Category: News

Feline Heartworm Disease: The Silent Killer    Heartworm Disease is not just a canine disease, it can infect your cat as well. Heartworm affects cats differently than dogs but is equally as serious. The name “heartworm disease” is a misnomer as the disease affects the lungs and the heart and is often mistaken for feline asthma, or other respiratory diseases. Cats infected with heartworms may die suddenlyand many others may die over the next two years due to the damage caused to the lungs and surrounding blood vessels. There are no clear symptoms of heartworms other than achronic cough or collapse and sudden death.  Blood tests, chest X-rays and ultrasound examinations may detect the disease but unlike dogs, there is no effective treatment for cats. Many people believe that since heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes, indoor only cats are not at risk. This simply isn’t true. Indoor cats are at risk, too. Mosquitoes can enter your home when doors and windows are opened, or can come in on your clothing. Remember, it only takes one bite to potentially infect your cat.  Heartworm has been diagnosed in all 50 states. However, the majority of cases of heartworm are found in warmer climates, like South Carolina. The good news is that this is a very preventable disease. All it takes is a prescription monthly heartworm preventative. We would be happy to assist you in finding the right heartworm prevention to keep your cat happy and healthy. 

Canine Heartworm Disease     The summer months are upon us, and unfortunately, that means an increase in mosquito activity. While mosquitoes can be a nuisance to people, they can, in effect, bedeadly for dogs. Mosquitoes transmit life threatening heartworm larvae into your dogs (and cats, see post on feline heartworms) bloodstream. These larvae, called microfilaria, travel through the bloodstream until they reach the heart where they mature and breed. Once living inside the heart, these worms can grow up to 14 inches! Heartworm disease takes its toll on the body. It can cause irreparable damage not only to your pet’s heart, but also other organs such as the lungs and kidneys. Pets affected by heartworm disease suffer, badly. Heart of adult dog who died of heartworm disease. The good news is that heartworm disease is easily preventable. There are many heartworm preventatives available by prescription. These preventatives can be administered in an oral pill form, topical form, or even an injectable form. We at VMS would be glad to assist you in choosing the right heartworm prevention for you and your pet. Here in South Carolina, it is recommended that pets stay on heartworm prevention year-round since we frequently have warmer days in the winter and when it’s warm, mosquitoes search for a meal. Please feel free to call us for more information on the kinds of heartworm prevention available. We can help you choose the product that is most effective and convenient for you and your dog.

Spay/Neuter Your Pet By spaying or neutering your pet, you’ll help control the pet homelessness crisis, which results in millions of healthy dogs and cats being euthanized in the United States each year simply because there aren’t enough homes to go around. There are also medical and behavioral benefits to spaying (female pets) and neutering (male pets) your animals. Here are some of the medical benefits: Your female pet will live a longer, healthier life. Spaying helps prevent uterine infections and breast tumors, which are malignant or cancerous in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases. Neutering your male companion prevents testicular cancer and some prostate problems. And behavioral benefits: Your spayed female pet won’t go into heat. While cycles can vary, female felines usually go into heat four to five days every three weeks during breeding season. In an effort to advertise for mates, they’ll yowl and urinate more frequently—sometimes all over the house! Your male dog will be less likely to roam away from home. An intact male will do just about anything to find a mate, including finding creative ways to escape from the house. Once he’s free to roam, he risks injury in traffic and fights with other male animals. Your neutered male may be better behaved. Unneutered dogs and cats are more likely to mark their territory by spraying strong-smelling urine. Your dog might be less likely to mount other dogs, people and inanimate objects after he’s neutered. Some aggression problems may be avoided by early neutering. Spaying/neutering your pets is also highly cost-effective. The cost of your pet’s spay/neuter surgery is far less than the cost of having and caring for a litter. Debunking Spay/Neuter Myths and Misconceptions Spaying or neutering will not cause your pet to become overweight. Lack of exercise and overfeeding will cause your pet to pack on the extra pounds—not neutering. Your pet will remain fit and trim as long as you continue to provide exercise and monitor her food intake. Neutering is not as a quick fix for all behavior problems. Although neutering your pet often reduces undesirable behaviors caused by a higher level of testosterone, there’s no guarantee that your dog’s behavior will change after he’s neutered. Although the surgery will reduce the amount of testosterone in your dog’s system, it won’t eliminate the hormone completely. Neutering will also not reduce behaviors that your pet has earned or that have become habitual. The effects of neutering are largely dependent on your dog’s individual personality, physiology and history. When to Spay or Neuter Your Pet For dogs: While the traditional age for neutering is six to nine months, puppies as young as eight weeks old can be neutered as long as they’re healthy. Dogs can be neutered as adults as well, although there’s a slightly higher risk of post-operative complications in older dogs, dogs that are overweight or dogs that have health problems. For cats: It is generally considered safe for kittens as young as eight weeks old to be spayed or neutered. In animal shelters, surgery is often performed at this time so that kittens can be sterilized prior to adoption. In an effort to avoid the start of urine spraying and eliminate the chance for pregnancy, it’s advisable to schedule the surgery before your own cat reaches five months of age. It’s possible to spay a female cat while she’s in heat. Talk to your veterinarian to determine the best time to spay or neuter your pet. Helping Your Pet Before and After Surgery Your veterinary clinic will provide pre-surgical advice that you should follow. In general, avoid giving your cat any food after midnight the night before surgery. A puppy or kitten, however, needs adequate nutrition, and your veterinarian may advise that food not be withheld. Your veterinarian can also provide post-operative instructions for you to follow. Although your pet may experience some discomfort after surgery, your veterinarian can take various measures to control pain. Depending on the procedure performed, medication for pain may be sent home with your pet. Here are tips for a safe and comfortable recovery: Provide your pet with a quiet place to recover indoors and away from other animals. Prevent your pet from running and jumping for up to two weeks following surgery, or as long as your veterinarian recommends. Prevent your pet from licking the incision site, which may cause infection, by distracting your pet with treats or by using an Elizabethan collar. Avoid bathing your pet for at least ten days after surgery. Check the incision site daily to confirm proper healing. If you notice any redness, swelling or discharge at the surgery site, or if the incision is open, please contact your veterinarian. Also call your veterinarian if your pet is lethargic, has a decreased appetite, is vomiting or has diarrhea or any other concerns following surgery.

For the Love of Safety: Why Microchipping is so Important  Studies have shown that in the United States, as many as 1 in 3 pets will go missing in their lifetime. Those are big numbers. We all like to think that our beloved pets would never leave our side, but there are so many things that can influence pet behavior that often we are wrong. Collars with ID are very important, but what if the collar comes off? It is a heartbreaking experience to be unable to find your best friend. You worry endlessly. You search everywhere. A pet microchip – the size of a grain of rice – goes beneath your pets skin like a vaccination.  A microchip for dogs and cats gives the best protection with permanent ID that can never be removed or become impossible to read. Microchips are designed to last your pet’s entire lifetime. Once enrolled, they link to a permanent record of your owner information – which is important to keep up-to-date so you can be reached when your lost pet is found. Your microchip comes with a personal listing in our lost pet database, and this translates to anytime/anywhere pet recovery services. Virtually all vets and animal shelters across the country are equipped with scanners that can read your pet’s microchip.So, HomeAgain members can breathe a little easier knowing their lost cat or dog can be identified whether he’s 3 or 3,000 miles away from home.        

Veterinary Medicine and Surgery is proud to be AAHA accredited!    Veterinary Medicine and Surgery is excited to announce that we will be participating in our next American Animal Hospital Association review in January 2017. VMS has been accredited by AAHA since 1997 (20 years!) and we incorporate their standards of excellence in every aspect of providing health care for your pets. Our AAHA accreditation requires that we undergo a rigorous review by veterinary experts every three years. Surprisingly, not all animal hospitals go through this process! You can take pride in the fact that your pet receives care from a hospital accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association. AAHA has been recognizing veterinary hospitals for their commitment to maintaining high standards of care for over 80 years. To be eligible for AAHA accreditation, hospitals must be evaluated on approximately 900 standards that assess safety protocols, equipment, veterinary knowledge, and other key areas of pet health care. Accredited hospitals are home to leading pet health care providers. Our veterinarians and staff are dedicated to delivering excellent care for your pet.  AAHA helps us stay prepared and equipped to provide the level of care that your pet deserves. How the accreditation evaluation works In the United States, all hospitals that serve people with Medicare must be accredited through an accrediting body, that is, they must undergo regular reviews and quality checks to ensure they meet standards of quality for every aspect of medical care. You might be surprised to learn that the same is not true for veterinary hospitals. When it comes to pet health care, accreditation is voluntary. In fact, only about 12% of veterinary hospitals (also called clinics or practices) are accredited. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) is the only organization that accredits veterinary hospitals — both general and specialty practices — in the United States and Canada. Practices are evaluated against a pool of approximately 900 standards that represent best practices in veterinary care and hospital management. A national task force of veterinary professionals created and continually updates the standards to reflect the latest developments and improvements in patient care, surgery, medical records, cleanliness, staff safety, leadership, and a host of other areas essential to excellent patient care. After applying to become accredited, a veterinary practice usually spends several weeks or months examining and fine-tuning its systems, processes, and protocols (procedures) to be sure every aspect meets AAHA’s standards of quality. Often the whole practice team becomes involved, which builds collaboration across the entire clinic — an important factor in quality pet care. When the practice is ready, AAHA sends consultants — trained professionals with veterinary backgrounds — to conduct an on-site evaluation. Practices are awarded points for each standard they meet, and they must amass a certain score in order to pass the evaluation. To maintain accredited status, clinics must be re-evaluated every three years. This ensures that every AAHA-accredited practice represents the most current thinking about what constitutes the best health and medical care for pets. Pet owners can feel reassured about the care their pets receive at AAHA-accredited hospitals. There is a saying among business leaders: Good management is doing things right. Leadership is doing the right things. Accreditation assures you that your veterinarian does both.

Veterinary Medicine and Surgery is excited to announce that we will be participating in our next American Animal Hospital Association review in January 2017. VMS has been accredited by AAHA since 1997 (20 years!) and we incorporate their standards of excellence in every aspect of providing health care for your pets. Our AAHA accreditation requires that we undergo a rigorous review by veterinary experts every three years. Surprisingly, not all animal hospitals go through this process! You can take pride in the fact that your pet receives care from a hospital accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association. AAHA has been recognizing veterinary hospitals for their commitment to maintaining high standards of care for over 80 years. To be eligible for AAHA accreditation, hospitals must be evaluated on approximately 900 standards that assess safety protocols, equipment, veterinary knowledge, and other key areas of pet health care. Accredited hospitals are home to leading pet health care providers. Our veterinarians and staff are dedicated to delivering excellent care for your pet.  AAHA helps us stay prepared and equipped to provide the level of care that your pet deserves.