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In This Issue
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Pet Portals is now VetStreet - Sign up now!
Don't Shave your Dog Flowers, Pollens & Allergies Which Shampoo is Right? Did You Know? - Pet Facts |
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| Pet Portals are private, secure web pages that contain your pet's health information and are available as a free service from NAC. Night or day you can remind yourself with an email to give heartworm or flea prevention, request refills of prescriptions and special diets, request appointments and boarding reservations, and print your own vaccination records. |  |
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Flea & Tick Awareness
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| Fleas are parasites that survive on the blood of their host. Fleas multiply rapidly, laying literally hundreds of eggs in your pet's coat. A few can quickly become a full-blown infestation. Your veterinarian can prescribe one of the many different products available to help eliminate fleas on your pet and in the environment.
Flea prevention depends on treating both your pet and your pet's environment. One tip is to use a once a month flea preventative year round. Fleas can cause serious medical problems such as flea allergy dermatitis, tapeworms, secondary skin irritation and, in extreme cases, anemia. If a flea problem gets out of control, see your veterinarian for help. By working together as a team, you and your veterinarian can win the war against fleas. |
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| There has been a common mis-conception that shaving your long-haired dog will keep him/her cooler. This is not the case. That hair is there for a very good reason, it blocks the sun's rays thus preventing sunburn. It also insulates the dog and actually keeps him/her cooler. Shaving for grooming reasons will be o.k. for INDOOR dogs or those out of sun and heat. | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Does your pet love the outdoors....? |  |
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Itchy, licking frequently or losing hair... | |||||||||||||||||
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Comments, ideas, suggestions ..... We'd love to hear from you! |
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| Your pet may have an allergic reaction to flea bites, a condition that often becomes more troublesome as your pet ages! | ||||||||||||||||||
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Learn more about Flea Bite Dermatitis and what you can do to help your pet!
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When a tick is found, it is important to remove it properly and quickly. Here are some tips from the Texas Dept. of Health:
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Both dogs and cats are susceptible to allergies of the skin. Some are caused by contact with foreign substances such as certain plants, grasses, etc. Others are caused by parasites like fleas, mites, mosquitoes or ticks. Some foods can cause allergies as well. One of the most common types of allergies are those caused by airborne substances such as pollen, dust and molds. This type of allergy is called atopy. Allergies can cause problems all year long or may be seasonal depending on what the pet is allergic to. Allergies usually cause extreme itching all over, and may be more severe around the face, armpits and belly. Some pets will lick their feet constantly. Recurrent ear infections and staph infections of the skin are common secondary problems in the allergic pet. Cats many times will groom excessively leading to baldness in certain areas. Treatment for allergies is based on finding the cause, if possible, and trying to eliminate the source of the problem. In dogs and cats with atopy, allergy testing is performed to determine the offending allergies, and then desensitizing the pet with allergy injections. Medicated shampoos, antibiotics, antihistamines and sometimes certain steroids are often used to help alleviate the symptoms and treat the secondary problems. -Dr. Randy McBride |
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| A lot of people underestimate the power of fleas and ticks. Most people think that fleas and ticks are bugs that bug their pets. When in fact, fleas and ticks can and do cause disease as well as irritate your pets. Flea saliva has been known to be the most irritating substance known to man. Many dogs and cats are allergic to the saliva. This causes a reaction called "flea allergy dermatitis" (FAD), the most common allergic disease among pets.
Some people see one or two fleas and think that they don't have a flea problem. This is not true! Just one female can lay up to 50 eggs a day and two flease can become a thousand in just over a month. Fleas can complicate the pet/owner relationship. Once a flea problem is discovered, some owners force their pet outdoors or away from the family. Owners may also refrain from cuddling their pets after they apply traditional products, which may produce unpleasant odors and leave residue or oil on the pet's fur. Cats often are scared of the hissing sound of aerosol sprays and become irritable as they endure shampoos, flea dips, and other procedures that make them wet. Beyond itching and discomfort, fleas can cause medical problems in pets including anemia, tapeworms, and skin allergies. Some pets who are exposed to fleas may end up with intestinal tapeworms (the host animal may begin the tapeworm's life cycle by ingesting a flea). Tapeworms are more common in cats due to their constant grooming. Fleas are not the only problem though. Ticks can also cause discomfort and disease. Below are some of the ticks known in our area: Hard Ticks: Amblyomma americanum (lone star tick) are located primarily in the southern and south central states. They transmit ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF), Lyme borreliosis and tularemia. Ixodes scapularis (black-legged tick) are located in the eastern US and transmit babesiosis and Lyme borreliosis. Soft Ticks: Ornithodoros Turicata - are located in the southwestern and south central states. They transmit Tick-borne Relapsing Fever (TBRF). -Information in this article provided by Novartis Animal Health and the Texas Dept. of Health |
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Microchipping
Don't leave home without it!
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| NAC now offers microchipping as a primary care procedure. The AVID® microchip is safe, permanent and takes only seconds to administer. The tiny injectable "chip" contains a one-of-a-kind identification number and is recognized worldwide. The chip is so tiny it fits through a hypodermic needle and is simply injected under the skin of your pet. Animals of ANY age can get microchipping done. There is no sedation needed and most pets will react the same as if getting a routine vaccination. | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Ehrlichiosis - Ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by an organism in the genus Ehrlichia. It is usually seen in late spring through summer and causes flu-like symptoms of fever, chills, body aches, headache, nausea and vomiting. Unlike with Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF), there is usually not a skin lesion associated with Ehrichiosis. In dogs it has a severe effect on the blood components and can cause bleeding and clotting problems. RMSF is a tick-borne disease that affects animals and man. It was originally described in Montana but is more of a problem in the South Atlantic and West Central States. In people it causes a moderate-high fever with body aches, headache and can cause an eye infection. A rash is also seen with this and often starts on the soles of the feet and the hands. In dogs, the infection can cause fever, lethargy, and clotting problems. The tick needs to be attached for at least 4-6 hours before the organism that causes this disease to become activated. | ||||||||||||||||||
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Which Shampoo
is Best for my Pet?
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| Deciding on which shampoo is best for your pet is as important as deciding which food is best for your pet. Your veterinarian can help you determine which shampoo will be best for your dog or cat's skin and hair. It is not wise to use human shampoo on your pets skin because their skin is much different than our own. Some pet owners believe that bathing your pet is harmful to the skin and hair. This is untrue, but using the wrong shampoo can be harmful. | ||||||||||||||||||
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Did You Know....
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Flowers, Pollen, Fleas & Allergies
With spring in full bloom, your pets may be experiencing allergies related to the flowers, pollen and fleas. If your pet is showing signs of allergies, such as sneezing, reverse sneezing, hacking cough, watery eyes, excessive scratching, or other signs, please make an appointment so we can relieve those symptoms and/or diagnose another problem your pet may be having. |
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Aaacchh!
Hairballs can occur in all cats but are more common in longhaired cats. As the cat repeatedly grooms itself, it swallows hair which accumulates in the stomach forming a ball or mat. This ball can become so large that the cat must vomit and in some cases, surgical removal is necessary. To prevent hairballs, brush your cat frequently, and ask us about products available to help eliminate hairballs. |
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Under NO circumstances should you allow your pet to eat any of the following foods:
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Counterfeit Medications Abound - Protect Your Pet!
Make sure the Frontline®, Advantage® & Revolution® brand products you buy are legitimate products that are labeled to be sold in the United States. The manufacturers and the EPA are taking action to identify and stop the illegal importation and sale of foreign-labeled products. These products may or may not contain the proper dosage for your pet. To help consumers identify an improperly labeled product, please visit www.frontline.com/epa or www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/petproduct.htm |
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