HEARTWORM (Dirofilaria immitis):
- caused by bite from infected mosquito
- Parasitic infection living in bloodstream and/or heart restricting the blood flow to the lungs, kidneys & liver
- Symptoms include: difficulty breathing, coughing, loss of appetite, lack of energy and heart damage
- Preventative measures only control larvae development not adult worms so you must test for adults worms too
- Annual blood tests needed for the monthly preventative medication
- “Interceptor” prevents heartworm, hookworms, roundworms and whipworms
- “Sentinel” contains Interceptor and Program (flea birth control)
FLEA & TICK
Talk with your veterinarian about what may be right for your dog. Some dogs with seizure disorders or other health concerns may be at risk with these preventative medications.
- Popular Topical
- Frontline Plus: treatment offers 30 days of protection against fleas, ticks, chewing lice, and mites
- Advantage II: kills adult fleas, larvae, lice but not ticks
- K9 Advatix II: kills all life stages of fleas, ticks, mosquitos
- Popular Oral
- Trifexis: once a month kills fleas, prevents against heartworm, adult hookworm, roundworm, and whipworm > does not work on ticks or mosquitos
- Bravecto: once every 3 months fleas and ticks
- NexGard: once a month fleas and ticks
- Simpirica: once a month fleas and ticks
- Popular collars: Soresto flea and tick
- Neem Oil (Azadirachta Indica) natural remedy for flea & tick control when added to shampoos. Used externally for ringworm, eczema, lice, fungal infections & painful joints and muscles
TICK CONCERNS:
LYME DISEASE (Borreliosis);
- bacterial disease from infected deer ticks
- symptoms include: arthritis, sudden onset of severe pain and lameness, lethargy, depression, loss of appetite
- severe forms of Lyme disease can affect heart, brain & kidney
CANINE EHRLICHIOSIS
- Second most common infectious disease in US caused by common brown dog ticks
- Symptoms include: loss of appetite, runny nose or eyes, depression
- Can result in permanent blindness, autoimmune diseases, bleeding complications and even death
- NOT COMMON WITH HUMANS
ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER
- poor appetite, non-specific muscle or joint pain, fever, coughing, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, swelling of the face or legs, or depression
OTHER COMMON PUPPY CONDITIONS:
TAPE WORMS:
- Caused by fleas
- Caused by infected rodents
- Can pass to humans through ingestion of fleas or eggs
- Flat rice (linguine) like debris in stool or around bottom (I know, kind of gross)
ROUND WORMS:
- Parasite eggs in stool, soil, ground fruits veggies
- Can cause blindness in humans
HOOK WORMS:
- Parasite eggs in soil from stool
- Can infect humans
GIARDIA:
- Parasite in/around water from feces
- Symptoms include: diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal pain, poor weight gain
- Can be passed to humans
COCCIDIA