Other medications and conditions

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