April 2010

A Client Asks:

Is it true that I can get ringworm from my pet? If so, how can I protect myself and my family?

Our Response:

Actually, yes! Ringworm is “zoonotic,” meaning that it is an infection that can be passed between people and pets.

For those who don’t know, ringworm is a fungal infection that appears as baldness, particularly in patches. It is not usually itchy, and it may not have the same ring-like pattern in pets as it does in humans.

Ringworm most commonly manifests in younger animals as their immune systems are not yet fully developed. It is spread via host-to-host transmission, but as the fungus is found within hairs, it can survive in the environment as well. Some animals can become ringworm carriers, but complete eradication of the fungus is possible.

After diagnosis, it is important to follow all of your veterinarian’s recommendations and carefully follow prescription instructions. There are many things you can do to help prevent infection throughout your household. Avoid holding, cuddling, and handling your pet as much as possible. Buy disposable latex gloves and use an old t-shirt as a “smock” for times when handling is absolutely necessary. Confine your pet to a single room, ideally without carpeting. Thoroughly vacuum any carpeted area where your pet has been, again as the fungus is found within the hairs. Disinfect hard surfaces with a 30-part water/1-part bleach solution. And of course, basic hygiene is key, so be sure to wash food and water dishes and your hands diligently.

If you suspect that you have contracted the ringworm fungus, go to your doctor as soon as possible and keep practicing these hygiene techniques. Your pet’s treatment can take anywhere from six to twelve weeks, so patience is required! Best of luck to you, your family, and your pet during treatment!

May 2010

A Client Asks:

Why do dogs and cats need so many vaccines on a yearly basis? People don’t seem to need vaccines so often.

Our Response:

While human babies’ vaccine and booster schedules seem to mirror the puppy and kitten protocols, you’re right, the parallels decline as the human child gets older. Kids need to occasional booster every few years, and we are all urged to receive the yearly flu shot, but dog and cat recommendations are certainly for a higher load of vaccines. As examples, you can check out our Grooming and Boarding vaccine and preventative care requirements.

So, why the annual (or even semi-annual) recommendations? First off, preventive care is both safer and cheaper in terms of pet health. It is by far preferable to prevent illness—and potentially even death—than to see your pet suffer. Treatment for some of these illnesses can involve a relatively simple course of antibiotics all the way up to extended periods of hospitalization. This can mean discomfort, fear, or pain for your pet and uncertainty, anxiety, or financial strain for you—particularly if you have to factor in visits to the Animal Emergency Hospital or to specialists. And some illnesses, such as rabies, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV, or feline AIDS), and feline leukemia virus (FeLV), are not even treatable, so vaccination may be the best defense your pet can have.

These defenses work only if your pet’s schedule is maintained. Vaccines give a level of immunity by allowing the body to create and harbor antibodies; however, those antibodies need to be boostered regularly to sustain protection. Humans need tetanus shots every ten years; pet vaccines simply require boosters at a greater frequency as their vaccines have shorter durations.

Some vaccines are what we call “lifestyle dependent.” You and your vet should discuss and weigh your pet’s risk of exposure to determine which vaccines are appropriate. Bear in mind, rabies, of course, is required by law. At any rate, just like with humans, for pets prevention is often the best medicine.

If you have any specific questions regarding your pet’s vaccine schedule, or if you would like to schedule an appointment, please feel free to give us a call at (703) 723-1017.

June 21, 2010

A Client Asks:

I’ve been noticing a lot more ticks around lately. What do I do if I find one on my dog?

Our Response:

Our area is simply a hot bed for ticks. Many of us find them annoying and creepy, and they can spread disease. Products such as Frontline or Advantix can help by, for instance, killing a tick that bites before it can transmit certain diseases.

However, you may still find ticks either near or on your dog. One of the easiest ways to “dispose” of a tick in your home is to flush it down the toilet. You can’t squash or crush them, so you want to be sure that you really have gotten rid of them.

If you find that the tick is already embedded in the skin, it is important that you remove the entire tick. Often, the simplest and most effective way to do so is to use tweezers that you have cleaned with alcohol to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull firmly and swiftly, much like you might tweeze an eyebrow hair. If you are too jerky in your movements, of if you grip too far back on the tick’s body, then you may break the head off under your dog’s skin. Tick saliva is what transmits disease, and if left in the skin, the head can also cause infection simply by being a foreign body presence. With mild soap and warm water, clean and rinse the area thoroughly after tick removal.

It is also important to note that, while much emphasis is placed on the deer ticks in our area, their transmission of Lyme disease is not the only concern. There are actually many species of tick in the Metro area (and beyond), and they can pass along diseases such as Ehrlichia, Anaplasmosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Some signs of these illnesses include lethargy, joint pain, and loss of appetite. Should you notice any of these symptoms during the days or weeks after tick exposure, call the vet for an appointment right away. Unfortunately, you may not even notice symptoms for months after exposure, so preventive products and careful fur and skin checks after outside time are key.

If you are uncomfortable or unsure with tick removal, our technicians can help you out. Just give us a call so that you can come in and have our staff remove and dispose of the tick for you. And if you have any suspicions or worries that your pet may have contracted a tick-borne illness, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We can be reached at (703) 723-1017.

August 25, 2010 addendum:

Check out this article from Virginia Living for more information about ticks in our area:

http://www.virginialiving.com/articles/little-suckers

 

July 14, 2010

A Client Asks:

We would like to bring our dog along on the family vacation this summer. What do we need to know or do in order to bring him with us?

Our Response:

What fun! It seems like our pets can use the occasional vacation from life’s everyday stresses, too!

First off, find out if your lodgings truly are pet-friendly. Even hotels that label themselves as such can have breed or size restrictions, so book your trip carefully! Depending on where you’re going and how you’re getting there, the preparation can vary greatly. Usually, just a bit of internet research or a phone call can help you and your veterinarian determine if your destination region may present risks to your dog that are not covered by his current vaccines or preventatives. If you’re traveling via airplane or train, your air or rail carrier may also have certain requirements. Look into this as early as possible. A vaccine may be necessary a few weeks ahead of time, or the carrier may want to see test results within just a few days of travel. You’ll provide proof of needed vaccines, tests, and preventatives with an Interstate or International Health Certificate, provided by your vet in an office visit; again, your destination and/or carrier can let you know of their Health Certificate time frame parameters. And even if you’re only driving, if you will cross a state line, you should have a current Interstate Health Certificate with you to show that your pet should not pose a public health risk. But no matter how you’ll travel, be sure to have a copy or two of your dog’s vaccine, testing, and preventative records with you, along with the name and number of your vet. Additionally, know where to find a local animal hospital or pet emergency facility in case your pet needs medical attention during your trip.

Just as you want to enjoy all the comforts of home even while on the road, your pet will feel safer and more at ease with as much familiarity as possible. Pack your dog’s normal food and treats, and bring along his regular food and water bowls if you can. Don’t forget whatever medications or supplements that may be part of his routine. Can you bring his bed, or even just a blanket from home? How about a favorite toy or pillow?

You want to ensure that the travel itself is safe and comfortable, too. If you know that your pet is prone to anxiety or motion-sickness, talk to your vet about appropriate methods to address these concerns. Also, make sure that the kennel or carrier used for transport is airline- or railway-approved and of appropriate size. Ideally, you would like your pet to have the ability to stand up and turn around and to have access to clean water in a carrier, but you’ll need to check with your airline or railway in regards to their regulations. If you’re driving and your pet is too big for a carrier in the car, get a seatbelt harness to help protect him during sudden braking or an accident.

You can also click to see our website's section on "Traveling with Your Pet." To discuss your pet’s specific needs and/or to set up an appointment, please give us a call at (703) 723-1017. Enjoy your vacation with your entire family!

August 19, 2010

A Client Asks:

My cat hates her carrier, car rides, and the vet’s office. What can I do to make her vet visits easier—on her and me?

Our Response:

Doctor visits can be stressful for anyone, but kudos to you for still recognizing the importance of regular veterinary exams for your frightened kitty!

To start, though she seems to hate her carrier, this is really the safest way for her to travel. If she is loose in the car or just held in your arms in the veterinary office, she is at risk of injury, or she may get free and run off. One tactic you can try is to make the carrier a part of everyday life. Consider it a “den” or bed area, and maybe even periodically give her treats if she ventures in. If the carrier is accessible all the time and you reward and encourage your cat as she “hangs out” or sleeps there, it may not be so menacing the next time you need her to get in it for travel.

If your kitty is comfy in the carrier, then car rides in it may also become less traumatic. If she has a favorite bed or blanket that will fit in the bottom of the carrier, let her have that familiarity with her. And keep her safety in mind. There are carriers that can be buckled into seatbelts, and all carriers may be safest in the middle of the backseat, just like child car seats. If motion sickness seems to be the issue, talk to your vet about methods or medications that could help your cat specifically.

Once you arrive at the animal hospital, consider placing a towel over the carrier to block some of the noise and keep the front of the carrier turned away from other animals if you know that this contact is stressful for your cat. Speak in soft, encouraging tones; the veterinary team should follow your lead here. If your kitty is treat-driven, reward her when she is calm, and use the treats to coax her out of the carrier in the exam room. Pet her and keep that familiar blanket or bed close by when you can. When the time comes for the technician and doctor to do their work, allow them to hold and restrain her. If she panics, she may lash out even at you just because she is upset. Sometimes it helps if the veterinary team takes her to a back treatment area where they may have more room, a quieter space, or an extra team member to help things go more quickly and smoothly. Don’t be alarmed if the staff needs to scruff your cat or use a “cat muzzle.” Scruffing mimics the way that a mother cat carries her kittens, so it generally signals to a cat to hold still and stay calm. Cat “muzzles” are actually soft and mask-like, covering the cat’s eyes because they may not fear what they can’t see. All of the above techniques are meant to protect both your kitty and the veterinary staff.

In some cases of fear or aggression, your vet may suggest other methods to keep your cat restrained and calm. To address any further concerns, a consult appointment may be in order—with or without your cat present. If you feel you cat needs such further attentions, of if you would like to get more information or schedule an appointment, please give us a call at (703) 723-1017. Though your cat may be anxious, she’ll surely thank you for being so attentive to her health!

September 15, 2010

A Client Asks:

Last year around this time, my dog got really itchy ears that became infected. The vet said it could be caused by seasonal allergies, and she gave my dog medication, including ear cleaner and ointment. She also suggested regular ear cleaning during the fall season to help prevent future infections. I want to start doing that again; could you give me a reminder and tips about ear cleaning?

Our Response:

Yes, unfortunately, our pets can suffer from seasonal allergies, too. However, they don’t generally sneeze, cough, and such, as we do. They’ll often have itchy skin, including ear irritation that can lead to infection. With any flare-up, it’s best to see the vet just to be sure that you are treating with the correct medications or products and to check for secondary infections caused by scratching that allergic itch.

In general, maintenance ear cleaning is done every two weeks, but the vet may suggest a different schedule for your pet specifically. Also, you should clean your dog’s ears after swimming, bathing, or whenever the ears get wet. It’s best to check with the veterinarian about the type of ear cleaner to use. Over-the-counter cleaners from pet supply stores are usually okay for maintenance cleaning, but if your pet has a specific “chronic” issue, the doctor can prescribe an appropriate medicated cleaner.

As for cleaning method, there are a few ways to do it. Get set up in a bathroom, on the back patio, or somewhere else that will be easy to clean once you’re finished; there’s a good chance that cleaner will be splashed around as your dog shakes his head. Never use cotton swabs; instead use cotton balls and/or cosmetic pads. You can choose to fill your dog’s ear canal with the cleaner, massage the ears to loosen wax and build-up, then let him shake his head. You can also squirt the ear cleaner directly onto the cotton. Then, you’ll use the cotton to wipe out the ear canal and outer ear. This is why you need to avoid swabs, which can push debris further into the ear, or even break off in the L-shaped canal. Continue cleaning gently until the cotton is nearly clean after wiping. If you would like an in-person demonstration, we would be happy to see you and your pet in a technician appointment. Please give us a call at (703) 723-1017 if you would like to schedule an ear cleaning demo or an office visit with the veterinarian to check out any skin flare-ups.

We hope that your whole family can find relief and comfort during this allergy season!

October 13, 2010

A Client Asks:

I want to follow the veterinarian’s recommendation to keep my dog on flea and tick preventive year-round, even now that we’re in autumn and heading toward winter. The doctor suggested Frontline or Advantix that I could buy in the office. However, I have seen different types of products, including sprays and shampoos, at pet stores and other stores, and some of these products are much cheaper. Why couldn’t I just use one of those?

Our Response:

Fleas and ticks—along with the parasites and diseases they can carry—are year-round threats in our temperate climate zone, so you are right to be proactive by using flea and tick preventive. And it’s not difficult to find retail products that promise “complete” protection. As a concerned pet owner and attentive consumer, how do you know which product is appropriate for your pet?

Just as we defer to our own physicians’ recommendations for our health, we are best served by following our veterinarians’ advice for our pets’ health. But being informed and inquisitive patients and pet owners, we often ask our physicians and veterinarians why we need to follow certain instructions. In the case of flea and tick preventives, the explanation concerns both efficacy and safety.

Some “over-the-counter” products are only meant to repel or kill fleas, so of course, these won’t have any effect when it comes to ticks. Also, those repellents generally only target adult fleas or ticks. Therefore, while adult fleas may die after contact with flea spray or a collar, the eggs they may have laid will still hatch and lead to another infestation. On the other hand, veterinary-grade preventives target the different life stages of fleas and ticks, killing larva, keeping eggs from hatching, and killing and/or repelling adults.

Additionally, pets are more likely to have reactions, such as minor to severe skin irritation, from over-the-counter products. Different products are made with different ingredients, including pesticides, so it is best to use a product that your veterinarian is familiar with and that is carefully studied, approved, and guaranteed. Also, a product marketed for dogs can be toxic to cats, so you have to be careful in a multi-pet home.

Essentially, you are looking at different medications when considering over-the-counter versus veterinary-grade flea and tick preventative products. Again, it is best and safest to follow your vet’s advice. If you have any questions about the products we carry or what we might recommend for your pet, we can be reached at (703) 723-1017.

November 10, 2010

A Client Asks:

This Thanksgiving, I’ll have a house full of family and friends, some of whom I know will be tempted to feed table scraps and other “goodies” to my pets. I always ask that no one feed my pets “people food,” but what do I do if one of them gets something that doesn’t quite agree with them?

Our Response:

It can be frustrating and frightening to have a holiday celebration turn into a veterinary emergency, so it is helpful to ask houseguests to keep scraps and goodies away from your pets. If possible or necessary, perhaps you can keep your pets in a separate area of your home during holiday meals and parties.

As you may already know, foods such as chocolate, grapes, and onions can be quite dangerous, but you should also be on the look-out for your and your houseguests’ medications, certain plants, antifreeze products, household garbage, and many other potential toxins. The website http://www.dvm360.com offers information about what in your home could be dangerous and how to keep those things away from your pets: http://veterinaryteam.dvm360.com/firstline/data/articlestandard//firstline/032010/652190/article.pdf.

If your pet does ingest something other than his or her own regular food, reactions could range from mild stomach upset to full-blown, potentially fatal poisoning. It is safest to take action as soon as you notice any such symptoms. Hopefully, you’ll be aware of what and how much your pet has eaten. Even better, hopefully you’ll still have a bit of it left that you can collect in a safe, secure container. But even if your pet ate all of the problem product, or if you really don’t know what s/he could have eaten, make note of the symptoms and get help. The ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center can be reached at (888) 426-4435, and the Pet Poison Helpline can be reached at (800) 213-6680. Have on hand a credit card (as there is a consult fee for these hotlines); the label, a description, or a sample of the ingested item (if at all possible); a pen and paper (to write down instructions and case number); and your pet’s symptoms, breed, weight, and age. (Also see “Emergencies: Poisoning” page on our website). Don’t give your pet milk, immediately try to get your pet to vomit, or wait out the symptoms; instead, please call one of the poison hotline numbers right away. For more poisoning emergency do’s and don’t’s, check out these tips from http://www.dvm360.com/: http://veterinaryteam.dvm360.com/firstline/data/articlestandard//firstline/032010/652186/article.pdf.

Particularly if your pet appears to be unstable (seizures, severe and repeated vomiting or diarrhea, pronounced lethargy, unconsciousness, etc.), you’ll also want to contact your veterinarian or the closest pet emergency hospital. The closest pet ER to our facility is The Life Centre in Leesburg, and they can be reached at (703) 777-5755. If you’ve got another person to help you, you may even choose to call one of the pet poison numbers from your cell phone while en route to the veterinary hospital. Give the case number and instructions from the poison hotline consultant to the veterinarian, along with any label, description, or sample of the ingested item. The veterinarian and consultant may need to speak to one another about your pet’s treatment, and they’ll likely need to chat as part of follow up.

While severe poisoning cases can mean lengthy hospital stays or maybe even surgeries, more minor cases of food “indiscretion” might simply send you home with a special diet and a medication or two. Either way, it’s better to be safe than sorry if you suspect that your pet has eaten anything out of the ordinary. A bit of pet-poison-proofing in your home and some preparation in case an emergency does arise should help keep your holiday season both safe and cheerful!

December 16, 2010

A Client Asks:

Recently, a friend’s cat had a serious medical emergency. After Christmas shopping on an already tight budget, the family was unable to afford all the treatments that the kitty needed, and they eventually had to decide to put her down. We have a dog and a cat in our family, and we know that emergencies can happen at any time. Does your practice offer payment plans or anything like that which could help in such a situation?

Our Response:

We hate to think of it, but disaster can strike at any time. And doesn’t it seem like “disasters” all happen at once? The dishwasher starts leaking, little Jimmy has outgrown all of his shoes, the car breaks down…and then the dog eats chocolate candy wrappers from the garbage. Savings and credit cards can help you get through some emergencies, but when funds run low, it can be difficult to decide which problems will just have to wait—and often there really is no way to decide. You have to eat from clean dishes, your children need to wear shoes, you’ve got to drive to work, and your pets must stay healthy and safe.

We generally do not handle “in-house” payment plans, but we can point you in the direction of certain options. One way to “plan ahead” is to purchase pet insurance. There are many different companies and plans to choose from, and age and pre-existing conditions can factor in. Therefore, you’ll want to do some careful shopping around. There is coverage for routine care, accidents, illnesses, or different combinations of each of these. Click here for further information and a list of some of the insurance agencies that we’ve seen in our practice.

In the event of the unexpected, third party payment plans are available as well. Companies such as Care Credit and Wells Fargo offer financing that you can apply for via the web or over the phone. In some circumstances, the financing may even be interest-free, provided you make payments on time and pay off the entire balance. Click here for related information and websites.

One unique option offered by our practice is our “Good Samaritan Fund.” Built through client donations, this fund was established for families who may be unable to afford crucial veterinary services. Funding is available only as we receive donations, so if you would like to contribute, you can speak with our Reception staff, either in the office or by calling us at (703) 723-1017. You can click here for further information about our Good Samaritan Fund.

Veterinary emergencies are never exactly fun, but we are certainly here for your family should the need arise. And even for routine veterinary services, we are happy to help you explore your financing options. If we can be of assistance, please give us a call at (703) 723-1017.