SUMMER 2008

Could my pet have an allergy?

Did you know that it's not just fleas that can give your pet an itchy skin? Allergies are immune reactions in which an animal responds abnormally to common, usually harmless substances; these substances are called allergens.

Our pets come into contact with allergens in three main ways: allergens can be inhaled (e.g. pollens), contact (e.g. flea bite allergy where certain pets develop an allergy to flea saliva) and ingested (e.g. food allergies).

Whatever the route of exposure, susceptible pets usually react with itchiness, leading to hair loss and inflamed and infected skin. Face rubbing, paw chewing and ear infections are common signs.

Diagnosis of the causes of allergic skin disease can be tricky, but blood tests and skin testing can help us to identify what substances in the environment individual animals are allergic to, and food allergy trials can enable identification of food allergies.

Common culprits include various pollens, fleas and housedust mites, as well as common food ingredients such as beef, pork and wheat.

Once allergens have been identified, they should be avoided as far as is practical. Flea saliva allergies are greatly improved by effective flea control, and food allergies may be improved by cutting out food types that cause a reaction. Inhaled allergens are more difficult to control, but new forms of medication can offer much needed relief.

Don't let itching drive your pet mad!

Call us for an appointment!

An itchy problem!

With a life cycle (in warm summer or centrally heated conditions) of around one month, the number of fleas in a household can rapidly reach epidemic proportions!

Ticks are another parasite to watch out for at this time of year as tick numbers also increase in warmer weather with dogs and cats picking them up in areas of grassland and heathland. Once attached (see photo bottom), ticks feed on your pet's blood, often for several days.

Ticks can cause problems in two ways - firstly by causing a tissue reaction at the attachment site, and secondly by transmitting serious blood-borne diseases such as Babesiosis and Lyme disease, to name just two!

So, NOW is a good time to make sure you are up to date with flea and tick treatments!

Please let us advise you on the best form of flea and tick control for your pet!

And remember, when treating pets for fleas, it is essential to treat ALL the pets in the household, and don't forget the carpets and bedding!

GUINEA pigs are great pets that are fun to look after and form a close bond with their owners, especially if they are handled regularly. They can be kept as outdoor or indoor pets, but if they are kept outside they need their hutch to be well protected from rain and direct sun.

They enjoy plenty of exercise and do well if given time out of the hutch in the house or in a run each day. Coming from the South American grasslands, they are best fed on a diet of grass, hay, fruit and vegetables together with some high quality commercially prepared food.

Throughout the year, guinea pigs should be checked every day; problems to watch out for include chest infections (that can follow bad weather or stress), diarrhoea (which can relate to infections or change in diet), skin disease due to mange mites and dental problems (usually associated with overgrown teeth).

Prompt treatment always gives the best chance of recovery, so any problems should be dealt with quickly. Please give us a call if you would like any more information.

You'd be lost without them

Have you ever wondered how you would cope if your pet went missing? Sadly it is all too easy for pets to go missing and the key to finding them is for them to be reliably identified. One solution is the collar and tag, and this can work well providing it doesn't come off - a common problem, especially in cats who seem to lose their collars with great frequency.

The good news however, is that modern technology has come to our aid in the form of a tiny microchip (about the size of a grain of rice) which can be quickly and easily implanted under the skin - permanently identifying your pet. Each microchip contains a unique code that identifies your pet and these details are stored on a central computer database.

Microchips can be 'read' using a special hand held scanner. Veterinary practices, the police and animal welfare organisations routinely scan all strays, hopefully ensuring that if your pet does go missing, you will have the reassurance that when found - even if the collar and tag have been lost - the microchip should save the day!

Don't take the risk - make sure your pets are microchipped!

June is National Microchip Month, and a good time to get your pet chipped if it hasn't been done already!

After cats have been out for the day, or dogs have been walking through long grass, be sure to groom them well to try and identify and remove any grass seeds and ticks that have found their way into the coat before they penetrate the skin and cause problems.

LATE, light nights and warm weather make summer particularly fun for many pets, but there are a number of potential hazards associated with the season that should be borne in mind - here are a few tips:

Visibility in the evenings can fade rapidly, so don't forget to use reflective collars to keep safe. Also, during the day it is important to remember that the sun itself can cause damage. Cats with white ear tips and noses are particularly at risk from sunburn which often leads to localised skin cancer of these areas. This risk can be reduced by applying high factor waterproof sunblock, applied daily, to reduce sunburn and the development of skin cancer (see photo).

When out on walks it is important to avoid ponds that may contain dangerous algae, and to remember that throwing sticks for dogs can be hazardous - every year we see pets that have potentially fatal throat injuries from trying to catch sticks.

Grass seeds can work their way into the feet (see photo), or become trapped in dogs' ears, usually causing severe head shaking.

Rabbit rear ends often become damp and this attracts flies, which lay eggs, which in turn develop into flesh-eating maggots.

Fly strike is very painful and frequently results in death. During the summer months, rabbits should be inspected daily for fly eggs and maggots.

Also watch out for bee and wasp stings that may require prompt veterinary attention since some dogs are allergic to their stings.

Finally, please remember that the temperature in a car can rise rapidly and death from heat stroke can follow in minutes, so pets should NEVER be left unattended in cars.