Summer 2008

Summer Health Tips For Your Pet!

The long hot days of summer don't have to be hazardous to your pet's health. A little precaution can go a long way in protecting your pet from seasonal health threats.

For instance, parked cars are potential death threats during the hot summer months. The temperature inside the car can easily climb to 120 degrees Fahrenheit on a sunny day. If you absolutely must leave your pet in the car, follow these tips:

• Open windows and vents as wide as possible without providing an escape route.

• Provide plenty of water.

• Try parking in a shady area.

• Check the car every ten minutes.

If your pet in panting, has a staring or anxious expression, does not obey commands, has warm, dry skin and a high fever, rapid heart beat or is vomiting, lower his temperature quickly with cool water - either by immersion or spraying thoroughly with garden hose.

Call your veterinarian immediately.

The Facts About Ear Infections

Jennifer Stone Information Specialist
University of Illinois
College of Veterinary Medicine

"Oh no! Rover is scratching at his ears again!"

Ears infections cause great frustration for owners and pain or discomfort for animals. They are one of the main reasons for pet owners to visit their veterinarian. Common signs of ear infection include head shaking, frequent scratching, foul odors, abnormal discharge, redness, and pain. Although the ear may seem like a very simple structure, it is actually a complex organ that can become irritated because of a whole host of primary causes and contributing factors.

In cats and dogs, the external part of the ear consists of the pinna, the ear canal, and the eardrum. The ear canal consists of a vertical part (the part you can see when you look inside the ear) and a horizontal part, which extends deeper to the eardrum.

Dr. John Angus, a resident in veterinary dermatology at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, says, "This abrupt angle in the ear canal is a normal anatomical feature that makes cleaning difficult and can help trap debris and wax inside the ear."

Many factors can make ear infection more likely. Things that increase moisture and decrease ventilation can contribute to infection. Animals that like to swim or that have a naturally narrow ear canal can be at risk. Excessive hair or floppy ears can also trap moisture inside the ear. While these factors may predispose your pet to infection or make a current infection worse, by themselves they do not cause infection.

In addition, owners sometimes make infections worse by using water or irritating substances such as straight rubbing alcohol or vinegar to clean the ear, or by causing trauma to the ear canal by over-aggressive cleaning. Water increases moisture within the ear and does not evaporate adequately deep in the canal. Irritating substances can damage the fragile lining of the ear canal, making it more susceptible to bacterial infections. Only gentle cleansers designed for use in the ear canal should be used. Prescription ear cleansers available from a veterinarian may be used to treat specific disorders or infections. Use of cotton swabs is not recommended because they tend to pack the earwax into the ear canal, making it more difficult to remove.

Surprisingly, bacteria and yeast are not considered a cause of ear disease; rather they are considered the result of inflammation of the ear canal.

"An infection of the external ear is almost always a sign of an underlying disease," says Dr. Angus. "Changes in the ear canal resulting from the underlying cause allow normal bacteria and yeast to overpopulate. Eventually the overgrowth becomes infection and results in ongoing disease even after the initial cause has resolved."
The most common underlying cause of ear problems in dogs is allergic reactions. The pollens and molds that cause hay fever symptoms in people are the principal causes of skin and ear disease in dogs. Dogs can also become allergic to an ingredient in their food, even after they have been eating that food for years. (If you suspect your dog has an allergy, contact your veterinarian for directions on managing these conditions.)

Other causes for ear infections include foreign objects that become lodged in the ear, ear mites, polyps, or tumors within the ear canal.

Successful management of ear disease requires both identification of the primary cause and management of secondary infection. Addressing just one or the other is a common reason for treatment failure. If the ear canal remains inflamed and infected for a long time, infection may move across the eardrum to the middle ear.

Over time or in certain breeds of dogs, such as cocker spaniels, the ear canal becomes thickened or even mineralized, causing it to be inflexible. Once the ear canal is mineralized, changes may be irreversible and require surgery to relieve chronic pain.

If your animal's ear problem has been treated several times with little improvement, it may be time for your veterinarian to dig a little deeper for the root of the problem. Dr. Angus says, "Unless you stop the cause of the problem, the infection may never go away."

If you suspect that your pet has an ear infection, please contact your local veterinarian.

With Spring & Summer come fleas, and it is time to start planning our attack on these little pests.

With so many flea control products to choose from, it is very difficult to decide which one is best for your pet’s needs. At Claws and Paws Veterinary Hospital®, we are dedicated to providing the most up to date information about flea control so you can make your pet as comfortable as possible. Here is a breakdown of our recommended flea control currently available through your veterinarian.

K9 Advantixä

We currently recommend K9 Advantix™ for flea control for most of our Canine patients.  Advantix™ is a revolutionary product that protects dogs from fleas, ticks and mosquitoes!

It is the only product of its kind provided by veterinarians. The product is applied directly to the skin monthly. Your dog’s movements will help spread K9 Advantix™ over the entire body. If you live in a heavy mosquito, flea or tick ridden area, then K9 Advantix™ is the product for your dog this summer. (Please note that K9 Advantix™ is for use on dogs only.)

K9 Comfortisä

We started carrying this product in early 2008 although it has been on the market since at least early 2007. K9 Comfortisä is a pill that is very effective at killing fleas on dogs. It begins killing fleas within 30 minutes and kills 100% of fleas within four hours. Please call us for further details on this product. If you prefer a pill instead of applying a topical product for your dog's  flea control, then this is the flea control product for you!

Revolution® (Selamectin)—Pfizer

Revolution® is a combination product. It is a topical that prevents fleas, heartworms, ear mites and sarcoptic mange.  Revolution® is applied once per month, but since it is also a heartworm preventative it should be applied each and every month!  We recommend Revolution® for most of our Feline patients.