Shoal Creek News (Volume 2, Number 1)

Shoal Creek News

Volume 2, Issue 1

Spring 1996

Athens Area Animal Emergency Hospital

In an effort to better serve the needs of their patients and clients, Athens area veterinarians have joined together to form a full service animal emergency clinic. The Animal Emergency Hospital, located at 7530 Macon Highway, just off the Watkinsville by-pass (see map), opened for companion animal medical emergencies March 1, 1996. The hospital is a cooperative effort of over fifteen area veterinarians and represents ten veterinary hospitals in Athens and surrounding communities. Initially, the Animal Emergency Hospital will be open only weekends and holidays and provide around the clock emergency veterinary care during those times. The long range goal is to become a central animal emergency facility, operating year round. The Animal Emergency Hospital is committed to providing the best quality emergency care possible. Shoal Creek Animal Clinic is proud to be a participant in this service to our clients, their pets, and the companion animals of our community. The phone number for the Animal Emergency Hospital is 706-769-0229.

For more on the Animal Emergency Clinic, visit the AEH Home Page.

Help with Flea Control

Did you know?

A female flea lays an average of fifty eggs a day...thousands of eggs in her lifetime. Within twelve days, the eggs hatch into larvae which burrow into carpeting and crevices, where they eventually spin a cocoon and become pupae. From seven days up to a year, an adult flea emerges from the cocoon and finds a suitable host where it can live for up to six months. During that time, the female fleas lay eggs and the cycle begins again.

Given the flea life cycle, effective control requires treating three areas: the yard, the house, and the pet.

The Yard

One of the newest and most innovative treatments uses beneficial nematodes, natural flea predators, to break the flea life cycle outdoors. The nematodes begin killing flea larvae and pupae within 24 hours. With adequate soil moisture, nematodes continue to kill flea larvae for up to four weeks. This is an effective alternative to chemical insecticides, and is not harmful to people, pets, plants, or beneficial insects. Another form of premise treatment which controls immature fleas is a microencapsulated form of Precor, an insect growth regulator. This safe product has now been formulated to resist the degrading effects of sunlight and can be used outdoors. Finally, traditional adulticidal agents are available for yard and kennel treatment and can also aid in the control of ticks.

The House

Household sprays and foggers are convenient ways of treating large areas of the home. When using foggers, all humans and pets must vacate the home for at least two hours. Toys, food and water dishes should be put away during treatment. Area treatment sprays work like foggers, except the pet owner directs the spray exactly where needed. Pets should be removed from the areas being treated until they are dry. Most foggers and directed sprays now contain agents which kill the immature as well as adult fleas.

The Pet

Flea sprays are an essential part of a complete flea control program. Many sprays contain formulations of Pyrethrin, a very safe adulticidal agent, and Precor, which kills flea eggs laid on the pet. For the pet that may be frightened by sprays analogous products are available in a mousse form. These products are safe for kittens and puppies.

Flea dips are concentrated insecticides, either pyrethrins or stronger organophosphates, which are diluted in water and poured over the pet's body. Dips have the advantage of quickly killing most fleas on the pet's body and providing some residual control. New flea collars are available which kill adult fleas and inhibit the development of eggs laid on the pet's body.

There are two types of prescription flea control products: Program and Proban. Both are given to the pet orally on a regular basis. When a female flea bites a Program-treated pet, she swallows the active ingredient which is passed on to her eggs. This ingredient prevents the eggs from hatching, interrupting the flea life cycle. Program is given once a month with a full meal and should be given to all pets in the household. Proban is an adulticidal agent which directly kills the biting fleas. It is given twice weekly. These prescription drugs require annual physical examinations of the pet prior to dispensing.

For more help with flea control, please give us a call.

Editor's note: Advances in flea control products have been made since this article was written. Click this link for more information about fighting fleas.

Heartworms: Questions & Answers

How can my dog get heartworms?

Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes. Mosquitoes ingest microfilaria (baby heartworms) from one dog and then pass them on to another dog. If left untreated, a heartworm infection can cause permanent damage to the heart and lungs and be fatal.

How can I protect my dog from heartworm infection?

There are a variety of heartworm preventives available, some are given monthly and some daily. Preventive medication is given on a regular basis and destroys infective baby heartworms before they mature. Most heartworm preventives cost less than five cents a day, which is much less expensive than treating an infection!

Does my pet need to take preventive medication in the winter?

Yes. Heartworm infection can occur anytime of year. Georgia winters are not cold enough to deter mosquitoes. There have even been reported cases of heartworm infection in the frigid state of Alaska.

My dog goes outside only to urinate and defecate, does he need to take preventive medications?

Yes. Mosquitoes take very little time to bite and can quickly and easily infect your pet. Besides, mosquitoes don't always live their entire life outside!

My pet is not currently taking preventive, what should I do?

Schedule a heartworm test as soon as possible. Of the preventable diseases seen in dogs, heartworm disease is the most common. Please protect your pet against this real and deadly threat.

Fun Facts

-Some experts feel pets can have an almost psychic bond to their owners. According to the Epilepsy Institute, there have been cases of dogs warning their owners that an epileptic seizure is coming. One dog even nudges her owner to sit down when it senses a seizure is coming!

-Chocolate can be toxic to pets if enough is ingested because it acts similarly to caffeine. The theobromine in chocolate cause the heart rate to jump to dangerously fast rates, and might force your pet into cardiac failure. Chocolate is also a stimulant and can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

-The most recent AKC registration figures show that the Labrador Retriever is the nation's most popular breed, followed by the German Shepherd.

-Lassie, the highest rated and longest running animal show, was on Network Television from 1954-1974.

-According to carbon-dated remains found in Australia, dogs were first domesticated in 28,000 B.C.

-Despite the assumptions of many, cats cannot see in total darkness. However, they can see better in dim light than other animals and humans.