Is your dog shaking his head or scratching his ears?  If so, your dog may have an ear infection.  You may also notice a foul odor, yellow-brown discharge, and redness & inflammation.  Just like in humans, it’s very painful and should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.   The veterinarian will take a sample from the ear and look at it under the microscope to determine the type of infection in order to properly treat it.  If you catch an infection early, it may only be malassezia, which is yeast, normally found on the skin in certain locations.  An abnormal overgrowth can cause a yeast infection and inflammation.  If the yeast infection is not treated in time, it may develop a secondary bacterial infection.  The veterinarian will need to clean out the ear and put the treatment of choice inside.  At Ez Vet, we have a very convenient gel for yeast infections that conforms to the heat inside the ear and stays in for 7 days, with nothing required of the owner.  We can also mix it with an antibiotic if there is bacteria too.

Yeast infections can be caused by several things.  If the ear canal becomes wet from swimming, getting a bath, grooming, or even high humidity, yeast and bacteria can grow.  Dogs with big floppy ears are more prone to ear infections because they don’t have good airflow into the canal.  A good way to prevent them is to clean the ear out at home after going for a swim or getting a bath.  You can purchase a solution from your veterinarian.  It’s very important for owners not to use a q-tip, as it can damage the ear drum if not careful.  The best way to clean the ear is to insert the solution and massage the base of the ear.  Next, you want to insert a big cotton ball into the ear canal and let your dog shake its’ head.  During that time, the solution will get deep in the ear and not all over you or your house.  You can then remove the cotton ball (full of solution) and wipe around the outside of the ear.

Ear infections can also be caused by allergies such as the environment or food.  The allergy causes inflammation in the skin, allowing for yeast and bacteria to grow.  If you dog gets a lot of ear infections and has been itching his body, you might want to look into finding the cause of the itching to reduce the occurrence of ear infection and give your dog relief from itching.

At Ez Vet, we can diagnose and treat ear infections right in the station.  We also have a variety of treatment options for you to choose from.  Ear cleaner is always in stock to help you prevent future ear infections.  We can offer pain medication, which is very important for the first few days while the inflammation is present.  Let Ez Vet conveniently treat your dogs’ ear infection!

Yes, it is early winter but that doesn’t mean you can stop worrying about ticks.  Or maybe you should start worrying about ticks if you haven’t yet considered the threat of tick diseases.  Did you know ticks become active at 45 degrees or higher?  With warmer winters, you still need to be diligent about flea and tick control as well as heartworm prevention.

Why worry about annoying little ticks?  One, they are creepy little parasites that like to stealthily crawl on us or our pets and take a bite.  But more importantly, they carry nasty infectious diseases that are transmitted when they bite.  We have several species of ticks in the Northern Virginia area that can transmit Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, or even cause tick paralysis.  Amazingly, a single female tick can lay up to 6,000 eggs.  Ticks like to hide in long grass, bushes, and brush where they are just waiting for your pet or you to walk by so they can latch on for a delicious blood meal.

So what can you do if you find a tick on your pet?  For proper removal, use blunt tweezers and wear disposable gloves if possible.  Grasp the tick close to the skin attachment and pull with slow steady pressure for the tick to release and come loose.  It is important to get all of the tick without leaving any mouthparts behind.  Disinfect the area and wash your hands with soap and water.  You can preserve the tick in alcohol for identification or take a picture on your smart phone camera so that you can magnify.

Okay so now you realize that tick control is important.  What can you do to protect your furry family member?  There are many flea and tick prevention products on the market.  Topical medications are available such as Frontline, Advantix, and such but you must follow certain guidelines about bathing your animal for best results.  Bravecto is an oral chewable tablet that provides 3 months of protection that we carry at our EZ Vet Stations.  A vaccine is available for Lyme disease as well which should be part of your dog’s routine vaccination protocol.

If you need more facts about tick borne diseases, IDEXX has a map that you can access online for your region at www.dogsandticks.com/map.  Northern Virginia has had approximately 85+ cases of Ehrlichiosis, 850+ cases of Lyme, 350+ cases of Anaplasmosis, and 85+ cases of heartworm disease reported just from the IDEXX laboratory system in the past 5 years.  These numbers only reflect their lab cases, not other tests run by other laboratories or veterinary offices.  That is a lot of tick borne disease cases!

Anesthesis-free dentals for pet’s dental hygiene.

February 1^st starts the beginning of National Pet Dental Health Month.  Bad breath and discolored teeth are more harm to dogs and cats than most owners realize.  Studies in dogs have shown oral disease causes changes to the kidneys, liver, and heart.   Periodontal disease is one of the most commonly diagnosed health issues in dogs and cats, by three years of age.  The best way to manage oral disease is by PREVENTION!

Periodontal disease begins in the mouth when bacteria form a substance that sticks to the teeth, called plaque.  Minerals in the saliva harden the plaque and form tartar.  Plaque and tartar will move under the gum line if not treated and damage the tissues that surround the tooth.  This process causes inflammation, pain, and redness of the gums, and eventually loose teeth from the breakdown of the tissues and bone surrounding them.  Bacteria that is in the mouth can enter the blood stream and “shower” all the organs in the body, causing the changes in the kidneys, liver, and heart.

Treatment of periodontal disease is based on the severity.  In the early stages an anesthesia-free dental may be appropriate (available at EZ VET). The dogs and cats are not anesthetized, and they still receive a proper scaling and polishing.  If the severity is moderate to severe, going under anesthesia is necessary to take radiographs to see what is going on under the gum line and to extract any teeth that can’t be saved.  After either treatment, maintenance is a vital part of keeping your pets mouth healthy.  There are several options that can help prevent periodontal disease and maintain a healthy mouth after treatment.

Again, the best way to manage periodontal disease is prevention, starting from an early age.  There are many different types of products that work to prevent disease, including a liquid that you put in the drinking water, oral wipes you use to wipe the teeth, oral gel that goes on the teeth, dental treats, dental diets, dental rinse, and even a toothbrush with some toothpaste (made for dogs & cats, NOT human toothpaste!).  Chewing on bones help remove the plaque but they can actually do more harm by breaking the teeth, especially in puppies.  If you start brushing the teeth or wiping them with the dental wipes at an early age, they will learn to tolerate it; it’s harder to start when they are adults because they aren’t used to anyone going in their mouth.   At Ez Vet, we have several options on hand that we can show you how to use, we can guide you with the store products, and we offer anesthesia free dentals. If you remember anything from this article, PREVENTION, PREVENTION, PREVENTION!

How your pet can get infected by heartworm

Does my dog really need to be on heartworm prevention if he doesn’t even go outside? The answer to that question is yes! Heartworm disease is a very serious and potentially fatal disease.  It is caused by worms that live in the heart, lungs, and surrounding vessels.  It occurs in both dogs and cats.  Heartworm disease is transmitted by an infected mosquito.  All it takes is one mosquito bite to become infected.  Even if your dog or cat doesn’t go outside, mosquitoes can come in to the house.

Some common symptoms of heartworm disease in dogs are coughing, fatigue, anorexia, sudden collapse, and labored breathing.  While cats may show coughing, occasional vomiting, and anorexia.  Once the infected mosquito bites a dog or cat, tiny worms are released into the bloodstream where they mature and become adult worms within 5-6 months.  Dogs can have many worms at one time, while cats usually only have 2-6 worm at once.   Heartworms in dogs can live between 5-6 years and only 2-3 years in cats.

According to the American Heartworm Society, heartworm disease is currently in all 50 states.  So again, why do I need to buy prevention?  Because heartworm treatment is very expensive in dogs and because there isn’t a treatment option for cats.  To treat heartworms in dogs it costs around $1,000 and your dog may have to live with lifelong consequences due to damage of the heart from the worms, even after the treatment is complete.  Most heartworm preventions also treat common intestinal parasites and some also treat fleas.

Another question you may ask is whether it’s recommended to stop prevention during the winter time.  The answer to that is no! Mosquitoes can be found all year round in a lot of locations.  It’s also difficult to get the timing right of when it’s okay to stop and when you should re-start.  Preventing heartworms all year round is recommended by the American Heartworm Society, no matter what region you live in.

Your dog should be tested at 6 months old and 6 months later.  Heartworms aren’t detectable until 5-6 months after the mosquito bite.  After the 1 year heartworm test, it’s only annually, unless you switch to a different heartworm medication or you forget or stop giving it.  Cats should be tested before they are put on medication and as often as the veterinarian decides is appropriate. Heartworm prevention isn’t 100% effective and you may forget to give it, which is why annual heartworm tests are important even if you are faithfully giving it.  Giving certain heartworm preventions in a dog or cat with heartworm disease can cause serious problems.

Get your animal tested today and started on heartworm prevention!  At Ez vet, we can do the heartworm test right in the station, with results before you leave.  We also carry several different heartworm prevention options to purchase.  For more information on heartworm disease, please visit the American Heartworm Society website at htt://www.heartwormsociety.org.

The holidays are here, its time for beautiful lights, holiday decorations and plants. We want you to have a happy and safe holiday season with your family, friends, and pets.  We want you to help avoid some of the top holiday hazards to pets during the holidays which can help save your pet’s life.

Holiday Tinsel and Ornaments

Tinsel is not toxic but it is very attractive to cats especially who can attempt to eat it while playing with it and end up with a life threatening linear foreign body that requires emergency surgery. In addition, the bright and colorful ornaments are very attractive to both cats and dogs. These ornaments could become foreign objects if ingested or they could break and lacerate your pet’s mouth, throat, intestines and could also be a choking hazard.

Holiday Candles and Lighting

Holiday candles are very common to get everyone in a festive mood but the twinkling flame can be very attractive to pets, especially cats, who are easily able to reach such objects off the floor. These could obviously cause direct burns to your pet but like any candle could also cause a fire hazard just by a curious kitty knocking it off its shelf causing a house fire and possible human and pet death.

Also, does your pet like to chew? Electrical shock is a common emergency during the holidays unfortunately due to the increased number of electrical cords in the household and pets chewing on them. Always check your electrical cords for signs of fraying or chewing and using a 3 prong grounded extension cord can be used as a safety precaution.

Delicious Holiday Meals

These delicious holiday meals can be full of fat and other seasonings which can be harmful to your pet.  Avoid giving your pet table scraps as the high fat content of certain foods can cause serious conditions such as pancreatitis which require hospitalization.  Also be careful when throwing away your fat trimmings as even the best behaved dog can knock over a trash bin and get into the trash.  And you should never give your dog leftover bones as they can splinter and cause obstruction and/or lacerations of your dog’s digestive system which often requires emergency surgery.

Toxic Holiday Plants

There are certain common holiday plants that you should avoid including

Christmas tree needles can cause oral irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, and lacerations amongst other symptoms.

Mistletoe can cause significant vomiting and diarrhea and even collapse, erratic behavior and death when ingested

Poinsettias can cause irritation to the mouth and cause vomiting and diarrhea and other GI disturbances.

Lilies are extremely toxic to cats and will cause renal failure and death in a very short amount of time. If you receive a bouquet of flowers ensure that they do not contain Lilies.

Are you considering giving a pet to your child for Christmas this year?  Here are some tips that you should consider before you commit to the responsibility of a pet and giving a pet to your child for their Christmas gift.

First of all, consider if your child is old enough to take on the responsibility of caring for a pet.  Younger children would do well with a low maintenance pet such as a guinea pig, hamster, or fish rather than a puppy or kitten.  He or she might have their heart set on the trendy dog breed from a movie or kids show but resist that temptation.  Take the time to research a breed that has a personality better suited to your family situation.  Some breeds are active and make great dogs for busy pre-teens or teenagers who want a pal to play with.  Other breeds are temperamental and not tolerant of younger children pulling on their tails or hugging them.  Do you live on a farm or a small apartment?  You wouldn’t want a Great Dane to share your 800 square foot condo.  Wishbone the Jack Russell terrier is adorable but this breed needs room to run out that extra energy.  A working or herding breed dog that needs a job to be happy works well for a farm.  Many websites are available to help you find the breed that fits your family situation.  Type in Choose a Dog Breed and take any of the quizzes that come up from Animal Planet, the Humane Society, and other web sites.

Another amazing option is to consider adopting a homeless pet from your local animal shelter or rescue group.  There are too many homeless animals that would make great loving pets if someone could provide them a wonderful home.  A great option is to place a stuffed dog or cat under the tree on Christmas morning with the promise of going to the shelter or rescue group to pick out your new family member.  Always consider the cost commitment when you take on the new pet.  Shelters and rescue groups can guide you with discount deals on first vaccines or spaying/neutering with local veterinarians but afterwards, do realize that yearly pet costs can start at $500 per year for a dog, $350 for a cat.  Additional medical expenses, obedience training, or simply buying high quality pet food can add up.

Gifting a furry family member is an awesome experience for a child.  Just be sure you have done a little research before you make the commitment.  It is our responsibility to be the guardians of our beloved pets as well as our children.  Picking the right pet will be an amazingly rewarding experience for the whole family.