Fall And Your Pets

Fall is the perfect time of year. The smell of the leaves changing, sweatshirt and jean weather! 

Unfortunatley, for some of our furry friends this can be a miserable time of year. There are other hazards pets can encounter. 

Our pets can have allergies just like we can. While we may become conjested, they will itch/lick their paws, belly, armpits and ears. 

Allergies can be difficult to diagnose or treat. Often times, it requires medications, food change and/or even bathing. Here are some of the ways our doctors may treat your pet:

• Food trial: Our doctorsmay put them on hydrolized protein source (something the body doesn't recognize as an allergy). This is a food that highly restricted in the type of proteins so that the body doesn't recognize it, therefore we hope they would not be allergiv to it. This is to be fed by itself with out treats. 
• Cytopoint injection: This is a 4 week injectable medication that works with your pets immune system to fight the allergens. The antibodies within the Cytopoint injection are designed to specifically target and neutrolize one of the main proteins that sends itch signals to the brain. 
• Apoquel: This tablet works at the source of the allergic itch to give relief regardless of the allergen. This can be used long term with laboratory monitoring. 
• Allergy injections: We utilize Spectrum Laboratory which test your pets blood to see what they are allergic to. Depending on what allergens come up on the test, there are injections that you can give on a schedule they provide for you to target those specific allergens. 
• Steriods: These can be used to stop the itch on a short term basis. This does not treat the source of the allergen. 

Rodenticide toxicity can be prominent this time of year due to the number of mice that are coming in our houses to get out of the cold. These items inhibit the enzyme vitamin K which is responsible for allowing the blood to clot. It can also cause nervous system problems and kidney disease. Some signs of rodenticide toxicity are:

• Pale gums
• Bruising
• Bleeding from the mouth or nose
• Seizures
• Increased drinking or urination

Treatment may include either outpatient therapy or hospitalization, depending on the typed of rodenticide injested. 

Tick bourne diseases are of high concern also. Ticks are out if there is no snow cover and the temperature is 35 degrees or warmer. Both Lyme and Anaplasma are high on the list of tick diseases we see in this area. 

• Lyme disease can cause stiffness of the joints, inappetence, and if severe enough, kidney failure. 
• Anaplasma can call inappetence and the bodies inability to clot as it attacks the platelets. 

This is why we recommend year round flea and tick prevention.

Even though this time of year is beautiful, there are still hazards looming that you need to be aware of for your pets. Whether it's as simple as allergies or as devstating as rodenticide injestion. 

We hope you have a wonderful fall season!!!!!