VetMax Information Centre for Cat, Dog and other Pets
Make Flea Treatments Work
Correct advice and use of products can eradicate fleas from your pet this summer – even if you have tried and failed in the past.
Vets say most problems with flea control occur through lack of understanding of the need for consistent treatment both on and off the animals. This is required because fleas don’t spend all of their time on the animal – they move away, perhaps into the pet’s bedding, the yard, the house ….. anywhere the pets have access. The flea eggs may stay alive there for 2 years just waiting for the right climatic conditions to hatch. Under suitable conditions fleas may repeat their life cycle in three weeks.
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What is Heartworm?
Heartworm is a parasitic disease of dogs and cats that is transmitted by mosquitos. It is not contagious between dogs and cats, or from dog to dog or cat to cat. An infected mosquito bites the pet, and injects a larval stage of the worm under the skin. This larval stage develops in the pet’s tissues for 5 to 6 months, before becoming an adult worm in the heart and pulmonary blood vessels. These adult worms then mate and produce microfilaria (baby heartworm), which are then drawn up by a mosquito when it feeds on the pets.
Microfilaria…
Microfilaria are immature or “baby” heartworm which are produced by the adult worms in the heart. They live in the bloodstream and the means by which the heartworm is spread between dogs and cats by mosquitoes.
Adult Heartworm...
Adult Heartworm live in the right hand side of the heart and in the blood vessels going to the lungs. They cause damage to the lining of these blood vessels and cause the formation of small blood clots in the blood vessels deeper in the lungs. They can also cause inflammation in the delicate lung tissue around the airways in the lungs. In the early stages there may be no obvious clinical signs. With time the damage worsens and signs of this are coughing, decreased fitness and weight loss. In severe cases the heart, liver and kidney will start to lose functional capacity, causing serious health problems.
For more info on Heartworm click here.
What is Hookworm?
There are 2 species of hookworm which affect dogs and cats in Australia – Ancylostoma spp and Uncinaria spp. The adult worms are tiny worms, 16mm long and very thin, which live attached to the intestine of dogs, cats and people. In reasonable numbers they can cause illness and even death.
Prevention...
Preventing hookworm burdens is very important in Queensland and much more satisfactory for you and your pet than dealing with a hookworm infection. Hookworm can be easily prevented by worming with a good quality wormer (eg. Drontal) and following an appropriate regime.
Puppies and Kittens should be wormed at: 2,4,6,8,10 & 12 weeks of age
Then once a month until 6 months old
Adults from 6 months old should be wormed every 3 months.
Pregnant cats and dogs should be wormed at mating then at about week 6 of pregnancy.
It is also important to prevent contamination of your yard. Picking up dog faeces and regularly cleaning your cat’s litter tray will prevent build up of eggs in your environment. Remember to always wear gloves and wash your hands afterwards. Also keep bowls and bedding clean and free of faecal contamination.
For more information on the prevention of hookworm, click here.
Choosing the Right Food for Your Pet
With so many brands and types of dog food available it can be very difficult to know what is best. The nutritional needs of your dog have evolved in the natural or wild situation, so when you feed your pet you must provide everything that would be in the natural diet. Dogs in the wild eat the entire body of their prey including skin, bones, muscle and intestinal contents, so it is not suprising that meat alone (muscle) doesn’t provide everything for your dog. In recent years there has been a huge amount of research into canine nutrition resulting in production of diets, which provide all your dog’s needs. The Vets at Greencross recommend the Hills Science Diet, and Eukanuba diets.
The likes of Hills Science Diet, Royal Canin and Eukanuba are quality pet foods available from veterinary clinics and some pet food stores. They are available in formulations to suit dogs of all ages and activity levels, such as puppy, adult and low calorie, in both tinned and dried variety.
Click here to read more on the benefits of feeding your pets a premium diet
Heat Stress in Dogs
Heat Stress (or heat stroke) occurs when animals are confined in hot environments, usually when locked in motor vehicles in the sun where the temperature can rise to lethal levels very quickly. All pets can be affected by heat stress. However, dogs with short noses, such as the bulldog, pug and boxer, are particularly at risk.
When suffering from heat stress a dog will initially show an increase in activity associated with panting and vocalisation - usually barking or whining and the dog is agitated, often with a “worried” or “furrowed” expression. As the heat stress progresses, the panting becomes excessive and laboured, with the dog showing an inability to breath properly. The dog usually drools excessively and may vomit. If the suffering continues the dog will suffer circulatory collapse, its gums will appear blue and it will convulse or become unconscious.
Cats show very similar signs although tend to be a little more subtle in their signs.
To read how you can prevent your pet from getting heat stroke, click here.