understanding parasites



What you need to know about fleas



Most people think of Fleas as a nuisance. The truth is Fleas can be deadly. They can carry disease. If their numbers are high enough, they can cause your pet to become anemic.


Flea life cycle: Killing the adult fleas on your pet will not protect you from infestation. Flea eggs, larva and pupae will still be lurking on your pet and around your home just waiting to reach adulthood and start the infestation all over again.


Depending on environmental conditions, it can take between 2 weeks and 8 months for Flea eggs to reach adulthood. Although the average is 3 to 4 weeks. While you may think the Fleas are gone today, in as little as 2 weeks your home and pet may be totally infested.


Treating your pet: It is recommended to treat your pet (with either a topical or tablet) for at least 3 months in order to break the life cycle of the flea. Don't panic if you see Fleas on your pet after treating them. No product will stop them from picking up new Fleas from the environment (both in your home and outside). The goal is to keep your pet protected so that any new Fleas they pick up will die before reproducing.


Treating your home and yard: It's important to treat the environment. When treating your home, make sure that the spray or foggers you choose say they continue to protect for 6 to 7 months. This will kill the adults as they hatch from the pupae. Again, it is normal to see Fleas a day or two after treating the area. While in the pupae, they are protected from the poison. As they hatch and move around your home they will be exposed to the residual effects of the poison and die before they can reproduce. To treat your yard, make sure the product says it kills Fleas. Keep your pets off the spayed area until the yard is totally dry


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Ticks



Ticks are a common parasite that feed on blood by attaching themselves to the host (you or your pet). Tick species are found worldwide and may infest dogs in very large numbers. These blood-sucking parasites are often found in tall grass, where they will attach themselves to a passing animal.


Ticks also act as vectors of disease. Ticks can carry and spread the organisms that can cause Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other potentially deadly diseases.


When choosing a Flea product, make sure to use a product that also does Ticks. Especially in the Spring, as Ticks are more prevalent that time of year.


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Heartworms



Heartworms are parasites that live in the bloodstream. They are carried by mosquito's from one dog to another. When a mosquito bites your dog, the egg of the Heartworm is transferred to your dog. In dogs, Heartworms can reproduce causing an infestation that can be deadly. The adult worms live in the heart of the host causing a blockage and reduced blood flow. If left untreated it will eventually cause heart failure.


We recommend year-round protection. Even if your dog rarely goes outside, they are still at risk. Mosquito's get into our homes. It only takes one mosquito to start an infestation. We offer a variety of products to protect your dog. (A Heartworm test must be performed before starting on a preventative, to insure they are not already infested).


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Intestinal Parasites



TAPEWORMS: Found in both Dogs and Cats, Tapeworms are the most visibly detectable, as they often appear as rice shaped segments around the pets anus and in the feces. Most Heartworn preventatives do not kill Tapeworms.


Tapeworms are found in Fleas, Rabits and Rodents. It's important to treat your pets if they have had Fleas or if they spend time outdoors.


ROUNDWORMS: Large, cream colored worm commonly described as looking like spaghetti. They can be seen in vomit and feces, although there can be no signs that there is an infestation.


These infections are very common in puppies and kittens (the eggs are passed form the mother through her milk) Roundworms are prolific egg shedders. Pets can be infected by eating soil or vegetation contaminated by these shed eggs. They may also become infect from eating an animal that is infected (rodents, rabbits, birds, etc.) or their feces.


Most Heartworm preventatives also protect against Roundworms.


HOOKWORMS: Hookworms are small worms (usually around 1/2in long) They are found in the small intestines. They live on blood and tissue and can cause serious illness and death. As few as 50 worms can be fatal to a puppy or kitten.


Hookworms are prolific egg shedders. Pets can become infected by eating the larva or through their skin. They may also become infected through their mother's milk.


Most Hearworm preventatives also protect against Hookworms.


WHIPWORMS: Found mainly in dog, they are found in the large intestine and feed on blood.


Pets can only become infected by eating something contaminated with the eggs. Unfortunately, Whipworm eggs are very hardy. They can survive in soil for years even in very cold climates. They can cause chronic diarrhea.


Treatment must be prescribed by a Veterinarian.


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8 HUMAN FOODS THAT ARE TOXIC TO PETS



Yeast Bread Dough

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What it's in: Uncooked homemade or store-bought bread dough that contain yeast.


Threat to pets: The dark, warm environment of a pets stomach acts as an oven and allows the dough to continue rising. This can result in a bowel obstruction or a bloated or distended stomach. The stomach may then twist, leading to a gastric diltation and volvulus (GDV)


This is a life threatening situation that requires emergency abdominal surgery and treatment for shock.


As the yeast ferments in the stomach, it releases alcohol, which me lead to alcohol poisoning. (See Alcohol)



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Alcohol



What it's in: Alcoholic beverages aside, alcohol can be found in some surprising places.


Rum-soaked cakes or candies and dressings containing alcohol may be toxic to pets.


Threat to pets: Even small amounts of alcohol, especially when injested by small pets, can cause life threatening toxicity


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Fatty Foods



What they're in: Butter, oils, meat drippings, grease, chocolate and scrap.


Threat to pets: Fatty foods may cause Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) when ingested, especially by dogs.


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Grapes, Raisins and Currants



What they're in: Uncooked grapes, raisins and currents are likely more toxic than cooked fruit. Don't forget about raisins in cereals, trail mix, baked goods and snack boxes.


Threat to pets: These fruits can cause acute kidney failure in dogs, cats and ferrets.


While not all pets will develope kidney failure, it is impossible to know which pets will be sensitive to these fruits. Therefor, all pets that ingest these fruits should be monitored closely and treated appropriately.


Ifa small dog or cat eats just a few grapes or raisins, this is considered an emergency.


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Caffeine:



What it's in: Caffeine is most commonly found in coffee, coffee grounds, tea bags, soda, energy drinks and diet pills.


Threat to pets: Pets are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than people.

While a couple of licks of coffee, tea or soda wont poison most pets, the ingestion of moderate amounts of coffee grounds, tea bags or one or two diet pills can easily be fatal to small animals.


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Chocolate:



What it's in: When it comes to chocolate, dark equals dangerous. That's because the darker the chocolate, the larger the amount of Theobromine (a cousin chemical to caffeine) it contains.


Thus, bakers chocolate, simi-sweet chocolate, cocoa powder and gourmet chocolates are more toxic than milk chocolate.


Threat to pets: The amount ingested determines the danger. Pets that ingest a couple of M&Ms or a bite of a chocolate chip cookie are unlikely to develop chocolate poisoning.


Very young pets, geriatric pets and those with underlying disease are at a higher risk for poisoning than healthy adult pets.


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Xylitol



What it's in: Xylitol is a common sugar substitute used in sugar free chewing gum, breath mints, candies and baked goods.


Threat to pets: Xylitol may cause a life-threatening drop in blood sugar and can cause liver damage in dogs.


A 10 pound dog would only need to eat one piece of gum to achieve a potentialy toxic dose.


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Onions, Garlic, Chives and Leeks



What they're in: The small amount of garlic sometimes found in dog treats is unlikely to be harmful. However, if pets ingest a tasty pan of sauteed onions, garlic or leeks, poisoning may result.


Threat to pets: ​These vegetables can cause red blood cell destruction and result in anemia.


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To Declaw, Not to Declaw...



Having a cat Declawed is a somewhat controversial subject. Not all house cats need to be Declawed. If they are not destructive to furniture or property or aggressively scratching their owners, then there probably is no reason to put them through the surgery and recovery.


On the other hand, some cats can not share a home with you without being declawed. Unfortunately, cats that "play rough", or make a habit of "sharpening their claws" on furniture, walls, door frames, etc. will end up "put outside", surrendered to an ARL or rehomed. (Some landlords require cats to be Declawed)


When scheduling your cats surgery, it's important to ask how they do the surgery. Some veterinarians remove the end of the toe at the first joint. Unfortunately, this also injures the pads of the toes.


The picture above shows how we do it. The Claw is removed by cutting just behind the cuticle, leaving a narrow cut in the top of the toe which we close using surgical glue. This leaves the pads intact causing much quicker recovery and less discomfort for the cat. Although we will Declaw adult cats, it is much better to do it while they are still kittens.


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Healthy Diet



Pet Food Companies have spent decades doing studies to determine how much protein, grains and nutrients pets need to thrive. Everything your pet needs to thrive is already sitting in their food bowl. Feeding a high-quality food such as Hills, Iams, Royal Canine, etc. is worth the extra expense. The proteins and nutrients come from the same ingredients we would eat. Much less fillers (sources such as feathers, bone and other ingredients) that help make pets feel full. If you have a litter box in your home, you will understand the difference very quickly. When fed a high-quality food, there is much less waist, much less odor and less gas. If you feed your pet according to the feeding chart on the bag, you will notice that better foods require smaller amounts of food per day than "cheaper" foods.


Fad Diets: There are always Fad Diets out there, BEWARE. As humans come up with things like "Gluten free" "grain free" etc. some think if this is good for them it is good for their pets. NOT true. Unless your pet has a medical condition requiring a special diet, you should always feed them a quality pet food made for their age group. (Puppy, Adult, 7-Plus, etc.) Removing ingredients from a healthy pet's diet removes nutrients and vitamins they need and can cause malnutrition and other medical conditions.


People Food: The most common problem with feeding "people snacks" is Obesity. Obesity causes the same health problems in pets that it does in humans. (Heart disease, Diabetes, etc.) It can also cause a painful strain on arthritic joints.


For some pets People food can cause Urinary Tract infections or a ph imbalance causing Bladder Stones..When the ph is too alkaline, the minerals in food and water don't dissolve and create crystals that may then stick together creating stones. With Stones in the bladder, it becomes very difficult to hold Urine. Symptoms are usually Urinating around the house or dribbling urine. Stones usually require surgery to remove them. Neutered male cats can become "blocked". The crystals stick together in the Urethra blocking the flow of urine. This can be fatal if untreated.









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(515) 465-5626
14580 J Ave
Perry, IA 50220