Vet Pet Blog & Practice News
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Mange Mites & Ear MitesMange mites are tiny organisms not visible to the naked eye. They live on your pet's skin or in hair follicles and they lay their eggs under the skin. As your pet scratches and rubs, the skin becomes dry and thickened leading to hair loss and hardened crusty patches. It is highly contagious to both animals and humans and must be treated by a veterinarian promptly. Ear mites will cause your pet to scratch their ears or shake their head. You can tell if your pet has ear mites by checking the ears for dark earwas or specks resembling dried blood or coffee grounds. Ear mites can cause ear infections and are also highly contagious to other animals. Treatment will require veterinary care. RingwormRingworm is caused by a fungus and will appear on your dog's or cat's skin as round, bare patches on the skin. If your pet has ringworm, avoid contact with other animals as ringworm is highly contagious and can be transmitted to other animals and humans. Your veterinarian can treat ringworm with medication. Seeking Veterinary CareEven the best cared pet can get ill from time-to-time. Changes in behavior can be early indicators of illness. If your dog or cat exhibits changes, or other unusual symptoms, contact your veterinarian for guidance and care:
Do you live in Cypress, Tx or the surrounding areas? We are happy to help! Give us a call at 281-970-0601 or make an appointment conveniently online. Just like people, dogs and cats can have allergic reactions to foods or environmental factors that impact their health. Learn how to protect your pet and be able to recognize the symptoms of an allergic reaction.Would you know if your pet was having an allergic reaction? Our pets get into a lot of things that can spell real trouble. Stinging insects, food and other items they might ingest can cause serious consequences. Some signs of a severe allergic reaction include swollen eyes and face, hives on the body, and weakness. If treated early, allergic reactions typically resolve quickly but if left untreated some severe allergic reactions can progress to anaphylactic shock, collapse and sometimes death.
You may already know that there are numerous health benefits to walking, but did you know it's great for your dog as well? Here are just a few good reasons why you should start today.
Dogs Are Social AnimalsSocializing builds confidence and gives you a chance to show your dog how to interact with other animals in a positive way. While on your walk, you can monitor their behavior from the safety of a leash, while your dog enjoys all the excitement and stimulation that comes with making new friends! Walking Is Good For Your Dog's Health - And Yours, Too!Walking for 30 minutes or more each day can reduce your risk of heart disease and other illnesses and these health benefits apply to your fur-baby as well. Walking also improves digestive health and helps relieve constipation that may arise as a result of a sedentary lifestyle. Over half of all dogs suffer with complications due to obesity. Exercise helps prevent and manage chronic diseases by keeping your pet at a healthy weight. Dogs with arthritis and diabetes can benefit greatly from walking. Bonding With Your DogSetting aside time for you and your fur-baby builds trust and respect. Just like us, dogs need love and attention. Going on routine walks with your dog, can help strengthen your bond, and lead to a long, loving friendship! Walk your dog regularly.Regular walks can improve and lengthen your pet’s life. Just like humans, dogs need regular exercise to help improve their heart function, and muscle tone. In addition to heart function, walking can be beneficial to their cardio-vascular system, their lymphatic system, and more. Safety Tips When Walking Your Dog
Make sure to keep his or her vaccinations up-to-date, and make walking part of your daily routine this year. Our animal hospital works with pet parents to make sure that their pet is happy and healthy. If you need to get your pet's vaccines up-to-date, or if you have any concerns about your pet's weight or overall health, make an appointment with one of our caring and highly trained vets!
What You Need To Know About Canine InfluenzaThere are many causes of Kennel Cough, both bacterial and viral. As of right now, there are 2 cases of Canine Influenza Virus (CIV) in Spring, TX. Know the facts and bring your pet to get treatment right away if you see symptoms of CIV.
Here is the story from Blue Pearl Specialty and Emergency Hospital in Spring:
"There has been a report of an influenza outbreak in the Southeastern U.S. in the last couple of weeks at large dog shows in Florida and Georgia. It is believed to be the H3N2 variety previously thought to originate in Asia. Some of these dogs traveled from all over the country, so it is feasible that you could see cases. We currently are treating 2 confirmed cases of influenza in our Spring hospital, and both of these cases were exposed to the Perry, Ga outbreak...." What is CIV?
CIV is one of the viral causes of kennel cough. It is a highly contagious respiratory disease that has affected thousands of dogs in the US. Because it is a relatively new virus, the majority of dogs have not been exposed to it before.
How is CIV spread?
Dogs of any age, breed and vaccine status are susceptible to this infection. CIV is easily transmitted between dogs through a combination of aerosols, droplets and direct contact with respiratory secretions. The virus does not survive for a long time in the environment, so dogs usually get CIV when they are in close proximity to other infectious dogs.
What are the symptoms of CIV?
Most dogs will have minor symptoms, but some could develop a more severe illness. For this reason it is very important to take them to your veterinarian right away. Be on the look out for the following symptoms:
How do you treat CIV?
If diagnosed and quickly treated, the fatality rate is very low. It is incredibly important that dogs with CIV receive proper veterinary care right away. Treatment includes supportive care and appropriate treatment of secondary infections. While your dog works through the virus, we recommend a few of the following tips:
It can take 10-30 days for most dogs to fight the infection. During that time, secondary infections may develop that require antibiotics and sometimes hospitalization. While the CIV vaccines helps reduce clinical signs of infection, it cannot prevent your dog from getting CIV. If you are concerned that your dog has CIV, contact our clinic at 281-970-0601 or make an appointment conveniently online. |
NEWSNews & Pet BlogFollow our pet blog to read great articles about pet care, office news and more. Have a question or comment? We'd love to hear from you! Archives
March 2023
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