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300 Angel Ave SW PO Box 327

Watertown, MN 55388

P 952-955-1525

F 952-955-3420

www.WatertownVeterinaryClinic.com

In This Issue:

Cats Get Heartworm Too!

Buying a Bunny?

Heartworm FAQ’s

Featured Pet: Zasu

Tips from a Technician: New Puppy Tips

Did You Know?

Ask the Vet: What’s the ‘POOP’?

The WVC

Spring 2011

Issue 1

Cats Get Heartworm Too!

You may not know it, but there could be deadly intruders lurking inside your cat. Heartworms are a problem we generally associate with dogs, but cats can and do become infected. In fact, the risk is more deadly and widespread than we ever knew before.

The risk of infection is very real for both outdoor and indoor cats. All it takes is one bite from one infected mosquito to infect your cat. We all know mosquitoes do occasionally get into our homes, and cats do not always stay strictly indoors. Even the 10 minutes Kitty spends on the patio or the time she raced outside before the door shut put her at risk. After a cat is bitten by an infected mosquito, the larvae migrate through the cat’s tissue to their preferred home in the cat’s heart and lungs, causing damage along the way. Most will perish before reaching the heart and lungs, but those that do make it there cause multiple issues for the cat. Even one worm can cause a great deal of trouble due to the small size of a cat’s heart and lungs.

Heartworms cause a lot of inflammation in the lungs, bronchioles, and the rest of the respiratory and circulatory systems. Unfortunately, Kitty’s problems do not end there. The inflammation does not magically go away, and the cat’s body has to try to remove this foreign material. When the worm(s) die, the cat runs a risk of having a blockage due to the breakdown of worms. An allergic reaction to the breakdown of worms is also possible, which could be fatal.

We can see a wide variety of symptoms in cats, ranging from nothing to respiratory problems, coughing, or even sudden death. Often cats will appear to have respiratory symptoms like lung disease or feline asthma. Other respiratory problems, chronic coughing and/or vomiting are also possible. The gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, and the nervous system can all be affected as the inflammation continues. Sudden death often could be the only symptom.

The recommended test for cats is to screen for both the adult worm proteins (antigen) and the antibodies that the cat’s immune system produces in response to the worm’s presence. These tests, along with clinical signs are used to diagnose heartworm disease in cats. An echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) may also be performed to help diagnose it.

There is no approved treatment for heartworm infections in cats. Generally it is not safe to kill the adult heartworm(s) in cats due to the risk of blockages and allergic reactions. Preventing heartworm is as easy as applying a dose of Revolution™ on your cat’s skin once a month. Due to the life cycle of the heartworms, applying it once a month is a must! This product also protects your cat from fleas, ear mites, roundworms, and hookworms. This article was written by Heather Olson, Certified Veterinary Technician at Watertown Veterinary Clinic.

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This photo is courtesy of rabbits.org.

Dr. Scott Phearman

Dr. Katrina Gustafson

Services Available

• General Medicine

• Wellness Exams and Vaccines

• Geriatric Services

• Radiology, Endoscopy, and

Ultrasonography

• General and Orthopedic Surgery

• Anesthesia

• Dentistry

• Avian and Exotic Animal Medicine and

Surgery

• In-House Pharmacy and Laboratory

• Canine Reproduction

• Behavior and Dietary Counseling

• Grooming

New Puppy Tips

* Use a crate for your puppy when sleeping

at night or when unable to monitor him.

This will help make housebreaking easier

and provides your puppy with a “safe” spot.

* Play with your puppy’s feet, ears, and

mouth to get him used to nail trims, ear

cleanings, and oral examinations.

* Expose your puppy to as many new things,

sounds, and people as possible, especially

between the ages of 2 and 4 months.

* Puppy-proof your house by removing small

objects, tying up electrical cords, removing

any rat poisons, and storing all chemicals

out of reach.

* If you catch your puppy chewing on the

couch or a pair of shoes, redirect your

puppy by giving him an appropriate chew

toy like a tennis ball or rawhide.

Tips are provided by Tricia Just, a Certified Veterinary

Technician at Watertown Veterinary Clinic.

The WVC

Spring 2011 Issue 1

Buying a Bunny? Things to consider… There are many things to keep in mind before bringing a rabbit into your home as a pet. First and foremost, research breeds of bunnies. They come in many shapes, sizes, and have varying levels of upkeep. Once you have decided on the type of rabbit you will bring home, be prepared to provide litter, food, etc. for your new furry friend.

Rabbits can be kept indoors or outdoors in cages called hutches. The size of your cage will vary depending on the breed of rabbit you have, but it should be at least 4 times the size of the adult bunny. Hutches should be easy to keep clean; wire mesh and durable plastic are good choices for cage material. Indoor rabbits can be litter trained and a litter box should be kept inside the cage or an appropriate location in the house.

Litter choice is very important as it needs to be both absorbable and if eaten, digestible. Non-clumping cat litter is an appropriate choice for rabbits that are litterbox trained. For rabbits not using a litterbox, wood shavings should be used in the hutch to absorb their waste. Pine and cedar shavings are a definite “no” when it comes to litter choice. The oils in these soft woods can be irritating to the skin and respiratory tract. Hardwoods such as aspen and recycled paper products are great choices for cage shavings.

Proper nutrition is essential when it comes to caring for your bunny. Rabbits require a diet high in fiber to have normal digestive function. Good quality commercial pellets should be the main diet. High quality grass hay, such as timothy hay, need to be available at all times for your rabbit. Fresh produce in limited amounts is appropriate as well. For a detailed list of safe produce to feed your rabbit visit The House Rabbit Society website at www.rabbit.org.

As with all pets, veterinary care is necessary. Knowing if you have a male or female is important, especially if you have multiple rabbits caged together. Spaying and neutering rabbits is appropriate, as altered rabbits generally live longer and healthier lives.

Provide toys to keep your rabbit mentally stimulated and to encourage physical activity. Toys can also help to distract your bunny from unwanted behaviors such as inappropriate chewing and aggression.

Dr. Katrina Gustafson provides veterinary care for rabbits at Watertown Veterinary Clinic. If you have questions regarding your bunny, please call or email the clinic.

This article was written by Sue Bollman, a Certified Veterinary Technician at Watertown Veterinary

Clinic.

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The WVC

Spring 2011

Issue 1

Common Heartworm Questions

Answered

Why does my dog need to be on heartworm prevention year round? The American Heartworm Society recommends year-round prevention, even in regions of the country where winters are cold. Heartworm preventatives only work against the third and fourth larval stages of the immature heartworm. If a dog is infected with heartworm in the fall, and the owner stops giving preventative medication around the same time, any remaining larval stages of heartworm may develop into an adult. In the spring, when prevention is resumed, the dog is already infected with adult heartworms, which are not killed by heartworm preventatives. Keep in mind that giving a preventative on June 1st eliminates any exposure to heartworm in May. Heartworm prevention is safer, easier, and more cost-effective than treating heartworm disease.

I give heartworm preventative year-round to my dog. Why do I need to test my dog annually for heartworm disease? Before a dog is prescribed heartworm preventative, a blood test is recommended. A positive test means that adult heartworms are present within the dog. Unfortunately, a negative heartworm test does not mean the dog is clear of heartworm disease. This is because the tests used to detect heartworm can only tell if adult heartworms are present, not the larval stages. Dogs with undetected heartworm disease often show no outward symptoms until it is too late. Prevention failures are relatively infrequent, but can occur. Failing to annually screen your dog for heartworm disease is not worth the risk.

Is there a treatment if my dog does contract heartworm disease? Treating heartworm disease is possible. Because a heartworm positive dog can have several stages of heartworm at any given time, several steps are involved in treating the disease. The American Heartworm Society recommends a physical examination, blood tests, and chest x-rays before beginning treatment. Treatment involves a series of injections, oral medication, follow-up testing, and strict rest for the dog. The entire treatment process can span several months, can be quite expensive, and requires strict compliance by owners. Dogs being treated for heartworm disease must remain calm the entire duration of the treatment. Harsh play, or even running can cause complications as the heartworms die. Protecting your dog against heartworm disease is much safer and much more affordable than treating this costly and life-threatening disease. Heartgard Plus™ is the recommended heartworm preventative by the doctors and staff at Watertown Veterinary Clinic. This product also protects against roundworms and hookworms. If you have further questions regarding the prevention or treatment of heartworm disease, please call or email us.

This article was written by Keri Beckman, a Certified Veterinary Technician at Watertown

Veterinary Clinic.

“ANIMALS ARE SUCH AGREEABLE

FRIENDS – THEY ASK NO QUESTIONS,

THEY PASS NO CRITICISMS.”

– GEORGE ELLIOT

FFFeeeaaatttuuurrreeeddd PPPeeettt

ZASU

It’s an open-cage-door-life for Jennifer and Bob’s 24 year-old Red Lored Amazon, Zasu, who has run of the house. Zasu has his favorites, and one is keeping the same hours as his owners, thus snuggling in bed next to Bob. Another favorite for Zasu is his water squirt bath and being thoroughly drenched, even lifting his wings so not to miss a spot. Six years ago, Zasu was adopted by Jennifer and Bob of Waconia. It didn’t take long for Zasu to adopt Jennifer as his favorite by turning on his charming ways solely for her. For Bob, Zasu will purposefully peck at his ankles, except when there is food in his hand, and then Zasu will turn on the cuddly charm for Bob. When the food is gone, it is back to Bob’s ankles again. For 13 years, Zasu has been a friend to our clinic and he knows how to charm us also during his visits.

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The WVC

Spring 2011

Issue 1

The original name for the butterfly was ‘flutterby.’

A giraffe can clean its own ears with its 21-inch tongue.

A chameleon’s tongue is twice the length of its body!!

Dolphins sleep with one eye open.

A snail can sleep for 3 years!

Ants don’t sleep.

All polar bears are-left handed.

A chimpanzee can learn to recognize itself in a mirror, but a monkey can’t.

Bats always turn left when exiting a cave.

A hippopotamus can run faster than man.

Did You Know?

Save $5.00 On a Fecal Test (Intestinal parasite test)

One coupon per household

Offer available through 7/15/2011

Why are fecal screening tests important and why can’t we just give our pets deworming medications and call it good?

Animals explore their environment with their mouths. This is especially true for dogs, but many cats do it too. Pets will chew on things within their reach, and if it tastes good, they may eat it. The outdoor palate of a typical dog or cat can commonly include grass, plants, flowers, twigs, leaves, insects, rodents and other small animals, and our favorite, poop from other animals. All of these items can be sources of parasites and bacteria.

Your pet’s stools can look very normal, and still be loaded with parasites. This means that the invading organisms could be doing damage or are being spread to other animals. It also means that your dog or cat might be passing something on to you or your children. Many life stages of parasites are microscopic, and therefore not seen by the naked eye.

Routine dewormers do not protect against all parasites. There are many disease causing organisms that can cause illness in your pets that are not covered by these products. It is still a good idea to deworm your pets regularly with these products.

A fecal floatation for your pet is one of the least expensive tests that we routinely recommend for every dog and cat. It not only keeps your pet safe, but also helps to protect your family. We normally suggest that every pet have a fecal floatation submitted 1-2 times annually. If your pet is mostly outdoors, has a tendency to eat/chew on a variety of things from your yard, hunts small varmints, or tends to eat feces from other animals, then this test may need to be run more often.

Puppies, kittens, and pets with diarrhea may need more fecal testing performed, depending on the situation. We like to get at least 2 stool samples that are tested free of parasites on every puppy and kitten. We also suggest de-worming young animals every 2 weeks.

We recommend not to let your pet lick you on the mouth, and not to share eating or drinking utensils with your buddy. Your companion’s tongue is their toilet paper. Many parasites that affect our pets can also be harmful to us. Roundworms can cause digestive upset as well as blindness in people. Giardia can cause severe digestive abnormalities. Hookworms can cause skin and digestive issues. Young children, the elderly, and any immune-compromised individuals are at more risk for these zoonotic pathogens (diseases spread from animals to humans). Salmonella, E. coli., Listeria, and other bacteria may cause severe intestinal and systemic diseases.

When submitting a fecal sample, fresh is best, but up to 24 hours old is okay. Please do not allow the sample to become exposed to excessive sunlight or freeze during the winter, as this renders the sample inadequate for testing. Submit your questions to wvetc@frontiernet.net and it could be

featured in a future Ask-the-Vet article.

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Katrina Gustafson, DVM