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Where pets are like family |
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EDGEWOOD ANIMAL CLINIC |
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What’s New? |
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*TRIFEXIS– NEW HEARTWORM/FLEA COMBO We have a new product available this spring; Elanco has just released TRIFEXIS, a new heartworm preventative/flea control combo product. This product combines milbemycin (the active ingredient in Interceptor, which is our primary heartworm product we use in our practice) and spinosad (the active ingredient in the flea control pill Comfortis which we began using last year). Unlike previous combo products which sterilized but did not kill the fleas, this pill should be very effective in killing fleas on your dog for a month. It is not labeled for ticks, but we have found it to actually kill ticks quite well but only for about 3 weeks instead of a month. It is important to give it with a full meal. The nice thing is this product costs significantly less than buying both the interceptor and comfortis separately. We have product in stock for larger dogs right now and expect the other sizes to arrive soon.
*CANINE INFLUENZA Flu seems to be dominating the news these days! Recent reports show a few cases of swine flu in pets, but this appears to be an unusual occurrence. But there is an emerging canine influenza virus that has been seen with increasing frequency over the past few years. The worst cases have tended to occur in racing greyhound populations. Most dogs who contract the canine flu will show signs of mild upper respiratory infection; but it can occasionally progress quickly to pneumonia and more serious involvement. There is a new vaccine which has obtained conditional approval, but at this time we are not recommending it for our general pet population. Keep an eye on your pet, especially if they frequently have exposure to other dogs, and if you notice evidence of upper respiratory infection call our office to have it checked out.
*PEANUT BUTTER RECALL Recently the peanut butter recall was expanded to include some dog treats. Click here to go to our blog and look at the right sidebar for “peanut butter recall” for more detailed info. Don’t forget to check out the peanut butter itself if you use it to administer treats!
*WATCH THOSE HOUSEHOLD TOXINS… This winter we have seen an increase in the number of toxic exposures to our patients. Be aware that there are many common household products which can be potential toxins! We have especially seen an increase in chocolate toxicity and rodenticide poisonings. Other potentially dangerous toxins include: *ANTIFREEZE– this liquid is very sweet tasting and appealing to dogs and cats. It takes a very small amount to cause kidney failure and death. If you suspect your pet may have had exposure to antifreeze, call us IMMEDIATELY. Time is truly of essence in managing this problem!
*CHOCOLATE– believe it or not, ingestion of chocolate can cause serious illness and even death. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, tremoring, seizures, and cardiac arrhythmias. In general, the darker the chocolate, the smaller the amount it takes to cause toxicity. Very small amounts of bakers chocolate can be toxic. *RODENTICIDES– rat and mouse poisons most commonly cause problems with blood clotting. Because these are “baits” they are made to be very appealing for animals to eat. It can take up to several weeks for symptoms to occur; if you suspect your pet may have had exposure call us right away as treatment needs to be started immediately. *HOUSEHOLD MEDICATIONS– remember that dogs and cats are not people and medications which we routinely use can be toxic to them. DO NOT give your pet any human medications without consulting your veterinarian. Common problems we see are GI ulceration and kidney failure from ibuprofen (advil) or other medications in the nonsteroidal family in dogs, or Tylenol toxicity in cats. *RAISIN/GRAPE TOXICITY– in recent years we are seeing more and more frequent reports of kidney failure secondary to grape and raisin ingestion. The exact mechanism is not known, but ingestion especially of a relatively small amount of raisins can cause severe kidney failure and death. Make sure these items are stored where your pet cannot reach them and do not share them– if your toddlers eat raisins, make sure pets are confined elsewhere until the food is gone.
*XYLITOL TOXICITY– this is a new common ingredient in many sugar free products. Relatively small amounts can cause liver failure and death. Xylitol is found in products such as sugar free gum and mints and sugar free pudding. (one pudding cup could potentially kill a small dog). Again, make sure your purse is kept out of reach as many of us keep these items in our handbags.
*”OLD NEWS”...If you came here looking for a news item which has disappeared, it may still be available. For a link to our spring newsletter 2006 click HERE. For more detailed information on our wellness programs, click HERE. For info on heartworm prevention schedules click here.
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Check here for the latest information that affects your pet! |
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Spring 2011 |
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Phone: 859-331-4848 |
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To contact us: |
