What is Parvovirus

What is Parvovirus?

Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious viral disease that can produce a life-threatening illness.

The virus rapidly attacks your dog's system, severely affecting the intestinal tract, along with attacking white blood cells and other parts of the system. In young puppies it can damage the heart muscles and cause the animal a life time of heart issues.

Symptoms of Parvovirus:

Lethargy

Vomiting

Foul-smelling and/or bloody diarrhea

Loss of appetite

How is Parvovirus transmitted?

Parvovirus is highly contagious and can be transmitted by any animal, person or object that come in contact with the infected dog feces. It is a highly resistant virus and can live in the environment for months. It can live on items like food bowls, blankets, shoes, clothes, carpets, floors and in the soil. 

NOTE: It is not veterinary recommended to purchase vaccination from anywhere but a veterinary clinic, many times during transport of vaccinations they are not stored at proper temperature causing the vaccine to become ineffective.

How can Parvovirus be prevented?

The easiest way to prevent Parvovirus is to keep your dog up to date on vaccination.  Adults should be vaccinated yearly and puppies are recommended a 4 set series of shots with the last one being given after 16 weeks of age.

Because the virus can live in the environment for so long you should take extra care to make sure that your dog is up to date on the parvovirus vaccination before taking them to an unfamiliar area.

Treating Parvovirus:

Parvovirus can be very expensive to treat because there aren't any drugs that actually kill the parvovirus.  Treatment is usually very aggressive and straight forward. the patient is usually hospitalized and treated with antibiotics, drugs to control vomiting and diarrhea, IV fluids and vitamins.

In some severe cases the dog may need to be given a blood transfusion, blood serum or antibodies.

For more information:  http://m.petmd/dog/conditons/infectious-parasitic/c dg canine parvovirus infection.

By: Tracy Frost, LVT

Rabies is Preventable

Rabies is a preventable viral disease that can affect humans and animals.  In animals once gotten the disease is fatal.

Rabies is spread in this area mostly by bats or skunks; however any warm blooded mammal can contract rabies.  This includes our precious companion animal.  Because of this you should never touch or handle a bat, skunk, or any other wild animal and you should have your pets vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian.  The vaccine is given every 1 – 3 years depending on the type of vaccine used and the laws of the state and county.  

Rabies causes acute encephalitis.  In animals the first sign of rabies may be non- specific and include lethargy, fever, vomiting and anorexia.  The signs will progress within days to cerebral dysfunction, cranial nerve dysfunction, ataxia, abnormal behavior, aggression, self- mutilation and eventually death.

If you or your pet are bitten by a stray animal, wild animal or a bat you should immediately wash the area with soap and water.  Then you should contact your doctor or veterinarian and health department, they can guided you with what to do next.

For more information about rabies you can go to  HYPERLINK "http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/" http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/ or you can contact us with any questions you may have about your pets.

Blueberry Doggy Cheesecake

Blueberry Doggy Cheesecake

Ingredients:

2 cups pureed blueberries

8 ouches cream cheese at room temperature

1/2 cup oatmeal

2 cups whole wheat flour 

1 teaspoom valilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Puree blueberries and mix with cream cheese. Add other ingredients and knead until dough is formed. On floured surface, roll sought to 1/4" thickness

and cut into chaps using a cookie cutter of your choice. Place the treats on a greased cookie sheet and bake 15-20 minutes.

Cool and refrigerate.

10 Things We Want Clients to Know

• Heartworm prevention should be given year round.

• We have a pet crematory on site.

• Do not give human medication to your pet without consulting your veterinarian.

• If a product says not to use it on cats, then do not use it.

• We are available 24 hours a day for emergency care. 

• Veterinary medicine is expensive and specialized.

• We offer chemotherapy.

• Internet pharmacies may not be as they appear.

• Over 60% of pets are obese

• The mouth is a gateway for diseases.

Thinking of getting a new dog?

Always research the dog breed before adding one as a new pet to your family. 
There are many different breeds of dogs, from fluffy and small to huge and protective. Often, people see an adorable puppy and without thinking they bring it home without any background or research of the breed. A high percentage of these puppies end up in a shelter because either the dog wasn't a good fit in personality or the health care cost doesn't fit into the budget. And please note, it is not the dog's fault if the owner has not done their homework on dog training! So, here are some things to think about when looking for a pet.

1. The larger the dog the higher the cost of food and health care
2. Breed personality: does it do well with children and other pets?
3. Does it need lots of exercise, or is it good for apartment life?
4. Common breed health issues
5, Grooming costs
6. Does it need a fence? (The answer is most likely yes)
7 What is the average lifespan?
8. Do you have time to train a puppy or is an adult dog a better fit for you?

Resource: AKC.com

by Tracy Frost

Freezing Canine Semen

We are a Canine Freezing Center for Synbiotics Corporation.  Dr. Tritsch can collect the semen from a stud dog.  The semen is then evaluated, frozen and stored for later shipment to anywhere in the world.  

Once the semen is collected it is evaluated for motility and morphology and the sperm are counted.  The semen is then cooled and frozen in individually labeled straws. The entire process takes 4-5 hours.  The semen is stored in liquid nitrogen, which keeps the semen viable for an indefinite period of time.  

Freezing Semen can help the owner preserve the qualities of a stud dog long after the dog has pasted away.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR PET IS POISONED

Don't panic. Rapid response is important, but panicking can interfere with the process of helping your pet.

Take 30 to 60 seconds to safely collect and have at hand any material involved. This may be of great benefit to your vet and/or APCC toxicologists, as they determine what poison or poisons are involved. In the event that you need to take your pet to a local veterinarian, be sure to take the product's container with you. Also, collect in a sealable plastic bag any material your pet may have vomited or chewed.

If you witness your pet consuming material that you suspect might be toxic, do not hesitate to seek emergency assistance, even if you do not notice any adverse effects. Sometimes, even if poisoned, an animal may appear normal for several hours or for days after the incident.

Call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center

The telephone number is (888) 426-4435. There is a $65 consultation fee for this service.

Be ready with the following information:

• The species, breed, age, sex, weight and number of animals involved.
• The animal's symptoms.
• Information regarding the exposure, including the agent (if known), the amount of the agent involved and the time elapsed since the time of exposure.
• Have the product container/packaging available for reference.

Please note: If your animal is having seizures, losing consciousness, is unconscious or is having difficulty breathing, telephone ahead and bring your pet immediately to your local veterinarian or emergency veterinary clinic. If necessary, he or she may call the APCC.

Be Prepared

Keep the telephone number of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center—(888) 426-4435—as well as that of your local veterinarian, in a prominent location.

Invest in an emergency first-aid kit for your pet. The kit should contain:

• A fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide, 3 percent USP (to induce vomiting)
• A turkey baster, bulb syringe or large medicine syringe (to administer peroxide)
• Saline eye solution
• Artificial tear gel (to lubricate eyes after flushing)
• Mild grease-cutting dishwashing liquid (for bathing an animal after skin contamination)
• Forceps (to remove stingers)
• A muzzle (to protect against fear- or excitement-induced biting)
• A can of your pet's favorite wet food
• A pet carrier

Always consult a veterinarian or the APCC for directions on how and when to use any emergency first-aid item.

*P.S. Visit the ASPCA Store to purchase the ASPCA First Aid Kit!