Flea and Tick Season is Here!!

Fleas and Ticks are out again, since the weather has warmed up enough for the little critters to come to life. Protect your pet and your family from exposure to these parasites with Frontline Plus. We recommend Frontline Plus as a guaranteed and very safe product for both dogs and cats. Frontline Plus is a product that has both an Adulticide and Insect Growth Regulator for fleas. It also kills any ticks that attach to your pet with overall body distribution.

If pets are neonates or debilitated, any flea and tick product should be used with caution and under the direction of your veterinarian. If you have applied Frontline properly and are still seeing fleas or ticks please contact our office medical staff for product information and home/yard treatment options.

Remember ticks have to be alive and attached to the pet for over 48 hours to transmit diseases such as Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted fever to your pet. So... by using tick preventative such as Frontline result in tick death ... dead ticks dont transmit disease!! Other tips for the long haired pet...getting them trimmed shorter in the summer aids in keeping them clean, helps them shed out the dead winter coat and also makes it easier to find and rid them of fleas and ticks.

Flea and Tick Facts:

• There are some ticks that can leave your pet and infest your home.

• Fleas only live a small percentage of their adult life on the pet to feed and lay their eggs in the fur, the rest of the time they are in your carpet and furniture.

• Some ticks are so small they are very difficult to see with the human eye.

• Sometimes you need to treat not only the affected pet, but all pets in the house and the environment in order to get rid of an infestation.
• Store preventatives are not the same chemical as Frontline. They are usually Permethrins or Pyrethrins. They can sometimes be effective but may not last as long or prove to be as safe, especially in cats.

Gastric Dilitation and Volvulus (AKA "Twisted Gut")

Gastric dilatation (or stomach distension) and volvulus (or twisting) is a deadly, fast moving emergency seen in large, deep-chested dogs. Some breeds prone to this emergency include Doberman pinscher, German shepherd, Great Dane, Great Pyrenees, Pyrenean mountain dog, Greyhound, Irish wolfhound, Mastiff, Saint Bernard, Scottish deerhound, and Whippet. Some veterinary surgeons also add in Weimaraner, Rottweiler, Gordon Setter, and Irish Setter. Not every individual within these breeds and dogs of another breed will encounter this. There is a great summary of this deadly disease at: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=672.

The stomach fills up with gas causing it to become very enlarged and prone to twist. Once the stomach twists, vital blood vessels within the abdomen are strangulated causing an immediate cardiovascular crisis. The strangled vessels can send the dog into shock initially and if he/she survives this, the tissue begin to die from a lack of blood supply. Most owners never see this coming, but simply find their beloved pet weak, painful, unresponsive, and possibly with an enlarged belly. These signs constitute an immediate veterinary emergency. Time is now of the essence as the longer the vessels are twisted, the less chance of survival.

Upon arrival to your veterinarian he/she will take several vital steps. First, they will exam your pet and perform any necessary diagnostics. Radiographs (xrays) are the diagnostic test of choice. Above is a classic radiograph of a 18 month old Weimaraner that was described as unresponsive and weak for only 30 minutes prior to arrival. The stomach is twisted back on itself with severe gas distension and distension of multiple loops of intestines.

Once a diagnosis of GDV is made (and most likely during the testing), the pet is stabilized with IV fluids to prevent/treat shock and the stomach is decompressed to release as much gas as necessary. However, to repair the twist and attempt to prevent future emergencies an emergency surgery is necessary. GDV surgeries are very risky, with mortality rates ranging from 25-35% before, during or after surgery. However, that provides a better chance than no surgery at all, since decompression alone has ~75% chance of recurrence and mortality, while no treatment reaches ~100% mortality. GDV surgery includes untwisting the stomach, assessing the vital organs for damage sustained, and attaching the stomach to the body wall (gastropexy) to prevent rotation again.

Preventative gastropexy is recommended by some in high risk breeds to prevent this emergency before it starts. In any case, remember that if your pet exhibits the above clinical signs and is one of the high risk breeds, do not hesitate to get them in as every second counts!