Tick Borne Diseases

Getting ready for tick season
Living in Minnesota we have to protect our pets against tick borne diseases. Ticks feed heavily in the spring and fall months during mild weather conditions but also during the summer months. There are many types of ticks that can infect our pets and spread different types of blood born pathogens. Tick borne diseases that are present in Minnesota include: Lyme, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. These diseases present with varying signs that include: joint pain, fever, lethargy, and decreased appetite. The pathogens that spread through the tick that cause the above disease can also attack the red blood cells, and have an severe affect on the major organs, causing life threatening illness. There is no vaccine for Ehrlichia, Anaplasma or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. All pets are at risk for tick infestation as ticks are primarily found in low standing grass in all regions of Minnesota. Therefore, preventing ticks from biting your pet is very important in controlling the transmission of the above diseases. Frontline is one of many products that has been found to be to be safe and effective against transmission of tick borne disease. There are many products that prevent against fleas and ticks, consult your pet's Veterinarian to see what is right for your pet(s). We do not recommend over the counter preventatives as primary prevention against protecting against the above tick borne diseases, as they are not found to be as affective against protecting against tick bites. Flea/tick collars have been reported to cause irritation around the neck region with owners still finding ticks attached to their pet, especially in the hind quarters.
Given the prevalence of the above tick borne diseases in Minnesota make sure you are using a monthly preventative on your pet(s) starting at the end of March, early April, through November.

Dr. Angela Woodward

Dental Health Month

February Is National Pet Dental Health Month

Your pet’s bad breath could be more than a smelly annoyance; it might signify a serious health risk with the potential to damage not only the animal's teeth and gums but its internal organs as well.
To address the significance of oral health care for pets, several veterinary groups are sponsoring National Pet Dental Health Month in February. Sponsors include the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS), Academy of Veterinary Dentistry, American Veterinary Dental College and Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc.
According to the AVDS, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age three, often indicated by bad breath, a change in eating or chewing habits, pawing at the face and mouth and depression. Besides causing receding gums and tooth loss, the infection may enter the bloodstream, potentially infecting the heart, liver and kidneys.
"Oral disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem for pets," said Dr. Henry Childers, DVM, president of the AVMA. "Just as the public has come to realize that their own oral health is linked to their overall health, veterinarians want people to understand that dental health care is essential to maintaining the overall health and well-being of the family pet."
Bacteria, combined with saliva and food debris between the tooth and gum, can cause plaque formulations on the tooth, which turns to tartar. If not removed from the teeth, pockets of infection may appear along the gum line, separating the teeth from the gum. If untreated, this disease, called periodontitis, can lead to tooth loss and the infection caused by the disease may enter the bloodstream, potentially infecting the heart, liver and kidneys.

Schedule your pet's annual dental treatment today!