After a cold winter, the warm weather arriving with summer is inviting for many of us with pets. For dog owners it means more walks outside, outings to the park, and games of fetch. Time spent outdoors in warm weather does not come without risk. The summer is accompanied by an increase in the occurrence of heatstroke in patients.

       Heatstroke, also known as hyperthermia, or an increase in normal body temperature, is caused by environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity. The normal body temperature for dogs is 100-102 °F. Dogs experiencing an episode of heatstroke typically have body temperatures of 105 °F or greater. Symptoms associated with heatstroke include lethargy, weakness, collapse, or coma. Heatstroke is a medical emergency and requires treatment by a veterinarian.

       Common causes of heatstroke include walking or exercising your pet during warm weather or leaving your pet outside without adequate shade or water. Perhaps the most common cases of heatstroke are pets kept in a parked car. Recent studies have found that the temperature within a vehicle may increase by an average of 40 degrees Fahrenheit within one hour, regardless of outside temperature. Brachycephalic breeds such as bulldogs, pugs, and boxers are especially susceptible to heatstroke.

        Heatstroke is a medical emergency. It is not uncommon for pet owners to want to cool their pets prior to bringing them to the hospital in a heatstroke emergency. Cooling a patient to quickly can actually further complicate the symptoms brought on by heatstroke and actually worsen the prognosis. If you suspect your pet is suffering from heatstroke bring them indoors if they have been outside or in a warm vehicle. Wet down your pet’s ears and paws with room temperature water, not cold water. Transport your pet to the veterinarian for further supportive treatment immediately.

        Prevent the chance of heatstroke in your pet by limiting time outdoors to the morning and evening hours. Also do not leave your pet in a parked car unattended, even for a short period. When your pets do need to travel, make sure someone can stay with them in the car with the air conditioner on. Also be sure to bring a supply of drinking water for your pet when you travel or are exercising them outdoors. Prevention is the best medicine. Avoid conditions for heatstroke and enjoy a happy and safe summer together!

       Heartworm disease has long been a topic discussed by veterinarians and clients regarding their canine companions, but seldom has its implications in cats been addressed. Today we are finding that heartworm disease is very much a hot topic in the feline world.

         A heartworm infection can occur regardless of whether a pet is kept predominately indoors or outdoors. This is because mosquitoes carrying the disease can easily make their way into the home and find a pet to infect. Infection takes place when a mosquito carrying microscopic heartworm larvae bites a cat or dog. The larvae enter through the bite wound where they develop in the tissues. Immature worms then enter a blood vessel to migrate. In dogs, the worms make their way to the heart, where they mature and produce more larvae. In cats, the immature worms more often make their way to arteries of the lungs. While in dogs the population of heartworms produced is often high, cats often develop a much lower burden of adult worms when infected. Despite this lower burden, the effects of their presence still weigh heavily on a cat’s health.                       

         Typical signs of heartworm disease in cats include difficulty breathing, coughing, lethargy, vomiting, and collapse. Within the lungs and associated arteries, the adult heartworms cause an inflammatory reaction. The respiratory signs associated with such reactions are referred to as Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease (HARD .)  Often, blood tests and radiographs of the chest are necessary to help the veterinarian diagnose a patient, as signs of heartworm infection in cats can often be mistaken for asthma or allergic bronchitis.

        While treatments are available to cure canines of their worm burden, there are currently no medications to treat cats infected with heartworms.  However, options are available to control feline heartworm infections and their associated symptoms. For example, the routine use of heartworm preventatives can inhibit the further development of larval worms in infected cats.  Another available option is the use of steroids to control the inflammatory response brought on by the disease.      

        With treatment options being limited, the best medicine for heartworm disease is prevention. Various heartworm preventatives are available for cats including both monthly oral and topical formulations.  Interceptor is a monthly oral preventative that can be used by both canine and feline patients. Revolution is a popular topical preventative applied to a cat’s skin monthly for protection. These products are highly effective in their ability to provide protection against heartworm disease and provide treatment for additional parasites as well.  Talk to our veterinarians today about heartworm disease and making sure your pet is protected.

Visit the link below for a helpful handout on Feline Heartworm Disease:

Feline Heartworm Disease Handout

      Walk into a pharmacy and there are a number of over-the-counter medications available to ease whatever symptoms of discomfort or illness your body is experiencing. Sneezing, headache, sore muscles, fever, the list goes on. Many times these medications can be helpful and if they are not we seek the guidance of a physician. It is not uncommon for us to want to utilize these same remedies for our pets when they are experiencing discomfort. However, medications available to people and their proper dosages do not translate easily to our four-legged companions.

     One of the most common medications given to pets by their owners is aspirin. Many owners believe it to be a safe and effective choice to alleviate a myriad of symptoms in pets from pain to fever. This is in part due to the fact that many variations of “pet-friendly” aspirin are available in pet store or on the internet. What many people don’t realize is that they may be doing more harm then good.             

      For example, gastric ulceration is not the only drawback to aspirin administration. For a dog suffering from joint pain and lameness a veterinarian may prescribe an veterinary specific NSAID (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as Rimadyl or Deramaxx.. However, if aspirin has already been given to the patient it is no longer safe to dose them with these medications. A resting period of up to two weeks may be necessary before a veterinary NSAID can safely be prescribed following treatment with aspirin.

      Aspirin can also pose a risk to pets that are chronically treated with cortisone type medications such as prednisone.  When combined with prednisone the potential for side effects from aspirin are amplified. Furthermore aspirin has the ability to interfere with the effectiveness of some antibiotics and its use in combination with others can elevate the risk of kidney disease. Aspirin should never be used in cats as they are extremely slow to metabolize the drug and therefore more vulnerable to the risk of toxicity.

       All medications come with their benefits and drawbacks. The key is to choose the one that provides the best relief while still ensuring the safety of the patient. Veterinarians are trained to evaluate and make these decisions for our pets. In order to make the best choices for their patients they need to know as much about their patient’s history as possible. For this reason always let your veterinarian know if you have given your pet any over the counter medications.

        In our last newsletter, we announced the availability of a new product called Epakitin for our patients with kidney disease. This summer we are pleased to add another treatment option for these patients. Azodyl is a product also manufactured by Vetoquinol. Each capsule of Azodyl contains naturally occurring beneficial bacteria that helps to rid the body of toxins that build up as a result of poor kidney function. Studies have shown that through it’s method of enteric (gastrointestinal) dialysis, Azodyl can help reduce elevated kidney values and potentially increase the survival time of patients.

     This summer The Raritan Animal Hospital Group is happy to welcome some new members to our staff. Dr Keira Sokolowski a graduate of The College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University and Dr Emily Marion a recent graduate of The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine have joined our team of veterinarians. We would also like to welcome some new members to our hospital and clinic reception staff: Jackie Johnson, Britney Titus, Sonja Forte and Judy Cosme. We would also like to welcome our newest veterinary assistants Michelle Ponticello and Dyneesha Freeman.

If you are interested in becoming a member of our team click below!