Heartworms Are in Oregon Too!

Heartworms are caused by a parasite called Dirofilaria immitis, which is carried by mosquitoes that have bitten infected animals. The worms reside in the blood of the heart and nearby vessels of infected dogs. Heartworms can damage the heart and cause liver, kidney, and lung disease. They thicken the blood vessels in the lungs, lowering blood pressure and increasing the heart’s workload. Fluid builds up in the lungs and disrupts the circulation of blood to organs, causing damage. Heartworm disease progresses slowly, often with no visible symptoms until the advanced stages. If your dog’s heartworm test is positive treatment is usually recommended. It kills the adult heartworms in the heart and adjacent vessels. Approximately 1 month following treatment to kill the adults, the dog is returned to the hospital for administration of a drug to kill the immature heartworms (microfilariae). Seven to ten days later a test is performed to determine if microfilariae are still present. If they have been all killed, the treatment is complete. If there are still some present in the blood, treatment for microfilariae is repeated. After treatment your dog would need to be on strict exercise restriction for 1 month.

When a dog has been successfully treated for heartworms, you cannot sit back and relax because dogs can be reinfected. Therefore, it is essential to begin a heartworm prevention program. We recommend two products for the prevention of heartworm disease: Interceptor™ and Sentinel™. One of these should be started immediately after the treatment of an infected dog is complete. All dogs (beginning in puppy hood) should be on heartworm prevention year ‘round and tested for heartworms every 2 years. A heartworm test is required before an adult dog can begin a prevention program and if there is any break in the prevention program. Canine heartworm disease occurs all over the world. In Oregon, heartworm disease is found regularly in Southern Oregon. In the Hillsboro area, we have seen cases of positive dogs that have moved here from higher risk areas. Even though this is not a prevalent problem here it should not be ignored but prevented.

Roundworms

Roundworms are the most common intestinal parasite of the dog. Modes of infection include either ingestion of eggs from the environment or from prey that harbor the parasite. Roundworms are capable of moving across an infected mother dog’s placenta and into unborn puppies. Puppies can also become infected when nursing. Large numbers of eggs can be spread into the environment by an infected dog. These eggs are a human health hazard if accidentally ingested and can cause vision impairment or other serious diseases.
Adult roundworms are long, white, and tubular in shape. These worms swim inside the intestines and feed on digested food. An infection of multiple adult roundworms is capable of interfering with normal contractions of the intestines, creating an inability to absorb nutrients from food. A severe roundworm infestation can result in an intestinal blockage and possible death. Obtaining a fresh fecal sample and identifying the characteristic eggs under the microscope easily diagnoses roundworms. Fortunately, there are safe and effective treatments and preventions that will keep pets healthy and limit the spread of infection to others. Treatment schedules vary based on the environment and the degree of worm infestation. All pets that go outside should be on monthly parasite prevention such as Interceptor® or Sentinel®. Your veterinarian can recommend the most safe and effective drug, dose, and schedule for an individual pet.
Humans, mostly children, can become afflicted by roundworms by accidentally ingesting soil or feces containing their eggs. In people, the larvae can move through the eyes and other organs, leading to vision impairment or other serious illnesses. To prevent the potential for human health hazard, pet owners should dispose of feces in yards, parks, and playgrounds. Wearing gloves when gardening, covering sandboxes when not in use, and washing hands thoroughly prior to preparing and eating food are all important measures in maintaining hygiene and preventing disease. In addition, parents should ensure that children to do not play in potentially infected areas.
In today’s economy, the finances maybe strung thin and monthly parasite control such as Sentinel and Interceptor maybe getting cut out of the household budget. These two products provide a monthly deworming for your pet, which will hopefully stop an increasing problem. Recently, roundworm outbreaks have become much more numerous than in past years. It is vital to stay on your monthly parasite control and have a fecal tested every 6 months.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Hillsboro Veterinary Clinic at (503) 648-4117.

The Flea-Tapeworm Connection

Any cat that is at risk of carrying fleas is also at risk of becoming a host to tapeworms. The reason has to do with the cat’s highly effective grooming technique, plus the flea-tapeworm circle of life. First, flea larvae ingest the eggs of tapeworms. When fleas then mature and decide to move in with a cat, the cat reacts to their irritating little bites by licking the itchy spots, using its rake-like tongue to lap up the fleas in the process. Now, the tapeworm eggs inside the fleas are inside the cat, where they can mature into tapeworms and trouble. Tapeworms may cause illness, allergy or weight loss if they are present in large numbers. When segments of the tapeworm break off and pass into the cat’s stool, they can be seen crawling on the surface of the feces. Each of these capsules contains up to 20 tapeworm eggs. These segments often look like grains of cooked white rice but may look like golden sesame seeds as they begin to dry up. Less commonly, they are seen crawling around the cat’s anus. Also, a cat will occasionally scoot or drag its anus across the ground or carpet due to the anal irritation caused by the capsule segments. Occasionally, a tapeworm will release its attachment in the intestines and migrate to the stomach. When this happens, the cat may vomit an adult tapeworm several inches in length.

Be aware that tapeworms are not readily diagnosed with routine fecal examinations. Because of this, you should notify your veterinarian when tapeworm segments are found in your cat’s stool. Available treatments are safe and effective. After treatment, the tapeworm dies and is usually digested within the intestine, so worm segments do not usually pass into the stool. Tapeworm infection can become re-established within a few weeks if the cat lives in a flea-infested environment or hunts and eats mice. Control of fleas is the cornerstone of preventing tapeworm infection. With the new and exciting flea control products that have become available, this is now much easier than in years past. We, at Hillsboro Veterinary Clinic, will be happy to help you decide what flea control product will work best for you and your pet and whether you also need to treat your house and yard for fleas. If you suspect your pet has tapeworms call us at 503-648-4117 and speak with Elizabeth, one of our receptionists, to schedule an appointment.

Ear Infections

Infection of the outer ear is very common in dogs. A dog with an ear infection is uncomfortable; it shakes its head trying to get the debris out, and scratches its ears. The ears often become red and inflamed and develop a bad odor. A black or yellowish discharge commonly occurs. There are several kinds of bacteria and at least one type of fungus that might cause an ear infection. Without knowing the kind of infection present, we do not know which drug to use. The dog must also be examined to be sure that the eardrum is intact. First, the ear canal is examined with an otoscope, an instrument that provides magnification and light. This permits a good view of the ear canal. This examination allows us to determine whether the eardrum is intact and if there is any foreign material in the canal. The next step is to examine a sample of the material from the ear canal to determine which organism is causing the infection. This is called cytology. Examination of that material under the microscope is very important in helping the veterinarian choose the right medication to treat the ear canal. Sometimes, it reveals the presence of more than one type of infection; this situation usually requires the use of multiple medications or a broad-spectrum medication. Then a deep ear cleaning, many times with anesthesia, is needed.

An important part of the evaluation of the patient is the identification of underlying cause of the disease. Many dogs with recurrent ear infections have allergy problems or low thyroid function. If underlying disease is found, it must be diagnosed and treated, if at all possible. If this cannot be done, the dog is less likely to have a favorable response to treatment. Also, the dog might respond temporarily, but the infection will relapse at a later time (usually when ear medication is discontinued). If you notice your dog showing signs of ear infection, call and schedule an appointment. Not only will timely treatment ease your pet’s discomfort but serious and costly complications may be avoided as well.
We at Hillsboro Veterinary Clinic are here to help you and your pet. Please feel free to call at (503) 648-4117 to schedule an appointment today.