Understanding
periodontal disease & prevention
It's estimated
that 80% of all pets have dental disease by age three. It's
not difficult to tell that your pet may need his teeth cleaned
- pet breath may be so bad that a yawn can clear a room! The
main causes of bad breath and bad teeth include:
Regular cleaning
prevents problems in all these cases. We highly recommend and
provide tooth brushing with your regularly scheduled grooming.
Q:
Why is dental care
important for my pet?
A:
You are responsible pet owner. You take good care of your pet
by feeding them the right food, exercising them regularly and
taking them to the vet for an annual wellness exam.
Pets can develop
dental disease and other dental problems, just like you. Many
of these problems can be avoided by taking your pet to your
vet for regular dental checkups and giving your pet dental
care at home.
Q:
What are the physical signs of dental disease?
A:
If your pet has had bad breath or reddened gums, it could be
from gingivitis. The process starts when soft plaque hardens
into rough tartar. Tartar irritates and inflames the gums.
Gingivitis, in turn, can lead to an infection called
periodontal disease, which can cause bleeding gums, loss of
teeth and infection in the heart or kidneys if not treated.
Commonly though,
there are no obvious physical signs of the disease, even when
it is advanced. That is why it is so important to have your
pet's teeth checked by a vet regularly.
Lyme Disease
Information
Q:
What can be done to prevent being bit by a tick?
A:
When in tick-infested habitat - wooded and grassy areas - take special precautions to prevent tick bites, such as wearing light-colored clothing (for easy tick discovery) and tucking pants into socks and shirt into pants. Check after every two to three hours of outdoor activity for ticks on clothing or skin. Brush off any ticks on clothing before skin attachment occurs. A thorough check of body surfaces for attached ticks should be done at the end of the day. If removal of attached ticks occurs within 36 hours, the risk of tick-borne infection is minimal.
Repellents can be effective at reducing bites from ticks that can transmit disease. But their use is not without risk of health effects, especially if repellents are applied in large amounts or improperly. Repellents commonly available to consumers contain the active ingredients DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, or botanical oils. DEET products have been widely used for many years, but have occasionally been associated with health effects. Skin reactions (particularly at DEET concentrations of 50 percent and above) and eye irritation are the most frequently reported health problems. Products containing permethrin are for use on clothing only, not on skin. Rather than acting as a repellent, permethrin kills ticks and insects that come in contact with treated clothes. Permethrin can cause eye irritation. Insect repellents containing botanical oils, such as oil of geranium, cedar, lemongrass, soy or citronella are also available, but there is limited information on their effectiveness and toxicity. If you decide to use a repellent, use only what and how much you need for your situation. In addition:
*Be sure to follow label directions.
*Use repellents only in small amounts, avoiding unnecessary repeat application. Try to reduce the use of repellents by dressing in long sleeves and pants tucked into socks or boots.
*Children may be at greater risk for reactions to repellents, in part, because their exposure may be greater. Do not apply repellents directly to children. Apply to your own hands and then put it on the child.
*Do not apply near eyes, nose or mouth and use sparingly around ears. Do not apply to the hands of small children.
*After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water.
Q:
How should a tick be removed?
A:
Grasp the mouthparts with tweezers as close as possible to the attachment (skin) site. Be careful not to squeeze, crush or puncture the body of the tick, which may contain infectious fluids. After removing the tick, thoroughly disinfect the bite site and wash hands. See or call a doctor if there are concerns about incomplete tick removal. Do not attempt to remove ticks by using petroleum jelly, lit cigarettes or other home remedies because these may actually increase the chance of contracting a tick-borne disease.
Q:
How do I obtain information on a tick?
A:Tick identification services are available through the New York State Department of Health and some county health departments. The New York State Department of Health Tick Identification Service will tell you the species of the tick, whether it is engorged with blood and, if so, how long it may have been feeding. The Tick Identification Service will also report whether the mouthparts are present (if not, they may have remained in the skin and need to be removed, as you would a splinter). The Tick Identification Service will not tell you whether the tick is infected with disease- causing organisms. There is no charge for this service.
If you wish to have a tick identified, place it in a small jar containing rubbing alcohol, seal the container to prevent leakage and complete the Tick Identification Submittal Form. Mail the tick in the sealed container, along with the completed submittal form, to the New York State Health Department’s Tick Identification Service, c/o HVCC Central Receiving, 80 Vandenburgh Avenue, Troy, NY 12180. Once you send a tick to be identified it will not be returned.
For flea and tick
protection, we carry Frontline Plus for Dogs, Cats, Puppies
and Kittens 8 weeks of age and older
Answers
you need to know about Feline Leukemia
Q:
What is feline leukemia (FeLV)?
A:
This is a serious disease in cats, caused by a virus
infection. It's also a complex disease, of which leukemia
(cancer of white blood cells) and cancerous tumors are only a
small part. Various other related but non-tumorous diseases
are also involved.
Q:
How could my cat get the disease?
A:
Feline Leukemia is spread by direct contact with infected
cats. It's usually transmitted in the saliva but low levels of
virus can also be found in urine and feces. Licking, biting
and sneezing are common forms of transmission. food and water
dishes ad litter boxes are likely sources of infections, if
healthy cats share then with infected cats.
Q:
If my cat has been in contact with other cats, how can I know
whether it has been exposed to the virus?
A:
The only sure way is to have your pet tested by your vet.
Because such a complex of disease problems and symptoms is
involved, it's not easy to spot the disease by how your cat
looks or acts. However, certain signs - such as long-lasting
infections, unexplained weight loss, reduced appetite, swollen
glands or gum problems - should alert you to a health problem
that warrants a closer look by your vet and possible FeLV
testing.
Q:
What should I do to prevent my cats from getting the disease
in the first place?
A:
The most obvious is to limit or eliminate all contact with
other cats. This however, isn't always possible or practical.
the best solution is to see your vet and have your cat or cats
vaccinated with the most effective and safe vaccine available.
