nexgard

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Snelgrove Vet Services Spring Newsletter

 

Fleas, Ticks, Mosquitoes. OUCH!

What does warm weather, damp corners and dark shadows add up to? You guessed it. Fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. Lucky us.

Unfortunately for our pets, both ticks and mosquitoes can carry potentially fatal diseases that can be passed on. Ticks for example, can carry Lyme disease and mosquitoes can carry heartworms.

So, how do we deal with these insects?  That’s where we come in.

There are some wonderful products available for our pets to make sure that these diseases aren’t transferred from said insect to your pet. We have both chewable and topical medications to help control insects on your pet. The topicals we carry produce what is called a ‘Hot-foot’ effect. When a tick, flea or mosquito touches your pet’s skin it causes a burning sensation on the bottom of the insect’s feet causing them to hop off of your pet and not even have a chance to feed. This medication is then distributed through their body and kills them.

The chewables work by traveling through your pets blood stream and when an insect feeds, it is automatically ingesting this medication causing them to die. Both products work exceptionally well at controlling fleas and ticks. With regards to heartworm, transferred by mosquitoes, you do need a different medication.

Blood testing is strongly encouraged yearly for tick-borne diseases and mandatory for heartworm prevention. Many tick-borne diseases can be treated with a short course of antibiotics if detected early. Commonly symptoms of tick-borne diseases appear vague and often go unnoticed for long periods of time. Often many pet owners don’t know their dog is suffering from a debilitating tick disease until it is too late.

Symptoms of progressive tick-borne diseases can include but are not limited to;

  • joint pain and inflammation
  • low-grade persistent fever
  • swelling at bite site
  • loss of appetite
  • spontaneous and shifting lameness
  • reluctant to move
  • fatigue
  • lethargy
  • weight loss, may or may not, include muscle wasting
  • depression
  • neck pain
  • neurological signs
  • bruising on gums or belly
  • nosebleed
  • discharge from eyes
  • vomiting
  • generalized weakness

Where do ticks live?

Ticks are typically found in forested areas and any overgrown areas including our own backyards. They don’t typically like sunny short-grassed areas but that’s not to say they can’t be there.

Keep your lawn and outdoor play areas safe. Keep shrubs and grass trimmed. Clean up any leaves or debris, especially underneath bushes. Limit shrubs and plants from areas your children and/or pets frequent. i.e. swing-sets, outdoor dining areas, etc. Keep areas around sheds and other buildings free of debris especially in shady areas.

For more information and a map of tick disease in our area visit www.dogsandticks.com

Many people already know that fleas can live in our households, but did you know, so can the brown dog tick? These ticks will live and reproduce in our houses just like fleas and typically need an exterminator to get rid of. Topical preventives and checking your pets skin will help prevent these pesky creatures from moving into your home. We have also seen an increase of Deer Ticks in the Brampton area. These ticks are the carriers of Lyme disease.

Walk-in blood testing is available for your pets that do not need to see a veterinarian for any other reason.

AVAILABLE WALK IN TESTING

May 1st – May 31st

Mon. 9:00-12:00 2:00-8:00

Tues. 9:00-12:00 2:00-7:00

Wed. 9:00-12:00 2:00-8:00

Thurs. 9:00-12:00 2:00-7:00

Fri. 9:00-12:00 2:00-7:00

Please note: Walk-Ins are NOT available during 12:00-2:00 pm nor on Saturdays

 

 

Cats can also be tested and placed on preventative. Due to the life-cycle of Feline Heartworm, many cats may have the parasite without showing any symptoms. Consider treating any cats that go outdoors, travel to the USA and/or southern Ontario or that have a chronic cough or wheeze.

 

If you notice a tick on yourself, a family member or pet, please use extreme caution when removing it or ask a professional to remove it for you. Many times the head can be left in the skin if not done properly.

Here are some of the products that we carry;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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One bite, it’s all it takes!

Ticks and mosquitoes

Spring has typically always been the time of year that we talk to our clients about the importance of putting their pets on a heartworm prevention. One bite from an infected mosquito is all it takes to transmit these tiny, microscopic parasites that can grow up to 12 inches long!

Now the issue is, we know that not only do mosquitoes transmit heartworm to pets, but, we also have ticks in Brampton. They can transmit Lyme disease, Erlichiosis [ur-lik-ee-oh-sis] , Anaplasmosis [an-uh-plaz-moh-sis] and Babesiosis [bab-bee-z-oh-sis].

So, the big question is, what can we do about it?

Well, lets face facts, these little bugs are not going away.

So, how do we prevent our pet from getting these diseases/parasites?

Testing, due diligence and prevention. Testing can tell us if your pet has already been exposed. We can then, if necessary, start appropriate treatment regiments. Hopefully prior to any permanent damage being done. Due diligence, check your pet head to tail for any small lumps which may be an attached tick. Prevention, there are many products available that help prevent our pets from getting bitten by these dangerous bugs. Just give your veterinarian a call and they can go over all options with you.

Remember to also keep yourself safe. Although mosquitoes don’t infect humans with heartworm, ticks can transmit all of these diseases to us as well. Check yourself for ticks as well. If you suspect you have been bitten by a tick or see a tick attached to yourself, contact your health care provider immediately.

For more information, click on the links below;

http://www.dogsandticks.com

http://www.nobiteisright.com

http://www.nobiteisright.ca

http://www.heartgard.ca

http://www.nexgardfordogs.com

 

As always, thanks for reading:)

The staff at Snelgrove Veterinary Services

 

 

 

 

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Spring 2015

charlie 001 There’s a new product available in Canada this year  which the staff at Snelgrove Vet Services is quite  excited about. With the current influx of ticks in the  Brampton and Caledon area, Nexgard has finally  come to the Canadian market. Approved by Health  Canada to kill Blacklegged ticks (deer ticks),  American Dog ticks and the Lone  star tick. It also kills Brown Dog ticks. These are all known carriers of diseases such as, Lyme disease,  Ehrlichia and Anaplasma.  But, not only does  Nexgard kill ticks, it also kills fleas all month-long.

Pretty cool, right?

We thought so. But what’s really cool about Nexgard? For people or pets who don’t like topical flea and tick killers, its an oral beef-flavoured chew. And yes, it’s beef ‘flavoured’, so for those pets that may have a beef allergy, Nexgard is still safe to give. Given monthly it is proven to keep killing both fleas and ticks for the full 30 days.

Nexgard is also safe to use if you have cats in the house and is approved for dogs as young as 8 weeks of age.

The best thing about Nexgard, now we have choices. In a market dominated by topical products, it’s nice to have another option. Ask your vet what flea and tick prevention you should use on your pets this year.

Thanks for reading.