This page will be updated monthly with an issue of concern to the veterinary community. Everything from animal welfare to food safety is in the news and the national veterinary community is involved in all these issues.

   Your pets need good dental hygiene to maintain healthy teeth and gums just like we do. Most of us do not brush our pets' teeth daily and even if we do, they will need a professional cleaning at some point. Bacteria builds up on the teeth which leads to plaque and then tartar. If your pet has yellow spots on their teeth, this is plaque, if it is dark green, brown or black it has progressed to tartar. Although plaque can be removed with aggressive brushing, once the teeth have tartar, they need to be cleaned. If tartar accumulates on the gumline, it will cause gum irritation and redness (gingivitis). As the tartar builds up, the gums start to recede, exposing the tooth root and leading to periodontal disease (damage to the structures that hold the teeth in place.) Advanced periodontal disease leads to tooth loss.

     If your pet has bad breath, you are smelling bacteria that has built up to cause plaque in the mouth. Really bad breath may mean infection. If you can smell your pets' mouth without really trying, you likely are dealing with periodontal disease. Once your pet develops infection in the mouth, they are also dealing with pain. If you have ever had an infected tooth, you know it hurts. If you notice your pet chewing more on one side, avoiding hard food or toys, bleeding from the gums or drooling more that usual, they are in pain. In addition to pain and tooth loss, infection in the mouth can lead to infection in other parts of the body. Bleeding gums open a pathway for bacteria to enter the bloodstream and go to the heart, liver and kidneys, causing further disease.

     Most pets over the age of 5 have some degree of dental disease. If you haven't looked in your pets' mouth lately, LOOK. If you don't like what you see (or what you smell), please come in for a dental exam. A technician can assess your pets' mouth and tell you what needs to be done to keep it healthy. If your pet needs a professional cleaning, we can schedule that and then discuss ways to keep the mouth healthy. Like most diseases, prevention is the key to managing dental disease. Brushing, using dental chew treats and toys, feeding dry food and checking the mouth regularly are all important to maintain a healthy mouth.

   Fall is allergy season, not just for us but for our pets too. Dogs and cats can suffer from the same allergies that we do. In the fall, the most common allergens are mold, pollen and grasses. In our area, things like goldenrod, timothy and other tall plants are common allergens. Environmental allergies are also known as atopy and are the most common allergy in pets.

   While we tend to sneeze and get stuffed up when our allergies are bothering us, our pets react differently. Dogs most often will itch. They tend to chew their feet, shake their heads and scratch all over. They also may have red watery eyes. Cats get itchy too, but they usually react by chewing and biting themselves, often leading to hair loss. Cats can also develop a condition called miliary dermatitis which makes the skin feel like it is covered with little bumps that develop into red, raw scabs.

   Many animals that are allergic to things in the environment also have other allergies. The two other major allergy types in pets are flea allergy and food allergy. Pets who suffer from atopy tend to be itchy during a specific season (usually spring or fall.) Pets with flea allergy will only be itchy if they have fleas, although even 1 or 2 fleas can make them miserable. Pets with food allergies will itch whenever they eat the offending food and the itch can last 6-8 weeks until all the food protein is out of their system. If your pet is itchy year round it likely has one of these types of allergy or an allergy to something in the indoor environment such as dust mites or mold. Unfortunately, allergies also work together. If your pet is allergic to beef protein and eats a beef based diet, he may have a mild itch year round that you hardly notice. If he is also allergic to tree pollen, he may get very itchy in the early spring when plants start to blossom. His beef allergy has lowered his "itch threshold" so that very little pollen is necessary to make him itch. For the same reason, a dog who has flea allergies may have a few fleas all summer and not be itchy but when fall comes and their atopy kicks in, they are suddenly miserable even though you still only have a few fleas.

   All of this may seem very confusing and frustrating (and it is!!) but there are things we can do to make your pet feel better. Over the counter antihistamines often help alleviate the itch. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and Chlorpheniramine help many pets feel better. If these don't work, you may need to use topical treatments like shampoos or sprays. If nothing is helping, we may be able to prescribe medication that will. Remember, allergies are annoying but soon the cold and snow will be here and then the itch will go away.

   Although we can't always eliminate the allergen from our pets' environment, we can help decrease their symptoms.

  

     If we thought we might have a lighter fleas season than last year, we are now being proven wrong. We have seen many animals in the last few weeks that are covered with fleas. As a brief review of why this can occur, even if  you are using a flea control product, here are the facts:

1. If you see fleas on your pet, you have fleas in your home.
2. One adult female can lay 50 eggs/day so a single fleas IS a problem
3. Cats with fleas don't usually scratch, they lick or overgroom
4. Eggs quickly develop into pupae which lie dormant in your home and are almost impossible to kill
5. You can have a new flea outbreak at any time due to these dormant pupal fleas
6. To treat a fleas outbreak you need to kill adults on your pets, adults as they hatch from pupae already in the home and eggs, pupae and larvae that are in the home.

If you are using a flea control product on all your pets regularly and you still have fleas, you need to consider changing your plan.Over the counter flea control products do not work as effectively as the  prescription products we carry. Even if  you are buying Frontline Plus over the counter, you are not getting the same product you will get from us. Only licensed veterinarians are sold Frontline Plus so any other Frontline you buy has come through third party channels and may not be genuine licensed product or may have been diverted and handled incorrectly causing a lack of effectiveness. Some people are finding that even with monthly use of genuine Frontline Plus, they are seeing fleas. Most commonly causes of this are not treating every pet in the house every 4 weeks or a constant influx of new fleas from outside or another source. We recommend increasing the frequency of Fronline Plus application to every three weeks and possibly adding either Comfortis monthly pills or using Capstar pills for a quick kill of the fleas on your pets.

    Most of us know that animals (and people) can get "worms", but what does this really mean? Is it a big deal? Does it affect our pets' health? Can we get worms from our pets? The answer is yes, yes and yes.

    Although many parasites do not cause any clinical signs, they can cause diarrhea, weight loss and poor growth. They are most dangerous in young animals. The most common parasites we see in midcoast Maine are roundworms, tapeworms, coccidia, giardia and hookworms.

     Roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms are truly worms. Infection can be through many routes and diagnosis is usually by finding eggs in fresh feces. Coccidia and giardia are protozoa which means they will not be killed by routine "dewormer". They can also be diagnosed by looking at fresh feces but may be harder to find and harder to treat.

    Dogs and cats (and people) can become infected with roundworms in four ways: across the placenta before birth, through the milk after birth, by ingesting the eggs or by ingesting an intermediate host. Puppies and kittens are almost all born with roundworms due to the first two routes. They will continue to shed eggs until they are treated. Although most roundworm infections do not cause clinical signs, a lot of worms can cause poor growth, weight loss, diarrhea and even death due to intestinal blockage or pneumonia.
   
    In addition to the four routes that roundworms use, hookworms can infect our pets and us by going directly through the skin. They are less common in Maine that roundworms and in small numbers do not cause clinical signs. Unlike roundworms however, hookworms attach to the wall of the intestine and ingest blood and tissue. If a small or young animal has a larger number of hookworms, they may suffer from blood loss or even death.

    The most important thing to remember about roundworms and hookworms is that they can infect us, most commonly children. Contaminated soil is the most common way for eggs to pass to children. If animals have left feces on the ground and a child puts the dirt in their mouth, they can become infected. Although the worm may not cause disease, it can migrate into the tissue and cause extensive tissue damage. The best way to avoid infection is to check a fecal sample on your pets yearly and treat any worms that are found. If your pet is on year-round internal parasite prevention like Frontline Plus or Revolution, you should not have to worry about these worms.

    The most common worm in older animals in our area is the tapeworm. Tapeworms can be transmitted by fleas and rodents in addition to other animals. If your pet has fleas and chews their skin, they can swallow the flea and with it the tapeworm egg. If your cat (or dog) catches and eats rodents, they can ingest tapeworm cysts in the rodent. Once your pet has a tapeworm, they will pass eggs in their feces and you may also see proglottids (segments) on their fur or in their environment. Like the other worms, tapeworms can be diagnosed and treated through routine fecal sample checks. Most routine monthly dewormers do NOT kill tapeworms so if you suspect a tapeworm, have your pet checked so we can get you an effective dewormer.
   
    In addition to these common worms, our pets can be infected with protozoan parasites. The two most common in Maine are coccidia and giardia (which also infects people.) Like other infections, protozoa can be diagnosed by looking at a fresh fecal sample.

    Like worms, coccidia usually come from ingesting soil that contains eggs, although they can come from eating rodents that contain cysts. Most adults will not have clinical signs of infection but they can shed large numbers of oocysts (eggs) into the environment. Young animals can develop diarrhea that can be bloody, vomiting, weight loss and dehydration. Giardia can be found in normal animals and may not cause clinical sings in adults. In young dogs and cats giardia can cause foul smelling, light colored, "cow-paddy" stool that may come and go for a long time. Finding large numbers of oocysts in a fecal sample is one way to diagnose infection although negative stool checks are common even with heavy infections. Other tests are available to help with the diagnosis and treatment is usually straightforward.

    Although there are many other internal parasites of pets, these are the most common in our area. Most can easily be diagnosed and treated through routine fecal checks. Many can be prevented by using year-round monthly treatment like Frontline Plus or Revolution.

   Spring is finally here! (According to the calendar anyway!) Many of us will soon be out planting and gardening. Our pets like to be outside too and many of them are curious about plants. Most of us know that some plants can be harmful to pets and even people, but which ones? Even veterinarians can't keep track of all the poisonous plants. Trees and other plants that are native to Maine are easier to keep track of but what about all the ornamental plants? Indoor plants? Exotic fruits we buy?

   The safest thing to do if you see your pet chewing on or swallowing a plant is to take it away. If you know what it is, you can look it up and see if it is dangerous. A good place to look is the following website:

            www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants

   This site has great pictures as well as brief descriptions of what to look for. In many cases only certain parts of the plant are toxic or only certain animals are at risk (for example Lilys are toxic to cats but not dogs.)

   If you can't identify the plant, you can call animal poison control at 1-888-426-4435. This call generally costs $65. If your pet is registered with Home Again Pet Identification, you can call them directly at 1-888-466-3242 and they will connect you to poison control for free. This is one of the many benefits of membership in Home Again.

   Although all poisonous plants have different toxins they generally fall into a few groups that cause specific clinical signs. The most common signs of plant poisoning are salivating, vomiting, diarrhea and weakness. Some plants can cause heart arrhythmia, seizures or kidney failure. In some cases, different parts of the plant have different toxins. In the case of edible plants, the fruit itself is usually safe but the stem, leaves or seeds might be poisonous (such as apples, apricots, avocado, cherries, tomatoes and rhubarb.)

   Some of the more common ornamental plants in our area that can be poisonous to our pets include: Azaleas (AKA Rhododendrons), Begonias, Hyacinth, Daffodil, Daisy, Carnation, Geranium, Gladiola, Hosta, Hydrangea, Iris, Milkweed, Mum, Narcissus, Peony, Paper White, and Tulip. There are also plants that grow here naturally that are dangerous. Many of these are weeds and look alike. The safest thing to do is to keep your pets from ingesting these plants whenever possible. Luckily, dogs are not prone to eat plants but cats love to chew on them. Bulbs can be especially toxic so if you are planting bulbs, watch the puppy! If you are going to have house plants, check to see which ones are safe before buying them. If your indoor cat likes to chew on plants, consider getting him some grass or plants of his own that are safe.

   Remember, the most important thing is to keep your eyes on your pets and if you do see them eating plants that you are not sure are safe, check the ASPCA website mentioned above or call poison control. Happy Spring!!!
  

     Have you looked in your pets' mouth lately? Do you avoid getting that close due to the smell? Have you always assumed it was just "dog breath" or "cat breath"? Can you imagine what your breath would be like if you never brushed your teeth? (If you do brush your pets' teeth regularly, congratulations, you can stop reading now.)

     Your pets need good dental hygiene to maintain healthy teeth and gums just like we do. Most of us do not brush our pets' teeth daily and even if we do, they will need a professional cleaning at some point. Bacteria builds up on the teeth which leads to plaque and then tartar. If your pet has yellow spots on their teeth, this is plaque, if it is dark green, brown or black it has progressed to tartar. Although plaque can be removed with aggressive brushing, once the teeth have tartar, they need to be cleaned. If tartar accumulates on the gumline, it will cause gum irritation and redness (gingivitis). As the tartar builds up, the gums start to recede, exposing the tooth root and leading to periodontal disease (damage to the structures that hold the teeth in place.) Advanced periodontal disease leads to tooth loss.

     If your pet has bad breath, you are smelling bacteria that has built up to cause plaque in the mouth. Really bad breath may mean infection. If you can smell your pets' mouth without really trying, you likely are dealing with periodontal disease. Once your pet develops infection in the mouth, they are also dealing with pain. If you have ever had an infected tooth, you know it hurts. If you notice your pet chewing more on one side, avoiding hard food or toys, bleeding from the gums or drooling more that usual, they are in pain. In addition to pain and tooth loss, infection in the mouth can lead to infection in other parts of the body. Bleeding gums open a pathway for bacteria to enter the bloodstream and go to the heart, liver and kidneys, causing further disease.

     Most pets over the age of 5 have some degree of dental disease. If you haven't looked in your pets' mouth lately, LOOK. If you don't like what you see (or what you smell), please come in for a dental exam. A technician can assess your pets' mouth and tell you what needs to be done to keep it healthy. If your pet needs a professional cleaning, we can schedule that and then discuss ways to keep the mouth healthy. Like most diseases, prevention is the key to managing dental disease. Brushing, using dental chew treats and toys, feeding dry food and checking the mouth regularly are all important to maintain a healthy mouth.

Winter is cold and flu season for us and our pets can suffer from cold and flu viruses too. We are more susceptible to these illnesses in the winter because we spend more time indoors in crowded spaces and our immune system is stressed by the weather. Our pets tend to acquire upper respiratory viruses year round and although there is not a peak in winter, they can certainly become sick at the same times we do. Although both cats and dogs suffer from respiratory illness, I am going to concentrate on cats this month and discuss dogs next month.

Cats are prey animals and therefore tend to hide when they feel ill. In the wild this is a protective mechanism to keep them safe from predators. If your cat is spending time away from the family, hiding in unusual places, he may not feel his best. Respiratory illness in cats usually first shows itself with sneezing, runny red eyes, a runny nose and a decrease in appetite. These are all signs of an upper respiratory virus. Outdoor cats can become infected from contact with other cats but even indoor cats can be infected through "fomites", inanimate objects that transfer germs. Some common fomites are you (clothing, shoes, hair etc.), visitors, cat carriers, bowls etc.

Perhaps the greatest risk factor for an upper respiratory illness in cats is stress. Cats may not appear stressed to us but many things can stress their immune systems. These stressors include moving, changes in people or pets in the household, a change in routine or even a change in diet. Many cats who have been exposed to the common upper respiratory viruses are "carriers" meaning they harbor the virus in their tissues but it does not cause illness. During times of stress, the immune system will weaken and these viruses will reproduce, reaching a level that is high enough to cause symptoms of illness.

Cats who came from crowded living conditions such as shelters, breeders or pet stores are more likely to be carriers. Older cats are usually not symptomatic but younger cats and kittens who come in contact with an older carrier cat will often become ill. Just like us, cats with upper respiratory viruses suffer with fevers, lethargy, poor appetite and changes in behavior. Since most respiratory illness is caused by viruses, treatment is symptomatic.

Keeping your cat indoors where you can watch him, offering warm wet food with a strong odor, keeping a clean supply of water nearby and letting your cat rest are all helpful. If your cat develops a green discharge from the nose or eyes or a cough, it may mean there is a secondary bacterial infection and your cat should be seen by a veterinarian. As long as your cat is eating and drinking (even if it is less that usual) you can usually treat him at home. If a cat cannot smell, he won't eat. If your cat has a lot of congestion you can try cleaning his nose with warm water, using saline nose drops, or bringing him into the bathroom with you when you shower to expose him to warm moist air.

Although respiratory infections are miserable for both us and our pets, they are thankfully temporary, generally lasting 5-7 days at most. Keeping your cat healthy, avoiding stress and vaccinating with the 3 or 4 way FVRC-P vaccine are all good preventive measures to avoid infection.

     Although Leptospirosis is the most common zoonotic (spreads from animals to people) disease worldwide, there was a lull in cases in the U.S. in the 1990's. This led to changes in the way the CDC handled cases and recommended vaccination of pets. As a practice, we stopped vaccinating routinely for Leptospirosis some years ago due to a lack of clinical cases in our area. Recent evidence seems to point to a resurgence in this disease among people and animals.

     Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that is spread most commonly through the urine of infected wildlife. The bacteria are shed in the urine and can be contracted through direct contact or ingestion. In the past it was assumed that dogs in rural areas were at greatest risk but recent studies show that infected wildlife is 8-10 times more concentrated in suburban areas. If raccoons, skunks, porcupines, foxes etc are found in your area, your dog is at risk (cats can contract the bacteria but do not appear to develop symptoms.)

     After many years of only seeing sporadic cases in our practice, we have seen several in just the last few months. Although we have not been routinely vaccinating to this point, there are new vaccines that appear to be safer and more effective than the ones previously used. We will be carrying the vaccine from now on and will likely be talking to you about the advantages of vaccinating your dog on your next visit.

     September 28th was World Rabies Day. This day is set aside as a reminder that Rabies is a very real disease and to promote awareness of Rabies prevention.

     In Maine in 2009 there were 69 confirmed cases of Rabies. Most of these cases were in one of 4 species; Bats, Raccoons, Skunks or Foxes. So far in 2010 there have been 59 confirmed cases. Again, most have been in these four species. Each year there are a few cases of Rabies in domestic cats. In the past 5 years there have also been documented cases in dogs, horses, cows, llamas, beavers and woodchucks. Rabies can infect any mammal including humans and once clinical signs of illness appear, the disease is virtually 100% fatal. Although the number of human cases in the U.S. has decreased to only a handful each year, worldwide over 50,000 people die each year from the Rabies virus.

     Although Rabies is found in Maine and is contagious and fatal, it is also virtually 100% preventable in people and pets. The best ways to prevent Rabies infection are to vaccinate your pets, avoid contact with wildlife and act immediately if you are bitten or scratched by a wild animal. All dogs and cats in Maine are required to be vaccinated against Rabies. The initial vaccination protects your pet for 1 year and each subsequent booster protects them for 3 years (in most cases.) By vaccinating your pet, you provide a buffer of protection for yourself and your family. If your pet comes in contact with a wild animal and they are vaccinated, they will not be able to contract the disease and bring it home to your family. If your pet is not current on his Rabies vaccine and is wounded by a wild animal who cannot be tested for Rabies, your pet must be euthanized or quarantined for 6 months.

     If your pet does come home with a wound, your should wash the area well with soap and water (wear gloves to avoid contact with saliva or blood from the animal who caused the injury). Either bring your pet in or call to see if they need to be seen. The wound may require antibiotics or treatment and your pet should have a Rabies booster if they haven't been vaccinated within the last 30 days.

     The best way for you to avoid Rabies is to avoid any contact with wild animals, including babies! If you find a wild animal who appears ill or needs assistance, call your local animal control officer or police department. People who regularly work with wildlife are vaccinated against Rabies and can handle them with much less risk. Even though wild animal babies appear cute, they can carry the virus too. If you find an orphaned wild animal, remember, the mother could have died of Rabies and the babies could be infected too. In the last 2 years there have been several situations involving baby wild animals and children that required many young children to receive the painful and expensive series of Rabies shots.

     Remember, Rabies is 100% fatal but 100% preventable. If your pet is not current on its Rabies vaccine, you can bring it to either of our clinics for a Rabies vaccine. If you just need the booster, you can ask for a Rabies vaccine with no exam. If you aren't sure if your pet is current on its' vaccination, just call and ask or email us. If your pet was vaccinated somewhere else, especially out of state, the vaccine may only be protective for one year, make sure to check and see if your pet is still protected.

    

     Is your pet a senior citizen? Although it is not strictly true that 1 year for us equals 7 years for a dog or cat, it is a good approximation. Dogs and cats have a much shorter lifespan that we do and therefore age much more quickly. A large dog is considered geriatric at age 7 or 8 and a giant breed like a Great Dane is a senior citizen at 6. Cats are generally considered geriatric at age 9 or so. If you want to know how old your pet is in "human years", use the chart below.

If your pet is a senior, it is important to keep an eye out for certain common problems. Pay attention to how much your pet eats and drinks. Drinking more along with urinating more is a sign of numerous diseases of senior pets. A change in appetite may mean that your pet is uncomfortable or having trouble with his teeth.

Most older pets, especially large dogs, will develop some degree of arthritis as they age. Have you noticed your pet having trouble getting up? Going up and down stairs? Getting in and out of the car? Keeping up on walks? All of these things are signs of joint pain. There are many options available for arthritis treatment in dogs and cats. As your older pet slows down they are also likely to gain weight which further aggravates arthritis. Consider placing your older pet on a Senior or Less Active formula diet.

Virtually all senior pets have some degree of dental disease. The majority of pets do not receive daily tooth care and therefore build up plaque and tartar over time. By the time they are seniors, most have some gum disease as well as tartar. Oral disease is a leading cause of illness in older pets. The bacteria in the mouth constantly showers the body and can lead to infection in the heart, kidneys or elsewhere. We recommend regular dental cleaning and follow-up care for all pets, especially older ones.

Even if your senior pet seems healthy on the outside, it is a good idea to have some routine screening blood work done when they turn 10(cats) or 8(dogs). This not only allows us to identify disease early when it is still treatable but if it is all normal it provides a baseline for any future lab work.

      What exactly are "hot spots" anyway? Hot spots are actually moist dermatitis or moist staph dermatitis. When a skin infection is localized and very wet, we often call it a "hot spot" as a descriptive term. We see a lot of dogs suffering with hot spots in the summer months, especially in hot humid weather. Since the last month has been one hot humid day after another, hot spots are rampant.

      All dogs (just like all people) have staph bacteria living on their skin. These are beneficial because they keep "foreign" bacteria from getting in and causing problems. When a dog becomes itchy, the will scratch their skin. Just like people, if they scratch to the point where they break the skin, the staph bacteria will get in and cause an infection. Unlike us, they don't understand that they shouldn't scratch, and over the course of just a few hours of digging with teeth and nails they can cause quite a mess.

     Some of the most common causes of itchy skin are damp matted hair, dried soap or shampoo and flea and tick bites. During periods of hot weather, dogs (especially retrievers) like to get wet and stay wet. This leads to hot spots on the face, under the ears, under the neck and on the back of the hind legs.

     The best ways to prevent hot spots are to avoid the common causes as much as possible. If you have a long haired dog, consider getting a "summer cut" to avoid having wet hair clinging to the skin. If your dog spends lots of time in the water, dry him thoroughly at the end of the day. Using good flea and tick prevention to prevent itchy bites. If you shampoo your dog, use as little soap as possible and be careful to rinse very thoroughly, especially in hard to reach places and areas of thick hair. Again, dry the skin very well afterwards.

     If your dog gets a hot spot despite your best efforts, you may be able to treat it as home if you catch it early. If the area is small and not too deep, you can try shaving all the hair to allow air to dry the skin, cleaning the area with a mild antibacterial soap, again drying thoroughly, and applying a topical antibacterial spray or lotion. Most importantly, you need to prevent any more scratching, using either an "E-collar" or some form of clothing to cover the area. If the hot spot is large, deep or painful, you will need to bring your dog in to a vet for the above treatments as well as oral antibiotics and possibly anti-inflammatories or pain medication.

     Hot spots can be very frustrating. If you have a breed of dog that is likely to get hot spots, such as Golden Retrievers and Labs, try to keep them as well groomed and dry as possible. Check them carefully every day for areas of fur that feel sticky or scabby since these are likely hot spots that could get very big very fast!

    Summer is finally here! Those of us who live in Maine all winter wait a long time for the nice weather and the opportunity to spend time outside with our pets. There are great opportunities for fun and exercise but there are also some things you should be aware of if you spend lots of time outside with your pets.

     The warm weather is great if you can get out of the sun and have plenty of fluids to help stay cool and hydrated. This is easy for us but not always easy for our pets. If your pet is outside in the warm weather, be sure to provide a shady area and plenty of water. If your pet is tied, make sure they cannot get wrapped up in a way that would keep them from reaching these things.

     Many of us travel with our pets in the summer and consider them when making summer vacation plans. If your pet is going with you, be sure to bring plenty of water and plan to stop along the way for drinks and bathroom breaks. NEVER leave your pet in the car in the summer, even on nice "cool" summer days, the temperature in the car can get very high very fast. Even if your car is in the shade when you leave, it may be in the sun later in the day.

     If you bring your pet with you hiking or doing other vigorous exercise, make sure he can handle the activity level. Your pet will want to go with you, but you need to determine if this is safe. Just like us, pets need to work their way into shape. If your pet is used to lying around all day and then goes on a 5 mile hike, he could easily end up suffering the next day. "Monday morning disease" is a condition that can result from sudden vigorous exercise that stresses the muscles and produces dangerous byproducts that can damage the kidneys and other organs.

     Other popular summer activities for us and our pets are boating and swimming. If you take your pet to the ocean, be sure to bring fresh water and watch them closely to prevent ingestion of salt water. A thirsty dog can drink enough salt water to make themselves very sick fairly quickly. Although all dogs can swim, some are much better at it than others! Be sure to watch your pet closely to prevent them from getting into water that is too deep, rough or cold for them to handle.

     Summer is a great time to live in Maine for both us and our pets. They enjoy being part of the family and participating in all the summer fun. Please include your four-legged friend but remember that they can't always make good decisions so be sure to keep a close eye on them. ENJOY THE SUMMER!!

   Anaplasmosis is an emerging tick borne disease in Maine. If you haven't heard of it yet, you will. In Maine, Anaplasmosis is caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum, a bacteria that is related to the organisms that cause Ehrlichiosis and Lyme disease.

   Like Borrelia burgdorferi, the organism that causes Lyme disease, A. phagocytophilum is carried by deer ticks. Anaplasmosis can affect many species, including dogs, cats, horses, cows, people and wildlife. Unfortunately, many deer ticks are co-infected with the two organisms, allowing them to transmit both Lyme and Anaplasmosis causing bacteria at once. This combined disease may be different and more serious that a single infection.

    If a dog is infected with Anaplasmosis, the signs can vary from none to severe illness involving fever, lethargy, depression, lack of appetite, muscle pain, joint pain and lameness. Since these signs are similar to those caused by Lyme disease and many animals are co-infected it may be hard to tell which disease is causing which signs. There are several ways to diagnose Anaplasmosis although most cases are diagnosed using the 4 way SNAP test that we recommend for every dog every year. This test now includes Heartworm disease, Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis (another closely related tick-borne disease.)

    Like Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis can be treated with antibiotics. Treatment is very effective when started early in the course of the disease. Like the Lyme organism, we do not know if it is possible to clear the infection with antibiotics but we can decrease the number of organisms and therefore decrease the risk of clinical disease. As with Lyme disease, the best prognosis is for early treatment based on a positive SNAP test on an otherwise healthy dog. For this reason, we continue to recommend a yearly 4 way SNAP test for all dogs.

    Unfortunately, there is no vaccine available for Anaplasmosis so many dogs who are vaccinated for Lyme disease will tests positive for Anaplasmosis after being bitten by a co-infected tick. The best prevention is good tick control, yearly testing and early treatment.

     If you are battling fleas and/or ticks, you may be one of the many people who feel that these pests are becoming resistant to our current treatments. The increase in the number of fleas and ticks we are finding on our pets seems to suggest that the products we have been using are becoming less effective. For many years we have suggested Frontline  Plus for flea and tick prevention in dogs and cats. We continue to recommend this product as a primary defense against fleas and ticks. According to several studies that have recently been done, there is no evidence of drug resistance to Fipronil (the active ingredient in Frontline Plus).
     There are several reasons why you might be finding fleas on your pets despite treating with Frontline Plus. One of the most common reasons is the nature of the flea life cycle. If you are seeing fleas on your pet and you start treating with Frontline Plus, it will take several months to eliminate the fleas in your house. The eggs that have already been laid will still hatch and the larvae will develop into adults. Because of these residual fleas, you will need to treat every pet for at least 3 months before you kill all the fleas in the house. A second common source of fleas on treated pets is other animals. Fleas lay eggs on an animals' fur and then the eggs drop off wherever that animal goes. If you have other cats, dogs or wildlife in your yard, they can be a source of new fleas. If you have a severe infestation, you may need to treat the environment as well as your pets in order to eliminate the problem.
     If you are seeing live ticks on your treated pets, the reasons are similar. As long as you or your pets travel through areas with ticks (virtually anywhere outdoors in Maine), the ticks can jump on and ride into the house. Frontline Plus will kill these ticks but they must come in contact with the Fipronil active ingredient in order for this to happen. The tick will die eventually but will not be repelled.
     We realize that fleas and ticks can be an annoying and frustrating problem. If you are applying Frontline Plus to all your pets monthly and are still having problems consider other sources such as outside animals, an infested environment or persistent fleas in the house due to inadequate length of treatment. You can win the battle and we are here to help if you need it.

Spring is finally  here!? At least it seems to be and the ticks certainly think it is. We are already finding ticks on our dogs and cats and the number of live fleas we are seeing has increased too. This means it is time to think about spring preventive care for your dog or cat.

We recommend a yearly blood test for all dogs for Heartworm Disease/Lyme Disease/Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis. This is a single test that is done in the hospital in 10 minutes. Once we know that your dog is negative for Heartworm infection, we will start him on a year round monthly preventative. This will not only prevent heartworm infection but hookworm and roundworm infections too. We have seen an increase in cases of heartworm disease in local dogs in the last 2 years and we think it may be due to more dogs moving up from the south.

If your dog tests positive for Lyme Disease or Anaplasmosis, we will most likely recommend treating him with Doxycycline (an antibiotic) for 3-4 weeks to try to kill as many of the rickettsia (similar to bacteria) that cause the disease as we can. Although your dog will continue to test "positive" for the disease for several years, the number or surviving organisms should not be high enough to cause any clinical signs. The best way to prevent these diseases is to use monthly tick preventative on all your pets year round. Even if you never see a tick, it is very likely that  your pet has been bitten by at least one at some point.

In addition to tick prevention, we can greatly increase your dogs' protection from Lyme disease by vaccinating him. We recommend a vaccine at 8 weeks of age, a booster at 10 weeks, a booster 6 months later and then yearly boosters after that. Our records show that dogs in our practice who are vaccinated have an infection rate of less that 1% while unvaccinated dogs have an infection rate of 16%. Even if your dog is already infected, vaccination is recommended to prevent a new infection since previous infection does not supply any protection against new infection.

In addition to your dogs' blood test, now is the time to start back on monthly heartworm and flea/tick prevention if  you stopped over the winter. Cats should be on monthly flea/tick prevention. If your pet is due for any vaccinations, now is the time to get caught up.

The mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body. For this reason it is very important to maintain your pets' dental health. Research shows that 70-80% of all dogs and cats have some degree of dental disease. This ranges from mild plaque to severe periodontal disease. Just like people, every time your pet eats, small bits of food stick to the teeth and deposit bacteria on the surface. This bacteria builds up to form plaque, the sticky covering that is removed when we brush our teeth.

If we never brushed our teeth, this plaque would rapidly becoming hard, forming tartar or calculus on the teeth. Even with regular brushing, plaque will build up until it is removed with a professional cleaning. Unless you brush your pets' teeth daily, they probably have some plaque too (if you do brush them daily, congratulations for being a very conscientious pet owner!). Just like our teeth, your pets' teeth will eventually form a heavy layer of plaque that will harden to form tartar. Once teeth have tartar, the only way to remove it is with a professional cleaning.

The build-up of tartar on the teeth leads to inflammation of the gums, or gingivitis. If left untreated, gingivitis will lead to inflammation of the ligaments that hold the teeth in place, called periodontitis or periodontal disease. Eventually, periodontal disease causes tooth loss. In addition to tooth loss, inflammation of the gums causes bleeding which allows bacteria from the mouth to enter the blood stream. This bacteria can potentially cause infections anywhere in the body, especially the kidneys and heart.

In order to prevent dental disease in your pet, you need to practice good preventive medicine. Brushing, giving dental chew treats and adding dental washes to the drinking water will all help. In most cases, none of these methods will return the mouth to a healthy state unless the teeth are cleaned first. Once a professional dental procedure is done to  remove the tartar, treat the gingivitis and remove any loose teeth, a healthy mouth can be maintained with regular follow-up care.

If you have noted a foul odor to your pets' breath, excessive drooling, an unwillingness to eat or chew on toys, or blood from the mouth, chances are your pet has dental disease. To determine the degree of involvement and make a plan for treatment, your pet should be seen by a veterinarian.

In honor of National Pet Dental Month in February, Coastal Veterinary Care and Boothbay Animal Hospital are offering free dental exams. If you schedule a dental procedure for the month of February, you will receive a $50 credit toward the total cost. If you have been putting off scheduling a dentistry, now is the time to get your pet in. Call either office to schedule a procedure or come in during office hours for your free dental exam.

t's a new year and we are starting to see new puppies and kittens coming in for their first visit. If you are one of the lucky ones who has a new member of the family, congratulations! Chances are, if your new pet came from a shelter or rescue group, he has already had his first examination, deworming and possibly vaccinations. If you acquired your pet from a friend or another private party, he may not have seen a veterinarian yet.

We recommend a well puppy or well kitten visit at 8 weeks of age. It is illegal in the state of Maine to place an animal younger than 8 weeks so this means the first visit should take place soon after you acquire your pet. You'll want to give him a few days to get used to his new home and observe his habits, appetite etc before coming in. On your first visit, it is helpful if you can bring a fecal (stool) sample to check for parasites, even if your pet has been wormed. We will ask what you are feeding your pet, if they have been eating well, how stools look, and if you have any concerns.

If your new pet is healthy, we recommend starting vaccinations at this visit. Puppies should have their first DHPPV and Lyme vaccines and kittens their first FVRCP vaccine. We will check a stool sample and most likely worm your new pet. New puppies should start on monthly Heartworm preventative and puppies and kittens should start flea and tick prevention.

This first visit is an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have about your pet and for us to advise you on possible physical or behavioral issues your pet might have. We will establish a plan for future visits and start a medical record for your new pet.

While we can check your puppy or kitten for medical problems and advise you on care, it is up to you to provide a safe and healthy home. Before you bring a new puppy or kitten home, you should "puppy proof" your house. Much like baby proofing, this involves going around your house at ground level and moving anything that could be swallowed or chewed. If there is an area of the house that you want to protect from "accidents", a baby gate works well as a barrier that still allows your new pet to see and hear you.

If you have a new puppy, consider crate training. A puppies' crate is a safe place where they can go to escape the excitement of the house. The crate is never to be used for punishment. If you feed your puppy in his crate, he will be comfortable there and you will be able to leave him in his crate whenever you cannot watch him. A puppy will not soil where he sleeps, so crate training is also a good tool for house breaking. Remember, an 8 week old baby cannot be expected to go all night without eliminating so plan on getting up with them or leaving them a place to go overnight.

If you have a new kitten, a crate will not be necessary. Your kitten should readily use a litter box and will find a safe place to hide and sleep when he wants to get away. If you would like your kitten to stay in a certain room, place food, water, a litter box and a bed in that area. Allow enough space between the litter box and the food so your kitten doesn't need to eat where he eliminates. Kittens often like to sleep in an enclosed place so consider a cat carrier with the door removed, a box or a covered cat bed.

Remember, your new pet will be with you for many years so it is very important to get off to a good start. The first few weeks are very important for bonding and training. Plan on spending time with your new pet each day and reinforcing good behavior in frequent small sessions. It is much harder to break bad habits than to instill good ones to start with. It may seem like a lot of work at first, but it is well worth it in the long run. Most importantly, enjoy your new family member!

Winter is finally here and there are some things you can do to make your pets more comfortable and make winter more fun for everyone. Whether you have an indoor cat or a dog who loves to be out in the snow and cold, winter weather changes how we care for our pets.

Although indoor cats (and dogs who spend most of their time indoors) may seem to be unaffected by the weather, there are subtle changes that take place. Although winter weather is cold, you may notice your pet sheds excessively. The warm dry air in the house promotes dry skin and hair and excess shedding. One way to prevent this is to add fatty acid/vitamin E supplements to the food. Avoid excess bathing which dries the skin and provide plenty of water. Although it seems like pets would drink more when it is hot, they actually require more water when it is cold and dry. Be sure to keep the water bowls full.

Outdoor cats and dogs have additional requirements in winter. Even if your pet seems to enjoy the cold weather, it is critical that they have a place to get in out of the weather. If your cats don't have a cat door, make sure they can get inside a shed, garage or other shelter when you are not able to let them inside. If your dog stays out during the day when you are not home, they need to have a warm, dry, wind resistant dog house. Make sure there is plenty of water (not ice!) for them to drink and dry material for them to sleep on.

Most pets spend some time indoors and some outdoors. They tend to spend more time inside in the winter, but like us, they enjoy getting out too. If you walk your dog in the winter, pay special attention to their feet. Some dogs will develop dry chapped pads or even cut their pads on ice and snow. If you walk on the road, road salt can irritate your dogs' feet. Long haired dogs can easily develop snow and ice buildup between their toes that will need to be taken out. Most dogs will be fine but if your dog seems tender or doesn't want to walk in the winter, you may want to get some winter "booties" for him to wear. Regardless of the weather, remember it is important for your pet to get plenty of exercise and it is a good way to get yourself out too!

It may seem obvious but sometimes cats do get treated just like dogs. We try to be "cat friendly" and aware that cats are, in fact, not at all like dogs. There is a trend in veterinary medicine right now toward more care for dogs and less for cats. We hope this is not the case here at our clinics. Although most people think of themselves as "cat people" or "dog people", ideally those of us who work with your pets are just "pet people."

A visit to the vet can be traumatic for any animal but it is definitely more frightening for cats. Being put in a carrier, the ride in the car, all the strange noises and smells, and being handled can all be stressors for a cat. Ideally, we can minimize the stress and make the visit a little more bearable for both you and your cat.

If a trip to the clinic is so stressful, why should I bring my cat at all? I'm sure many cat owners wonder, is it worth it? The answer is a resounding yes! Even if your cat is not due for any vaccinations, it is important to have a complete physical at least once a year. Cats are masters at hiding illness until it is advanced. As a prey species, they have evolved to mask weakness that will make them a target of predators. Even though your contented indoor cat might not have to worry about becoming lunch for a hungry predator, he will still try to "look tough" for as long as possible. Since cats are private animals, you might not notice common signs of illness such as vomiting, diarrhea, poor appetite or excessive thirst. By doing a thorough exam each year, we can often identify problems before they become serious. Routine lab tests such as bloodwork, urinalysis and fecal exams can point toward developing diseases that we can then work to prevent.

What should you be watching for at home? Drinking more water or urinating more frequently might be hard to observe, but filling the water bowl more often or having litter that is soaked every day is a sure tip-off to a problem. It may be hard to tell if your cat is really eating (especially if you have multiple cats sharing one bowl), but weight loss and low energy level indicate a problem with nutrition.

Some of the most common signs of illness in cats are subtle behavioral changes. Does your usually friendly cat want to spend all his time alone under the bed? Does your typically aloof cat want to follow you around the house? Is your meticulous cat suddenly not cleaning herself? Is your long-haired cat getting matted? Are you noticing accidents outside the litter box? All of these changes commonly indicate that something is wrong. If your cat could talk (human language that is), he would probably say "I don't want to go to the vet, but I want to feel better." Those of us who love our little furry people in cat suits will agree, ultimately it's worth it.