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Warm weather is here in Perth County and we are all enjoying time outside with our pets.  Unfortunately, sometimes our pets find their way into the street and get hit by a car.

 What to do if your pet gets hit by a car:

• This should be treated as an emergency, but it is important to remain calm. Animals can sense your anxiety and it is important to keep them as calm as possible.
• Watch the traffic. Your personal safety is priority number one. Make sure traffic is stopped before you cross to your pet.
• Call for help. You may need an assistant to help move your pet or drive while you hold your pet.
• Call your veterinary clinic to let them know you will be bringing your pet. If this occurs outside of regular business hours, then you can arrange to meet the vet on-call.
• Use caution. Your pet may be in shock and may try to bite if it is in pain. Consider wrapping a blanket or jacket around your pet to restrain it and protect you from bites and scratches. Shifting an animal on to a blanket or board and then lifting the blanket/board with an assistant can minimize the animal’s discomfort. Consider gently transferring a smaller patient to a box if one is handy. It is important to keep injured animals as still as possible until they have had a medical assessment.
• Don’t try to feed your pet, as it may need sedation at the vet clinic.
• Animals that have been hit by a moving vehicle may not show outward signs of trauma (such as bleeding wounds or road rash) but they may have internal bleeding, broken bones or teeth. Unfortunately, internal bleeding can be delayed several hours or days after the incident. For this reason, all animals that have been hit by a car should be assessed by a veterinarian, even if they appear uninjured.

While it may have felt like it was never going to happen, it appears spring is finally here in Perth County!  With the arrival of spring brings the arrival of heartworm season!  Here is some information to help you understand heartworm and why we feel prevention is important.

What is Heartworm?

Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) is a parasitic worm transmitted to dogs from mosquitoes.  Heartworm-infected mosquitoes inject immature heartworms into the blood when they bite your dog.  These worms then travel to the blood vessels around the heart and lungs, where they can grow into adults as long as 30 centimetres!  Adult heartworms can cause serious and fatal problems such as congestive heart failure.

How would my dog get infected?

Your dog could be infected by a single bite from an infected mosquito.

What are signs that my dog could have heartworm?

Dogs will show no signs of infection early on while the heartworm is growing.  When the heartworm reaches an adult state, signs of infection may include cough, weight loss and exercise intolerance. Because heartworm infections may not show any signs until they have progressed very far, we recommend regular testing for heartworm.  The testing is performed by taking a small blood sample that is examined by a Registered Veterinary Technician in our clinic laboratory.

What is the risk that my dog would contract heartworm disease?

While the risk is low, between 2002 and 2010, the incidence of heartworm in Canada has increased by 60%, with the majority of infected dogs living in Ontario. Also, most of the infected dogs were not on heartworm prevention medications. This increase is likely due to numerous factors such as increasing temperatures and an increase in dog adoptions from warmer climates. Furthermore, in Western Ontario coyotes can act as a reservoir for heartworm.

Why not just treat my dog if it gets it?

With heartworm disease, the saying “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” really holds true. Once a dog is infected with heartworm, the treatment is long, painful and can result in death. More serious infections could involve surgery to remove the worms from the heart. Prevention of heartworm is much easier and has fewer risks.

How do I prevent my dog from getting heartworm?

The easiest way to prevent your dog from getting heartworm is by placing your dog on a monthly heartworm preventive medication. These medications kill the immature worms that infect your dog and when used according to the label, are highly effective at eliminating these infections. Heartworm medications can have other benefits as well, such as preventing intestinal worms and fleas, depending on which product you use.

Here at Coventry Animal Hospital, our staff believes that prevention is the best approach to heartworm and all our pets are kept on monthly preventive medication through heartworm season. To discuss which product is best for your pet, contact us today!

We also recommend reading our blog update on Ticks.

Lyme disease is transmitted by black-legged deer ticks. The ticks are found most commonly in long grasses, forested areas and sand.

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada:

Endemic (high-risk) areas:

1. Pointe-Pelee National Park
2. Rondeau Provincial Park
3. Turkey Point Provincial Park
4. Long Point peninsula including Long Point Provincial Park and the National Wildlife area
5. Wainfleet Bog near Welland on the Niagara peninsula
6. Prince Edward Point
7. parts of the Thousand Islands National Park

Risk areas:

1. around Kingston/Belleville
2. along the Saint Lawrence valley to the border with Quebec that extend north east towards Ottawa
3. in western Ontario in the region of Lake of the Woods
4. Pinery Park on the shore of Lake Huron

Tick populations are expanding and it is possible that Lyme disease can be acquired outside the currently identified areas.

There are several ways to minimize your dog’s exposure to Lyme disease, but ultimately preventing tick bites is best.  Please give us a call to discuss the options for Lyme disease prevention that would best suit your dog’s lifestyle.

Here at Coventry Animal Hospital, we are often asked about certain cat behaviours and why cats do the things they do. So today, we are discussing the reasons behind some of these behaviours.

Purring

Purring is one of the most common behaviours we are asked about. Many cats (in their home environment) will purr when they are feeling happy or content, often during interactions. Mother cats will also purr when nursing young. However, for some cats purring can be a way to help calm stress and they can purr when they are nervous or scared. Interestingly, cats actually purr in a frequency that helps promote bone and muscle healing which lends some truth to the old wives’ tail about sitting with a cat when you are sick or injured! This may also explain why cats can heal a lot faster than some other animals when injured.

Meowing

Cats meow as a way of communicating with humans. Early on, cats must have learned that humans were poor with interpreting cat body language and so, started to vocalize for attention. Feral cats rarely meow to each other and that is why it is thought to be a communication tool evolved strictly for interaction with humans. Cats also meow at a frequency close to a human baby’s cry which is more likely to get our attention. Cats have different meows for different purposes (greetings, asking for food, etc.) and each individual cat essentially has its own language to get the attention of its owners.

Kneading

The first time a cat kneads is as a kitten while feeding from mom. The kneading helps to express more milk and is therefore an instinctual and innate behaviour. However, it is not totally understood why adult cats knead and there are multiple theories. One theory is that it is just comforting to cats and reminds them of the comfort they had while feeding from their mothers. Another aspect is that it is a way for cats to mark their territory since they have scent glands in their feet. If your cat kneads on you, that means you are very special to him!

Scratching

Cats scratch as a way to mark their territory and keep their nails healthy. When they scratch, the scent glands in their feet release their scent onto the surface.  This is such an instinctual behaviour that even cats without claws will still do the scratching motions.  It is important when you own a cat to always provide multiple areas for it to scratch. Make sure scratching posts are kept in areas where people frequent the most, as these are the areas where cats feel the need to scratch to mark their territory.

Rubbing Their Face Against Things

This is another form of marking territory through the scent glands in their face but also serves other purposes. The pheromones released by the glands in their faces seem to have a calming effect on cats. So, while a cat rubbing its face on things can let other cats know that this is his space, it also provides comfort to your cat knowing he is in a familiar place because of his scent. Rubbing his face on you means you are his and is a great symbol of affection.

Tail Quivering

Have you ever noticed your cat holding his tail straight in the air and it quivering? This is a great sign of affection and means your cat is super happy to see you!

While cats remain the more mysterious creature compared to dogs, it is nice to know that a lot of their interesting and unique behaviours are their subtle signs of affection for us!

One of the most important reasons for spaying female dogs is the prevention of pyometra.  It is an infection of the uterus and the name pyometra means “pus-filled” uterus.

Cause

The uterus is a Y-shaped organ that joins the ovaries and cervix.  The uterus is the part of the female reproductive tract that houses the fetuses during pregnancy.  The tissue of the uterus responds to hormones and prepares for pregnancy.  With consecutive heat cycles, the tissues of the uterus can become thickened and abnormal.  In addition, bacteria that are normally found in the vagina make their way through the relaxed cervix during a heat.  The uterus fills with pus and starts to break down.  Bacteria and their toxins are then released into the bloodstream, causing sepsis.  This preventable condition can be fatal if untreated.

The older the bitch, the greater her risk of developing pyometra.  Unlike human women, when female dogs get older, they do not stop cycling.  By the time a female dog is 10 years old, she has a 25% chance of developing pyometra. 

Symptoms

Signs of pyometra generally occur several weeks after a bitch has finished a heat cycle.  Often the dog has a decreased appetite and may have vomiting or diarrhea.  It may be dehydrated, have a fever and have a low energy level.  It frequently drinks and pees excessively as the body ineffectively attempts to flush toxins out.  There are two forms:

1. “Open pyometra” – the cervix is open and pus can drain from the uterus – the dog will have abnormal vaginal discharge.
2. “Closed pyometra” – the cervix is closed and pus cannot drain out of the uterus; as a result, the dog tends to be much more sick and may be more difficult to diagnose.

Treatment

Prevention is the best option – spaying a female dog will avoid this disease.

Treating pyometra is complicated, expensive and the dog is often unstable, which puts it at a higher risk of death.  Its sick uterus needs to be surgically removed, like an emergency spay.  These patients generally need to be hospitalized on intravenous fluids, pain medication and antibiotics.

What about my cat?

Cats can develop pyometra as well, although some cats show no symptoms of being sick.  They may still have abnormal vaginal discharge, but tend not to drink and pee more.  They are treated with a pyometra surgery as well.  As with dogs, spaying your cat prior to sexual maturity is preferred.

My dog/cat is too old to be spayed.

This is a myth.  As long as bloodwork has been performed and a veterinarian has evaluated your pet with a physical examination and addressed any other health concerns prior to surgery, age is not a good reason to avoid anesthesia.  Female dogs and cats that have had litters can also safely be spayed after they are done nursing.

If you have any questions about having your dog spayed, give our team at Coventry Animal Hospital a call.

Choosing a Dog Breed

Spring is here, and that means puppy season! Choosing to add a dog to your family is a very important decision. Choosing what specific breed is equally important to ensure a lasting bond between your family and your dog. There are many important things to consider when choosing a dog breed to make sure that it is suited to your family.

Temperament

Temperament (personality) is one of the most important things to consider. All individual dogs will have their own personalities, but each breed definitely has certain characteristics typical to it. While all dogs can be socialized to do well with children and people, some breeds have a temperament to be very friendly to all people, while other breeds are more protective of their family and less friendly to people they do not know. Some breeds tend to be very food motivated and easy to train, while other breeds can be stronger willed, making them more difficult and often challenging to train. Temperament can dictate how easy or difficult a dog is to train, and therefore, the amount of work and hours you will have to put in to make it a safe and well behaved dog.

Activity Levels

Consider your current activity levels and what you plan on doing with your dog. If you work all day and are hoping for a dog that will be ok with short walks or yard exercise, you need to find a breed that has a lower energy level. A breed such as a Border Collie would not do well with only short amounts of exercise, while a Greyhound could do well in that situation. Asking a high energy breed to live a sedate lifestyle can very quickly result in destructive behaviour and anxiety. If you are the type of person that regularly hikes or runs or plans on doing any dog sports, you should consider a more high energy breed.

What They Were Bred For

All breeds were bred for certain reasons or to perform certain tasks. This is important to consider when choosing a breed. Being bred for generations in certain ways means certain behaviours are innate for them to perform. Herding breeds were bred to herd. Therefore, if you have small children or other animals in the household, a herding breed may try to herd them. This can sometimes involve nipping and may not be ideal for households with children. Terriers were bred to dig for prey such as rats and moles. Therefore, they have an innate desire to dig, which may not be ideal for those who have very nice gardens. Because they are bred like this, it is very difficult to rid them of these behaviors and so it is better to avoid these breeds if you feel these characteristics are undesirable. Never get a dog with the expectations that you can change behaviours it is bred for.

Grooming

Some dogs require regular haircuts and baths with a groomer (such as poodles). Other dogs with thick coats may require regular brushing to help decrease how much they shed. While other dogs require little to no grooming. You need to keep in mind the amount of time and money you would like to invest in grooming when considering a dog breed.

Size

All puppies are small and cute, but you need to understand how large of a dog it will grow to be. Keep in mind that larger breeds will have larger costs associated with food, toys, medication and grooming. Larger breeds will also have more of a potential to knock over small children, even unintentionally. Also, large breeds are stronger and may require more strength to train and walk, as well as more room to run around and exercise.

Weather

Consider the typical weather for where you live. Some dogs were bred more for warmer weather, so may require jackets and boots for winter. Some dogs do really well in cold weather, but can overheat in the summer and do best in an air conditioned home.

Health Concerns

All breeds have certain health conditions that are commonly seen in the breed. While many good breeders work very hard at trying to eliminate the issues, we still see certain breed predilections. For example, English Bulldogs are prone to having brachycephalic syndrome, which can require surgery to fix. They are also prone to food and environmental allergies which cannot be cured but managed over their life. The Shih Tzu is prone to eye conditions. Dachshunds are prone to back problems. Keep these factors in mind, as the cost and level of care involved in treating some of these conditions can be high.

Consider Adopting

Rescues and animal shelters will often know the personalities of the animals they have which takes a lot of the guessing game out of the process. They will know how they are with children or other animals and also know of any current medical conditions. Adopting is a good choice to know exactly what you are getting. Adopting an adult dog will help to decrease the amount of training and work involved.

Ask our team at Coventry Animal Hospital any question you may have about choosing a dog breed that is right for you.

Grapes, raisins and currants can cause acute kidney failure in dogs.  Unfortunately, the toxic compound within these fruits has not yet been identified.  For this reason, it is important to avoid feeding the juice, the skin and the flesh of these fruits to your dog.  Coventry Animal Hospital advises keeping grape juice, baked goods, granola mixes and cereals with raisins/currants out of your dog’s reach.  If your dog lives on a property with grape vines, it should not eat dried grapes off the plant!

More bad news – the amount of these fruits that need to be ingested to make a dog sick is currently unknown.  Dogs are more likely to become poisoned if they ingest a bowlful of grapes, raisins or currants, but some dogs are highly sensitive and develop symptoms of poisoning after eating only a few bites.

What are the signs of grape, raisin and currant toxicity?

The following symptoms typically occur as early as 24 hours after exposure:

• Decreased appetite
• Decreased energy
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Dehydration
• Increased or abnormal drinking and urination

Treatment if your dog eats grapes/raisins/currants:

Kidneys do not have much regenerative capacity, so aggressive therapy may be warranted.

1. Call your veterinarian as soon as possible if you suspect that your pet has eaten these fruits
2. At the vet clinic, your dog will undergo decontamination – it will be made to vomit and then be given activated charcoal to prevent toxin absorption
3. Hospitalization and intravenous fluid therapy
4. Supportive care – medication to control symptoms
5. Bloodwork and urinalysis to assess and monitor kidney function

Interesting fact: Unlike in the human world, kidney dialysis is currently available only at the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph and is extremely expensive.

There have been some reports of cats getting sick from grape/raisin/currant ingestion.  To be on the safe side, do not allow your cats to eat these fruits either.

You can save your pet’s life by keeping grapes, raisins and currants out of its reach.  Call your veterinarian as soon as possible if you suspect that your pet ingested these fruits.

Picture that you have just adopted your first puppy and are already very attached to it and then it develops severe bloody diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration.

Like measles in the human population, parvovirus is contagious and cases are found in unvaccinated dogs.  The virus is shed in infected dog’s feces and then ends up in the environment.  Puppies may have some degree of protection through their maternal immunity when they are young, but they will need to receive a series of parvovirus vaccinations to ensure their own body will have lasting antibodies.

Parvovirus incubates in a puppy for 3 to 7 days before any symptoms are seen.  The virus seeks rapidly replicating cells.  It invades the lymph nodes, then the bone marrow and intestinal cells.  White blood cells develop in the marrow, so many of them are killed.  White blood cells provide the body with protection against invading organisms; a decreased white blood cell count puts an animal at increased risk for infection.  The intestinal cells are destroyed, severely restricting the gut’s ability to absorb nutrients and fluids.  Diarrhea and vomiting lead to extreme fluid loss, electrolyte imbalances and dehydration until the puppy’s body goes into shock.  The intestinal cells normally provide a gut barrier, preventing digestive bacteria from entering the bloodstream.  Loss of the intestinal barrier allows bacterial invasion of the whole body, leading to sepsis.  Shock and sepsis can cause death.

Treatment of parvovirus is expensive – generally requiring multiple days of around the clock hospitalization in isolation from other dogs.  Intravenous fluids are crucial to prevent extreme dehydration, as are intravenous antibiotics.  In some situations, the blood protein level drops so low that a plasma transfusion is recommended.  Oral antibiotics are not effective because they are not properly absorbed by the damaged gut.  Affected puppies are very nauseated and anti-nausea medication is administered to them.  Some medications that protect the gut can be given by mouth.  The risk of mortality is much greater in patients that are not receiving intensive care in clinic.

Parvovirus can be diagnosed at our clinic by sampling a small amount of diarrhea.  Intestinal parasites can also be screened for at the same time.

Parvovirus is present in every environment unless routine disinfection is used.  We recommend not allowing your puppy to interact with dogs with an unknown vaccine status and waiting until your puppy has had its complete series of vaccines before visiting public outdoor areas.  If you have had a parvo-positive puppy, please contact your veterinarian to determine how decontamination of a household is best performed.  Parvovirus is not killed by freezing outside.

This is a preventable disease and proper vaccination can avoid the heartbreak of an extremely sick puppy.  Coventry Animal Hospital recommends that ALL puppies be vaccinated for parvovirus, regardless of their lifestyle or exposure to other dogs.

Did you know during the months of March through May, there is an International Dog Bite Prevention Challenge? Here at Coventry Animal Hospital, we believe that dogs can greatly enhance the life of children and therefore, we are staunch promoters of safe interactions between dogs and children. The following is information to prevent dog bites from happening.

Why do dogs bite?

There are many reasons why dogs can bite children including (but not limited to) the following:

• Fear/anxiety.
• Pain (injury, arthritis, illness, etc). This can also apply to a child pulling a dog’s hair/tail/ears.
• Protecting a resource (food, toys, resting spot, puppies, etc).
• Protecting his owner or property.
• The child invaded the dog’s space and made him uncomfortable (hugging, laying on him, stepping over him, staring directly into his eyes, etc).
• The dog has a high prey drive or is a herding breed who has an instinct to chase running animals and nip to herd them.
• The dog has reached the end of his tolerance with the situation.

When and why do dogs bite without warning?

Dogs ALWAYS show warning signs that they may bite. Dogs never bite “out of the blue”. Biting is always a result of too much stress placed on the dog in that situation. Unfortunately, most people cannot recognize these subtle signs and place children and dogs into positions where biting occurs.

What are the warning signs?

• The dog is actively avoiding/walking/leaning away from the child.
• Yawning.
• Holding its tail low or up very high, even if wagging.
• Licking its lips.
• The dog is giving a pleading look or you can see the whites of his eyes in a half moon shape.

Note the warning signs this dog is showing: leaning away, half-moon eyes, pleading look to owners to stop the situation. Without intervention, this dog may bite the baby since the dog is clearly uncomfortable.

How do we prevent dog bites from happening?

• Always supervise children’s interactions with dogs. With infants, a hand should be kept on the dog at all times. Toddlers should always be kept within arm’s reach when interacting with dogs. With children, an adult should be in the same room as them when there is a dog around.
• Watch your dog’s body language. If your dog is showing any of the signs listed above, stop the interaction immediately.
• Have a safe spot for your dog where it can go if it wants to get away from the children, such as a crate or separate room.
• Ask your veterinarian or other animal professionals what breed of dog may be most appropriate for your family and lifestyle.
• Teach your children the following important rules for being around dogs:
  • Be gentle with dogs and do not pull their tail, ears or fur.
  • Do not run or scream when around dogs. Never run when a dog approaches but stay calm and quiet.
  • Never hug or step over a dog. Respect a dog’s personal space. Never stare into its eyes.
  • Never sneak up on or surprise a dog.
  • Never approach or pet an unknown dog. If a dog walks away from you, leave it alone.
  • Do not approach a dog that is eating, chewing on a bone or toy, sleeping, or has puppies.
  • Pet a dog under his chin or on his back. Do not reach over his head.
  • Always ask the owner before petting a dog.

Any and all dogs, no matter the age, sex, breed or experience with children, have the potential to bite. The majority of children who are bitten are bitten by a dog they know. Unfortunately, in these cases, most of the bites occur around the face and neck since those are often the closest parts of the body to the dog. This can cause lifelong scarring and emotional trauma to the child.

The best ways to prevent dog bites from happening are to teach children how to act around dogs and to always watch for signs your dog is stressed. Even the most tolerant of dogs can reach the end of its rope and bite as a way to stop a child from performing the unwanted behaviour. In the cases we hear of most, the bite was “out of nowhere”; when in fact, there were likely many signs the dog was showing before it bit. Adults should also know the signs and intervene. Dogs should not be expected to “tolerate” behaviours that are very stressful for them.

For more information on how to keep children safe around all dogs, visit the Doggone Safe Website: http://www.doggonesafe.com/

Also read our blog on: Considering Your Pet When Welcoming a New Baby

A regular sneeze is when dogs and cats forcefully expel air from their noses to blow out mucus or other irritants. A reverse sneeze, on the other hand, is a forceful inhalation when a pet sucks air into its pharynx and windpipe. The pharynx is the part of the anatomy that houses the tonsils, soft palate and tongue. The soft palate spasms during a reverse sneeze, which makes a loud noise that can sound like choking. Often, owners will panic because they don’t think their pet can breathe.

Image from www.merckmanuals.com

Reverse sneezing can be set off by allergies, excitement, irritants such as dust, drinking, eating quickly or anything else that has caused the back of the throat to swell. Certain breeds with flat faces, such as pugs or bulldogs, have extra tissue in their pharynx region and seem very susceptible to reverse sneezing as they can irritate their soft palate while inhaling. Small breed dogs, such as Yorkies, also seem to be more susceptible.

The good news is that reverse sneezing is rarely a condition that requires treatment. If you suspect that an irritant in the house has caused your pet to have reverse sneezing, getting it outside may clear its airway. Most times, it is temporary and the episode will stop on its own. However, if your pet experiences more than the occasional episode of reverse sneezing, it should be examined by a veterinarian.

Reverse sneezing can sound horrendous, like something is stuck in the dog or cat’s mouth or nose. If you think that your pet is having trouble breathing, call a veterinarian immediately. Coventry Animal Hospital routinely gets emergency calls that are simply reverse sneezing, but if in doubt, have your pet assessed.

Watch the videos below to see a reverse sneeze in a cat and dog