Q: Do you stop vaccinating your dog and at what age? I have an elderly dog. She is strictly indoor dog with the exception of sitting on the back patio in the sun during the summer months. She has very minimal and sporadic contact with other animals. Does she still need vaccines? Could you please tell me the pros and cons?

A: I often wish that I lived in the future. For those of you that watch Star Trek, you may understand why. I have watched a few episodes (not a Trekie by a long shot) and find the medical personnel fascinating. They use a device the size of a smart phone (a tricorder) that measures virtually everything in the body. When those come out I want the first one.

I am, however, glad that the past has passed. We live in a grand time when medical advances are being made all around us. Through genetic engineering we may be able to completely become immune to all disease and therefore eliminate the need for vaccines completely. We are not there yet! In the 80’s a new disease emerged that we now know as Canine Parvovirus. Many dogs (puppies and adults alike) became fatally infected with this virus. Veterinarians initially did not know what the disease was or how to treat it. Now we know how to treat it and prevent it alike. Comparatively we see few cases of parvovirus. Almost all cases we see could have been prevented with proper vaccination. The same could be said for Distemper, Panleukopenia, Adeno virus, Feline Leukemia virus, and others.

So are we living in the past, present, or future? And what does that mean? Here is where the controversy begins. No one wants to return to the days when Canine Parvovirus emerged. However, no one wants to do much either. We are beginning to recognize side effects from vaccinations. So what is the bes vaccination protocol?

First off, we must remember that our pets are individuals and therefore any statement we make for the whole group will be wrong for some individuals, whether we are vaccinating or not. It is true that on the whole Senior Pets need fewer and less frequent vaccinations. However we must remember that these pets also need more frequent veterinary visits and blood work. Blood work is one way that we can eliminate the need for vaccination as we are now able to measure immunity to some degree. This, however, is more expensive and still will not cover all pets.

So until we all have Tricorders there is no perfectly scientific rule. We must judge each patient on a case by case basis and do the best we can.

Why is Regular Testing Important?

Some illnesses cannot be detected through physical examinations alone, and a sick cat of dog may not exhibit any noticeable symptoms. Diagnostic test play a crucial role in early detection of illnesses. The sooner a problem is found, the sooner your veterinarian can begin work to develop a treatment plan. This early intervention will not only improve the likelihood of a better outcome, but it will also improve your pet’s quality of life and cut down on treatment expenses.

Which Pets Should be Tested?

The most obvious group of pets that need diagnostic testing is dogs and cats that seem sick or just aren’t acting like themselves. For these pets, it’s essential that your veterinarian conduct a complete diagnostic workup as soon as possible. However, some illnesses cannot be detected by just a physical exam so regular testing of healthy pets is important.

In addition, regular diagnostic testing allows veterinarians to establish what is considered normal for your individual pet. While each test comes with a normal range of scores, these ranges do not always take into account specific breed, size, age, or past health history. The best way to determine whether your pet is sick is your pet’s own baseline score when he or she is healthy. Baseline test results become more important as pets age. Pets 7 years old and older should receive diagnostic testing annually to help identify any potential health problems.

What Tests Are Needed?

Most veterinarians recommend several test to establish the health of your pet. These tests can allow for early disease detection, which makes it easier for the veterinarian to treat hidden problems. Our veterinarians recommend that the following tests be done annually: complete blood count and chemistry, thyroid function (senior pets), urinalysis, and parasite exam (especially puppies). You can learn more about these tests in the Wellness section.

A Healthy Outcome

After all these diagnostic tests are completed, your veterinarian hopes that nothing is found. Why? Because that means your pet is healthy. And that’s the most vital test for cats and dogs to pass, year after year.

We would love to establish a baseline for your pet or find a diagnosis for your sick pet. Call today to set up an appointment. (208) 362-5329

1. Cat’s need heartworm prevention! Cats are affected differently than dogs, but they still need to be protected. Prevention is especially important because heartworm-infected cats seldom harbor the adult heartworm that is the basis for diagnosing heartworm disease. Heartworm larvae will migrate to the lungs and cause severe respiratory disease, like coughing and labored breathing.
2. All pets require heartworm prevention regardless of whether they reside indoors or outdoors. While indoor pets are less likely to be bitten by heartworm-infected mosquitoes, it can still happen. Indoor pets like to reside next to open windows and may accompany their owners out on the deck or patio. Also, most of us have found mosquitoes inside our homes. Year-round protection is important regardless of your pet’s indoor or outdoor habits.
3. Heartworm prevention should be used all year round. While mosquitoes may not be out and about during the winter months it is not as easy to predict when they will be because of the urbanization of our environment. It is also important to remember that heartworm prevention also provides protection against other parasites such as roundworms, hookworms and whipworms.
4. Dogs and cats receiving heartworm prevention should still have regular heartworm tests. Although the heartworm preventive medications are highly effective, pets do rarely acquire heartworm infections while receiving them. Most infections are due to owners forgetting to give the medication, administering improperly or pets not swallowing the tablets. Some pets are especially good at hiding their pills and spitting them out later. Annual tests are recommended and are available at Ada Animal Hospital with a regular blood test.

Call us today to get your pet started on heartworm prevention and have an annual blood panel and heartworm test done. 208-362-5329.

• Zoonotic disease are primarily in animals and can be transmitted to people.
• Most infections occur through soil contaminated with infected eggs and larvae.
• Children are the most at risk for disease transmission.
• An estimated 10,000 cases of human round worm infections occur each year, with more than 700 resulting in vision loss, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC*).
• Heatworms are transmitted from animal to animal by mosquitoes.  The larvae migrate through the body reaching the blood vessels of the lungs.  Once mature they enter the heart where they continue to grow, growing up to 14″ in length.  In time this will result in severe lung and heart disease.
• The Treasure Valley had 27 positive heartworm cases in dogs in 2007 alone and approximately 20 cases in 2008.

Here are 3 steps to protect your family and pets:

1. Drop a fresh stool sample off at our hospital and we will call you with the results. The CDC* recommends a microscopic fecal exam twice a year for each pet.  This is especially important if you have children in your home.
2. Start your pet on a monthly parasite prevention program. We carry two monthly prevention options: Iverhart Max, a once-a-month oral tablet that protects against heartworms and most intestinal parasites; and Revolution, which is apples topically and protects against most intestinal parasites, heartworms, fleas and ticks.
3. Set up an appointment today to have your pet tested for heartwom infection. This only requires a quick and simple blood test.

Dogs and cats can be spayed or neutered anytime. Ideally, between 4 and 6 months of age, before they go through puberty.

Having your pet spayed or neutered greatly reduces the risk of breast, prostate or testicular cancer. If male dogs are neutered before they hit puberty the will not likely develop the habit of lifting their leg to mark territory or of humping things. It can also decrease their tendency to roam. Female dogs that are not spayed can develop pyometra which is a potentially fatal infection of the uterus and requires emergency surgery.

Even though your pets can’t talk to you, there are lots of ways that they can tell you that it’s time for action. Remember when your puppy or kitten’s shiny white new adult teeth came in? Now lift your pet’s lips and take a peek at the teeth and gums. If those pearly whites seem more yellow than white and the gums are swollen or inflamed, you’re looking at plaque and tartar buildup. Are the gums red or bleeding? That can be gingivitis, or the beginnings of more severe periodontal disease. Left without treatment, this can lead to oral pain or tooth loss, and that can keep your pet from wanting to eat. Loss of appetite, excessive drooling, and loose teeth are all signs that dental disease may be affecting your pet.

With dental disease, just like with any healthcare issue, the best defense is a good offense. Imagine what might happen if you hadn’t seen a dentist until you were 20! Start by having your pet’s teeth and gums examined and professionally cleaned. A dental exam and cleaning should become part of your pet’s regular veterinary visits. In between cleaning, you can help keep teeth fresh and bright by adopting an oral home-care plan. This can include brushing, special dietary aides, and other techniques to help to keep your pet healthy year round. Be sure to stick with toothpastes in flavors and formulas made especailly for pets. At your next visit, please ask us for a hands-on lesson in providing good home dental care for your pet.

When is a pet considered a senior? Both cats and dogs are considered a senior citizen in the domestic animal world when they reach 7 years of age.

Why should you be proactive about your pet’s health? Your pet may seem happy and robust, but the gradual onset of disease can easily go unnoticed. Once symptoms do appear, the condition may be difficult and costly to treat and diagnose. This is why a Wellness Exam is so important to the quality of your pet’s life.

What is a Wellness Exam? A Wellness Exam includes a physical exam and blood tests that the doctor can use as an aid to diagnose blood disorders, kidney and liver disease, diabetes, infection, cancer, thyroid disease and other hormonal problems. Many of these conditions can be prevented, controlled, or completely reversed if diagnosed early. A Wellness Exam also gives the doctors a benchmark from which to measure future test results should your pet become ill.  Furthermore, it allows the Doctor to check out any “lumps and bumps” on your animal, which, as a senior pet might be normal, but may point to something a little more serious.

What else should you do for your senior pet? Talk to your vet about what kind of senior food your pet should be eating. Also, senior pets can suffer from arthritis. Does your pet have a hard time getting up in the morning or getting around when the weather is cold? You may consider getting x-rays done to determine the severity of the arthritis. There are some very effective medications specifically for cats and dogs that your vet can prescribe to help with arthritis pain.  X- rays are also a good way to check for heart disease, especially in our smaller canine friends.

This month, Ada Animal Hospital is focusing on the well being of our Senior animal friends.  Look for a special edition of  “Healthy Pet” Magazine that has informative articles and special tips regarding your Senior pet.  There is also a valuable coupon on the cover that you can use this month specifically for your Senior Pet to help him or her live the best, healthiest life you can provide!

Parvovirus is a highly contagious virus transmitted in the feces.  All dogs are susceptible but puppies are most likely to be affected.

Is it treatable?

Parvo cases can have a high success rate of treatment if treatment is initiated early on in the disease process.  However, the cost ranges anywhere from $500-$3000.  Much higher than the cost of the puppy series of vaccine or the annual vaccination.  Also, the sooner we see and treat the animal the better the prognosis.  Dogs and puppies get dehydrated very quickly from the vomiting and diarrhea caused by the virus.  There are a number of potential complications due to the dehydration and the other effects of the virus.

Is it preventable?

Almost 100%.  It requires a series of 3-4 vaccinations as a puppy and yearly boosters thereafter.  This vaccine is included in the typical yearly vaccine so those dogs seeing a veterinarian regularly for vaccines should be protected.

The Idaho Statesman has an article further discussing the increased number of cases in the valley.

Food Items that Could Cause Problems:

• Alcoholic Beverages
• Chocolate (baker’s, semi-sweet or milk chocolate):  the amount of damage is determined by the size of your pet, the amount of chocolate it ate and what kind of chocolate.  The closer the chocolate is to cocoa form more harmful it is.
• Bones: chicken bones especially can shatter and splinter in your pet’s mouth and intestinal tract.
• Food Scraps: just not healthy
• Fatty Foods: just not healthy
• Onions, onion powder: not good in any amount
• Garlic, garlic powder: not good in any amount.
• Coffee (grounds, beans or chocolate covered espresso beans)
• Yeast dough
• Salt: like people, animals don’t need a lot of salt.
• Grapes/raisns: the research hasn’t discovered the exact cause, but grapes and raisins cause kidney failure.  However, they are not consistent.  Some pets eat them all their lives and others can go into kidney failure after eating just one or to.  So, better to error on the side of caution.

If you pet does happen to ingest any of these items that are really harmful, please call us or the emergency clinic immediately for treatment.

The best form of prevention is daily homecare. Toothbrushes, enzymatic toothpastes and products with chlorhexidene are standard products available at vet clinics and pet stores. Diets also play an important role in homecare. Hills makes a very good dental food that can be purchased from your veterinarian. Greenies and CET Chews are also great products to assist in keeping your pet’s mouth healthy.

Daily teeth brushing is one of the most important steps to keep your pet’s mouth healthy. Here are some steps that you can take to develop a teeth brushing regimen:

Step1: Introduce a brushing program to pets gradually. Avoid over-restraining your pet and keep brushing sessions short and positive. A cat or small dog can be held in your lap. Praise and reassure your pet throughout the process.

Step 2: At first, dip a finger in beef bullion for dogs or tuna water for cats. Rub the soaked finger gently over the pet’s mouth and teeth. Make the initial sessions short and positive.

Step 3: Gradually, introduce gauze over the finger and gently scrub the outside of the teeth in a circular motion.

Step 4: Finally, you can introduce a soft toothbrush designed for pets. Use a sensitive or ultra-soft brush designed for pets. Special pet toothbrushes are available from your veterinarian or specialty pet store. You also will need to use toothpaste designed for pets. Human toothpaste contains ingredients that will make your pet sick.

If you are unsure of the level of disease present in your pet’s mouth, call us today and schedule a free dental exam. We can also show you how to brush your pet’s teeth.