the news hound - Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic

We are proud to be the
recipients for the last 7
years for
Best Veterinary Clinic!
THE NEWS HOUND
BE AWARE: TICKS ARE EVERYWHERE!
And the diseases they carry can pose serious risks to your dog.
Ticks and the diseases they carry are increasing dramatically in Ontario. Because your
dog could be at risk of infection, it’s important to know that:
• Just one bite from a tick that’s carrying disease can infect your dog.
• Most tick-borne diseases show few symptoms; some don’t show any until the
disease is far along.
• Following a prevention plan can help keep your best friend free from tick-borne
disease.
Stay protected and talk to us about a prevention plan, including annual testing
and preventive medication. We recommend a Preventic collar or a topical product
called Advantix to decrease the chances of your dog contracting tick borne
diseases.
Tick-borne diseases – what to watch out for:
Symptoms of tick-borne disease are often vague and difficult to recognize. A simple
blood test that’s combined with your dog’s annual heartworm test can determine if your
dog has been infected
LYME DISEASE
ANAPLASMOSIS
EHRLICHIOSIS
Which Tick Carries
Which Disease:
Deer Tick or
Western Black
Legged Tick
Deer Tick or
Western Black
Legged Tick
Brown Dog Tick or Lone
Star Tick
What happens if
your dog becomes
infected?
Often leads to
lameness; can
result in kidney
failure & death
Can lead to
lameness and/or
bleeding disorders
Can result in joint pain &
lameness, may affect
production of blood cells
Talk to us right away if you find a tick on your dog or if you suspect a tick borne
disease.
Treatment is available if your dog does become infected. And the sooner a diagnosis is
made, the more likely treatment will be effective. Call us immediately if you notice any of
the following in your dog.
Lameness; reluctance to move or exercise
Swollen or painful joints (dog yelps when touched)
Loss of appetite and/or weight loss
Mild persistent cough
Runny nose or eyes
Lack of energy/depression
Go to www.dogsandticks.com – it has some great information on how to prevent tick
borne diseases!
2826 Highway 2
Bowmanville ON
L1C 3K5
905-623-4431
www.bowmanvilleveterinaryclinic.com
Check us out on
SENTINEL IS BACK
SENTINEL IS BACK
The protection you trust.
The taste they love.
The flea prevention and parasite protection
solution you and your dog count on is available
again! We’re sorry for the inconvenience, and
to thank you for your patience Novartis is
offering an appreciation reward. Call us for
details on this rebate on your next package of
Sentinel.
HOW TO TELL IF YOUR DOG IS IN PAIN
Dogs feel pain in the same way and for many of the same reasons as humans do; some
examples include: infections, dental problems, arthritis, bone disease and cancer. They also
feel discomfort following surgical procedures just like us. Unfortunately, unlike humans, they
are unable to speak to us about when and where they hurt.
You are in the best position to look for the subtle changes in behavior that may indicate your
dog is in pain. It is important to stay alert to these signs, because the sooner your dog’s pain is
diagnosed and treated, the sooner we can help them resume a normal, happy life.
If your dog shows one or more of the following behaviors and you suspect it may be due to
pain, please notify us immediately.
Vocalizing
Activity Level
Whining
Howling
Whimpering
Yelping
Groaning
Grunting
Restless
Reluctant to move
Difficulty getting up
Seeks more affection
Repetitively gets up and lies back
down
Trembling, circling or lying very still
SELF PROTECTION
Protects a body part
Doesn’t put weight on a limb
Limps
Doesn’t want to be held or picked up
Hides
Grooming
Self Mutilation
Posture
Coat lacks shine
Doesn’t groom regularly
Licking
Biting
Scratching particular part of body
Hunched with hindquarters raised
and front end on ground
Lays in different position than usual
Daily Habits
Aggression
Facial Expression
Decreased appetite
Withdraws from interaction
Changes in sleep
Changes in drinking
Sleeps more
Lapses in housetraining
Acts out of character
Growls, hisses, bites
Pins ears back
Normally aggressive dog may act
docile
Grimaces, vacant stare
Glazed, wide eyed or looks sleepy
Enlarged pupils
Flattened ears
Pants excessively when at rest
DON’T TREAT YOUR DOG’S PAIN BY YOURSELF!
Never administer pain medication to your dog without consulting your veterinarian.
Some common human medications like Ibuprofen have no known safe dose in dogs.
AAHA EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT RAW FOOD DIETS FOR PETS
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has joined the American Veterinary Medical
Association in expressing concern about raw food diets for pets. AAHA published a position
statement on its website that reported the association “does not advocate or endorse feeding pets
any raw or dehydrated nonsterilized foods, including treats that are of animal origin.” The
association based its decision on “over-whelming scientific evidence” and cited 50 sources to
support its decision. The position includes raw commercial diets, said AAHA executive director
Michael Cavanaugh, DVM, Dipl. ABVP. “We’re not aware of accepted processes that a
commercial diet could go through that could ensure there aren’t going to be pathogens present,”
Dr. Cavanaugh said.
Up to 30 percent of dogs fed homemade or raw food diets may shed dangerous bacteria in their
stool, according to the AAHA statement. These bacteria can pose a potential threat to
immunosupressed, very young and older humans, since they would be more at risk of contracting
disease from these organisms. If you feed your pet a raw diet be aware of the temperature the
diet is served at and always wash your hands after preparing the diet or interacting with your pet.
Also of concern with raw diets is the balance of vitamins and minerals over the long term. Please
call us at the clinic and we can set you up with balanced recipes that provide appropriate
nutrients for your pet. We can even set you up with a nutritional consultant who can assess the
diet you are feeding for balance and nutrition for your individual pet.
Here at the Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic we
are very concerned about the management of
your dog’s pain, As a result we have been a
member of the International Veterinary
Academy of Pain Management since 2006.
The International Veterinary Academy of Pain
Management is a unique organization
dedicated to advancing the field of pain
management in animals. Being a member
provides us with the most up to date, science
based, pain management protocols available.
Your dog’s pain management is a top priority.
We tailor our pain management protocols to
suit your dog’s specific needs. You can rest
assured that we make your dog’s pain
management a top priority.
GATEWAY PET MEMORIAL SERVICE
There comes a time in our lives with our
beloved pets when we have to say
goodbye. It is comforting to know that at
this difficult time there is a trusted company
that can provide aftercare for your pet.
Gateway Pet Memorial Services was
established in 1996 as a licensed Pet
Crematorium providing services that include
communal and individual cremations,
viewing and visitation facilities and a variety
of memorial products. You can trust your
pet’s aftercare to Gateway as they adhere
to a strictly regulated code of ethics. Our
clinic has used their services since they
opened in 1996 and have always found that
they treat your beloved pet with dignity,
quality care and respect.
They have a website available where you
can view options for your pet’s aftercare.
www.gatewaypetmemorial.com