Heartworms

With the advent of Daylight Savings Time, it's time to remember that heartworm season is with us. Heartworms are parasites that infect the heart, lungs, blood vessels, and other organs and can cause serious disease (and even death) of our pets.

Heartworms are long, slender worms that are carried by mosquitoes. They infect dogs, cats, ferrets, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, and occasionally even people. In coastal areas sea lions and seals have been diagnosed with the disease. These worms damage the lining of arteries in the lungs and other organs causing a number of serious problems. Regrettably, some cases are fatal and all cases are serious.

Heartworm disease occurs in almost every part of the U.S. , including New Mexico . Fortunately, the disease is almost completely preventable. Preventive treatment is safe, effective, and much less expensive than attempting to treat an already infected pet.

A blood test is the simplest way to check for the disease, since most animals only show symptoms after the disease is quite advanced. The disease appears quite differently in dogs than in cats, but in general, the longer the disease is present, the more damage has occurred.

Prevention is easy. Dogs less than 6 months of age may be safely started on the preventive medication. Dogs 6 months of age or older should have a simple blood test to ensure that they are not currently infected (and in need of treatment), after which they may begin the preventive medication.

There are a number of preventive medicines available. We recommend Interceptor in our practice due to its high level of safety and efficacy. The important thing is to ensure that your dog is on a sound preventive program. You may only rarely notice the mosquitoes in your area, but they are around. Remember, it only takes one mosquito to infect your pet with a life threatening (but entirely preventable) disease.

Please call us this week for an appointment to start your pet on a heartworm preventive program. It's simple, affordable, and it may save your dog's life.

Creepy Crawlies

With the advent of warm weather it pays us all to be aware of the crawling creatures that can infest our pets.  Fleas, ticks, and other “bugs” can colonize pets and, in some cases, infest the people who live with those pets.  Aside from making your dog or cat miserable, these pests can carry diseases to both people and pets.  Let’s spend a minute looking at the common bugs that can bring such trouble to our pets and to us.

Ticks
Ticks are actually arachnids, and are closer kin to spiders than insects.  These small parasites are blood suckers and can carry a variety of diseases from Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever to Lyme Disease to Ehrlichiosis.  There are several different species that inhabit the Albuquerque area, and all pose a threat to your pet. Ticks tend to be found in areas of tall vegetation where they wait for an animal to pass by and then hitch a ride and a meal (blood).  Keeping tall vegetation trimmed back and protecting your pets from running through such areas will lessen your pet’s exposure.  However, these are just the areas that dogs and cats love to investigate.  It’s part of their hunting instinct.

Fortunately, there are effective tick preventatives available.  The secret is to prevent tick attachment in the first place, and secondly, to kill or remove them as soon as possible if they do attach.   Please speak with our staff concerning selection and proper use of these products.  They are quite safe when used properly, and we will be happy to assist you in tick prevention.

Fleas
Fleas are true insects that parasitize a number of different animals (and people).  As with ticks there are a number of different species of fleas in our area.  While there are few cat and dog fleas in the Albuquerque region, there are many rodent and bird fleas.  While these insects prefer rodents or birds, they will feed on other animals and people.  The rodent fleas are notable because they can be carriers of plague, a serious and sometimes fatal bacterial disease.  Bird fleas are also important because of the intense irritation (and secondary effects) they cause.
Others:  There are a number of other “bugs” in our beautiful desert landscape that can cause trouble for your pets.  Certain flies can infect your dog’s skin, causing a raised, inflamed draining lesion with a larval grub inside.  Maggots from common flies often infest long haired dog’s skin, especially when there have been wounds or irritations under the skin.  Maggot infestations can even be fatal.

Mosquitoes
Finally, don’t forget mosquitoes.  Mosquitoes are the carriers of heartworm disease (yes, it does occur here in Albuquerque.) as well as a number of other infections (e.g. West Nile Virus).

Again, as with ticks, we have a number of safe and effective preventive and repellent treatments available for both dogs and cats.  Please come see our friendly staff, any of whom will be happy to assist you.