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Many of us enjoy snuggling close to our pets and despite misguided news reports detailing health risks, most of us will continue to do so. But, there is a risk of sleeping with pets and it has to do with diseases carried by our old enemy, the flea.  So…what’s the best way to shut down this annual pest?  Fleas may be one of our pets’ worst enemies, but they don’t have to conquer your pet or your home. The most common type of flea in the U.S. is the Ctenocephalides felis…or the Cat Flea.  Despite its name, this species will feed from cats, dogs and even humans.  These wingless insects attack both people and pets and feed by drawing blood from their host. While most people relate to the irritation of flea bites, fleas can transmit more serious diseases.  Flea allergy dermatitis is certainly the most common problem associated with fleas, but they can also transmit Bubonic Plague, tapeworms and Feline Infectious Anemia. The challenge of winning the flea battle lies in understanding the flea’s life stages, then attacking all levels of the life cycle. Female cat flea – A single female flea can lay 20-50 eggs at a time, creating over 2000 fleas in her life span of three months.  With just 25 adult female fleas that equates to more than a quarter of a million fleas in only 30 days! The non-sticky eggs fall off the pet, ending up in your carpeting, pet bedding or furniture upholstery. Outdoor environments such as leaf litter, lawn or mulch in moist and shady areas are also ideal environments for egg incubation. Flea eggs hatch after 1-10 days (depending on the temperature and level of humidity) into larvae. These larvae feed off flea feces and debris, then molts three times in a 5-25 day period before spinning a cocoon (pupae).  The flea pupae then hatch in as few as 5-9 days to the fully formed adult….OR they can remain dormant for up to five months. Adult fleas comprise only about 5% of the entire flea population. The remaining 95% consists of eggs, larvae and cocoons in the pet’s environment. It’s easy to see how the flea can quickly invade and even overrun your home. Expert “Flea Guru”, Dr. Michael Dryden recommends a combination of products and procedures. The very important first step is a visit to your veterinarian. “You can beat the fleas, but you have to purchase the right products.” Flea products obtained from a veterinarian have been proven effective through rigorous testing. Topically applied products like Frontline, Advantage & Revolution have worked well in the battle against the flea as has the orally administered pills, Capstar and Comfortis.  With the rapid life cycle of the flea, the product must have a kill ratio of 90-95% to be considered effective. Anything less will not do the job completely. Dr. Dryden continues “That’s not the case for (generally less expensive) over-the- counter products.  Natural and organic doesn’t necessarily mean safe. I’m all for green and saving the planet. But I am also all for using a product which is proven safe for my pets.” Shampoos and collars are less effective and in some cases can even cause harm to your pet.  For example, the wrong dose of your dog’s flea product can have devastating and even life-threatening results if given to your cat.  It may sound silly, but the EPA estimates that this mistake happens thousands of times every year! Once the flea does appear, Dr. Dryden promotes a 3-part plan.  The first step:  eradicate the existing fleas on your pet.  Proper product usage is very important and, remember, one dose won’t eliminate all the different stages. Flea spray label – Secondly, it’s necessary to ensure that you have rid the premises of the fleas.  Use products that contain Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) to kill flea eggs and larvae.  Your outdoor environment may need to be professionally treated. You need to regularly clean the indoor areas frequented by your pets. Treat ALL dogs and cats….not just the affected pet.  And all pets should be treated for at least three to six months to ensure total elimination. Thirdly, prevent new infestations with lifelong flea control.  Using a veterinarian recommended flea product will kill all levels of the flea infestation. If the flea can’t reproduce, it will become extinct. However, if even one cycle of flea prevention is missed, the battle will continue. Knowing how to combat fleas is really more than half the battle.  And although they are hardy little critters, we do have safe effective products to fight these bugs.  Ask your veterinarian for product recommendations and advice.

For almost two decades, safe, effective flea medications from your veterinarian have helped pet owners battle these blood-sucking parasites.  Now, several “generic” flea medications are flooding the market, showing up in big box stores and grocery stores across the country.  Will these cheaper medications help more pets or do they have the potential for failure? For a long time, flea control consisted of harsh products that were related to nerve gases of World War I.  Many of these carbamates and organophosphates worked well at killing fleas, but unfortunately, they weren’t very safe for pets and had the potential for severe toxicity.  Then, about fifteen years ago, modern chemistry helped give us safer topical flea treatments.  Because fleas, ticks and other parasites are medical problems that need educated medical recommendations, the companies producing the new products chose to sell these flea medications only through veterinarians. Fast forward to present day and you can find many flea products both over the counter (OTC) and through veterinary or “ethical” channels.  Annual sales of flea and tick medications exceed $1 billion and there are many companies eager to get their share of the pie. Recently, the compound, fipronil became available for generic use.  The original patent holder, Merial, produces an excellent flea product (Frontline®) that was the main choice of veterinarians for many years.  Now, no less than 15 “generic” fipronil flea products will be offered in the OTC markets. What does this mean for you and your pets?  Can you feel comfortable with generic flea medications? First, let’s look at what a generic medication is.  When a specific pharmaceutical company develops and patents a new drug, they are allowed the exclusive rights to sell that drug for a period of time.  When the patent expires, other companies can then market their own products that use that drug.  Since the generic companies don’t have any research and development costs and very little advertising is needed, their costs are much lower and, therefore, their selling price is also lower. Although generics utilize the same active ingredients as the original, they are not exactly the same product – and that is very important to know.  Different inert ingredients that are generally recognized as safe may be included.  In the case of flea medications, these inert ingredients are usually the carrier molecules, or what helps spread the medication across the pet’s body.  The FDA requires that generic manufacturers prove their product exhibits bioequivalence to the original product. In the case of topical parasiticides, many of these products are actually regulated by the EPA instead of the FDA.  This means that a veterinarian’s prescription is not necessary to purchase the product, although, as mentioned above, most of the original pharmaceutical companies chose to sell their product “under veterinary supervision”.  The generic manufacturers do not have that same belief and the new copycat flea products will be found on shelves of Wal-Mart, Target and other big box stores across the country. So, if the product is essentially the same and at a lower cost, is it ok to buy these over the counter flea preventives? Fleas, as well as other parasites, can cause a host of medical problems that go beyond simple itching.  Serious diseases can worsen if the issues are not handled properly.  In a general merchandise store, you will not find anyone with the expertise or training you’ll find at your veterinarian’s office.  Not to mention someone to call should your pet have an adverse reaction to any topical treatment. Believe it or not, it might be more economical and more convenient to purchase the preventives through your veterinarian.  Not only can you get all the products (flea preventive, heartworm preventive, etc) at one location, some of the ethical products sold through your veterinarian can actually help with all parasite problems.  So, a single product could be the answer for your pet instead of several that end up costing more. Veterinarians will also often provide a single dose of the flea product instead of the six pack you find at the store.  It’s another way he or she can help you save money! It’s also important to note that the federal government has actually ordered multiple manufacturers of these generic flea products to remove some products from store shelves. Your veterinarian knows that your pet is unique and may not tolerate certain products as well as others.  Your veterinarian’s medical advice has real value…especially since the wrong product used improperly actually has the potential to be fatal!  Your veterinarian will understand if there are other possible interactions between flea preventives and other medications your pet is taking. Finally, the healthcare team at your veterinarian’s office can not only show you how to properly use the products in question, but they will keep a complete record of what you have used in the past, taking the guesswork out and possible preventing future complications.  And you already know they will keep track of your pet’s overall health and find medical problems early while they are still inexpensive to treat.  Your family veterinarian is a part of your pet’s health care team.

Veterinary services for pet’s It’s been said that “eyes are the windows to the soul” and certainly when you look into the eyes of your beloved pets, you can see the affection and loyalty reflected there.  Unfortunately, some owners look deep into their pet’s eyes and see problems.  When your pet’s vision is at stake, veterinary ophthalmologists stand ready to take action! Veterinary Services as part of your pet’s regular check-up, the veterinarian will spend time peering into the depths of the animal’s eyes.  In the majority of cases, the doctor will see eyes that are bright, clear and free of any sort of abnormality. Occasionally though, pets present to their veterinarian with injuries, scratches or irritation to their eyes or eyelids.  Some pets have inverted eyelids (entropion) or even extra eyelashes that grow on the inner surface of the eyelid (distichiasis).  Short-faced dogs and cats often find themselves with scratched corneas from normal play and roughhousing with other pets.  Some pups will end up with a condition known as “cherry eye” where the gland of the third eyelid protrudes up and away from its normal position. In many of these cases, your veterinarian can flush the eyes, provide the right medications or possibly even perform minor surgery to protect the pet’s vision.  But, if the issue is complex, not resolving or when serious eye problems, like glaucoma, cataracts or even retinal detachments occur, veterinary ophthalmologists are often called to help the pet and pet owner. These eye specialists undergo intensive training and testing of veterinary services in order to obtain certification from the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO).  After completing veterinary school, candidates for certification often complete an internship before starting a rigorous residency.  All of this extra education must be completed before the doctor attempts to pass the “board exam”.  It is not unusual for a veterinarian to spend an additional 3-4 years in preparation for a testing process that spans four days and includes written, practical and surgical sections.  All told, there are less than 375 veterinary eye specialists in the United States. These dedicated professionals often have the needed expertise and special equipment that your pet’s regular veterinarian does not have.  Delicate surgical instruments and unique diagnostic tools are just a few of the devices available to veterinary ophthalmologists.  Some of these eye doctors even have special mazes set up at their practice in order to more fully test your pet’s vision capabilities. Beyond helping dogs and cats, it is not uncommon to see ophthalmologists working with horses, birds and even zoo animals, like sea lions or dolphins! Each year, the ACVO and its members provide free eye examinations to the thousands of service animals helping disabled individuals around the country.  Partnering with veterinary companies, the ACVO has helped screen more than 6,000 animals for eye problems and donated more than $250,000 in free services to treat issues they have found.   Individuals with service animals are encouraged to visit www.acvoeyeexam.org to find locations and doctors for this annual event. In addition to this great work, the ACVO has also established the Vision for Animals Foundation.  This not-for-profit organization supports research into many of our pet’s eye disease.  More than $150,000 has been granted to researchers who are focused on eliminating the most serious problems affecting the vision of our pets. Pet owners can help their veterinarian and the veterinary ophthalmologist by addressing any eye issue promptly.  It’s important to have the eyes examined if there is any irritation or injury and to avoid using over the counter or previously prescribed medications.  Some of these might contain steroids which will hinder the healing process.  Signs that your pet is uncomfortable to include continual squinting, pawing at the eyes or even severe redness.  If you note any of these symptoms, or even your pet just doesn’t seem to see as well as he or she ages, an examination with your veterinarian is warranted. Your veterinarian will work closely with the veterinary ophthalmologist in order to do what is best for your pet and to protect his or her vision.

It’s a common occurrence: Pet owners expressing feelings of frustration, helplessness and even despair from a single symptom. Their pets itch and scratch, itch and scratch — and it is not a flea problem!  Although this may not seem like a big deal, these owners suffer through sleepless nights as their pets scratch and chew and lick, all in an attempt to get some needed relief. If it’s not fleas, what can this common problem be? Atopy Seeing a beloved pet scratch often leads many owners think their pets have fleas. When trips to the veterinarian and doses of flea products fail to resolve the itchiness, it is time to think about environmental allergies, or atopy. Just like people, our pets can suffer from allergies and sensitivities to particles in the air. Many times, pollen, certain grasses and trees or even dust mites can trigger this reaction in pets. Unlike people though, our pets rarely sneeze and show signs similar to “hay fever”. Instead, our pets are itchy and they will do anything to relieve that sensation. Some pets scratch constantly, others lick and chew at certain spots, like their feet and still others might rub against carpets and furniture. This behavior, and the consistent noises and thumps produced, is often too much for many pet owners.  Sadly, some pets are relinquished to shelters or rescues due to a condition that is actually manageable. Whenever your pet is itchy, it is important to remember that external parasites or even food allergies can cause very similar symptoms. Your veterinarian must help you distinguish between flea bite allergies, food allergies or atopy. According to Dr. Kimberly Coyner, a board certified veterinary dermatologist with the Dermatology Clinic for Animals in Las Vegas, about 10% of dogs suffer from atopy and some cats can develop this condition as well. Many pets will start showing signs as early as six months of age and most will occur before the animal is five years old. Beyond the itchiness (known medically as pruritus), pets might also show recurrent skin and ear infections or seem to be obsessed with licking their paws. These symptoms most commonly occur in warm weather for pets with pollen or dust allergies, but can also occur year round in some cases. A Closeup of Dogs’ Allergy Skin Test Diagnostic tests for atopy try to determine what allergens are causing your pet’s problems. Blood tests are often convenient since they can be done by most veterinarians, but Dr. Coyner cautions that this method has drawbacks. Skin testing (similar to scratch testing in people) is the gold standard for determining what is causing your pets allergies and is more accurate than blood tests. While not simple, atopy can be managed with baths, medications, managing the environment and sometimes with immunotherapy. You’ll need good communication with your veterinarian and maybe a veterinary dermatologist! First, for pets that suffer seasonal allergies, being prepared ahead of time is key. Some mildly suffering pets can benefit from daily cool water rinses and a fragrance free shampoo one to two times weekly.  Clipping longhaired pets decreases the allergen load and makes bathing easier. Pollen counts in the home can be reduced by asking family and visitors to remove their shoes at the door. Routine vacuuming of areas that the pets frequent and washing of pet bedding in mild, fragrance free detergents can also limit the allergen exposure inside. Some pet owners opt for antihistamines to help provide relief, but experts caution that they are only effective in 30-40% of dogs. Other owners insist that “steroid shots” or pills are the answer. However steroids simply decrease the symptoms and do not solve the problem — and they are not without secondary side effects. Immunotherapy Vials Ideally, all pets with atopy would undergo skin testing and then start an allergen specific immunotherapy, guided by a veterinary dermatologist. By slowly exposing the pet to increasing quantities of the allergen, this immunotherapy can actually “desensitize” the pet and, over time, help reduce the severity of the symptoms. Dr. Coyner says that 70-75% of allergic pets respond to this treatment and it takes several months to become effective, so it is not a certain cure or a “quick-fix”.