Pete and his patriotic pals hope you have a safe and happy Fourth of July!
Happy Independence Day!
Tag: local vet
Remember the Pets this Fourth!
While you’re celebrating, your pets may be hiding! Remember to provide them with a safe place to hide from all the noise, and lots of love and reassurance! If you need any advice or help preparing your pets for the fireworks, please contact us!
Local Surge in Canine Kennel Cough
The Mannford-area is experiencing a drastic increase in canine Kennel Cough cases the last few weeks. We thought it appropriate that we take a moment and share what it is, what to look for, and what we can do about it.
What is Canine Kennel Cough?
Kennel cough is similar to the common cold in that it is very contagious, usually mild, and is caused by a variety of “bugs”. It is very, very contagious and is transmitted by any droplet transfer: coughing, sneezing, nose-touching, etc.
Kennel Cough Symptoms
Kennel cough is usually mild in healthy animals however, symptoms can be quite irritating to the pet and your family. Common symptoms include the following:
- cough
- gagging
- nose and/or eye discharge
- fever
- loss of appetite
- lethargy
These symptoms usually start out quite mildly, but a consistent, hacking cough that may end in gagging is the most common symptom we see. Unfortunately, this is also how the disease is spread.
How do we treat it?
Treatment of Kennel Cough is focused on clearing out bacteria causing the symptoms, bacteria that could worsen the disease (lead to pneumonia), and ease the symptoms. Treatment usually consists of oral antibiotics, mild oral steroids for the cough, with or without cough syrup if it is severe enough. There are many methods of management at home as well (see below) that can ease your dog’s symptoms.
Good news, we can prevent Kennel Cough!
There is a vaccine for Kennel Cough! As a bonus, it is an oral vaccine, so not pokes for Fido. It is recommended to be given yearly, although some facilities that house several animals at once (groomers, boarders, animal hospitals, etc) require it to be administered every 6 months, depending on risk levels.
Do we have Kennel Cough vaccines?
We absolutely do! Calling ahead is required however, we do routinely stock and administer Kennel Cough vaccines!
How old does my dog need to be to receive the Kennel Cough vaccine?
Your puppy must be older than 8 weeks!
Who is most at risk for Kennel Cough?
Dogs that have not been vaccinated, that are around unvaccinated animals are at the highest risk:
- Grooming facilities
- Boarding facilities
- Training classes
- Dogs that run free in the country
- Dogs that share fences with other dogs
Questions? Want to schedule an appointment? Please give us a call at (918)865-4733!
Is your pet afraid of fireworks? We know what to do!
Pets are very commonly scared of fireworks, just like babies. From their perspective, there a lot of very loud sounds & bright lights. They are not familiar with these sounds & lights, thus anxiety occurs. We are here to help them stay calm and enjoy the festivities with us!
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY DOG IS ANXIOUS?
Severe anxiety is usually obvious, but there are quite a few more subtle signs that come before full-blown panic such as:
- Lip licking repetitively
- Ears pinned down to the head
- Hair/hackles standing up along back
- Pacing
- Not wanting to eat
There are more severe symptoms that can be quite alarming such as:
- Digging
- Destructive behavior: chewing on walls/shoes/etc, crashing through windows, scratching at doors, etc
- Sudden aggression, especially with other pets
What can you do at home to help calm your pet?
You can do many things to help alleviate your pet’s stress. In a perfect world, we would remove whatever is stressing them. Unfortunately, we can’t really stop the Fourth of July, but we can make it easier on them.
Give them a safe place
If we give them a safe place to hide, that usually helps alleviate stress. Finding them a quiet, dark, cozy places such as:
- Covering their kennel with a blanket
- Putting some blankets & toys in a closet
- Hiding under the bed
- Anywhere they feel safe
Giving them comfort
If your pet is asking for pets & cuddles, absolutely love on them! But some pets just want to hide & be alone. That is okay too! What is most important is giving them whatever they need!
What if that isn’t cutting it?
Sometimes, despite our best efforts, our pets stress levels are too high to manage at home. The noise & excitement of fireworks is a lot of stress for them.
But there is hope! We have many pharmaceutical options that result in varying degrees of relaxation. Of course, if needed, we can help them sleep, but usually a little dose of anxiety medication helps them relax.
If you would like to explore pharmaceutical options, please give us a call to make an appointment!
Local Outbreak of Dog Disease
LOCAL ALERT: We have an outbreak of Canine Distemper in Tulsa, OK
What is it?
Canine distemper is a highly contagious viral disease that can also be carried by ferrets, skunks, and raccoons. It is a virus, so there is no direct treatment widely available to dogs, so prevention is the key to this potentially-deadly disease. Currently, there is an outbreak most noticeable in found and shelter animals but those that are unvaccinated are also at risk! If it is an outbreak in our domesticated dogs, you can guarantee that it is spreading in the local wildlife!
What does it do?
This is a virus that can show up in a variety of ways. It most commonly presents itself as a respiratory disease causing coughing, sneezing, thick yellow mucus crusting on the face, and fever. However, it can also cause diarrhea, vomiting, and even seizures, especially in puppies.
How do we treat it?
The best treatment for this outbreak is in prevention of the spread. Distemper is easily avoided by vaccinated your dog with standard yearly vaccines. However, if they do contract the disease, our care is supportive. Anti-virals are not widely available in our pets, so we support with hospitalization, fluids, antibiotics to safeguard against concurrent infections, and intensive nursing care. We also treat symptomatically for vomiting, diarrhea, and seizure activity.
What should I do if I see symptoms?
The first step is to isolate the affected dog from all other dogs in the household. If you see sneezing and coughing, do consider that it may be allergies or another respiratory infection. Don’t panic. With that being said, it is highly recommended that your pet be evaluated by a licensed professional. GI symptoms such as vomiting and/or diarrhea are also common symptoms of other conditions however, if these symptoms persist, please take your pet in to your primary care veterinarian.
If Fido begins seizuring, it is an emergency. Please drive to the your primary care veterinarian or emergency hospital as soon as possible. Animal Emergency Center and Oklahoma Veterinary Specialists are right here in Tulsa and both take spectacular care of sick pets.
Animal Emergency Center
Address: 4055 S 102nd E Ave
Phone: (918)665-0508
Oklahoma Veterinary Specialists
Address: 1501 W 78th St S
Phone: (918)299-4900
How did this happen?
Canine distemper was previously see worldwide until the conception of our distemper vaccination. It is now much less common than it was in the 1970s however, with the shifting perspective regarding vaccinations, this canine killer is back. This disease can be prevented simply by vaccinating your pets. That is the only way to keep our canine friends safe and healthy.