VetmedsPlus-Veterinary & Pet Medicines Supplies

Fleas are one of the most common parasites caught by cats and dogs. As well as being an inconvenience, flea saliva is considered as one of the most allergenic substances on earth and can be the cause of some pretty nasty skin diseases – flea also ingest blood with every bite, so a severe infestation can cause anaemia or even death in small animals.

So far so grim. And it gets worse! The biggest problem when trying to control fleas is that they breed in huge numbers. Once on the pet, the adult fleas take a bite and mate and within 24-48 hours, the female starts laying her eggs, typically 200 over a period of 5 days!! These eggs then fall off the animal wherever it goes in the house, which is why experts agree that an integrated approach to flea control is the best where one type of insecticide is used to kill the eggs and another to kill fleas on the animal. More of that later.

After 4-12 days, the flea eggs hatch into larvae which move downwards and away from the light. Popular areas are deep in the carpet pile and areas where the animal rests but they are able to crawl up to 20 feet while in this stage of their lifecycle! Another few days later and the lovely little larvae spin protective cocoons around themselves and develop into adults.  Aside from a blowtorch, at this stage in the lifecycle there is nothing that will get to the fleas inside the cocoons thus rendering pupae impervious to insecticides.

Once the fleas hatch, they can jump onto a pet and begin feeding within 7 seconds! And once they’ve landed, they’ll stay there until  they’re removed by grooming or die and adult fleas only account for about 5% of a typical flea infestation at any one stage (the rest being eggs, larvae and pupae.)

Most experts agree that the most effective flea control uses two different approaches (and therefore insecticides) one to kill actual live fleas on your pet and one to stop any reproduction i.e. eggs being layed around the house. Have a look here for various popular brands of flea treatments and household sprays and let us know what you’ve used!

According to the RSPCA, between 22-45% of all dogs are overweight or obese, with the similar figures for cats. Just like us, if your pet eats food that has more calories than they use up, the excess gets stored as fat. Obesity can cause serious health and welfare problems and can drastically reduce both the quality and length of an animal’ s life. A few example of medical conditions associated with obesity are: Diabetes, heart disease, cancers, high blood pressure and orthopeadic diseases. Research has also shown that it’s likely that being obese may affect an animal’s ability to carry out a range of natural behaviours  – for example, a dog that’s a healthy weight would naturally choose to exercise, however an obese dog may not be able to this without respiratory discomfort.

There are some criteria that can make an animal more predisposed to obesity, such as age and breed but the RSPCA have listed a few easy checks that can be carried out regularly to prevent your pet from becoming obese:

-          You should be able to see and feel the outline of your pet’s ribs without a covering of excess fat.

-          When viewed from above, you should be able to clearly see your pet’s waist

-          Your pet’s belly should be tucked in when viewed from the side

Your vet will be able to give you advice on diet and exercise plans to help your pet lose or maintain a healthy weight and many practices hold weight management clinics to offer obesity advice.

There are also lots of excellent food products on the market that can help control weight in animals and ranges that target particular conditions, from skin disorders to diabetes, heart problems to dental health, (always best to consult the vet!)

There’s been a lot of coverage in the press lately about longer life expectancy in the cats and the subsequent rise in age related medical conditions.

Hyperthyroidism is a common endocrine condition most usually found in middle aged to older cats. It occurs when the thyroid gland produces an excessive amount of the thyroid hormones thyroxine (also known as T4) and triiodothyronine (also known as T3).

The thyroid gland consists of two lobes and is positioned in the neck. The thyroid hormones produced by the gland control the body’s metabolic rate. In hyperthyroid cats one or both thyroid lobes enlarge resulting in the excessive production of these hormones. The enlargement is most commonly due to benign (non-cancerous) change. A small percentage of cases (approx 2%) are caused by malignant (cancerous) change and this can result in more difficulty treating the condition.

The excessive production of thyroid hormones results in an increase in metabolic rate, which leads to the typical clinical signs of hyperthyroidism. These may include:

 • Weight loss despite a ravenous appetite

• Increased thirst and urination

• Change in temperament – increased aggression, restlessness

 • Rapid heart rate

 • Poor coat condition

 • Diarrhoea

• Vomiting

Treatment of hyperthyroidism is recommended in order to improve the affected cat’s quality of life and limit the deleterious effects the condition can have on various organs in the body.

There are 3 treatment options:

 1. Medical treatment – daily tablet administration to reduce the thyroid hormone levels.

2. Surgical treatment – an operation to remove the overactive thyroid tissue.

3. Radioactive iodine therapy – radioactive treatment to destroy overactive thyroid tissue carried out at a specialist centre.

Medical stabilisation is recommended initially, normally for a period of 3 weeks, in order to assess the cat’s response to therapy and enable a decision to be made for long-term management of the condition.

Vidalta is an oral medication containing the active ingredient carbimazole, which is licensed to treat feline hyperthyroidism. Once daily administration of Vidalta can control the disease by reducing the amount of thyroid hormones produced by the thyroid gland. The small tablets should be administered whole and ideally at the same time every day.

Cat’s receiving Vidalta should be monitored regularly with your veterinary surgeon in order to achieve the correct dose, check for side effects of the medication and monitor for additional complicating conditions. Blood samples will normally be carried out at regular intervals until the cat is stabilised, after which 3 monthly checks are suggested to monitor progress. Medical treatment does not cure the condition, so lifelong therapy is required.

We all love the sound and spectacle of a fireworks display but keeping your pet stress free from the loud noises on bonfire night can be quite a challenge. You can normally spot the signs of stress in dogs quite easily and can include anything from trembling, hiding behind furniture and excessive barking. Cats on the other hand, are masters of disguise and the signs are less easy to spot but look out for then hiding behind or on top of furniture, refusing to eat or trying to run away.

With a bit of forward planning, there’s plenty that can be done to help your pets cope with the stress of bonfire night. There’s a natural supplement called Zylkene(made from a protein found in milk) which produces a calming effect similar in some ways to prescription drugs such as diazepam but without any of the associated side effects. It can be used as a short treatment to cover an upcoming stressful event or for longer periods. In association with independent animal behavourists, Zylkene has also produced a sound desensitization programme on CD which can help your pet cope with sudden loud noises. It’s also a good idea, especially for dogs, to prepare a den for them to hide in whilst the fireworks are going off. This should be done a few weeks in advance so your dog can get used to it – if you find a place where the dog feels safe and would normally go and perhaps put some favourite toys and healthy treats in it, this will encourage your dog to use it as a place of reassurance.

Stress relieving sprays are also very effective – There’s a group of products from Adaptil (formerly known as DAP) which contain a synthetic copy of the natural canine appeasing pheromone which is proven to help support dogs in stressful situations. They can be purchased as a spray, a diffuser or a collar for the dog to wear and there is a similar version for cats called Feliway.

Alternatively, has anyone thought about developing doggy earmuffs!!

It’s not just humans who need to look after their hearts – heart disease affects an estimated 15% of dogs in the UK making it the second most common cause of death after cancer. Not as gloomy as it sounds though, as over the last few years, advances in this area of science have been coming on in leaps and bounds.

The experts classify heart disease in dogs in two categories:

1. Congenital Heart Disease – this is a heart problem that is present from birth and may have been inherited from the dog’s parents (but not always)
2. Acquired Heart Disease – this is heart disease that develops during the course of the dog’s lifetime (often in middle age) usually as a result of normal wear and tear, infection or injury. Acquired heart disease accounts for around 95% of all heart conditions in dogs.

There are lots of things you can do if your dog has been diagnosed with a heart condition or has experienced heart failure (NB. Heart disease is the underlying condition which can rarely be cured, heart failure comes as a consequence of heart disease and can be managed with drugs that improve and extend a dog’s life)

Drugs – There are many different drug treatments  that can be used to improve and extend a dog’s life. Vetmedin is a commonly prescribed medicine for dogs with congestive heart failure and works on the principle of inodilation directly stimulating the heart muscle – there are many other drugs such as ACE inhibitors and diuretics that can also be used but all drug treatment must be supervised closely by the vet as every case of heart disease is unique.

Diet – Just with us, it’s important that any dogs with heart disease maintain a normal healthy weight and the vet may prescribe a diet to prevent weight gain or help with weight loss. It’s also really important to prevent the dog from retaining excess water so foods with a high salt content should be avoided (especially any snack foods prepared for human consumption such as pork pies)

Exercise  - Regular mild to moderate exercise is thought to be beneficial for dogs that have only mild signs or symptoms of heart disease. However, if the dog seems tired, stop exercising and allow them to rest.

It is very important to seek advice from the vet about whether exercise is suitable for your dog and to what level. Some dogs may need complete rest.

If you’re thinking of getting a dog, have you ever thought of adopting one? We’ve just had a lovely new addition to our household in the form of a 3 year old German Pointer called Sam who came from a rescue centre in Brighton. As well as having a new playmate, the children (and us!) are delighted that we’ve been able to give a lonely dog a loving new home and the difference in his demeanour after just a few days is proving to be very rewarding.

There are hundreds of organisations across the UK the rehome dogs – most of them will have kennels or centres that you can visit beforehand and the best ones will always offer on-going advice after you adopt a dog from them. There’s usually a huge choice in age and breed available but it’s important to choose a dog that matches your lifestyle and circumstances. For example, young dogs probably need more attention that older dogs and puppies need constant attention throughout the day regarding feeding, going to the toilet and training. If you’re realistic at the beginning about the amount of time in the day you’ll have to dedicate to your dog (not forgetting exercise!) you’ll have a much better chance of finding the best ‘match’ for you and your family. If you’re worried about the costs involved, regular flea and worm treatments for example, there are many online sites such as vetmedsplus that sell the same prescription and non-prescription items as the vets, usually at a fraction of the cost and will deliver for free.

A good rehoming centre will usually try to ensure that your new dog is compatible with your children and any other pets you may have. The homing procedure usually involves a short questionnaire and some organisations will arrange to call on your home to verify address details, advise on fencing etc. The costs involved in rehoming dogs including veterinary care and kennelling can be quite high, so most places will ask you for a contribution which is usually between £70 – £120 and this often includes and ID chip and inoculations. If you want to read a bit more, there’s some good information on the Dog Rescue Pages.

Even if your dog seems perfectly healthy, it’s really important to worm your pet regularly. Even without showing any symptoms a pet can be carrying worms, which, if left untreated can sometimes be fatal. The problem I have (and many others I suspect) is remembering when to do it and also pertinent in the current climate, there’s the cost implication, especially if there’s more than one pet. Standard advice is to worm your dog every three months and it seems an obvious solution, but I’ve taken to putting an appointment reminder on my computer (you could of course use an old fashioned calendar on the back of the kitchen door!) www.vetmedsplus.co.uk sell worming treatments at a fraction of the cost of some vets and look out as well for  multibuy deals which can really bring the cost down if there’s more than one animal that needs to be treated.

Here’s a quick checklist of common symptoms of worm infections in dogs:

• weight loss
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• a dull, lifeless coat
• change in appetite (may be increased or decreased depending on the worms present)
• lack of energy
• a pot bellied appearance (most commonly seen in puppies and kittens)
• breathing difficulties
• any general changes in behaviour

As ever, it’s really important to talk to your vet if you notice any of the above signs as many can be caused by other illnesses.

There’s been a lot of debate recently about the subject of equine worming and resistance to horse wormers. We’ve looked into lots of the information and some of the current advice is quite different to traditional horse worming strategies. We’ve listed the main points below but would be really interested to hear your feedback and experiences!

Worm horses on an individual basis rather than as a group.

Traditionally, groups of horses are all wormed together using the same product but this may mean that some horses are wormed unnecessarily (estimates are that in any one group, 20% will carry 80% of the worm burden).

Worm horses only when required, based on their worm egg count

A worm egg count is a microscopic examination of a dung sample from the horse to identify and count the number of roundworms present. The egg count is measured in eggs per gram and in most cases, if the count is greater than 200 epg, worming should be considered.

Don’t move horses to clean pasture straight after worming

Traditionally a ‘dose and move’ strategy has been recommended in an attempt to reduce pasture contamination.  Experts now consider this as contributing to higher rates of resistance in parasites because the only worms that survive treatment are those that are resistant to it. If horses are then moved to clean pasture, the worms that are passed out through dung are the resistant ones and won’t be diluted by a population of sensitive parasites.

One tube doesn’t fit all – use the right dose of wormer for each horse

Too much or too little wormer doesn’t help get rid of the worms. Weigh your horse and then dose according to the manufacturer’s recommendations for that weight.

The other point that the experts are making is that good pasture management can contribute significantly to the control of worms. Pick up poo regularly, maintain good standards of hygiene in the stable and where possible, co-graze with sheep or cattle. 

We’re going to be at the Richmond Dog Show starting tomorrow so I hope many of you (and your dogs!) will be able to come and meet us at stand 45.  The Richmond Dog Society has been hosting an annual championship dog show since 1895 and attracts entries of over 8000 dogs per show. It’s one of the qualifying shows for Crufts and is held under Kennel Club rules and regulations with over 160 breeds on show. It’s also a great opportunity to visit exhibitor stands to check out what’s new in the world of dog health care, grooming and general pet paraphernalia – at the vetmedsplusstand you’ll be able to take advantage of lots of special offers, we’ve got a vet on hand to discuss any problems and you’ll be able to enter our competition to win a gift voucher!

One of the things that can really put people off having a dog, is bad breath. We’ve all smelt it at some point or another and quite frankly it can sometimes make a ripe Camembert smell like a bunch of spring flowers! More often than not, the cause of bad breath in dogs is tooth decay and many people fail to realise the importance of a good oral hygiene regime for their animals. As in humans, plaque bacteria constantly forms in the mouth of all cats and dogs and once this has calcified into tartar, it can’t be brushed off. In many cases, it has to be removed by a vet using ultrasound and anaesthetic.

If tartar build-up is left untreated it can result in bad breath, gum disease, tooth decay and premature tooth loss. Tartar that is allowed to remain for too long can also cause infections that can spread throughout the body and damage the heart, lung, liver and negatively affect kidney functions.

There are a variety of products on the market that can help protect against the build up of plaque – PlaqueOff is one such product that’s entirely natural (made of seaweed)  and fights tartar and plaque on tooth surfaces and reduces bacterial presence. It comes as a powder that can be sprinkled onto your pet’s food  – when the ingredients are absorbed into the blood via the digestion and enters the saliva, they effectively prevent accumulation of plaque by affecting the ability of plaque to ‘stick’ to surfaces in the mouth. Existing tartar becomes porous, looses by itself or can be easily removed by brushing or cleaning.

Another product that’s really useful is Logic Oral Hygiene Gel, which, with regular use assists in the maintenance of healthy gums and teeth and prevents bad breath. It contains a multi enzyme complex which works on the plaque helping to destroy existing plaque and prevent the formation of new plaque. Logic Gel can be put on with a toothbrush but if this isn’t possible, will still achieve results without brushing.