Spring Is the Time for Fleas

 

As the weather becomes nicer we tend to spend more time in the outdoors with our pets.   With the increased outdoor activities our four legged friends become more at risk for fleas.

What are fleas?

A flea is a small insect (appx. 1/16”) that is normally reddish brown and lives on most warm blooded mammals such as dogs, cats, rats, mice and humans.  The flea also has a hard exoskeleton to protect it from harm.  Its thin body allows it to move easily through the hair of most pets.  Fleas have the ability to jump upwards of three feet.  There are five varieties of fleas, but the most common in California is the cat flea.

What is the lifecycle of the flea?

Once an adult flea feeds, she will have the ability to reproduce.  The female flea will lay her eggs in the fur of the host.  She can lay upwards of 500 eggs over her lifetime.  Once the eggs are laid they will roll off the host and into the carpet, bedding or furniture.  These eggs can hatch in anywhere from 1 to 12 days depending on climatic condition.

When the egg hatches it will become a larva.  The microscopic larva crawls in the carpet or cracks in the floor where it will feed off the dead tissue of the animal, flea droppings (dried blood)  or other vegetative matter it can find.  The larva will stay in this state between seven to fourteen days depending on the availability of food.  Once the larva has matured it will spin a cocoon (pupa).  It will stay in this state and mature into a flea  in anywhere from five days to five weeks.  At this point the immature flea will attach itself to the host.  The flea will stay in the immature state until it feeds on the host.  Feeding is required for the life cycle to start over again.

What kind of problems do fleas cause?

The flea can cause a condition known as flea allergy dermatitis.  This can start with an itching of the skin and lead to inflammation and hair loss.  It might only take one bite of the flea to start the cycle of reaction.  When this happens, your pet may itch for up to five days from one single bite.

Also the flea is the intermediate host for an internal parasite known as the tapeworm.  Your pet can pick up tapeworms through routine grooming.  Once the flea is digested, the tapeworm egg hatches in the pet’s stomach and the worm grows in the pet’s intestines.

How do I get rid of fleas?

There are many products available on the market to eradicate your flea problem.  We here at Critter Creek Veterinary Hospital recommend either Frontline, Comfortis or Revolution.  Frontline and Revolution are products that are absorbed through the skin and travel from cell to cell to protect your pet from fleas.  These two products differ greatly from the Hartz and Sargents spot on products.  Hartz and Sargents’ have to travel through the blood stream to protect your pet.  This can cause internal and neurological problems.  We also offer Comfortis which is an FDA approved chewable tablet that you give your dog monthly

Obesity and Its’ Risk to Your Pet.

How to help your overweight pet

 

Obesity among pets has reached epidemic proportions.  33 million or some 79% of today’s pets are overweight.  If left untreated, excessive weight, even a few pounds can lead to serious health risks.

Some problems might include:

• Heart and Respiratory Disease
• Diabetes Mellitus
• High Blood Pressure
• Arthritis and Joint Problems

How do you know your pet is overweight?

 

If your pet is of ideal weight you will be able to palpate their ribs without excessive fat covering them, waist is noticeable, and the abdomen is tucked up when viewing from the side.  On the other hand with an overweight pet you will not be able to feel their ribs and have no waist.  In the instance of obesity, your pet will have a large amount of fat over the thorax and base of tail and fat deposits hanging from the waist and abdominal distention.

What are the common causes of weight gain?

• Over-eating/Over feeding
• Diseases such as Hypothyroidism
• Cushings Disease
• Diabetes
• Decreased Activity
• Age

What can be done for the overweight pet?

It first takes a huge commitment on your part  in order for your pet to lose weight.  Sometimes a reduction in food or the elimination of treats or table scraps will do the trick.  But there are times that more aggressive measures are needed.  At this point the doctor might want to recommend a specialty diet such as Hills Prescription R/D.  This is a high fiber, low calorie diet, which combined with exercise can reduce your pet’s weight over time.  Also new to the market is Slentrol by Pfizer, a once a day weight loss medication added to your pet’s diet.  A proper exercise program will increase the benefit of Slentrol.  If you are concerned about your pet and their weight issue, please do not hesitate to discuss it with one of our qualified staff.

 

 

Heartworm Not a Small Problem Any More.

The facts you need to know.

 

What is heartworm disease?

Heartworm is an actual worm that lives in the heart and in the adjacent vessels of the heart.  The female worm can range from six to fourteen inches in length.  Once infested dogs can have as many as three hundred worms living in their heart at one time.

How will I know if my dog has heartworm?

The easiest way to find out if your dog has heartworm disease is to test for it.  This is accomplished through a simple blood test that can be run in the hospital while you wait for their visit.  Since this is an antigen test, it will only test for the presence of the adult worms.  If you think your pet has heartworm disease, you may see the following signs:

·         Coughing

·         Trouble Breathing

·         Loss of stamina

·         Nervousness

·         Weight  Loss

Unfortunately, it can take anywhere from two to three years

of infestation before the above signs become present.   

       How is heartworm transmitted?

Heartworm is transmitted from dog to dog by mosquitoes.  The mosquito acts as the intermediate host  by picking up the microfilaria (baby heartworm) from the pet’s blood stream and injecting it into the next pet upon taking their next blood meal.  The microfilaria flows up the blood stream until it reaches the heart.  Once in the heart the microfilaria attaches themselves and matures into an adult worm.

How can I prevent heartworm disease?

Once your pet has been tested for heartworm disease it is recommended that they be placed on heartworm prevention.  These products will insure that your pet will not become infected with heartworms if they are bit by a carrier mosquito.  We carry both Heartgard and Revolution for your prevention needs.

What can I do if my dog gets heartworm?

Once your dog is diagnosed with heartworm disease, treatment for eradication is recommended .  Your veterinarian will go over in depth, a treatment plan that is right for your pet.  This can include blood work, x-rays, cage rest, and treatment with Imitacide for the eradication of the worm.

Incidents of Heartworm in Placer County

Based on information provided to our hospital by Iddex Laboratories there where 868 confirmed cases of heartworm disease between the March 2001 and March 2007.  The trend has been increasing over the past few years.  With this information we are making a more concerted effort to make sure every pet has been tested and treated with a heartworm preventative.

                                 Ask your veterinary specialist about how you can save on Frontline and Heartgard for prevention of fleas, ticks and heartworms in your pets.