Pet Health Care Gazette

Recently publicized results from a survey of dog bite incidents occurring in the state of Colorado over the past 2 years reveal some interesting statistics. For a brief audio synopsis of the results, click on the “play” button below.

This study draws many significant conclusions and implications. Some of the more significant conclusions are reviewed here.

Most Dogs are Never Involved in Bite Incidents

Fewer than one dog out of every 350 dogs are ever reported to animal control officials or public health officials as being involved in a human bite incident.

In the Right Circumstances, Any Dog of Any Breed is Capable of Biting

Bites were reported from dogs of 129 different breeds during the one year time span of this survey. Many of these bite wounds occurred when dogs were running at large. However dog bites sustained when people intervened between two dogs fighting or playing were also reported in high numbers. Dogs protecting their property, food or toys were also frequently mentioned as causes of dog bite injuries and were the most common cause of dog bites involving members of the family owning the dog.

While dog bite statistics for individual breeds of dogs were recorded in the survey, the popularity of each breed within the state was not recorded. Therefore, it was impossible to draw conclusions about whether one breed of dog was more likely to bite than another breed based on these results.

Characteristics of Dogs Involved in Dog Bites

Male dogs were found to be more likely to bite than female dogs and were more likely to bite while protecting property, food or other resources. However, female dogs were more likely to bite when humans intervened in dog-to-dog aggression (i.e. dog fights, etc).

Dogs between one to four years of age were involved in slightly over 50% of the reported dog bites in this survey.

Characteristics of Victims Involved in Dog Bites

Children under the age of 14 years were bitten at higher rates than those of other age groups and male children were more frequently involved than female children. Fortunately, the majority of dog bites to children were minor injuries. Children were most often bitten by dogs while they were playing with the dog, were left unsupervised with the dog, were provoking the dog or when they startled the dog.

A greater proportion of dog bites to children involved puppies, although puppies were equally likely to bite both children and adults. Older dogs were found to be more likely to bite adults than children.

Decreasing the Incidence of Dog Bites in Your Community

Dog owners should not allow their pets to run at large. Dogs should be leashed when in public and/or should be adequately confined or supervised when outside.

Do not allow children to play with or handle dogs unsupervised. Children should not be encouraged to handle stray or unknown dogs.

When separating dogs involved in dog-to-dog aggression, care must be taken to avoid injury to human handlers. Dog bites frequently occur when people try to separate dogs which are playing together or who are fighting with one another.

All dogs should be properly vaccinated against rabies to decrease the danger of infection in the event that a dog bite does occur. Most communities have laws or ordinances in place making rabies vaccinations mandatory.

Dog owners should discourage strangers from petting or otherwise handling the dog, particularly if the dog in question is high-strung or nervous by nature. Children in particular should be encouraged to use caution when petting or handling strange dogs and should always be supervised when engaging in such activity. Dog owners should discourage strangers from holding the dog near their face as well to avoid injuries which may be disfiguring.

One of the most convenient aspects of Revolution for dogs is the fact that Revolution for dogs prevents heartworms at the same time that it kills and prevents fleas. For many dog owners, this is a benefit that is irresistible. In addition to preventing heartworms and fleas, Revolution for dogs helps to control ear mites in dogs, helps to treat scabies (sarcoptic mange) in dogs and controls the species of tick known as Dermacentor variabilis.

How does Revolution for Dogs Work?

Revolution for dogs contains a chemical known as selamectin as its active ingredient. Shortly after Revolution for dogs is applied to the skin, it is taken into the blood stream. Once in the blood stream, Revolution is then redistributed back out to the skin. By exerting effects both internally and externally, Revolution is able to control a broad spectrum of parasites, both internal and external.

How is Revolution for Dogs Applied?

Revolution for dogs is formulated as a liquid medicine which is made to be applied directly to the skin. Normally the Revolution medication is placed on the skin between the shoulder blades or behind the neck.

Revolution for dogs should be applied once per month. Current recommendations advise using Revolution monthly year-round because of threat of flea and tick issues even during the colder months of year. It has been found that both fleas and ticks can survive the cold winter months if the environment they are living in is sheltered, such as a crawl space under a home, or low hanging shrubbery which provides adequate shelter beneath the branches.

Revolution acts on fleas by not only killing the adult fleas but also by killing flea eggs and larvae, so that Revolution for dogs is an effective medication in both treating and preventing flea infestations.

Is Revolution for dogs safe?

Revolution for dogs is considered to be an extremely safe product. Side effects associated with the administration of Revolution for dogs are rare but may include:

• vomiting
• diarrhea
• depressed appetite
• lethargy
• excess salivation
• incoordination
• muscle tremors
• fever
• rapid, shallow breathing patterns
• itchiness
• swelling

Which Dogs Should Take Revolution?

Any dog at risk for heartworm disease, flea infestation, ear mites, scabies or ticks is a good candidate for taking Revolution for dogs. However, dogs which are sick, weak or debilitated should not have Revolution applied.

In addition, dogs which are infected with heartworms should not have Revolution applied. Dogs over the age of 6 months should have a blood test for heartworms performed before being placed on Revolution. The blood test for heartworms should be repeated every 6-12 months.

Revolution can be administered to puppies as young as 6 weeks of age. Revolution is safe for use in female dogs which are pregnant or nursing, as well as dogs used for breeding purposes.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages to Using Revolution for Dogs?

Unlike some of the other heartworm preventive medicines, Revolution for dogs does not prevent intestinal worms such as roundworms and hookworms.

In addition, Revolution for dogs is effective against only one species of tick (Dermacentor variabilis) and there are many other species of ticks which can infest dogs and spread disease.

These disadvantages may be outweighed by the advantages of being able to use Revolution to prevent both heartworms and fleas at the same time. Several factors should be remembered when weighing the advantages of using Revolution for dogs.

• Fleas can cause discomfort for dogs as well as being responsible for flea allergy dermatitis, skin infections, “hot spots” and tapeworm infection.
• Heartworms can cause severe and even fatal disease of the heart in infected dogs.
• Scabies is a disease which can cause skin lesions for dogs and is also contagious to people.
• Ear mites are common parasites which can make a dog extremely uncomfortable and even predispose them to other health issues, such as auricular hematomas, a swelling of the ear flap caused by blood leaking out into the space between the cartilage which makes up the ear flap.
• Revolution is a convenient medication which is easy to apply.

Heartworm testing in dogs is a simple process that involves only a few drops of blood. In many hospitals, it can be done extremely quickly, often in a matter of a few moments. Currently available heartworm tests are accurate and reliable.

What Dogs Should be Tested for Heartworms?

Any dog over the age of six months should be tested for heartworms. Dogs younger than six months of age do not generally need to be tested for heartworms but should be placed on heartworm preventive medication. The reason for the recommendation to test dogs six months of age and older for heartworms is due to the fact that it takes heartworms four to six months to mature and be detectable with heartworm testing. Prior to six months of age, it is nearly impossible for a dog to have a positive heartworm test.

Most dogs should be tested every 6-12 months for heartworms, even if receiving heartworm prevention medicine. There are many reasons for this:

• dog owners may not be compliant with giving medication as directed, often without being aware of the fact
• dogs may not be compliant about taking medications administered by dog owners, particularly if the medication is oral
• heartworms are less likely to cause serious damage if heartworm disease is detected early
• heartworm treatment is likely to be safer and more effective if heartworms disease is detected early

Annual Heartworm Testing is Necessary Because Sometimes Owners are Non-Compliant

All of us lead busy lives and it is not difficult to forget small things in our daily routines, particularly when the item is one that is done on a monthly basis. Sometimes, the time just gets away from us and we do not realize that it has been more than a month since we administered the heartworm preventive medicine to our dog. Other times, we may not have the heartworm medicine readily available and may need to postpone a dosage until we are able to get to the veterinary office to purchase the heartworm medicine or wait for it to come in the mail. Another scenario might involve two dog owners, each of which believes the other has administered the heartworm preventive medicine for the dog when the truth is that the dog has not yet received the heartworm preventive medicine. Whatever the reason, sometimes life takes over, other events occur and the heartworm preventive medicine does not get administered to the family dog, leaving the dog susceptible to heartworm infection and disease.

Annual Heartworm Testing is Necessary Because Sometimes Dogs are Non-Compliant

We have all seen dogs that did not like to take medication. Dogs can be very clever, often appearing to have swallowed medicine which in fact has not been swallowed. Chewable flavored heartworm preventive medicines make this less likely, but still not impossible.

In addition, it is not impossible for a dog to vomit shortly after taking medicines of any type. Vomiting may the result of eating grass, chewing on plants, ingesting other foreign objects, viral infections, an “upset stomach”, and a host of other reasons. While occasional vomiting in itself may not be serious, if the dog vomits shortly after receiving the heartworm preventive medicine, he may also vomit the heartworm preventive medicine along with the rest of the stomach contents. Vomiting like this would be no different than if the dog never swallowed the heartworm preventive medicine and would result in the dog being susceptible to heartworm infection and disease.

Annual Heartworm Testing Provides Early Diagnosis of Heartworm Infection and Disease

Heartworm infection in dogs can lead to serious damage of the heart and can lead to heart failure and other symptoms. However, this damage does not take place overnight. When heartworm infection is detected soon after infection, the time the heartworms have to damage the heart is shortened.

Early diagnosis of heartworm infection is achieved by testing for heartworms annually. Annual heartworm testing can allow earlier treatment, reducing the chance of serious damage to the heart of the infected dog.

Annual Heartworm Testing Allows Early Treatment of Heartworm Infections

Treatment of heartworms in dogs is safer now than it was previously. However, heartworm treatment is still not without risk. Heartworm treatment which is performed early in the course of disease before serious illness is observed is safer for the dog, with less risk of adverse side effects occurring. Treatment of heartworms is also more likely to be successful early in the course of disease, again because of the lower risk of adverse side effects.

Annual heartworm testing allows earlier treatment of heartworm disease by allowing earlier detection of disease. For this reason, many veterinarians recommend yearly (or sometimes semi-yearly) heartworm testing for most dogs.

Rimadyl is the most common pain relief medication used in dogs. Rimadyl contains a medication known as carprofen, which acts to reduce inflammation and relieve pain in dogs.

Rimadyl is used in dogs:

• to treat chronic pain associated with arthritis and other degenerative diseases
• to treat pain associated with surgical procedures
• to treat pain associated with muscular injuries (muscle strains, muscle pulls, etc)
• to treat pain associated with cancer
• to treat pain from other sources
• to reduce inflammation associated with numerous causes

What is Rimadyl?

Rimadyl is a potent non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medication. It is available as an injection, which is frequently used in veterinary hospitals to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Rimadyl is also available as a chewable tablet which can easily be administered at home by a dog owner.

Rimadyl chewable tablets are beef flavored and are readily accepted by most dogs when offered as a treat. Rimadyl chewable tablets are available in three different dosage ranges (25 mg, 75 mg and 100 mg). While Rimadyl tablets are normally administered one to two times daily, your veterinarian will be able to help you decide what dosage strength and schedule is appropriate for your dog.

Rimadyl tablets and injection are both prescription medications which require a prescription from your veterinarian. Rimadyl tablets are widely available through many veterinary offices as well as numerous online pharmacies.

What Should a Dog Owner Expect While Administering Rimadyl to a Dog?

Before beginning administration of Rimadyl, your veterinarian may recommend performing a routine blood screen for your dog. This is especially likely in dogs which have chronic problems which are likely to be receiving Rimadyl on a long-term basis. Many veterinarians recommend routine blood screens for middle-aged to older dogs before starting on Rimadyl as well. The blood screens are done to make certain there are no health problems present which would make Rimadyl difficult for your dog to metabolize. Your veterinarian may also advise periodic blood screens for your dog if your dog continues to receive Rimadyl on a long-term basis.

Rimadyl often works fairly quickly in relieving pain in a dog suffering from chronic disease such as arthritis. Rimadyl also works rapidly in dogs suffering inflammation from other causes.

When using Rimadyl tablets as a post-surgical pain relief medication, Rimadyl is often more effective if started before signs of pain actually begin. Therefore, often Rimadyl is administered during or shortly after a surgical procedure and is continued for several days post-surgically.

When using Rimadyl tablets for your dog, you should follow your veterinarian’s instructions closely.

What Side Effects Occur with Rimadyl?

Rimadyl is a safe medication which is widely used in dogs. While side effects associated with Rimadyl are uncommon, adverse reactions can occur and may include:

• vomiting
• diarrhea
• increased thirst and increased water consumption
• increased urine volume
• icterus (yellowing of the gums)
• seizures
• incoordination

If your dog experiences any of these symptoms while receiving Rimadyl, stop administering the medication at once and contact your veterinarian.

Rimadyl in Cats

Rimadyl is labeled for use in dogs only. Because cats are more sensitive to NSAID medications than dogs, Rimadyl should be administered to a cat only if recommended by your veterinarian and only as directed by your veterinarian. Instructions for using Rimadyl in cats need to be followed very carefully. In many cases, there are safer medications available and your veterinarian may recommend another type of pain relief medication for your cat, where necessary.

With the recent outbreak of swine flu in the US, Mexico, Canada and overseas, there have been a lot questions about the virus that causes swine flu.

What is swine flu?

Swine flu, or swine influenza, is caused by an influenza virus which is one of many strains of influenza viruses in existence. Ordinarily, swine flu is passed from pigs to pigs or occasionally from pigs to people. However, with this new outbreak, swine flu is now able to pass from person to person, which greatly facilitates the spread of the disease.

In the past, most cases of swine flu in people revolved around contact with pigs. With this new outbreak of swine flu, that is no longer the case. In fact, none of the people infected in the US had any contact with pigs, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

How do people get swine flu?

As stated above, with this recent outbreak of swine flu, contact with another infected person is responsible for the spread of the virus. The virus is spread through respiratory secretions, so coughing and sneezing are big factors in the transmission.

How do pigs get swine flu?

Pigs normally get swine flu from contact with other infected pigs. Contaminated equipment, skin and clothing can also be responsible for spreading swine influenza to pigs.

Pigs can also get influenza from people (human influenza) and from infected birds (avian influenza).

It is unclear whether this latest strain of swine flu, which is responsible for the outbreak in the human population, could be passed from people to pigs. However, it seems reasonable to believe that such may be the case.

It is possible, although not yet confirmed, that pet pigs, such as pot bellied pigs, could potentially be infected with this new strain of swine influenza as well.

Are other kinds of animals susceptible to swine flu?

There is no evidence at the current time to suspect that other types of animals can catch swine flu from infected people and/or pigs. To date, there have been no reported cases of swine flu in dogs, cats, ferrets, guinea pigs, horses, cattle, goats, or any other type of animal. There is some concern that swine flu could affect ferrets because of the fact that people are able to transmit other types of human influenza viruses to ferrets.

What type of symptoms does swine flu cause?

In pigs, symptoms are primarily respiratory and include coughing (which may sound like a bark), sneezing, nasal and ocular discharges, fever, lack of appetite, reddened and/or inflamed eyes and difficulty breathing.

In people, symptoms are similar and are usually respiratory in nature, although vomiting and diarrhea has also been reported with the current outbreak of swine flu.

What can a pet owner do to protect a pet?

Pet pigs, including pot bellied pigs, could potentially be at risk and a vaccination against swine flu may be a valid consideration if a pet pot bellied pig is not already vaccinated. Isolating pet pot bellied pigs from people who are sick may be advisable as well, particularly if the symptoms are flu-like in nature.

For other types of pets, no special precautions need to be taken at this time.

How can a person protect himself and his family against swine flu?

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends good hygiene, stressing frequent hand washing, covering the nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing, avoiding close contact such as hugging or kissing and staying home from work or school if sick.

The CDC has also issued a travel advisory urging people to postpone non-essential travel to areas where known cases of human swine flu have been diagnosed.

Can a person get swine flu from eating pork?

No, swine flu is a respiratory infection and is spread through respiratory secretions. Eating pork is perfectly safe as long as the pork is cooked thoroughly. There is no need for people to give up consuming pork products because of the threat of swine flu.

Roundworms, also known as ascarids, are the most common type of parasite seen in dogs, cats, puppies and kittens. Roundworms have been known to infect people, particularly children. In children, potential complications associated with roundworm infection include blindness, seizures and other maladies. Therefore, roundworms have a public health significance and controlling them for the family pet should not be ignored.

What are Roundworms?

Roundworms are intestinal parasites, meaning that they are worms which infect the intestinal tract of the dog and cat. Roundworms can infect other species as well, such as raccoons.

What Symptoms can a Roundworm Infection Cause in Dogs and Cats?

Younger puppies and kittens are most often diagnosed with roundworms, but roundworms can infect dogs and cats of any age. The most common symptoms seen with roundworms are:

• diarrhea
• vomiting
• weight loss or inability to gain weight normally
• a pot-bellied or swollen appearance to the abdomen
• coughing

In severe cases, roundworms can cause dehydration through fluid loss resulting from diarrhea and vomiting.

However, often there are no symptoms at all for the infected cat or dog and the pet seems perfectly normal and healthy.

How Does a Dog or Cat Become Infected with Roundworms?

In puppies and kittens, the most common route of infection is from the mother. Roundworms can be passed to kittens and puppies before birth, so many kittens and puppies are born with roundworms. Roundworms also can be passed from the mother to babies through the milk as the puppies or kittens are nursing.

In more mature dogs and cats, the usual means of infection is through ingestion of an infected fecal sample or by ingesting prey animals (i.e. hunting and killing smaller animals).

How are Roundworms Recognized in Dogs and Cats?

Roundworms can sometimes be seen in the feces of infected dogs or cats (or puppies and kittens). When seen in this fashion, the roundworm will appear as a long, white slender worm. Roundworms are often described as looking like spaghetti.

However, not seeing adult roundworms in the feces does not guarantee that a dog or cat does not have roundworms. A more reliable means of diagnosis is to have your pet’s feces analyzed by your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will examine your pet’s feces under a microscope, after using special techniques to concentrate any worm eggs present in the feces into a small, confined location. This type of fecal analysis looks for roundworm eggs in the feces. Roundworm eggs are too small to be seen with the naked eye but can easily be identified microscopically.

It is advisable to have your pet’s feces analyzed periodically. Usually, a fecal test every six to twelve months is sufficient after one year of age. More frequent fecal checks are advised for puppies and kittens under one year of age.

How are Roundworms in Dogs and Cats Treated?

There are numerous medications available to kill and control roundworms in dogs and cats. Some of the commonly used medications include:

• pyrantel, available as Strongid T and other brand names
• fenbendazole, available as Panacur
• piperazine

In addition, many of the monthly heartworm prevention medications are also effective in controlling roundworms in dogs and cats when given every month as recommended.

For puppies and kittens, routine strategic dewormings done at a very young age, even as early as 2 weeks of age, are recommended to help decrease the potential for spread of roundworms to people within the household. This is recommended because of the fact that most puppies and kittens are either born with roundworms or acquire them at a very young age.

The roundworm life cycle is roughly 21 days in length, so a second deworming is advisable three to four weeks following the first. Many veterinarians recommend a series of three dewormings given three to four weeks apart for puppies and kittens and for adult dogs and cats infected with roundworms.

Tapeworms are one of the most commonly seen intestinal parasites seen in both dogs and cats. Tapeworms are shed in a pet’s stool in segments and these segments are quite easily seen in the feces of an infected dog or cat or around the anal region of the infected pet.

Many pet owners become quite upset when they see these worms passing from their dog or cat. It is usually quite disconcerting, particularly if the parasite is fresh and is still moving and crawling across the surface of the feces or around the anal region.

How do Dogs and Cats Get Tapeworms?

Dogs and cats can become infected with tapeworms in three different ways:

• by ingesting fleas infected with tapeworms
• by ingesting raw or undercooked meat infected with tapeworms
• by killing and ingesting smaller prey animals, such as rats, mice or other rodents

The most common means of transmission is through ingestion of a flea. When animals groom themselves, fleas can be ingested quite easily, resulting in infection with tapeworms.

What do Tapeworms Look Like and How can a Pet Owner Recognize Them

Tapeworms are shed through the feces and can often be seen on the surface of the fecal movement or in the hair around the anal region and under the pet’s tail.

When dried, tapeworms look like small grains of rice. When fresh, tapeworms will be 1/4-1/2″ in length, white to pale yellow in color and can sometimes be seen expanding and contracting their bodies.

While tapeworm eggs can sometimes be found on a fecal analysis run by your veterinarian, the most common way of diagnosing tapeworms is by seeing the tapeworm segments in the feces or on the pet.

What Kinds of Symptoms do Tapeworms Cause in Dogs and Cats

Tapeworms in dogs and cats are usually fairly innocuous and often the infection is asymptomatic (showing no signs of illness) except for the shedding of the worms.

Occasionally, tapeworms may cause a dog or cat to scoot across the floor rubbing his anus. However, anal gland issues are also a frequent cause of this and should also be ruled out if this symptom is occurring.

What is the Treatment for Tapeworms in Dogs and Cats

A medication known as praziquantel is the most common treatment for tapeworms in dogs and cats. Praziquantel can be administered in a pill form or as an injection. Consult your veterinarian to discuss the best option for your pet.

Can Tapeworms be Prevented in Dogs and Cats?

Tapeworms can be prevented by:

• using regular flea prevention measures for your dog or cat
• not allowing your dog or cat to ingest raw or undercooked meat
• not allowing your dog or cat to hunt

Can People Get Tapeworms from Dogs and Cats?

People cannot “catch” tapeworms directly from their dogs or cats. However, people can be infected with tapeworms by ingesting raw or uncooked meats.

Xylitol is becoming an ever increasing problem in dogs and is now being diagnosed as a pet poison more often than ever before.

Xylitol is a sweetener which is often used in sugarless products. It is also frequently found in oral care products as it seems to have some benefits for oral care in people. Items containing xylitol include:

• sugarless chewing gum
• sugarless candy
• mouthwashes and other oral care products
• oral pharmaceuticals, such as certain types of vitamin supplements
• sweeteners packaged for use in the kitchen

Xylitol appears to be relatively safe for people but is metabolized much differently in dogs.

Symptoms of Xylitol Poisoning in Dogs

When ingested by a dog, xylitol causes a rapid decrease in blood glucose or blood sugar levels, known as hypoglycemia. Xylitol has also been implicated as a cause of liver damage in dogs.

Often the first signs seen in dogs are attributable to hypoglycemia and symptoms may include:

• weakness
• lethargy
• depression
• muscle tremors
• seizures
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• lack of appetite
• bleeding and anemia
• increased thirst
• increase in urination
• bloody or black-colored feces

Symptoms of xylitol toxicity can occur as little as 30 minutes after ingestion of the xylitol-containing product.

Treatment of Xylitol Poisoning in Dogs

Immediate treatment is needed for dogs consuming xylitol-containing products. Contact your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary facility immediately if your dog ingests any product containing xylitol.

Your veterinarian may advise that you induce your dog to vomit before transporting him to the hospital or may simply tell you to bring your dog to the hospital immediately.

If toxic doses of xylitol have been consumed by your dog and poisoning is considered likely, your dog will likely need to be hospitalized for monitoring and supportive care. Unfortunately, at the current time, there is no antidote to xylitol available.

Prognosis for Dogs Poisoned with Xylitol

Xylitol can act as a poison in very small dosages. Even one stick of sugarless chewing gum which contains xylitol can be a fatal poison for a small dog.

Prognosis for your dog will depend on how much of the xylitol was consumed, the size and weight of your dog, your dog’s physical condition prior to the xylitol poisoning and whether induction of vomiting was successful in removing xylitol from the stomach before absorption could occur.

Xylitol poisoning is frequently fatal.

Prevention of Xylitol Poisoning

Dog owners may prefer not to keep xylitol-containing products in their home. If kept, these products need to be stored in a location where pets have no access to them

Never feed your dog any foods or beverages or chewing gums containing xylitol.

Do not underestimate the extent of your dog’s desire for sweets. Many dogs will raid the trash or surf the kitchen countertops and tables in search of food items, including products containing xylitol.

Pet Products Containing Xylitol

There are a few pet products on the market which contain xylitol in low dosages. These products are often used as “mouthwashes” for pets. Aquadent is a good example.

These pet-labeled xylitol-containing products are safe to use for your dog, assuming that you follow the label directions very carefully.

In higher dosages than those labeled, these products also can act as a pet poison for your dog. Make certain to store these products out of the range of your pet if you use them.

Parvovirus, or parvo, infection in dogs is often a fatal disease. It is caused by a virus, called a parvovirus, which infects the intestinal system of dogs. It is especially dangerous for young puppies.

Recently, parvovirus has received attention in the news because two puppies which were adopted by Oprah Winfrey contracted the disease. One of the puppies died from it, unfortunately. As of the last announcement, the other puppy is recovering, but was apparently quite sick for a time, requiring extensive treatment.

What Kind of Symptoms Does Parvovirus Cause?

Parvovirus in dogs causes severe diarrhea, usually with blood in the feces. Sometimes the stool will look like more like straight blood than like a bowel movement.

Parvo also causes vomiting, an elevated temperature, lack of appetite and lethargy. Dogs with parvovirus become ill very quickly. They can be healthy one day and be in very serious condition the following day.

Any dog can get parvovirus, but it tends to be more severe in puppies than in adult dogs. Some breeds, such as American Pit Bull Terriers and Rottweillers, seem to be more prone to developing parvo than other breeds of dogs.

How does a Dog Become Infected with Parvovirus?

Parvovirus is spread through the feces of dogs which are infected with parvo. When a healthy dog is exposed to the infected feces, either through sniffing at the feces or eating the feces, parvovirus can be passed to the healthy dog.

It often takes several days for the parvo infection to become evident and vomiting and/or diarrhea are often the first signs seen.

How is Parvo Treated in Dogs?

The main objective in treating parvovirus infection is fluid replacement. Dogs infected with parvo usually need to placed on intravenous fluids and therapy needs to be very aggressive. Medications to control vomiting are usually mandatory. Antibiotics may be necessary. Medications like Tamiflu are sometimes used as well. Deworming medications may need to be given to rid the infected dog of concurrent parasites.

Treatment for parvovirus will likely mean hospitalization for your puppy and your puppy may need to be hospitalized for several days. The cost of treating parvo in dogs is quite high and there is no guarantee of recovery. In fact, many dogs do not survive parvovirus infection even with aggressive treatment in the hospital.

Is There a Way to Prevent Parvovirus in Dogs?

Dogs can and should be vaccinated against parvovirus. Parvo vaccinations are normally started for a puppy at between 6-8 weeks of age. The puppies should receive a series of parvo vaccines every 3-4 weeks until reaching 14-16 weeks of age. A booster parvovirus vaccination should be given one year later. After that, vaccines are given every one to three years, depending on your dog’s risk factors for being exposed to parvovirus and your veterinarian’s vaccine protocol.

Vaccination against parvovirus in dogs is very effective and is much easier and safer than trying to treat a dog with parvovirus infection.

Springtime often brings an increase in parvo cases, probably because people are starting to take their dogs and puppies outside more often and are frequenting dog parks and other locations where the dog or puppy is likely to be exposed to parvo.

Heartworms, roundworms and hookworms are three of the most commonly encountered parasites for dogs. Heartgard Plus Chewables are, in my opinion, one of the best choices available for preventing these parasites in dogs. When used monthly at the proper dosage, Heartgard Plus Chewables are very effective not only at preventing heartworms, but also at controlling roundworms and hookworms in dogs.

Why should you worry about whether your dog gets heartworms, roundworms or hookworms, you ask?

Well, heartworms are carried by mosquitoes and can be passed to your dog through the bite of a mosquito. And it only takes one bite for your dog to get heartworms from that mosquito. Once infected with heartworms, your dog can suffer serious heart damage as a result of the heartworm parasite. Heartworm disease can be fatal for your dog.

Many people think that treating for heartworms once they are present is simple and easy. This is not true. Heartworm treatment is sometimes dangerous and can be unpredictable. Treating heartworm disease takes 4-6 months, requiring that your dog be closely confined for most if not all of that period. Results are not guaranteed and some dogs will still have heartworms even after undergoing treatment. Heartworm treatment is also expensive, often costing upwards of $1000.

Heartworm prevention, on the other hand is simple and easy to do.

What about roundworms and hookworms?

Roundworms and hookworms are intestinal parasites which can cause diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration for your dog. Roundworms and hookworms are also contagious to you and your family, causing skin disease, blindness, seizures and more.

Why Heartgard Plus Chewables?

By giving Heartgard Plus Chewables to your dog every month, you can prevent your dog from becoming infected with any of these parasites. One of the things I like about Heartgard Plus Chewables is the fact the tablets are beef flavored and are easily accepted by most dogs. I’ve seen very few refuse to take them when offered as a treat. I’ve seen many dogs actually look forward to taking their monthly dose of Heartgard Plus Chewable medication and get really excited when they see their person take the package out of the cupboard.

Heartgard Plus Chewables are safe for puppies as young as 6 weeks of age and it is ideal to start your dog on Heartworm Plus Chewables at an early age. Heartgard Plus Chewables should be given every month for the entire year, so effectively your dog should stay on the medication permanently.

Are there any dogs that should not be receiving Heartgard Plus Chewables?

No, Heartgard Plus Chewables are safe for almost any dog. Puppies older than 6 weeks of age can take them, as can pregnant dogs, nursing dogs and dogs used for stud.

Heartgard Plus Chewables are safe for collie breeds at the dosage of ivermectin contained in this medication. (Ivermectin is one of the active ingredients in Heartgard Plus Chewables and collies and collie breeds are sensitive to ivermectin at high dosages, but Heartgard Plus Chewables contain only a low dose of ivermectin.)

Heartgard Plus Chewables should not be given to dogs which have had adverse reactions to the medication in the past. Side effects with Heartgard Plus Chewables are rare but can occur.

What are the side effects with Heartgard Plus Chewables?

Side effects seen with Heartgard Plus Chewables include depression, lethargy, lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, staggering, incoordination and seizures. Stop giving the Heartgard Plus Chewables if you see these types of symptoms in your dog after administration and notify your dog’s veterinarian.

How can you get your dog started on Heartgard Plus Chewables?

Schedule an appointment with your dog’s veterinarian. If your dog is over 6 months of age, he/she will need to be tested for heartworms before starting the tablets. This is to ensure that your dog does not already have a heartworm infection. Puppies less than 6 months do not need to be tested.

Your veterinarian may recommend that you have your dog retested for heartworms every 6-12 months even if your dog receives Heartgard Plus Chewables year round. I recommend to my clients that their dogs be tested at least once yearly. This is done as a safety precaution. Though Heartgard Plus Chewables are very effective, we all live busy lives and sometimes with our busy schedules we might forget to give the Heartgard Chewable Plus tablet for one month or we might give it later in the month than we should. I have also seen some dogs which vomited the medication shortly after taking it for various reasons likely unrelated to the medication itself. Because heartworms can cause such serious disease to your dog’s heart, regular testing just allows us to determine that the medication is working properly for your dog.

Are Heartgard Plus Chewables the only medication on the market which can protect my dog from these parasites?

No, of course not. There are numerous products which can protect your dog from heartworms, roundworms and hookworms. Heartgard Plus Chewables are only one option. However, because Heartgard Plus Chewables are so effective and are so palatable, I feel that Heartgard Plus Chewables are a good choice for any dog owner.