Below you'll find a list of all posts from September, 2016
“An ounce of prevention…” Routine health examinations are necessary. Remember the old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?” That happens to be as true for the health of your pet as it is for any member of your family. Annual health examinations will help determine the general well being of your pet and identify potential …
Heartworm is a serious, life-threatening disease of dogs. It is due to the presence of the adult stage of the parasite, Dirofilaria immitis, in the pulmonary arteries and right ventricle of the heart. Until the early 1970s, the occurrence of heartworm in the United States was primarily confined to the southeastern part of the country. Today, it is found almost …
Having your pet spayed (ovariohysterectomy) or neutered (castrated) is an inexpensive and realistic method of pet population control. The number of unwanted adult and young animals that are euthanized each year in the United States is astounding. Aside from the pet overpopulation problem, neutering a male dog and spaying a female helps prevent, and even eliminates, medical problems associated with …
Ovariohysterectomy is the medical term for spaying a female dog. Ovariohysterectomy is best performed on a puppy around 5-14 months of age, following the advice of your veterinarian. Ovariohysterectomies can be performed at any age; however, the surgery is less complicated and there fewer risks when the animal is young. Additionally, the risk of mammary tumors are reduced by 98% …
General Information Vaccinating your dog is a simple procedure that is routinely done by all veterinarians. Vaccinations are safe, effective and well worth the financial commitment. Many diseases that were once considered fatal to dogs are now under control due to the use of modern vaccines. When vaccinations are administered, the body produces substances called antibodies. These antibodies are …
Parvovirus (also known as Parvo) is a serious, highly contagious viral infection of dogs that causes vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Parvovirus is transmitted through contact with the stool of an infected dog or contaminated environment. Puppies are most susceptible to parvo infection and fatalities are extremely common. Very often, young puppies die suddenly from heart failure. This sudden death occurs …
Infectious canine hepatitis is a contagious viral disease of dogs, foxes and other canids. The disease should not be confused with human hepatitis, even though both diseases cause liver problems. Dogs and other canids do not transmit the disease to humans! Vaccinations are extremely effective in preventing this disease and it is rare that a vaccinated dog becomes infected. Two …
Leptospirosis is a disease that infects dogs, humans and other animals. The organism that causes the disease is a type of bacterium called spirochete. Leptospirosis is spread by recovered animals that shed the spirochete in their urine for months to years following infection. Exposure to the disease usually occurs in the environment from contaminated water, food, soil, or vegetation. The …
Infectious tracheobronchitis (kennel cough) is the name given to a contagious disease of the canine respiratory tract. The germs associated with this disease infect the cells lining the interior of the trachea (windpipe) and the bronchi (large air passages of the lungs). The disease is usually caused by a virus (parainfluenza or adenovirus type 2) associated with an infectious bacteria …
Lyme disease affects dogs, cats, people, horses, birds, cattle, and wild animals. Although it affects a large group of animals, clinical signs are often observed only in dogs and humans. In dogs, the most pronounced symptoms of Lyme disease are sore joints, a stiff gait, and lameness. The lameness is not always pronounced and often shifts from one leg to …
