Welcome to our Pet's place where you can find information and resources specifically for your pet's needs. We’ve gathered excerpts on some of the most sought after information regarding your pet’s health.

Dental Disease in Canine and Feline Patients

Infection in a pet's mouth causes bad breath, inflamed gum lines and pain. If the disease is severe enough, it can lead to infection in other parts of their body, including heart valves and their kidneys.

About 85% of veterinary patients examined demonstrate that dental disease has reached a level that warrants a dental prophylaxis, which is an expert dental cleaning performed under anesthesia. For some patients, an antibiotic is started a few days prior to the cleaning to minimize aerosolized bacteria. The dental cleaning includes a thorough oral exam, scaling/removal of stubborn dental plaque, and a polishing with a fluoride treatment. Some patients are further examined with digital x-ray-generated images.

Once the cleaning is complete, we will provide you with information and training for home dental care and hygiene in order to maintain a healthy mouth. Our goal is happy and healthy patients in all ways, including their smile!

Heartworm

Many canine patients are still not current on heartworm prevention. Heartworm disease is a serious infection transmitted by mosquitoes and is very common in North Carolina. Infected dogs can show no signs of disease for several years until they develop congestive heart failure from the parasite. The disease can ultimately be fatal. Heartworm disease can be prevented for less than a “Happy Meal” per month. Please let us know if you have any questions for our staff about heartworm disease or heartworm prevention in either dogs or cats.

Senior Blood Screens

We recommend blood work in older patients to screen for early signs of disease. If all parameters are normal, these tests also provide us with a baseline for comparison with any future blood tests. Please let us know if you would like us to perform this blood work.

Atopy

Atopy, or atopic dermatitis, is a common allergic dermatitis of dogs, where the dog becomes sensitized to antigens in its environment by inhalation or contact. Dogs may be allergic to different outside pollens, tobacco, household dust, molds, mildew, perfumes, carpeting or any type of protein. The skin is the primary organ for such allergies. The age of onset varies from 6 months to 7 years of age. These dogs are typically feet lickers, face rubbers, and are generally very itchy and allergic to fleas. More than 50% of dogs will have recurrent ear infections and secondary skin infections.

Treatment blocks the allergies and treats the secondary skin changes by antihistamines and/or other allergy medications, injections, testing and immunotherapy. Using a dipe/wipe, make sure to clean the lower abdomen, paws, armpits, under the neck and the chest following trips outside. It is particularly important when the grass is damp in the a.m. and p.m., and following rain bursts. This will remove the offending allergen. Each patient's treatment plan will be individualized for the best results.

Ears

Dog's ears are prone to infections because of their anatomy. Ear infections are commonly caused by bacteria, yeast or ear mites. Recurrent infections can lead to chronic, non-curable problems with eventual hearing loss. Keeping ears free of hair and dry and treating them early can prevent chronic problems. Ear infections in cats are commonly associated with ear mites. Other causes are foreign bodies, cat fights, and improper use of medications. Dogs with skin allergies are prone to ear problems and their allergies must be controlled to alleviate the ear infection.

Feline Leukemia

Feline Leukemia Virus is a common infectious agent that is responsible for a wide variety of diseases in cats, including anemias, recurrent fevers, secondary infections due to immuno suppression, and tumor formation, as well as leukemia. Cats are usually infected from close contact with FeLV-positive cats through bites, grooming, and sharing litter boxes and food containers. Kittens may also be born with the virus. There is no specific treatment for Feline Leukemia-positive cats; only supportive therapy can be given. Cats negative for FeLV should be vaccinated with a series of injections and boostered yearly. We strongly encourage vaccination against the feline leukemia virus, which is the most common cause of illness and death in young and middle-aged cats.

Canine Weight loss

For moderate canine weight loss, we recommend gradually decreasing the amount of food currently fed by about 25 to 33% over 6 to 8 weeks to reach a goal weight. Eliminate all human food from the diet. Replace commercial treats with regular dry dog food placed in a small Tupperware container in an easily accessible area. Shake the container and talk the baby talk, then offer the regular dry kibble as the treat.

Food Allergies

Food allergies in dogs and cats are manifested by itching more frequently than with gastrointestinal symptoms. This allergic reaction can be presented as a localized dermatitis (facial or ears) or generalized dermatitis (whole body). These pets may have secondary skin problems, such as staph infections (pyodermas), folliculitis (inflammation of hair follicle), pigmentation, and thickening of skin. Other allergies, such as flea allergy dermatitis, may be present as well and can compound the degree of scratching.

Diagnosis is by feeding a prescribed hypoallergenic diet for 5 to 7 weeks and treating secondary skin problems responding with an obvious reduction in scratching. When conducting a food elimination trial with a hypoallergenic diet, remember that NO OTHER FOODS, NO OTHER ANIMAL OR PLANT SOURCE CHEW TOYS, NOR ANY OTHER TYPES OF PROTEINS OR TREATS should be fed. Feed exclusively the hypoallergenic diet and water after the two-week transition period. We re-check patients on a food elimination trial at 5 and 7 weeks from the start of the diet transition period. You can make treats by putting some of the food in a blender with water and mixing until it is the consistency of thick oatmeal, then forming into shapes and baking until the firmness is most acceptable. This seems to “fool” most dogs and they take it as a treat. Light dusting with a pinch of sugar or salt can increase palatability.

Heart Murmur

A heart murmur results from turbulent flow of blood through any of the four chambers of the heart. Listening for or hearing a murmur does not always mean there is a disease present. Alternatively, it can be caused by diseases of the heart wall or heart valves, or changes in the blood itself. The general recommendation following detection of a heart murmur is follow-up with an electrocardiogram and/or cardiac ultrasound and/or X-ray films of the chest. Then you can respond accordingly to the cardiologist or ultrasonographer report and recommendations. Heart murmurs generally lead to thorough evaluations with a manageable diagnosis, unmanageable disease or an "innocent" condition with no clinical consequences. The best health care is to gather all the available information and treat appropriately.

Lyme

Lyme disease is a spirochete infection of humans as well as a wide range of mammals (mice, raccoons, skunk, deer, horses, cats and dogs) and migratory birds. The deer tick is the primary vector, but other species of ticks, mosquitoes, deer flies and fleas have been shown to carry the spirochete infection. There is some evidence that the organism can spread from dog to dog and possibly from animals to man. Symptoms include fever, lethargy, joint pain and lameness. Diagnosis is by clinical signs and blood test. Treatment is long-term antibiotics. A new vaccine is now available and may be indicated for some dogs at high risk.