Rock Hill Animal Hospital
  • Home
  • Our Services
  • Tour our Facility
  • Meet the RHAH team
  • Contact Us/Our Location
  • Petly
  • Emergency Info
  • Forms
  • Vaccines
  • Client Comments
  • Blog

February 06th, 2018

2/6/2018

6 Comments

 
Picture
Does your pet have smelly breath that can knock you out of bed in the morning?  Are their teeth looking a bit snaggly?  Dental health is important in dogs and cats too.  Let me repeat that in a different way, you should take care of your dog's and cat's teeth as well as your own.  Read the wonderful article below to learn more about dental hygiene in your furry friends' mouth.  Call and  schedule an appointment today for a FREE consultation dental exam.  Then we will guide you from there to a better, cleaner mouth for your pup or cat.  10 PERCENT OFF OF ALL DENTAL PROCEDURES AND PRODUCTS IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY!!!!!

All About Dental Health
By Dr. Ruth MacPete, DVM
Dog Checkups & Preventive Care Dr. Ruth MacPete dishes on pet dental health. Read on to learn more about dental disease and how to keep your pet's ivories healthy and pearly white. For more from Dr. MacPete, find her on Facebook or at www.drruthpetvet.com!

Can you imagine what your teeth would look like if you never brushed them? Not pretty that’s for sure! So what about your pets’ teeth? Like us, pets need routine dental care. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS), dental disease is the number one health issue affecting 80% of dogs and 70% of cats over the age of three. Not too surprising considering that most people don’t brush their pet’s teeth (and we know their pets aren’t doing it either). So why should you care? Poor oral hygeine doesn’t just cause bad breath, it can lead to tooth loss, painful abscesses, difficulty eating, and other serious health problems. 

Dental disease in pets
So how does dental disease occur in pets? The combination of food, saliva, and bacteria leads to plaque formation. If this isn’t removed by brushing, it mineralizes and becomes tartar. Tartar accumulation promotes bacterial infections below the gumline, which result in gum recession and destruction of the tooth’s support structures. Without treatment, tooth loss and pain occur. Bacteria from a tooth infection can also enter the blood stream and spread to distant organs, like the kidney, liver and heart.

What if your pet has dental disease?
A complete dental cleaning is required if your pet already has dental disease. This involves an evaluation of the oral cavity and cleaning not only the surface of the teeth, but underneath the gumline where the majority of bacteria and tartar are found.  After the teeth are cleaned, they are polished to smooth the rough surface created by the cleaning. Without polishing, these irregular surfaces allow bacteria and plaque to adhere more easily and accelerate the recurrence of dental disease. Next, an antibacterial solution is flushed below the gumline to remove any debris that collected after the scaling and polishing. Lastly the entire mouth is checked again and dental x-rays may be used to assess the extent of the dental disease and the need for tooth extractions or additional work. Even though most people can tolerate and sit through a thorough dental cleaning, pets can’t. The only way to perform a complete dental cleaning in pets is by using general anesthesia. 

What about a non-anesthetic dental?
For many pet parents, the thought of placing their beloved pets under general anesthesia is scarier than the actual cleaning. So what about a non-anesthetic dental cleaning? It is important to know that it is currently illegal for anyone other than a veterinarian or a supervised and trained veterinary technician to perform a dental cleaning. Even when done by a trained professional, there are risks with non-anesthetic dentals. Animals with dental disease often have painful mouths. Without anesthesia, an animal may experience pain and move during the cleaning. This can be dangerous since many of the instruments used are quite sharp and can hurt the animal if it jerks during the procedure. However, the biggest issue with non-anesthetic dental cleanings is that the cleanings are superificial and do not address tartar under the gumline where the majority of dental disease resides. For these reasons, both the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) and the American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS) do not recommend non-anesthetic dental cleanings. 

What should be done before a cleaning?
So how can you make the anesthetic dental safer? Pre-anesthetic bloodwork and chest x-rays are used to screen for underlying medical issues. Although anesthesia can never be risk free, the use of modern gas anesthetics such as sevoflurane and isoflurane, sophisticated monitoring equipment, as well as intravenous catheters and IV fluids have greatly improved the safety of general anesthesia. Your veterinarian will need to look at your pet’s individual risks versus the benefits of dental care and advise you appropriately.

How do you keep your pet’s teeth clean?
Once your pet’s teeth are clean, routine dental care will maintain oral health and minimize the need for professional dental cleanings. Pets should IDEALLY have their teeth brushed daily using pet-safe toothpaste. I say IDEALLY because for most of us this isn’t possible, so do the best you can. Brush your pet’s teeth as often as you can and try to do it at least once a week if daily isn’t possible. While nothing beats regular brushing, oral rinses, dental diets and dental treats can help reduce the bacteria and plaque that lead to tartar formation. No matter what you choose, be consistent and see your veterinarian regularly for check ups. Remember early diagnosis and treatment are the best defense against serious dental disease. 

If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian – they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.

6 Comments

December 12th, 2017

12/12/2017

1 Comment

 
Here are some tips for the holiday season to avoid toxic exposures, brought to you by Merial (the maker of Frontline Gold and Heartgard).  From the doctors and staff at our practice, we would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Keep yourself and your pets safe.
Picture
Picture
1 Comment

November 14th, 2017

11/14/2017

2 Comments

 

Gobble Gobble Time

It's that time of year again.  We are gathering around the table with our loved ones.  And those loved ones should include our four-legged one.  With that said, however, we should be careful with the way we show the love of our pets during the holidays.  They can't process the fatty foods the way that we can.  They shouldn't be able to sit at the table beside you and eat the leftover dessert off your plate (or sneak a bite when you aren't looking).  Below is a great article about Thanksgiving holiday dangers that you need to be cautious of and avoid.  Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Thanksgiving Holiday Dangers to Avoid
Posts by: Dr. Justine A. Lee, DVM, DACVECC Dog Checkups & Preventive Care
Ah, Thanksgiving, a joyous holiday when friends and family join us for football, lounging and all-day tryptophan-filled turkey tasting. The smell of cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie and turkey all baking in the oven slowly filter through the house, driving you — and your dog — slowly mad. With all of this temptation, it’s tough not to get distracted, but let’s not forget that with delicious human food comes pet risk. As a board-certified veterinary specialist in both emergency critical care and toxicology, I felt it would be a good idea to tell you how to avoid a visit to the animal ER! 

Here are a few simple tips to help pet-proof this Thanksgiving holiday (which would make your emergency veterinarian grateful too!).
Keep your dog out of the kitchen—or better yet, crate him. ​
Picture
Accidental counter-surfing can result in severe poisoning to your pet, ruining your holiday and causing you shame when you have to induce vomiting in your dog in front of all your friends and family (Always check with your veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center prior to inducing vomiting).

Don’t let friends and family feed your pets
Next, make sure your guests know the house rules: Don’t feed your pets. Your friends and family may not be aware of the common kitchen foods that are quite poisonous to pets. Politely inform all your guests to keep their food out of reach and to ask permission before feeding any treats (particularly if your pet has food allergies).
Dump the trash
Somehow, your dog will find a way to get into it, and the leftover corn-on-the-cob, yummy string that goes around the turkey legs, turkey skin, bones, moldy food, and fatty grizzle all pose a threat to your pet. Potential problems from “garbage gut” include gastroenteritis (e.g., vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain), pancreatitis (severe inflammation of the pancreas), a gastrointestinal obstruction, or even tremors or seizures.
Picture
The most dangerous Thanksgiving foods
So, what tops the list for the most-dangerous, Thanksgiving foods? Check out my top 7 list here: 
1. Grapes and raisins
Picture
Raisins are commonly found in stuffing, baked goods and as snacks. When ingested, these fruits from the Vitus sp. can result in severe acute kidney injury. Signs of poisoning often don’t show up for days, until kidney failure has already taken place.    

2. Xylitol
Picture
If you have any calorie-counting chefs in the kitchen (I mean, really, why bother on this holiday?), you may want to verify that they haven’t used any xylitol in the baked goods. Xylitol, a natural sugar-free sweetener, is a sugar substitute used in a ton of products nowadays: baked goods, certain brands of peanut butter, gums, mints, mouthwashes, nasal sprays, chewable vitamins, etc. When ingested by dogs, it can result in a massive insulin spike, causing a life-threatening hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and even liver failure with higher doses.

3. Fatty table scraps
While I’m guilty of feeding my own dog table food (and yes, he gets to lick the dinner plate when I’m done), I’m savvy about what is healthy and not. Fatty table scraps like gravy, turkey skin, etc. are potentially dangerous to your dog, as they can result in severe pancreatitis. Certain breeds are especially sensitive, including miniature schnauzers, Shetland sheepdogs, and Yorkshire terriers. Even a piece of bacon can trigger pancreatitis in dogs, so when in doubt, don’t feed it to your dog or cat! 
4. Bones and turkey legs
Picture
Huge no-no. While you may think you’re giving your dog a treat, you’re actually putting him at risk for a possible foreign body obstruction. I’ve seen the rare dog die from getting a chunk of bone stuck in the esophagus. The bones can also get stuck in the stomach or intestines, potentially resulting in a perforation (or rupture) of the intestines.  
5. Onions, leeks, chives and garlic
Okay, this toxic food is a bit overhyped, as it typically takes a large ingestion to result in poisoning in dogs. That said, when ingested, these common kitchen foods from the Allium sp. can result in oxidative damage to the red blood cells, making these cells more likely to rupture (e.g., hemolyze). Cats are especially sensitive, and can develop a severe anemia (low red blood cell count) from even small amounts. Thankfully, this is typically seen more with chronic ingestion (e.g., when they are eating it for days), but to be safe, keep these out of reach. 
Picture
6. Unbaked yeast bread dough
Picture
About to throw some fresh bread in the oven? Make sure your dog doesn’t eat the raw yeast dough first. When this occurs, your dog’s stomach acts like an artificial oven, making the yeast rise and release carbon dioxide, causing a distended abdomen and potential life-threatening gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV). Next, the yeast and sugar in the unbaked dough are metabolized to alcohol, which can result in secondary alcohol poisoning in your dog. 
7. Alcohol
As mentioned above, we can see alcohol poisoning from weird sources (e.g., unbaked yeast bread dough, rum-soaked fruitcake, etc.). Likewise, dogs can be poisoned by ingesting alcoholic drinks, so keep the mixed drinks and beer away from your dog. Accidental ingestion can cause severe coma, slowed respiration, and a life-threateningly low blood sugar in your dog.

If you think your dog or cat ingested something poisonous, contact your veterinarian emergency veterinarian, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center for life-saving care, right away. When it comes to any poisoning situation, the sooner you diagnose it, the easier it is to potentially treat, less invasive it is to your pet, and the less expensive it is for you. Now, that’s something to be grateful for.
Picture
2 Comments

October 30th, 2017

10/30/2017

1 Comment

 
Is your dog afraid of having their feet touched?  Do they abhor nail trimmings/grindings?  The first step to getting them over the hump on this process begins at home.  Sure you can bring them to your veterinarian and have them hold the pet down and trim the nails.  But I think you'll find the information in this article to be a lot more educational and helpful in getting your pet to where they need to be when it comes to nail trims.

​My Dog is Afraid of Nail Trimmings
​
Posts by: Mychelle Blake, MSW, CDBC, Lifestyle Contributor and Pet Behavior Expert Dog Behavior

Why are long dog nails a problem?
Fear of nail trims is a very common issue dog guardians face and the fear can range from a mild dislike to outright terror, depending on the dog. For some pet parents, the only way to trim a dog’s nails is under anesthesia, which is certainly not an option that works every week. Many give up trying and just allow the dog’s nails to remain long. While the frustration is understandable, this option can lead to health drawbacks for dogs. Overgrown nails affect a dog’s posture, eventually leading to joint problems and arthritis. They’re also more prone to splitting and breaking in painful ways. Long nails are a problem for humans as well. Dogs with longer nails are more likely to destroy furniture and other objects, unwittingly, as well as break human skin when jumping up to say hello or when playing.

Reducing stress when trimming your dog’s nails 
If your dog is terrified of having nails trimmed, what can you do? Here are some ideas:
  • Some dogs’ nails will stay at a healthy length if they are exercised regularly on a rougher surface such as concrete or pavement.
  • Another innovative idea is to create a filing “board” which consists of a sheet of wood covered with sandpaper. You teach your dog a paw target behavior and then apply that behavior to the board, so the dog effectively is filing down his own nails as he paws the board.
  • Nail trim mats are basically door mats with a rough surface that files the dog’s nails each time he walks on the mat.
While these ideas can be helpful, a preferable option is to be able to trim your dog’s nails whenever you need to. An effective plan is to do away with your nail clippers all together and switch to a nail grinder. There are many benefits to using a grinder. If you have larger dogs like I do, clipping their nails is more difficult due to the size and the nails often splinter and leave jagged edges. Properly used, a grinder can make the nails smoother and less likely to catch on items. It’s also effective for dogs that have simply developed such a strong conditioned fear of the clippers that trying to desensitize them to it will be frustrating for both of you. You can get a grinder at most pet supply stores and even some hardware stores carry models appropriate for use with pet nails.

Getting your dog comfortable with a nail grinder
The next step is to develop a plan of action. Be aware going in that this is a long process and you need to work with your dog’s level of comfort and stress. A good way to go about tracking your progress is to make a chart that you keep handy —maybe on your refrigerator door with a magnet. Alternatively, you could use a white board, or even just a document that you keep handy on a computer, tablet or smart phone. 

Step one: The first part of the process involves getting your dog acclimated to having his feet handled. In this step you will not be using the grinder at all. Work in very small increments of time. Touching your dog’s paws, moving your fingers through his toes and eventually work out to tapping a non-threatening object on the nails. The object can be anything your dog does not find scary and that has enough of a surface to make some noise. Pair the touch and handling with something positive, such as a really good food treat, praise or something else your dog really loves. Always keep an eye on your dog’s body language during this time. If he is stressed, stop immediately and move back a step.

Step two: Once your dog appears calm being handled, add in the grinder without batteries. The “without batteries” stipulation is very important as you do not want it to turn on by accident. At first you are simply going to have it around by putting it near your dog’s food bowl. If the dog appears upset, move it away until your dog is fine in its presence. Slowly, over time, move it closer to the bowl until the dog appears uninterested in it. At this point, add in the batteries and turn it on and off for a few seconds during your dog’s meal. Again, work in very small increments. You may only have it on for three seconds — during your dog’s meals for several days. Then five seconds (for a few days), then seven, and so on. 

Step three: When you can turn the grinder on and off with no apparent stress signals from your dog, regardless of the time it’s on, move to the next step. Begin using the grinder, without batteries, as the tapping object on the dog’s nails. Tap the grinder to one nail, treat, and then stop. Repeat with the next nail the next day, treat and stop. When you can touch all your dog’s nails on any given day and the dog shows no stress, you can begin touching more than one nail per day. 

Step four: Now put the batteries back in the grinder and begin touching it— while it is off— to the dog’s nails. Tap the nail twice, then turn the grinder on and touch the nail. Do this for only a few seconds, treat, turn the grinder off, tap twice, and then stop. Repeat the next day for the next nail, and so on. Once you can do this with any nail and a calm dog, you can move up to holding the grinder for longer periods of time.

If you think this sounds like a long process, you’re right, but working through the fear of having nails trimmed is a daunting process for your dog and you always need to move at the pace your dog is comfortable with. Go too fast and you may find that your dog develops an intense negative emotional reaction to the grinder, and that’s absolutely what you do not want. Associate Applied Animal Behaviorist, Katenna Jones ScM, ACAAB, CCBC, CDBC, CPDT-KA told me, “We get greedy and want to do it all in one day. It’s natural to think if you’ve gotten one nail done, let’s move on and do the next one. Don’t! If you move too fast, you will have to move back a few steps in your process until your dog is comfortable again to move on.” 

If you feel you need more help with this process, don’t hesitate to work with a qualified behavior professional. Visit the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, the Animal Behavior Society, and the IAABC to find a professional near you. Your dog will thank you for it!
If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian – they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.
1 Comment

October 03rd, 2017

10/3/2017

1 Comment

 

Halloween Dangers:

It's that time of year again.  Halloween!!  People will be breaking out the costumes and candy.  But little do we think about the safety of our furry family members.  They can be in great danger as well during Halloween time.  You should be able to have fun with your four-leggeds as well as everyone else in the family, just do so in a safe manner.  Here are some tips about Halloween pet safety.

Dr. Justine A. Lee, DVM, DACVECC

​Ah, Halloween, one of the busiest chocolate holidays of the year! 
As Halloween night approaches, keep in mind that some human treats can be potentially deadly for your dog or cat. Help keep your dog and cat safe by being aware of some of the common poisons found in your child’s trick-or-treat bag this year.
1. Chocolate
If your dog likes to sneak in one or two chocolate mini-bars, it likely won’t cause a problem (as there’s very little “real” chocolate in candy). However, during this fall holiday, dogs have a tendency to gorge and eat a massive amount of chocolate candy all at once. Keep your candy jar and your kid’s Halloween stash away from food-motivated dogs (e.g., Labrador retrievers, mixed-breed dogs). When it comes to chocolate, the ingredient methylxanthine (e.g., theobromine, caffeine) can be poisonous to your dog. (Thankfully, cats rarely develop chocolate poisoning, as they rarely gorge on more than 1-2 pieces.) Mild ingestions typically result in agitation, vomiting, diarrhea and excessive panting. Larger amounts can result in heart-toxicity: abnormal heart arrhythmias (abnormal rhythm), an elevated heart rate, and a very high blood pressure. Massive amounts can result in neurologic signs like tremoring, seizuring, or rarely, death. When it comes to chocolate, keep in mind that the darker and more bitter the chocolate (e.g, Baker’s chocolate, dark chocolate), the more poisonous it is to your dog. 
Picture
Picture
2. Sugarless Sweets
Another danger in your kid’s Halloween stash is sugar-free candy (Who tortures kids by giving this away, anyway?!). Xylitol, a natural sugar-free sweetener, can result in low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and even liver damage (e.g., acute hepatic necrosis) when ingested by dogs. Certain candies, mints, baked goods, and gums can contain large amounts, resulting in xylitol poisoning. Clinical signs of weakness, vomiting, lethargy, collapse, a racing heart rate, and generalized malaise can be seen. When xylitol is ingested in doses > 0.5 g/kg, clinical signs of jaundice (e.g., yellowing of the skin), vomiting, black-tarry stool, anorexia, and liver failure can be seen. 
3. Raisins
Once in a while, you’ll have a healthy neighbor who gives away small boxes of raisins during Halloween (Boo). Raisins, grapes, and certain currants (anything in the Vitus spp.) can cause acute kidney injury when accidentally ingested by dogs. Clinical signs may not show up for days, after severe damage to the kidneys has already occurred. Signs such as inappetance, vomiting, belly pain, halitosis (bad breath), excessive or decreased thirst or urination, generalized malaise, and increased kidney values (e.g, creatinine, BUN) may be seen.
Picture
Picture
4. Liquid Potpourri
This is one big danger to our feline friends! As fall commences, pet owners often may use simmer potpourri pots to instill scents of pumpkin and cinnamon around the house. When the liquid potpourri is ingested by cats (after all, curiosity killed the cat!), the essential oil may cause corrosive burns to the mouth. Clinical signs of drooling, mouth pain, anorexia, pawing at the mouth, difficulty breathing, and malaise may be seen. Rarely, liver failure and lung failure can occur. 
​5. Glow Sticks/Jewelry
If you use glow sticks to put on your child’s costume during Halloween, heed caution. While this glowing jewelry may add extra light into your child’s life, it’s poisonous to cats. Cats seem to love to chew on these toys, and accidentally ingest the chemical within. While it’s not very poisonous, this chemical has a very bitter taste, resulting in profuse drooling, oral pain, inappetance, and vomiting. If you think your cat chewed into one, turn off the light, look for the presence of the glowing liquid, and then remove the chemical carefully from your cat. This can be done by:
A) Flushing the taste out of the mouth (offering something tasty like chicken broth or milk)
B) Bathing your cat with a liquid dish soap to get the remaining liquid off the fur. As cats are fastidious groomers, they may expose themselves to more of the bitter chemical if it’s still on their fur.
Picture
1 Comment

September 13th, 2017

9/13/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture
Is your pet itchy?  Have you noticed that they have little friends hanging around on their skin?  These little blackish brown fast moving dots are more than likely fleas.  If you see one, chances are there are a few friends hanging around in other areas on your pet.  Now that we've established what your issue might be, we need to get to the root of the problem and start treating it.  There are numerous flea treatments available both over the counter and strictly available at your veterinarian.  They come in a variety of chewables or topicals, depending upon your preference of administration.  Regardless of preference, it is strongly recommended that you keep your pet on flea/tick prevention year round.  The article below gives you a helpful insight on the pesky little critters that could soon be inflicting terror on your household.  If you need more information, please do not hesitate to give us a call and we will gladly help you step in the right direction for preventive care.  


​Fleas 101

Posts by: Dr. Ruth MacPete, DVMDog Diseases & Conditions A-ZDr. Ruth MacPete gives you the low-down on fleas. For more from Dr. MacPete, find her on Facebook or at www.drruthpetvet.com!

If you’re like me, you’ve been anxiously waiting for the warmer weather and longer days. However, we aren’t the only ones looking forward to the warmer weather. Our pesty little friend the flea seems to re-emerge during the hot summer months. Although fleas can be a year-round problem depending on where you live or whether they have settled inside your home, summer marks the peak of flea season. 
Flea Facts
  • Fleas are ectoparasites.
  • They are extremely hardy animals that have been around for more than 100 million years.
  • They have an exoskeleton that withstands high pressures and is shock resistant. You can drop a flea from five feet and not kill it because of their exoskeleton.
  • Fleas are incredible athletes. A flea can jump over seven inches high and thirteen inches long. If a flea were the size of a human, that’s equivalent to jumping 1000 feet high!
Why care about these little bugs?
  • Fleas can transmit tapeworms when your pet ingests them. Tapeworms are intestinal parasites that can cause malnutrition if untreated.
  • Fleas can also transmit Yersina pestis, the bacteria that causes the bubonic plague.
  • Young animals with severe flea infestations are at risk for developing anemia.
  • Not only do fleas annoy their hosts relentlessly, some animals are sensitive to fleas and can develop a skin reaction called “flea dermatitis," which can then lead to bacterial skin infections (pyoderma).
  • Don’t forget, fleas can also bite people!
Signs your pet has fleas
  • Fleas cause many pets to become itchy. If your pet is scratching or biting their legs, rump, or feet, they could have fleas.
  • Likewise, if you notice black specks that look like pepper on your pet’s skin, this could be flea dirt. Flea dirt is actually flea poop or digested blood. You can tell if the specks are flea dirt by wetting a Q-tip and then touching the black flecks. It’s flea dirt if the Q-tip turns red or rust color.
  • Not all animals scratch or chew when they have fleas. To check for fleas, look for them on the skin near your pet’s rump, tail and belly. Since adult fleas are fast and not easy to spot, be sure to also look for flea dirt. If your pets have flea dirt, they have fleas, even if you never see a flea. You can also use a flea comb, which has very fine teeth, to look for fleas and flea dirt. Use a wet paper towel to wipe off the comb and look for fleas and flea dirt.  
How to prevent and treat flea infestations
  • Use one of the many safe and effective flea products. Your veterinarian will help you pick the best choice for your pet.
  • Be sure the products you use target more than one stage of the flea’s life cycle.
  • Use these products year-round to keep your household a flea-free zone.
  • Always follow the product’s instructions. Some products can be toxic and even fatal if used incorrectly.
  • Never use a product meant for dogs on cats. Some dog products contain ingredients that can be toxic and even fatal to cats.
If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian – they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.

1 Comment

August 15th, 2017

8/15/2017

3 Comments

 
Picture
What You Need to Know About Heartworm Disease

Posts by: 
Dr. Ruth MacPete, DVM
Dog Diseases & Conditions A-ZDr. Ruth MacPete give you the facts on heartworm disease. For more from Dr. MacPete, find her on Facebook or at www.drruthpetvet.com!

What is Heartworm Disease?
Heartworm disease is caused by the parasite Dirofilaria immitis, a type of roundworm that lives inside the heart and blood vessels of the lungs. Heartworm disease is transmitted by mosquitoes. It is a serious disease that primarily affects the heart and lungs but can also affect the liver, kidney, eye, and central nervous system, and if untreated, can cause death.

Symptoms
The symptoms of heartworm disease are subtle and can be easy to miss. As the number of heartworms increases, the symptoms of coughing, lethargy, exercise intolerance, lack of appetite and weight loss become more apparent. However it is best not to wait until symptoms develop since irreversible damage may have already occurred by then.

Who is at risk?
Heartworm disease has been found in all fifty states, though it is more prevalent in the southeast and along the Mississippi River. Studies by the American Heartworm Society (AHS) have found that heartworm infections are increasing across the United States. While most people know that heartworm disease affects dogs, many are unaware that it can also affect cats. It was once believed that cats were resistant to heartworm infections but recent studies have shown this is not the case. Cats, just like dogs, can get heartworm disease. The fact is any animal can be bitten by a mosquito and therefore become infected with the parasite. Speak with your veterinarian about your particular pet’s risks and how to protect them.
​
How is it diagnosed?
Heartworm disease is most commonly diagnosed using blood tests that detect the presence of heartworms. Many veterinarians run these fast, simple tests in the clinic and can give you results within minutes. Depending on the test results and the animal’s symptoms additional laboratory tests, radiographs and a cardiac ultrasound may also be recommended to determine infection and severity. 

How is it treated?
The goal of treatment is to kill the heartworms without harming the patient. Fortunately, the treatment options have improved but they still have potential risks. Infected animals usually receive a series of intramuscular injections, hospitalization and then strict confinement to limit exercise for weeks. The fact is, treatment is expensive, time consuming and not without risks. For these reasons the goal should always be prevention rather than treatment of this horrible disease.

Prevention
The best way to treat heartworm disease is to prevent it in the first place. Fortunately, there are numerous safe and effective preventative medications available. Heartworm preventative medications are available from your veterinarian in many forms: oral, topical, and injectable. In addition to protecting your pets from heartworm disease, many of the heartworm preventatives also protect your pet against other internal parasites. This is important because it helps prevent the spread of parasites. So not only are you getting heartworm protection for your pet but also peace of mind that your pet has not picked up parasites like roundworms that can be transmitted to other pets and even humans. Finally, before starting preventative medications on pets over 6 months of age, have your veterinarian test them for heartworm infection because serious complications can develop if an infected animal is started on certain preventatives.
If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian – they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.
3 Comments

June 22nd, 2017

6/22/2017

1 Comment

 
Canine Influenza
You may have heard that Canine Influenza is running throughout our area and across the nation.  We are prepared to help you protect your dog with the flu vaccine.  Call us today to schedule an appointment.
Picture
Picture
Picture
1 Comment

June 22nd, 2017

6/22/2017

4 Comments

 

Cytopoint

Itchy dogs have it ruff.  Have no fear, Cytopoint injections are here at Rock Hill Animal Hospital.  Call today to set up an appointment to see if this will help your sweet pooch.
Picture
4 Comments

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Get in touch:
  • 1825 W. MAIN ST
  • ROCK HILL, SC 29732
  • Phone: (803) 324-7585
  • Fax: (803)327-2238
  • Email: rhah@comporium.net
Office Hours:
  • Monday  7:00 am to 8:00 pm              
  • Tuesday  8:00 am to 6:00 pm                 
  • Wednesday  ​8:00 am to 6:00 pm              
  • Thursday   ​7:00 am to 8 :00 pm                 
  • Friday      ​8:00 am to 6:00 pm                 
  • Saturday  ​9:00 am to 1:00 pm                 
  • Sunday    Closed                         ​
 For emergencies call 803-909-8300 

                                                                                                             Site powered by Weebly. Managed by IDEXX Laboratories
Photos used under Creative Commons from Christof Timmermann, forum.linvoyage.com, jeffreyw, Ungry Young Man
  • Home
  • Our Services
  • Tour our Facility
  • Meet the RHAH team
  • Contact Us/Our Location
  • Petly
  • Emergency Info
  • Forms
  • Vaccines
  • Client Comments
  • Blog