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Vector Borne Disease

6/30/2016

 
By Anne Heskel, VMD

Sonny enjoys a frolick through tall grass in the country.The great outdoors!
Spending time with our pets outside is one of the best ways to bond with them. Hiking in the woods, walking through the park, and swimming at the beach provide wonderful was to play with them. In our area, we are lucky to have many great places to share with our pets. It is also important to remember that we share these spaces with other, less welcome creatures. Animals are vulnerable to vector borne diseases and it is very important that we take appropriate steps to protect them. 

Vector borne diseases are viral or bacterial diseases that are transmitted using another animal (the vector). In the New York area, ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes are common vectors that affect pets as well as people.  

Ticks
Four common species of ticks, the Deer Tick, the American Dog Tick, the Brown Dog Tick and the Lone Star Tick, reside in our area and transmit many types of bacterial disease. Ticks are more prevalent and more likely to spread disease in the late spring and summer. Adult ticks can be easy to find and remove. However, it is very important to remember that the nymph stage of ticks, when they are barely bigger than the tip of a ball point pen, transmits many of these diseases. The CDC has an excellent informational page explaining the life cycle of disease-spreading ticks in the United States.

Photographs of several varieties of ticks, demonstrating differences in size and shape.Source: Wikipedia Commons
The most well- known and prevalent disease in this area is Lyme Disease. Named for the town in Connecticut where it was identified, Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. Signs of Lyme disease in the dog can include decreased appetite, joint pain or stiffness, and fever. Occasionally Lyme disease can interfere with dogs’ kidneys, causing an increase of protein in the urine and lasting, potentially fatal, kidney damage. Recent projections show that the risk of Lyme disease will continue to increase for dogs in the Tri-State area and beyond. For detailed risk information by area, please refer to this map.

Other bacterial diseases transmitted by ticks are Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. These diseases may cause nebulous signs of inappetence, fever, and gastrointestinal distress. They may also lead to more significant interference with certain blood cell types and can be life threatening.

Fleas
In a crowded environment like New York City, flea infestations can be easy to contract and difficult to contain or eliminate without flea prevention. Fleas are an itchy nuisance on their own, and many dogs and cats suffer from flea allergies and flea-related dermatitis. However, it is also possible for fleas to cause anemia (a decrease in healthy red blood cells that prevents the body’s tissues and organs from receiving sufficient oxygen), especially in younger animals, and to transmit tapeworms and bacterial or viral infections, some of which can be contracted in humans.

Mosquitoes
For dogs and cats, the most important mosquito borne concern is heartworm disease. Heartworm disease is caused by a blood parasite called Dirofilaria immitus. A mosquito bites an infected animal and picks up the parasite. The parasite matures within the mosquito and can then be transmitted to another pet. Once inside the bloodstream of a dog, the parasite can grow and multiply until it clogs the heart valves - causing coughing, exercise intolerance and possible death. For cats, this parasite is more likely to cause inflammation and disruption in the lungs causing coughing and lethargy. 

While treatment for tick borne and, in most cases, heartworm disease is available, prevention is more affordable and better ensures the health of your pet. Park East Animal Hospital offers a comprehensive selection of flea, tick, and heartworm preventatives in a variety of presentations. Whether oral, topical, or wearable prevention best suits your lifestyle, our doctors can recommend a product to keep your pet free of vector borne disease all year round. Call our office at 212-832-8417 to speak with a doctor if you have concerns about possible exposure to these disease vectors.

Fourth of July Tips

6/21/2016

 
By Victoria Hooker, VMD

Mambo, a havanese, showing off his patriotic outfit.Happy Fourth of July!
With the Fourth of July right around the corner, it’s important to keep the safety of our pets in mind as we prepare for the holiday. Barbecues, day trips, and fireworks are the order of the day, and the long weekend is a welcome opportunity to spend some extra time with our loved ones - both two- and four-legged. Here are some tips to make the holiday as safe and enjoyable as possible for you and your pets.

BBQs and Picnics
Summer is synonymous with barbecues and picnics. Unfortunately, our pets can’t always enjoy the same snacks that we do. Eating high fat foods - such a steak, hamburgers, and cheese - can put our dogs at risk for pancreatitis. Pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, is a very painful disorder that can require a great deal of supportive care for complete recovery. During summer festivities, remember to keep food out of reach of pets and consider keeping your pet indoors until after the meal to prevent them from accidentally eating high fat foods or inadvertently being fed by a well-meaning but uninformed guest.

Park East patient presented for coughing and wheezing after getting into the trash. X-rays revealed a large chicken bone lodged in the esophagus. The bone was successfully removed via endoscopy, and the patient has recovered fully.Thoracic radiograph revealing chicken bone ingestion.
Barbeques and picnics are also a great place for dogs to ingest many common foreign objects that can become stuck in the gastrointestinal tract and cause life-threatening obstruction. Corn cobs and bones are two common cook-out leftovers that are frequently ingested and can cause obstruction.



Grapes and raisins are great snacks to bring to picnics, but it is important to remember that they can be toxic for dogs. While the exact substance in grapes that causes toxicity is not yet known, even small exposures have proven to be dangerous or even fatal in some dogs. Signs can range from gastrointestinal upset or abdominal pain to dehydration and decreased urination. In the worst cases, urinary signs can progress to renal (kidney) failure and death. If you believe that your pet may have eaten grapes or raisins, it is important to call immediately to speak with a doctor.

Fireworks
When the sun sets on the Fourth, it is time for the main event of the evening - fireworks! Unfortunately, fireworks can cause fear or anxiety in many dogs and cats. If your pet has never experienced fireworks before, it is best to not leave them unattended during the fireworks as some pets can become extremely nervous and fearful during fireworks displays. If your pet is noise-averse, keep them in a quiet place in the house (such as an interior bathroom, closet or another room with few windows) and play white noise or music to try to drown out the loud firework noise. Distract them with treats and toys. If you cannot be home during the fireworks display, it is safest to keep them in a crate or other small enclosed area. Thunder shirts can also help some dogs feel more safe. Keep in mind that dogs also have a larger range of hearing than humans; therefore, it is best to keep them as far away from fireworks displays at possible.

If your pet is showing signs of injury, toxic exposure, GI obstruction, or hyperthermia, please call Park East Animal Hospital at 212-832-8417. Our doctors  are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide the best possible care for you and your pets.

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1390 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10021
Between 71st and 72nd Streets

P: 212-832-8417
F: 212-981-3721

info@parkeastanimalhospital.com

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