Ask the Vet – Heartworm Disease by Kristel Weaver DVM, MPVM

Every year at your annual preventive care visit, your veterinarian most likely recommends a heartworm preventative for your dog. So why do veterinarians feel this is so critical? Why is heartworm prevention a key component of maintaining your pet’s health?  If your pet is already on a heartworm prevention program – great job! If not, here are some specifics on heartworms and why it is important to give your dog that monthly dose.

What is a heartworm infection?

Heartworms are a type of roundworm that looks similar to angel hair pasta.  These worms live in the blood vessels around the heart, and inside the heart itself.  The worms cause a blockage of blood flow leading to right-sided heart failure.  When a dog has heart failure from heartworms they will cough, breath faster than normal, have a distended belly and will be unable to exercise.  If left untreated, heartworm infections can be fatal.

How do dogs get heartworms?

Mosquitoes spread heartworms.  Once a carrier mosquito bites a dog, it takes six to seven months before there are adult worms living in the heart.  The adult heartworms then make baby heartworms, called microfilaria, which swim in the blood and can be picked up by a mosquito bite and spread to another animal.  Heartworm cannot be spread without going through a mosquito.

Can it be spread to people or cats?

Humans are rarely infected with heartworms.  The worms cannot complete their lifecycle in humans and become walled off as a round nodule in the lungs.  Cats can get heartworm infections but are much more resistant than dogs.

How is it treated?

The treatment plan for an individual dog is based on the severity of the infection.  Typically, dogs are given a drug to kill the adult worms (Immiticide), antibiotics for secondary infections, and heartworm preventatives to kill the microfilaria.  After getting Immiticide, tiny chunks of dying worms are present in the lungs and can cause difficulty breathing.  Dogs must be kept calm, quiet, and rested for one to two months after getting the treatment to avoid side effects as their body breaks down the dying worms.

How is it prevented?

There are multiple heartworm preventatives on the market.  These are safe and easily administered (usually a chew or a topical ointment).  Collies and other herding breeds can have negative side effects to the drug used in heartworm preventatives at high doses.  The low doses used in heartworm preventatives have been proven safe for all breeds.

How much heartworm disease do we see in the San Francisco East Bay?

Our clinic sees a handful of heartworm infections each year; while it’s not a huge problem it definitely does occur.  In the southern part of the United States heartworm disease is really common.  In a year with heavy mosquitoes we could have an outbreak here in the Bay Area.  If you travel with your dog you could be taking him/her to areas much more infested with heartworms.  Keeping your dog on monthly heartworm prevention is ideal for optimum health.  These preventatives have an added benefit of being a general dewormer.

Talk to your veterinarian about which preventative is best for your dog.  Preventing a heartworm infection is much easier and safer than treating the disease. Like Benjamin Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” 

Dr. Kristel Weaver is a graduate of the Veterinary School at the University of California, Davis where she received both a DVM and a Master’s of Preventative Veterinary Medicine (MPVM).  She has been at Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care in San Ramon since 2007.  She currently lives in Oakland with her husband and their daughter, Hayley. If you have questions you would like Dr. Weaver to answer for future articles, please email info@webvets.com

Snail Bait Poisoning

Snail bait is the most common poisoning agent of dogs in California. Warning signs of snail bait poisoning include anxious twitching that becomes uncontrollable, racing heart rate, vomiting, diarrhea and respiratory failure.The twitching progresses to seizures and potentially death. Seizures can raise a pet's body temperature so high that brain damage can occur.

Know the facts:

• The toxic ingredient in snail bait is metaldehyde and can cause seizures in animals that can be fatal.
• Snail bait is commonly sold in pellets that resemble dog food and have a flavor that attracts dogs.
• Snail bait can be licked off paws during grooming.
• It takes less than one teaspoon per 10lbs of body weight for snail bait to become toxic.

Pet-safe alternatives to snail bait include Sluggo Slug & Snail Bait, handpicking, and copper barriers. You can read more about snail bait from Dr. Utchen by clicking here.  

If you think your pet may have ingested snail bait call us immediately at 925.866.8387! 

 

Ask the Vet- Tripods by Kristel Weaver, DVM, MPVM

Learning that your dog or cat needs an amputation brings up a lot of questions.  I’ll discuss common concerns about living with a pet that has undergone an amputation and share my own experiences on life with a tripod, my favorite term for a three-legged dog or cat.

Why would a dog or cat have a leg amputated?

The most common reasons for a dog or cat to need an amputation are trauma, cancer or a congenital defect.   Trauma injuries can result from being hit by a car, falling out a window or getting attacked by another animal.  A dog attacked my cat and caused severe trauma to his back left leg.  After trying unsuccessfully to get his injuries to heal, I amputated his leg and he has been happy ever since.  When a dog is diagnosed with a bone tumor or a cat has a vaccine-associated sarcoma on one of their legs, we recommend an amputation to remove the cancer. Congenital defects or neonatal injuries can lead to malformed limbs that are painful and can’t be used normally.  If a leg is constantly painful and cannot be fixed, amputation may be the best option.

Are dogs and cats embarrassed when they lose a leg?

Not at all!  Tripods seem to have no comprehension that they are different from their friends and don’t show any signs of being ashamed or embarrassed.  They are as happy, silly and playful as they were previously.  There is no emotional aspect for them to lose a limb.  As an owner of a tripod, you will probably get extra attention and questions about your dog or cat’s condition.

Can a tripod still live a normal life?

Yes!  Dogs and cats with only three limbs can live completely normal lives.  They can still exercise and play, go for walks, cuddle, nap and eat regular food.  They can still bark at the mailman or hide from the vacuum cleaner.  Pets with a back leg amputation will not be able to jump as high as a four-legged friend.  The exception is obese, geriatric or severely arthritic dogs and cats.  These animals will have a hard time walking around after an amputation may not be good candidates for the surgery.

What can I do to make life easier for my tripod?

Keep your tripod thin!  Extra weight puts more strain on the remaining legs. 

• Raise the food and water bowls for dogs with front leg amputations, this helps so they don’t have to bend down on their one front leg.
• Arrange the house so the floors have traction.  Use rugs, runners, yoga mats or whatever helps prevent your dog from slipping as they zip around. Hardwood or tile surfaces can lead to spills.
• If your dog or cat needs an amputation I recommend you talk to other pet owners with tripods and visit their pets to see how happy they are.  My three-legged cat has no idea he is missing anything and still sprints around the house, jumps on the bed, runs upstairs and rules over the dogs.

Check out these cool videos of Schwartz the three-legged cat and Nuchal the three-legged dog running and playing!

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Dr. Kristel Weaver is a graduate of the Veterinary School at the University of California, Davis where she received both a DVM and a Master’s of Preventative Veterinary Medicine (MPVM).  She has been at Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care in San Ramon since 2007.  She currently lives in Oakland with her husband and their daughter, Hayley. If you have questions you would like Dr. Weaver to answer for future articles, please email info@webvets.com

Ask the Vet: Why do cats vomit? by Kristel Weaver, MPVM, DVM

I have 2 kitties and one of them throws up a ton!  I know people say that cats throw up; it's no big deal.  Why do cats vomit? 

Most cat owners have experienced the unpleasant surprise of finding a pile of cat vomit.  Fortunately, at my house I have two dogs to clean up the mess!  Before we discuss vomiting, we have to discuss the differences between vomiting and regurgitation.  Vomiting is an active process that involves stomach noise, retching and heaving before the food is expelled from your cat’s mouth.  Regurgitation is a passive process where the food just pops out, often undigested in a tube or cigar shape.  There are several reasons for cats to regurgitate or vomit:

• Gorging – Cats that eat too much too fast may regurgitate from triggering a stretch reflex in the stomach.  These cats regurgitate right after eating and the food is undigested in a tubular shape. It can also look like a round pile of undigested food.

• Hairballs – Cats spend a lot of time grooming.  In the process, they eat a lot of hair.  Some cats are able to pass hair through their digestive tract into their stools.  For other cats the hairball grows in the stomach until it causes irritation and is vomited up.  Hairballs look like vomit mixed with hair.

• Grass or other foreign bodies – If a cat eats something other than food such as grass, leaves, plastic or a hair band, it may lead to vomiting.  Obviously in this type of vomit you will see some non-food item that was probably the cause of that vomit.

• Food allergies – These are VERY common in cats.  When cats have a food allergy they are allergic to either the protein or the carbohydrate in their food.  For example, a cat that vomits frequently on a fish based cat food might do much better on a turkey-based food and eliminating fish from their diet completely.  If you think your pet has a food allergy, talk to your veterinarian about recommended foods.

• Constipation – Cats that pass a dry hard stool every few days may be constipated and vomit from feeling bloated and plugged up.

• Other health issues – Cats vomit due to metabolic disease, inflammatory bowel disease, toxins, cancer and a variety of other illnesses.

When should I be concerned?  

If your cat vomits several times a day, if there is blood in the vomit, if your cat is lethargic, losing weight or not eating then I recommend taking your cat to the vet as soon as possible. 

Usually, a cat that vomits once or twice a month is not a concern.  If your cat vomits or regurgitates more often than you feel is normal, I recommend discussing it with your veterinarian.  

Dr. Kristel Weaver is a graduate of the Veterinary School at the University of California, Davis where she received both a DVM and a Master’s of Preventative Veterinary Medicine (MPVM).  She has been at Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care in San Ramon since 2007.  She currently lives in Oakland with her husband and their daughter, Hayley. If you have questions you would like Dr. Weaver to answer for future articles, please email info@webvets.com