Page 4 - Summer 2011

Basic HTML Version

by
Steve McKeon, BVetMed, MRCVS
Glenthorne Veterinary Group
SUMMERTIME
feature...
Small Talk
is published by:
XLVet UK Ltd, Carlisle House, Townhead Road, Dalston, Carlisle CA5 7JF
© XLVet UK Ltd
No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of the publisher.
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practice
news...
www.stbonifacevets.co.uk
ST BONIFACE
IS NOW ON
FACEBOOK!
Search for ‘St Boniface Veterinary Clinic’
and 'LIKE' us today! There are lots of
photos and news and we will be posting
up to the minute updates on special offers
and seasonal issues. You can join in by
sending us photos of your faithful friends
and we'll pop them on the page!
IT’S
SHOWTIME!
St Boniface will be visiting Mid Devon and
Okehampton Show this year. Pop by for
a chat and there will be lots of treats and
surprises too! The St Boniface Roadshow
hit the Royal Cornwall Show last month
too which was lots of fun and a great
opportunity to have a chat with staff.
ADAPTIL FOR
PUPPIES
Adaptil (formerly DAP) is a great way of
helping puppies through their difficult early
few months. They have been proven to
help with such common problems as
separation anxiety, socialisation and travel
sickness as well as the usual stresses of
leaving mum and coming to a new home.
For older dogs they also help in times of
stress such as moving home, fireworks
night and a new baby in the home.
St Boniface Veterinary Clinic
47 Mill Street, Crediton, Devon EX17 3AA
The Pet Travel Scheme's main purpose is
to protect human health and the threat to the
animal population from Rabies. Pets can
contract other exotic diseases if bitten by
infected insects such as sandflies, mosquitoes
and ticks which are more prevalent in warmer
climates. Unlike rabies, there are no effective
vaccines to protect against these diseases.
Animals may not show symptoms until long
after their holiday and their return to the UK.
Diagnosis can be difficult and when treatments
are available they may be complicated and
not always successful.
The key to preventing these diseases is to
avoid the ticks and flies which spread them:
l
Effective 'spot-ons' and collars that kill and
repel ticks and insects are available from
your vet. Apply at least one week before
travel and follow the directions carefully;
some have to be repeated fortnightly.
l
Check your pet's skin thoroughly every day
and remove any ticks. Don't pull ticks out
because this leaves mouthparts in the skin.
A 'tick-hook', available from your vet,
removes ticks cleanly and easily.
l
Trips to the Mediterranean and Southern
Europe are safest in cooler seasons when
mosquitoes and sandflies are less active.
l
Sandflies bite from dusk to dawn so keep
dogs indoors at night.
Monthly worming with a product
recommended by your vet will kill larval
heartworms before they become an
established population in the heart. It's
best to discuss travel plans with your vet
to formulate a parasite treatment schedule
for your pet.
Bon voyage!
Diseases encountered
when travelling!
The Eurotunnel's booked and the Pet Passport is ready, but as more pets accompany us
on European holidays we should consider the foreign diseases they may encounter and
how to protect them. Even in the UK, similar 'vector-borne' diseases (diseases carried
by insects and passed on to our pets) are becoming more common. Some simple
precautions will reduce the risks and keep our animals healthy.
Lyme disease (in UK!)
l
Ticks transmit this bacterial infection to dogs
and cats causing fever, lethargy and arthritis.
l
Ticks on vegetation attach to passing animals.
l
Ticks are widespread in UK woodlands,
heathlands, moorlands; particularly South
West England, Lake District, Wales and
in Scotland.
Babesiosis
l
Protozoan parasite spread by ticks to dogs.
l
Invades red blood cells and causes fever and
severe anaemia.
l
Prevalent throughout France and most of
mainland Europe.
Ehrlichiosis
l
Bacterial infection spread by ticks to dogs and
sometimes cats.
l
Highest risk areas are South of France and
Mediterranean countries.
l
Symptoms: fever, swollen glands, bleeding,
weight loss, arthritis and nervous signs.
Leishmaniasis
l
Protozoan parasite spread by sandflies to
dogs and rarely cats.
l
Highest risk in summer in Mediterranean
coastal areas.
l
Dogs suffer weight loss, skin disease, liver
and kidney problems.
Heartworm
l
Spread to dogs and cats by infected mosquitos.
l
Worms live in arteries between the heart
and lungs.
l
Prolonged warm temperatures allow worm to
develop inside mosquito, so highest risk in
summer in Southern Europe.
l
Symptoms: coughing, weakness weight loss,
and finally heart failure.