by Dr Nina Mantione

I’ve never been inspired to write a blog by a mosquito before. That is, until now. We were at the beach enjoying an evening walk by the ocean when the familiar whine and hum of these diabolical little insects had us running for the car.

“Mosquitoes ruin everything,” said my daughter as we slammed the door on an army of the tiny pests.  Just at that moment, I watched a man jog by with his dog. “Yes, they do.” I replied. I watched the dog round the corner and hoped he was up to date on his heartworm prevention.

Mosquitoes are vectors of many diseases. Most people know that for humans mosquitoes can spread West Nile Virus and Malaria, among other diseases. But for our pets, it is heartworm disease that mosquitoes harbor.  Heartworm disease is a usefully named parasite because the name pretty much sums up the disease.  It is indeed a parasitic worm, and if not always taking up residence quite in the heart itself, they lodge close enough to cause devastating effects.  A heartworm infection can lead to heart failure and lung problems. And while it can be treated (if it is detected on a yearly blood test), the treatment itself can be fraught with danger.

As pet owners, we are in luck.  Heartworm disease is exceptionally easy to prevent.  The parasite is very susceptible to de-wormers. So as long as we remember to give the de-wormers on their prescribed monthly basis, the heartworm parasite should succumb without a fight.

The key to the above sentence is, “as long as we remember to give them!” I know we have all experienced the moment of “Uh oh…when did I last give Fido his heartworm tablet?” Luckily for those scatterbrains among us (umm, myself included) we do have a little bit of leeway to be late with heartworm administration. But a little bit is a little bit - say a week or so. But it is far better to make it a habit to give your dog a heartworm preventative on the same day of each month. (For me that is on the 15^th because that is the day I also pay bills.)  If you are still worried you may forget, ask your veterinarian if they have a reminder service, or try out the website www.remindmypet.com , which will send you monthly email reminders.

This simple step of giving your pet a monthly preventative could be the difference between life and death.  And it also lets you rest assured that when those rotten mosquitoes attack, they are just an annoyance, and not a major threat to our pets’ health.

 

 

By Dr Nina Mantione

We had a rabies scare in our office a few days ago. Again.  This time, it was an unvaccinated outdoor cat was brought in after developing neurologic signs that caused concern in two women and a small troop of children, all who had handled the cat in their attempts to help it.  The cat bit two of our staff members. With rabies, one can never be too safe: unvaccinated + neurologic = rabies suspect.  

I work in a rabies endemic area, which means that our local wildlife population is harboring this deadly virus. Almost every week our local newspaper has a report of a rabid skunk, raccoon or fox that has been identified in a surrounding neighborhood.  At least twice a year we see a potential rabies case, typically an unvaccinated outdoor cat with neurologic signs.  A few years ago, one such outdoor cat did have rabies, resulting in post-exposure treatment for six of our staff.   However, don’t be fooled into thinking that being an indoor only pet is an adequate way to prevent an exposure.  There are several instances of rabid, bizarrely behaving wildlife making their way indoors and exposing indoor pets.  After all , a neurologic bat is an irresistible plaything to any cat.

I, personally, have a healthy respect (read: fear) for the rabies virus. Rabies is an amazingly devious virus.  Like something created in an evil villain’s science lab, it is perfectly designed to maximize its spread.  Once in a new victim, the rabies virus travels to the brain and the saliva glands.  The brain - in order to create the aggressive behavior that we all associate with rabies, and the saliva glands – in order to ensure it is spread via a bite wound.  It is terrifying and genius – all in one.

Interestingly, many people are reluctant to give their pets the rabies vaccine.  Perhaps, because of the scariness of virus itself, the vaccine carries with it a certain uncertainty in some circles. Or, what we see more frequently, because of a false belief that “it could never happen to my pet.”  I can assure you that the disease the vaccine prevents is far worse than any vaccine reaction I’ve ever seen.  And this disease is too serious to leave to hope and chance. The rabies vaccine is one of the only vaccines we give that prevents a disease that can infect people as well, and in my state of Pennsylvania, and most others, this fact alone makes it a law for pets to have the  rabies  vaccine. For me, all of my pets, indoor cats included, are vaccinated against rabies, and I rest easy knowing that I never have to worry.

By Dr Nina Mantione

Yesterday, one of my colleagues voiced to me his frustration about the fear of sedation.  He wanted to sedate a dog in order to properly flush its badly infected ears.  This would be the medically sound thing to do, as removing all of the debris would allow the medications he was prescribing to work more effectively. The dog’s ears were much too painful to attempt this procedure while he was awake.  Unfortunately, as soon as he mentioned anesthesia, the pet parent became nervous and refused the procedure.

I truly understand this fear of anesthesia. It can be disconcerting to think about – especially for pet parents who are making decisions on behalf of their loved one. However, most pet parents I talk to fear that their animal will fail to wake up.  And in reality, this fear is a very, very remote possibility.  In my office we anesthetize hundreds of animals a year, of all ages and health statuses, with very few complications.  However, what we as veterinarians do fear is that inadequate treatment of a problem – such as severe ear infections, terrible dental disease or a rapidly growing mass – carries a much higher risk to a pet’s life and health than sedation ever could. 

Unfortunately, no matter how reassuring we try to be, a large number of pet parents would rather deny procedures that require sedation because of a fear of the unknown.  As with any medical procedure, I cannot say that sedation and anesthesia are 100% without risk, however; I can say that they are a better option than allowing medical problems to go untreated or making a pet endure a treatment in a fractious, frightened and painful state.

So, at my colleague’s request, I am writing this blog to remind pet parents that when it comes to the question of sedation, please understand that your veterinarian has your pet’s best interest in mind.  It is important you feel comfortable, so ask lots of questions, and weigh the pros and cons. Most importantly, consider the health implications – both short and long term – for your beloved pet. In the end, your vet wants to provide your pet with the best possible, least traumatic care possible. And you both want your pet to quickly get back to what he or she does best: showering you with love and affection, of course!