Service dogs help Wash. soldiers battling PTSD

This articles discusses how therapy dogs help troops in Washington state with PTSD.  Did you know we have an organization at Fort Leonard Wood that also is assisting some of our returning troops?  It's called Battle Buddies, and our hospital assists them in a small way.

Service dogs help Wash. soldiers battling PTSD | Local News | The Seattle Times

Another "Best Friends" agrees with us. Spay and neuter at 4 months of age

Want to know why we chose to become AAHA accredited? This video explains!

Marijuana in Pets

This article discusses a common poisoning vets see in dogs.

http://www.record-bee.com/ci_20585975/vets-see-dogs-poisoned-by-pot

InsideToronto Article: 24/7 VETS: Talking about heart disease and why annual checkups are important

Heart disease is a common problem in our pets, especially the smaller breeds.  The article linked below has some good information.

InsideToronto Article: 24/7 VETS: Talking about heart disease and why annual checkups are important

April Is Heartworm Awareness Month

What Is Heartworm Disease?

Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition caused by parasitic worms living in the arteries of the lungs and occasionally in the right side of the heart of dogs, cats and other species of mammals, including wolves, foxes, ferrets, sea lions and (in rare instances) humans. Heartworms are classified as nematodes (roundworms) and are filarids, one of many species of roundworms. Dogs and cats of any age or breed are susceptible to infection.

Filarids rely on different insect species to be transported from animal to animal. The specific filarid causing heartworm in dogs and cats is known as Dirofilaria immitis.

Dogs or other animals harboring adult worms are the recognized reservoir of heartworm infection. The disease is spread by mosquitoes that become infected with microfilariae while taking a blood meal from an infected dog. Within the mosquito, the microfilariae mature into the infective larval stage. When the mosquito then bites another dog, cat, or susceptible animal, the larvae are deposited on the skin and actively migrate into the new host. For about 2 months the larvae migrate through the connective tissue, under the skin, then pass into the animal's venous blood stream and are quickly transported to the arteries of the lung. It takes a total of approximately six months for the infective larvae to mature into adult worms that begin producing offspring, microfilariae. Adult heartworms can live for five to seven years in the dog.

In the dog, the larvae progress in their development to an adult form of the worm, and live in the pulmonary vessels, where they continue the life cycle and cause extensive injury. The period of time when heartworms are reproductively capable is referred to as patency. In cats, it takes seven to eight months before adult worms potentially reach patency in the pulmonary vessels, and this is referred to as transient patency, as reproductive capability in the cat is usually very short (months) compared to that of dogs (years). In most cases the cat is not an effective reservoir host, since microfilaria are produced in less than 20% of the cats.

In the cat, the larvae molt as well, but fewer worms survive to adulthood. While dogs may suffer from severe heart and lung damage from heartworm infection, cats typically exhibit minimal changes in the heart. The cat's primary response to the presence of heartworms occurs in the lungs.

Learn more about Heartworm In Dogs

http://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/canine-heartworm.html

Learn more about Heartworm In Cats

http://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/feline-heartworm.html

 Before starting a preventive program, all dogs should be tested for heartworms. Giving preventives to dogs that have adult heartworm infection can be harmful or even fatal to the pet.  This is why it it so important to have your dog tested for hearthworms before starting a preventative.

Schedule an appointment in April to learn more about how you can prevent Heartworm and Intestinal Parasites in your dog.  573.336.3759

Snow Day!

We will be closing early today, February the 13th, at 3 PM, due to the weather.