Fleas and ticks are not only pests, but can lead to harmful diseases for humans and pets. As many people are aware, ticks commonly spread lyme disease, caused by a bacterial infection that can cause problems with the joints, heart and central nervous system if left undiagnosed and untreated. Other diseases transmitted by ticks include Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, babesiosis and anaplasmosis.

Fleas can lead to anemia in young, sick or elderly animals. They can also transmit tapeworms and bartonella  (cat scratch disease).  Fleas can make your pet very itchy and even develop skin lesions with secondary bacterial infections– especially if your pet has a flea allergy.

In order to protect both the health of your pet and your family, we recommend that you use a flea and tick product recommended by your vet to kill and prevent infestation.  We also recommend daily tick checks and combing your pet regularly with a flea comb to monitor for fleas or flea dirt (digested blood that looks like small black curly dirt)

Ticks are most prevalent in moist, moderately warm weather conditions and that is why spring and fall are the worst times in the North East.  If the summer is dry and hot the ticks will be less active.  Ticks are very hardy and difficult to kill.  Products that can be very effective on dogs include topicals such as Frontline Plus (also has a feline version), Certifect and K9 Advantix or a collar called the Scalibor Collar.  All of these products also kill one or more stages of fleas.

The best way to deal with fleas is to prevent them from surviving on your pets before they start breeding. This means using a flea preventative before flea season arrives.  The worst of flea season is usually from July- November, but because weather can be unpredictable, we recommend treating your pets year round.  Fleas will live and breed happily in your home all winter if you allow them.

If you have found a flea problem in your house you must understand a little about the flea life cycle to break it.  The most important fact to consider is that it will take at least 4 months to break the life cycle and rid your house of fleas! That is 4 continuous months of using a veterinarian approved topical product such as Frontline Plus (cats and dogs), K9 Advantix (dogs only), Advantage II (great for indoor cats) or Comfortis or Trifexis (oral medications).  You must be careful of over the counter flea preventatives. Some are not waterproof and may become inactivated with sunlight.  Accidental application of dog only products can make your cat severely ill causing seizures in some cases.  We recommend getting the advice of your veterinarian so that you choose the right product for your pet taking into consideration it’s lifestyle, location and species.

Proper application of topicals on the skin is crucial to their success.  Some animals may swim a lot or have skin conditions that prevent the proper translocation of topical products from the site of application.  For these pets an oral flea product may work better.  Application of topical products needs to be directly on the skin with the hair parted carefully.  The product can be spread in a line from the top of the head to the area of the shoulders.   This will help the product spread more effectively.

Flea preventative products work in several ways. Some kill adult fleas, while others will prevent the other stages from developing into adults.  Products such as Frontline Plus and Advantix both work at several stages.  Products that work with multiple stages help because the eggs and larvae are in the environment including the carpets, crevices of hardwood floors and furniture.

Please feel free to contact our office at 860-669-9374 or your local veterinarian for more information on prevention and control of  fleas and ticks.

Many people notice their animals have bad breath.   Bad breath is not normal, it is a sure sign that oral disease has already begun. Once dental disease has started, it progresses steadily causing gingivitis, tooth decay and tooth loss.  In some cases it can eventually contribute to heart, kidney and liver disease.  However, with daily dental care, dental diets, annual exams and dental cleanings as recommended by your veterinarian, dental disease can be prevented.

Dental disease starts with a build up of bacteria on your pets teeth. As the bacteria multiplies it will gradually form into a hard layer of calculus on the surface of the teeth. Daily brushing will help to prevent the bacteria from building up however, only a professional dental cleaning will remove the calculus once it has formed. The calculus that forms on the teeth will press against the gums causing gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums. As the disease progresses, the roots of the teeth become exposed and the bone that is holding the teeth in place may become compromised. This will eventually lead to loose teeth and then loss.   Often dental disease has progressed to this level before a pet will show any symptoms such as a decreased appetite, difficulty chewing kibble, weight loss or reluctance to play with toys.  So don’t assume because your pet is eating or playing with toys that they have healthy teeth and gums.

Other risks to teeth can result from chewing.  Many pet owners are not aware that the objects their animals are chewing on may cause damage to their teeth.  Hard toys, bones, sticks and ice cubes can fracture a tooth. It is possible for an animal to have a fractured tooth with no symptoms.

Although routine cleanings and yearly exams may seem expensive, the treatment of advanced dental disease is far more costly to both your pet’s health and your wallet.  Please call our office or your veterinarian today to schedule a complete physical exam and learn more about preventive care to help control dental disease.  Your pet will be much healthier and happier!

Try to keep pets indoors in the winter and keep a close eye on them when they are outside.  Make sure that any pet that is outside and unattended has shelter where they can escape the snow and wind.  Dogs can have a dog house bedded with clean blankets, hay or straw.  Cats could also use a dog house or have access to a barn, shed or garage that is free of dangerous chemicals such as antifreeze.  Just a small amount of antifreeze ingested by a pet can cause kidney failure.  Also it is important there is plenty of unfrozen water available.  Put warm water out and change it frequently.

Cats will at times hide up inside cars near the engines seeking warmth.  If the car is started, they can be severely injured.  Honk your horn or bang on the hood to try to scare any cats out before you start your car.

If your pet is not a breed that is naturally protected with a thick coat, consider a doggie sweater or coat on walks and be careful to not stay out too long when temperatures are below freezing.  Also, monitor your dogs paws for ice balls and damage from ice melt that is not pet friendly.  Many small breeds don’t like the cold, but winter booties can make the experience more comfortable.  Look for ones that are waterproof and are easy on easy off. You may also wipe paws with baby wipes to remove any excess salt that may cause illness.

Use caution near bodies of water that might be partially frozen.  Dogs can easily fall through the ice and then can not escape.  Keeping your dog on a leash is always safest.

Monitor your pet for signs that they are uncomfortable outside.  Shivering, shifting/dancing on feet, chewing at feet, collapse,  refusal to move and crying are all signs that your pet needs to be taken inside immediately.  Pets can suffer from frostbite and the ears are a common site.

If you are unsure what level of cold your pet can handle or you are concerned about any damage/injury your pet may have suffered, please contact your veterinarian immediately.  We at Shoreline Animal Hospital wish you a safe and fun winter season.

“There are many reasons why a dog ends up in a shelter but there is only one reason why they don’t get out-  because they don’t have anyone to adopt them”~  Lorin Liesenfelt, Dog Days founder. 

Although more than 44 million people in the United States own at least one dog, more than 5 million dogs are euthanized each year because they don’t have a home.   This is a shocking statistic and we hope to help make a difference….

Join us on Aug 27 and 28th at the Parmalee Farm in Killingworth, Ct from 11AM -  4 PM for a unique opportunity to welcome a loving four legged friend into your family.  Approximately 80 dogs and puppies from shelters across Ct will be available for adoption.  All dogs have been neutered or spayed, microchipped and evaluated by a trainer.  Dr. West and Dr. Berman will be on site providing medical advice for getting your new pet off to a healthy start.  They will also be providing a free sample of Frontline Plus, to protect against fleas and ticks,  generously donated by Merial. 

The mission of the Dog Days organization is to organize community based events that help shelters in CT connect with the public.  By bringing together a large variety of dogs to one location, they can more succesfully match dogs with potential new families.  Dog Days has held several events in other Ct towns and they have had great success in adopting out most of the dogs.  Will you be one of the lucky ones???

This is the first major event to be hosted at Parmalee Farm and it is a beautiful historic location to hold such an exciting 2 day event.  We hope we will see you there to help you welcome a new member into your family!

For more information on this event, the Dog Days organization, adoption procedures and fees , donations or volunteer opportunities, please follow this link  http://www.godogdays.org/Welcome.html

On May 20th, Dr. West spent the day at the Haddam Killingworth Middle School speaking to 5th graders in 3 groups of ~ 60 students each followed by the entire 7th grade all at once.  

The 5th graders are learning to be scientists.  They have been conducting experiments, gathering data and coming up with conclusions.  Dr. West titled her power point presentation for them  ”The Mystery of the Vomiting Dogs”.  Her goal was to present two cases which started with the same symptoms.  Max the Golden Retriver and Phoebe the Pug both were weak and vomiting.  She then lead the children through the steps she would take as a vet to diagnose the pet’s problem.  Dr. West started by encouraging them to create a list of questions they would ask the owner to get a thorough history.  Then, they were walked through the physical exam findings.  The next step was to decide what tests would make sense for each pet.  Then they put this information and data together to make a diagnosis and treatment plan for each pet.  What they learned was that each step needed to be completed to get the whole picture.  In the end, despite similar presenting complaints, Max and Phoebe had completelydifferent problems.  Max had a sock obstructing his intestines and needed surgery to get him well.  Phoebe had eaten sugar free gum and was experiencing a low blood sugar level from xylitol toxicity.  With intravenous fluids she also recovered well. 

In the 7th grade, the kids are learning body systems.  They are currently working on the respiratory system, so Dr. West used a power point presentation to walk through the various parts of the respiratory system and discuss a few differences between animals and humans.  She presented a few cases to demonstrate how a veterinarian might examine each part of the system.  Some examples included an endoscopy video of the larynx in a race horse, x-rays of an asthmatic cat and a dog with a collapsing trachea which was repaired surgically with a stent.

It was a fun filled  and educational day. The kids seemed to enjoy the presentations and they asked lots of great questions.  Perhaps a few are even budding veterinarians.

 We had so many team members including Shoreline Animal Hospital staff members Robin, Sarah, LuAnn, Dr. Berman and Dr. West.  They were joined by their friends and family members.  LuAnn and her daughter Hailey were sporting  beautiful hand crafted T-shirts.  Hailey, age 4, walked 4 mi before hopping in a wagon to complete many more laps.  Sarah walked well into the wee hours with her iPod and Brian West to keep her company.  Each lap walked was counted with a colored bead on a string.  By morning many of the kids had well over 30 beads (each lap is a 1/4 mi).

  The survivors lap, which started off the event, was emotionally stirring and as night came,  luminaria lit our way displaying the names of those whose lives have been touched by cancer.  Titian walked many laps inspiring so many with his story of surviving brain cancer.  Everyone enjoyed petting him and walking with him.  Despite some rain in the middle of the night, puddles in our tents and very little sleep, we all had a great time supporting a worthy cause. 

Thank you again for all of your support!  For more photos check out our photo album on FB.  Click our link in the right side bar.

Relay is an overnight community event where teams raise money for cancer research and support services by walking in a continuous relay.  The event is usually held on a track with participants camping out in the center.  Walkers are entertained throughout the event with live performances from local community groups.  There are also booths and speeches to help raise cancer awareness.  Many teams raise additional funds by selling goods or donating services.  Perhaps the most moving event is the kickoff  “survivors lap”.  Cancer survivors wear sashes of recognition and walk together to start off this incredible event.  At dusk, hundreds of luminaries in memory or honor of cancer patients, illuminate the track.

As a group last year, we raised approximately $2000 for the American Cancer Society.  Although these funds did not directly go to animal cancer research, there is a tremendous amount of collaboration and overlap in the research for humans and animals. 

We were so lucky to have many generous donors as well as a great response to our sale of animal Silly Bandz.  We sold out within hours.  We were also honored to have a visit from one of our special cancer survivors-  Titian– an Australian Shepherd. 

Last winter, Titian was diagnosed with a brain tumor called a menigioma.  It was a slow growing tumor that eventually resulted in neurologic symptoms.  Diagnosed on an MRI, his owners decided to have the tumor removed at the University of Pennsylvania.  His surgery went well and it was followed by 3 weeks of radiation treatment.  Titian’s owners drove him 5 days a week , for 3 weeks, to The New England Veterinary Oncology Group (NEVOG) in Waltham MA.  He was anesthetized each time and received radiation treatment to eliminate any cancer cells that had possibly been left behind after the surgery.

We are so happy to say that a year later Titian is happy and healthy.  At last year’s Relay we had a poster with photos walking through his diagnosis and treatment.  Participants enjoyed petting him and learning about his type of cancer.  He was a real inspiration to many people.

Right now, Dr Berman’s own dog, Bucky, is undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment for mast cell tumors.  He has had multiple surgeries over the past few years and now his cancer is requiring more aggressive treatment.  Bucky is also having his treatment at NEVOG and so far, at the time of this post, his treatments are going well. 

This year, Shoreline Animal Hospital will be participating again in the Haddam-Killingworth Relay for Life on May 14-15, 2011.  Please consider supporting us in raising money for critical research.   To donate go to  www.relayforlife.org/hkct   and search for Shoreline Animal Hospital.  Thank you for your support.

A small amount of chocolate may seem harmless but there are actually three potentially toxic chemicals contained in each piece of chocolate: Caffeine, Theobromine and Methylxanthine. These chemicals act as strong stimulants, and dogs are much more sensitive to these effects than we are.  Different types of chocolate contain different amounts of these chemicals.  In case of chocolate ingestion, it is essential to know what kind of chocolate has been ingested, and how much.

White chocolate is the least toxic with 0.25 mg of theobromine per ounce. Milk chocolate, the most common during Easter time, has 58 mg per ounce.  Semi-sweet contains 138 mg of theobromine per ounce, which could possibly cause death if a 30 pound dog ingested  8 ounces.  Some consider dark 60% Cacao ”healthy” chocolate, packed with antioxidants, but it can be extremely dangerous for dogs.  One ounce of 60% cacao contains 214 mg theobromine,  and for  a 75 pound Golden Retriever,  eating a  just a 6 ounce bar of this could cause severe tremors and seizures.

If you believe your pet has ingested any kind of chocolate, they might be exhibiting these signs: hyperactivity, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, rapid heart rate, seizures, which could lead to death if untreated.  These signs do not show up immediately after ingestion. If you do see these signs it means the toxic chemicals are in the blood stream and you should bring your pet to your veterinarian for immediate care.

Everyone should enjoy the holidays with their families. This includes your pets!  Please make sure they are safe.  Count each egg that you have hidden for your children, when the Easter egg hunt is over, before you have moved onto brunch, count the eggs.  If any are missing find them before your pet does.  Make sure baskets are placed high enough that your dog cannot reach them.  Children love to feed dogs, please make sure they are not feeding them chocolate or other candy.  Have a safe and happy holiday!

 Any eye problem is serious because the eye is a very sensitive organ and vision can be lost with some of the above problems.  Eye problems that may appear minor can progress quickly to a serious condition.  We recommend that you seek immediate veterinary care for your pet if they have a red eye, are squinting or holding an eye closed, have discharge from an eye, have had a known trauma to an eye, the pupils or eyeballs appear unequal in size from each other or your pet is bumping into things.

Once at the vet, an ocular exam will include examination of both eyes visually and with an ophthalmoscope.  Further diagnostic tests may include applying fluorescein dye to the corneas to highlight scratches and ulcers,  a Schirmer Tear Test to measure tear production and the measurement of intraocular pressures (IOP) with a tonopen to diagnose glaucoma (too high of an IOP) or uveitis (too low of an IOP).  General lab work may be recommended if the pet is showing signs of systemic illness. 

In some cases a referral to a Board Certified Veterinary Ophthalmologist may be recommended.  These specialists have 3 years of additional training in this specialty and have passed rigorous testing to qualify.  Working with challenging ocular cases on a daily basis, their expertise is often used to diagnose and treat complicated cases or to perform ocular surgeries.  Advanced procedures such as cataract surgery and lens replacement are also available through these veterinary specialists.

If you have a concern about the health of your pet’s eyes, please don’t wait–call our office and we can help schedule an examination in our office or with a specialist as needed.