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Vector Borne Diseases
Monthly application of Vectra 3D® will keep your dog comfortable while reducing the risk of disease transmission. Speak with your veterinarian about Vectra 3D®. © 2001-2010 East Hilliard Veterinary Services. All rights reserved. Site design by David J.W. Lauridsen, Jr. |
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Fleas are not only a nuisance to humans and pets, but can cause serious medical problems including flea allergy dermatitis, tapeworms, secondary skin irritations, and, in extreme cases, anemia and death. Fleas multiply very rapidly. One female can lay as many as 50 eggs per day – up to 1,000 eggs in her lifetime. The eggs are laid on the pet but fall off as the dog or cat moves around your home – on your couch, on your bed, where the kids play and sleep, etc. In the right environment, from the time the egg is laid to the time it becomes an adult flea is just over 2 weeks and then all those fleas are ready to reproduce too. You can appreciate how easily a flea infestation can explode.
areas where ticks may be present. This includes, primarily, areas with tall grass or heavy brush. In Ohio, adult ticks climb moderately high and wait for a mammal to brush by their weed. They quickly cling on to their "victim" then crawl off to find a good place to feed. Larval and nymph stage ticks don't climb as high and tend to attach themselves to smaller species such as rabbits and mice. If you find a tick on your dog or cat remove it as quickly as possible. The safest and most effective way is to use a pair of tweezers, grasp the tick right at the level of your pet's skin, and pull slowly and steadily backward. Don't squash the tick – many of the diseases are present in the tick's bodily fluids. Don't twist or jerk as that will increase the chance that the tick's head will break off and remain in your pet's skin.
Mosquitoes transmit Heartworm Disease. Undiagnosed, it will be fatal. In dogs, heartworm is a slow, debilitating disease and an infected dog can live for years with only minimal symptoms. Heartworm positive cats can die suddenly and with little warning. An infected animal is constantly transmitting heartworm disease to other animals. The female heartworm releases her young (called microfilariae) into the animal's bloodstream. When a mosquito takes a blood meal from the infected animal, the microfilariae enter the mosquito's body and begin another life stage in the mosquito. This stage lasts 10-14 days. Then, when the mosquito bites another animal, these infective heartworm larvae are deposited and the whole cycle begins again. Thankfully, heartworm disease in our pets can be avoided. Once-a-month oral or topical medication or an injectable preventive given every six months (dogs only) can keep your pet from ever contracting heartworm disease. You can reduce the mosquito population in your yard by eliminating breeding sites – standing water. Identify any items in which water can accumulate. Empty out the water and turn the container upside down when not in use. Clean debris from rain gutters and unclog obstructed downspouts. Check trees and stumps for areas where water can accumulate and seal these depressions if possible.
first cat's frustration. Another reason for cat fights is status -related aggression. If one of your cats is resting in another cat's "favorite place," they may launch an attack to regain their favorite resting place. A third possible reason for a fight is territorial aggression. This is most common when another cat is introduced into the household. It is not always the new cat that is getting picked on however. Sometimes the new cat would prefer to be an only cat and is willing to fight to achieve that goal. We also see aggression among cats when something changes about a cat. Something as simple as giving your cat a bath or taking your cat to the veterinarian can be reason enough for a fight. Most often, cats stop just short of fighting. They'll use a show a force, a few bluffs and hisses, and the potential victim will surrender.