleansing of the ear canal. (Fill canal, massage thoroughly,           wipe clean.)
   
2. Application of medication into the ear canal.
3. Correction of the underlying cause if possible.
4. Have scheduled rechecks until the ear is cleared.

Examples of  Ear Cleaning – it’s OK to overfill the canal, then massage the base of the ear thoroughly to break up debris that is deep in the canal, and wipe clean –  cotton balls work well and are gentle.

This is an example showing how to apply the ear medication. We often say to apply 5-6 drops of medication, but realistically you can’t actually see how many drops are applied. Do your best to apply a “reasonable” amount and massage it in.

Difficult cases: Some cases are very difficult due to resistant bacteria, conformational abnormalities, underlying allergies, or the dog is simply adverse to having its ears handled. Depending on the circumstances, we may need to do a thorough ear cleaning under anesthesia. We have a long-acting ointment that can be deposited in the ear that we sometimes use. Oral antibiotics, antifungals, and corticosteroids can be helpful as well. Food trials and allergy testing are sometimes required to resolve predisposing/ underlying allergy issues.

Soon your pets will be back to their old adventurous or relaxing ways (as the case may be).

For a related version of this article see: www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=632

Here are some nice normal teeth

Here are some teeth with advanced periodontal

The key term that our discussion centers on is Periodontal Disease. The following is a concise definition=    Periodontal disease: A bacterial infection that destroys the attachment fibers and supporting bone that hold the teeth in the mouth. Left untreated, these diseases can lead to tooth loss. The main cause of periodontal disease is bacterial plaque, a sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on teeth.

Symptoms

Symptoms can range from subtle to severe. Bad breath is a common sign.  Difficulty eating, drooling, gingivitis, plaque formation, and gum recession are visible symptoms.  Pain is more variable, some pets are very sensitive while others are very stoic. You can’t assume they are fine just because they don’t act painful.

The important point to remember is the fact that once you notice any of these symptoms, your pet’s dental disease is already causing discomfort or pain, and even affecting other body organs. It is important for you to be aware of the existence of this problem and hopefully deal with it proactively.

Stage I

Bacteria cause an invisible plaque on the teeth. Over time the bacteria react with minerals and debris forming tartar. The bodies first line of defense against plaque and tartar are the gingiva. If the gingiva are red and swollen (gingivitis) it usually means the body is fighting bacteria. Visibly, if gingivitis and/ or plaque are present, then it is important to treat now before the problem progresses to more advanced periodontal disease. If treated now, the condition is reversible – as periodontal disease progresses it becomes more difficult to reverse.

Stage II

As periodontal disease progresses, then the gum becomes more inflamed and plaque thickens. The underlying gum pulls away from the tooth.

Stage III

With further progression of periodontal disease the pocket of bacteria under the gum line is significantly weakening the periodontal ligament and weakening the surrounding bone.

Stage IV

Periodontal disease eventually progresses to stage IV. Ulcerated gums, gum recession,  pus along the gum line, and severe tartar can be seen. What can’t be seen is the lysis of surrounding bone, bacteria at the tooth root apex, and bacteria spreading to internal organs via the bloodstream.

Cats are prone to “carries” which are essentially cavities (holes in the enamel and dentin).

How Does Q Street Animal Hospital
Deal With Dental Disease???

Yearly Exams = We recommend and send out reminders for every pet to have yearly exams. During yearly exams we do a thorough physical examination including evaluating the health of the mouth. At this time we can advise you whether a dental is warranted and discuss preventative dental care.

We also evaluate your pet’s overall health. If a dental is needed, anesthesia will be necessary and knowing the pet’s overall health is extremely important. The thought of anesthesia can be alarming to people. It is normal to have concerns about anesthesia, and we have many protocols in place to ensure safety. However the single most important way to ensure anesthetic safety is to know the pet’s overall health and plan accordingly. In some cases a dental is not the highest priority. In many cases we will recommend blood work to help us evaluate your pets health and safety for anesthesia.

Scheduling = We do require that a regular exam has been done within the year. As noted above, this is important in allowing us to evaluate your pet’s overall health and prioritize what the pet’s needs truly are. If an exam has been done within the year, then you can schedule a dental. Currently, we do anesthetic procedures on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Exceptions can sometimes be made. Over the phone, our customer service specialist will 1) schedule a day for you to come in,  2) let you know to withhold food after 9 pm the night before, 3) arrive at approximately 7:30 am, 4) you can expect to be able to pick up your pet between 3:30 and 5:00 pm.

Appointment Day = When you come in, we will do our best to keep your wait as short as possible. One of our technicians will go into an exam room with you and go through a short check list and consent form with you.  If blood work has not already been done, they will recommend that. At all points in the process we welcome questions and discussion. We want you and your pet to feel comfortable.

Hospital Procedures = Once a technician has checked your pet in. They will be placed in a kennel with a soft blanket or towel to lay on. Their chart will be organized and reviewed by a Doctor. The Doctor will then do a brief physical exam double checking the pet’s overall health and evaluating any risk factors for anesthesia.

Anesthesia = Your pet is then given a premedication to help him/her relax and smooth out the anesthetic process. When we are ready we will place an intravenous catheter and induce anesthesia with an intravenous anesthetic agent. Once the patient is induced we place an endotracheal tube and provide gas anesthesia. We monitor the patient closely at this point and get them to a suitable plane of anesthesia to allow us to proceed with the dental.

We do anesthetic procedures on a regular basis and feel comfortable doing them. None-the-less we have a healthy respect for it. We have many protocols in place to ensure the safety of your pet. Our anesthetic machines are regularly inspected and calibrated. The anesthetic drugs are safe, effective, and the dosing protocols are reviewed by a board certified anesthesiologist. Our staff is trained to carefully monitor anesthesia. We have multiple anesthetic monitoring devices that we use depending on the needs of the patient.  Our own pet’s receive the exact same protocols.

Professional Cleaning = The first task is to do a thorough oral exam. This can only be done when a pet is sedated / anesthetized. This includes a visual exam, physically feeling the tooth to check for laxity, and probing the gum line to check for deep pockets. Then we start cleaning the teeth with our scaler. A scaler is an instrument that literally vibrates the tartar off the teeth. It continually sprays water to minimize heat buildup. Below is a picture of the scaler hand piece as well as the drill, polisher, and water/ air piece.

Digital Radiographs = It is sometimes necessary to radiograph a tooth’s root to assess their viability. If there is evidence of  an abscess or significant surrounding bone loss, then it is best to extract the tooth. The radiographs are also important for making sure that no pieces of a root are left behind after extracting a tooth.

Here is Laura getting ready to take a dental radiograph of  Cleo’s teeth.

This is an example of a dental radiograph.

Once we are done with the dental we record (“chart”) our findings and extractions.

Preventative Care = There are numerous products to help with dental care. It is important to be realistic with your expectations with these products. A professional cleaning has a very profound ability to completely clean the teeth. Brushing the teeth three times a week can also dramatically control plaque formation – brushing disrupts bacteria before they can form a hard plaque if done approximately every 3 days. Greenies and T/D Hills Diet help scrape/clean the teeth while chewing. Mouth washes enzymatically reduce bacteria.

Benefits of Dental Care =    eliminates pain associated with gum inflammation, root abscesses, and surrounding bone damage. Also eliminates potential source of bacteria entering the bloodstream that can lead to internal organ disease. Definitely having a direct impact on your pets immediate comfort level and quality of life. Definitely having a direct impact on your pets long-term health and longevity. Remember, dental disease is treatable and preventable. It is up to you as owners and us, as your pet care providers, to be proactive! With each exam we will check and discuss your pets oral health, be sure to ask us lots of questions – that is what we are here for.

With healthy teeth, your pet can . . .

Eat, Drink, and be Merry with your friends (Lydia, Reuben, and Arlie)

Atopic animals will usually rub, lick, chew, bite or scratch at their feet, muzzle, ears, armpits or groin, causing hair loss, and reddening and thickening of the skin. In some cases several skin problems can “add” together to cause an animal to itch where just the allergy alone would not be enough to cause itching. These problems include air borne-allergens (pollens, etc.), allergens in food, and allergens from parasites (fleas, etc.) and also bacterial or yeast infections of the skin. Eliminating some but not all of the problems may allow a patient’s itchiness to go away. Therefore it is important to treat any other problems that could be making your pet itch while dealing with allergy.

Diagnosis = Allergy Testing Specific diagnosis of atopic dermatitis is based upon the results of intra-dermal testing and/or in vitro (blood) testing. Any given pet can have many things that it is allergic to. Once the allergens that are affecting the pet are identified, serial injections can be given to desensitize your pet. Allergy testing can be done through a veterinary dermatologist and we are fortunate to have Dr. Ashley (a veterinary dermatologist) right here in Springfield, here is her website = vetallergy.net/. In some cases we do allergy testing through our clinic. We take a serum sample and send it to a company called VARL. Here is their website = www.varlallergy.com/1.html

Treatments for Atopy

Usually a combination of treatments are needed to control allergies. Allergen Specific Immunotherapy is the ideal treatment but sometimes is not necessary. Special hypoallergenic food is often helpful as well. Due to seasonal influences, the treatment needs often vary with the season.

Antihistamines: This medication works in 20% of atopic patients. Your pet can take antihistamines for life. The only side effect usually seen is drowsiness. Several types may be tried to find the one best for your pet. Topical antihistamines for the eyes can be helpful in patients with eye allergy (itchy conjunctivitis). Visine A® is one over-the-counter product that can be helpful.

Avoidance of the allergens: This can be helpful for house dust mite allergies. Pollen exposure can be reduced by using air-conditioning and air filters, avoiding the outside early morning and late afternoon, wiping down with moist cloths after going outside and frequent bathing.

Oral Steroids (prednisone, cortisone, triamcinolone, etc.): These drugs have many potential side effects and are reserved for adult animals, those with short seasonal problems or where other therapy is not possible or is ineffective. Typically, treatment is started at one dose and then tapered off to every other day usage.

Topical Steroids: Topical usage is safer than oral usage. It can be very helpful if itching is localized (e.g., eyes, ears). It can be used for more widespread disease in the form of leave-on rinses, lotions, or sprays.

Cyclosporine: This immunosuppressive agent can be used at low doses to treat allergy successfully in about 60% of patients. It can also be used to lower needed dosages of steroids. The major short-term side effect is gastrointestinal upset. The long-term safety is not completely known. The dosage can often be lowered after a few weeks of successful treatment.

Fatty acid supplements: Certain types of oils can reduce allergic symptoms in some patients. We can give fish oil capsules in conjunction with a low-fat diet or prescribe special prescription diets with the fish oil content raised. This therapy can help improve response to antihistamine therapy.

Allergen Specific Immunotherapy: This involves giving an allergy desensitization injection that is made up specifically for your pet, usually for the lifetime of the animal. After an initial series of injections, periodic boosters will be needed (every 1-3 weeks). 60% to 80% of animals will improve with the desensitization injections. Results may not be seen for 3 to 6 months. When results are not seen in 9 to 12 months, a re-evaluation is necessary.

Bathing: Atopic skin is sensitive and subject to drying. Only specially designed hypoallergenic shampoos should be used on your allergic dog. Rinsing should be thorough. Generally it is best to follow with a hypoallergenic cream rinse or spray to re-moisturize the skin after every bath.

to view original/related article visit www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1535

The following products have different active ingredients and thereby provide different spectrums of parasitic protection. This chart shows what each product does and how it is administered. They are all effective and safe, although any given individual can have sensitivity to certain products. Let us help you determine which product meets your pet’s needs best.

Revolution® (selamectin) from PfizerThis prescription drug is designed as a once a month heartworm preventive and flea preventive for dogs and cats as young as 6 weeks old. It also kills adult fleas and can be used to treat sarcoptic mange, ear mites and ticks. It also helps control roundworms and hookworms. The product is placed on the skin at the back of the neck, and is absorbed into the body. Revolution is a prescription drug requiring a current veterinary-patient relationship. Baths do not wash it off.

Comfortis ®for Dogs (spinosad) from Elanco Comfortis is a monthly prescription tablet for fleas represents a completely new class of drugs in flea control.  It is available for use on puppies and dogs 14 weeks of age or older and is available in 5 different sized flavored (soy and pork) chewable tablets. This tablet must be given with a full meal. It is meant to be used once a month and results show it is very useful for flea allergic pets as it has a rapid kill rate.

AdvantageII® (imidacloprid) from Bayer Advantage II is available as a topical for either dogs or cats. Advantage® seems to be very well tolerated by sensitive cats. It provides flea knockdown in about 8 hours. 100% killing can be maintained for at least two weeks. It is susceptible to wash off, therefore outdoor active dogs and dogs that swim or that must be bathed because of dermatitis must be re treated frequently. Advantage has no effect against ticks. www.bayer-ah.com

Frontline Top Spot® (fipronil) from Merial Fipronil is a broad spectrum insecticide available as a topical. It is a different chemical from Advantage but behaves similarly, except that it is also affective against ticks. Fipronil binds chemically to the hair and is absorbed through the hair follicle by the sebaceous glands. It can withstand repeated baths fairly well, though it does get diminished.

Assurity® (Spinetoram) from Elanco Brand new product with impressive studies indicating high efficacy and safety. Elanco reported that Assurity kills 98 percent to 100 percent of fleas within 12 hours, killing fleas before they can lay eggs. It is 100 percent effective for a full month, according to the company.   www.assurity4cats.com

Triflexis® (spinosad = milbemycin oxime) from Elanco Brand new product with the same great flea control from spinosad (Comfortis) combined with a proven heart worm preventative. Milbemycin oxime is the heartworm preventative component, Interceptor (also a milbemycin oxime product) is a well known brand-name heartworm preventative that been around for a long time and proven to be safe and effective. SO, if you are happy with the effectiveness of Comfortis and want the convenience of a combined monthly flea and heartworm product in the form of a pill = THIS IS IT! www.trifexis.com

Heartgard Plus® (ivermectin/ pyrantel)  from Merial  Heartgard is the original consistent workhorse of the heartworm preventatives. Merial guarantees its product and has a long history of providing a stable, safe, and effective product. This is a monthly flavored chew. It also treats Roundworms and Hookworms.  heartgard.us.merial.com

Iverheart Plus® (ivermectin/ pyrantel)  from Virbac Iverhart is a generic version of Heartgard. It also is a monthly flavored chewable tablet that treats Heartworms, Roundworms, and Hookworms. Iverhart has been a perfectly good option for many people. www.iverhart.com

Preventic® (amitraz) from Virbac Preventic collars prevents the attachment of ticks for 3 months, and detaches existing ticks before they can transfer disease-causing organisms. Preventic contains 9% amitraz and is recommended for use on dogs 12 weeks and older. Do not use on cats. www.virbacvet.com/Products

Vectra 3D® (Dinotefuran, Permethrin, Pyroproxyfen) from Summit Fast-acting protection against fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, lice, mites and sand flies. Vectra 3D® contains a unique combination of three active ingredients carefully formulated into a system that allows Vectra to spread quickly and adhere to the dog’s body delivering a,  Proven, highly-effective product. Repellent action helps reduce the risk of vector-borne disease transmission. www.summitvetpharm.com

Profender® Topical Solution (emodepside + praziquantel) from Bayer Profender® is the first and only topical feline dewormer that treats and controls ascarids, hookworms and tapeworms. Profender combines powerful, broad- spectrum coverage of intestinal worms with the ease and convenience of a single-dose treatment. No more struggling cats; no more stressed-out owners. And above all, no more worms.  Profender Topical Solution is not for use in kittens less than 8 weeks of age or weighing less than 2.2 lbs (1 kg). www.bayerdvm.com/products/profender

Drontal® for cats

The broadest-spectrum feline dewormer available, Drontal (praziquantel/pyrantel pamoate) provides an effective first-line defense against intestinal parasites in cats.

Key Benefits

Proven to eradicate the most common intestinal parasites

• 100% efficacy against tapeworms.
• 100% efficacy against hookworms.
• 98.6% efficacy against roundworms.

Convenience and Compliance

• Single-dose formula can help eliminate owner compliance problems.
• Drontal may be given directly by mouth or in a small amount of food.

Safety

• Drontal has an excellent safety profile, is well tolerated and has a long history of reliable deworming with few if any side effects.
• In a clinical field study, 83 of 85 cats treated with the recommended dosages of Drontal tablets did not exhibit any drug-related side effects. Drontal tablets are not for use in kittens less than 1 month of age or weighing less than 1.5 lb.  www.bayerdvm.com/products/drontal

Drontal® Plus for Dogs

Nothing kills more intestinal parasites than Drontal Plus (praziquantel/pyrantel pamoate/febantel) for Dogs. Available in both tablets and beef-flavored Taste Tabs®.

Key Benefits

Three in One

• Only Drontal Plus provides the power of three deworming agents in one tablet.

Efficacy — Proven to eradicate the most common intestinal parasites:

• Tapeworms (E. multilocularis, E. granulosus, T. pisiformis, D. caninum).
• Hookworms (A. caninum, U. stenocephala).
• Roundworms (T. canis, T. leonina).
• Whipworms (T. vulpis).

Synergistic Effect

• Pyrantel pamoate and febantel work synergistically to eliminate more worms than either can alone.

Convenience and Compliance

• Single-dose formula can help reduce owner compliance problems.
• Taste Tabs formulation makes it simple to send clients home with a follow-up dose.     Found palatable by 9 out of 10 dogs.
• Increase owner compliance.

Drontal Plus should not be used in pregnant animals or dogs weighing less than 2 lbs. or puppies less than 3 weeks of age. Federal (U.S.A.) law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.

www.bayerdvm.com/products/drontal

The two main causes for itching can be categorized into TWO GROUPS = PARASITES and ALLERGIES. Fleas, Demodex mites, and Sarcoptic mites are the main topical parasites that we deal with. We can usually test for them and treat them in a straight forward manner. Allergies are not as straight forward, but can be controlled or managed.

What are Allergies?

Allergy is a state of hypersensitivity in which exposure to a harmless substance known as an allergen induces the body’s immune system to “overreact.” The incidence of allergies is increasing in both humans and their pets. People with allergies usually have “hay fever” (watery eyes, runny nose and sneezing) or asthma. While pets can rarely also have respiratory allergies, more commonly they experience the effects of allergic hypersensitivities as skin problems.

This diagram is an example of what happens at the cellular level in an allergic reaction. The bodies’ immune system is truly amazing. Our pet’s bodies are exposed to numerous virus’s, bacteria, fungi, etc and the immune system controls the vast majority of these infections. Unfortunately, in the case of allergies, the immune system wrongly views and attacks things such as pollen, dust spores, dander, and individual food ingredients. Unlike the bacteria, fungi, and virus’s, the allergens don’t just go away -the allergens (pollen, dust spores, dander, certain food ingredients) are continually provoking the immune system, triggering a cascade of inflammatory reactions including histamine release.

This is dog has classic symptoms of allergic dermatitis

There are 3 Major Types of Allergies in Dogs

Can Allergies be Cured? Unfortunately, there is no cure for allergy and it is usually a life-long problem. We seek to control allergies.

Can I have the Itching Treated without the Expense of Diagnostic Testing? Symptomatic drug therapy can help to reduce itching. Steroids, such as prednisone tablets in particular, are often employed to stop the itch. However, without addressing the underlying cause, the itching will return and long-term use of steroids can result in many health problems.

See the additional articles; 1) flea products, 2) food allergies, 3) atopy/ environmental allergens.