Pet Health
Here is a basic overview of how you can maintain and improve your pet’s health.
Heartworm Disease
Texas has one of the HIGHEST rates of heartworm disease in the United States. Heartworms are a parasite spread to dogs by infected mosquitos. Once the parasite enters the dog’s bloodstream, they travel to the heart, where they take up residence and cause extensive damage that, left untreated, can be deadly.
While Heartworms are easy to prevent by giving your dog monthly medication, many loose dogs that enter DAS have not had consistent preventative medications.
DAS strongly recommends ensuring your dogs and any cats exposed to the outdoors are on heartworm preventative. Talk to your veterinarian about the best option for your pet. Heartworm treatment is very expensive – save money and ensure your pet’s health by keeping them on heartworm prevention.
Heartworms are a parasitic roundworm that target and affect the heart and lungs of
mostly dog/canid species.
Heartworms, and heartworm disease, is very widespread throughout the U.S., and it has been found in all 50 states, but it is seen more here in the southern states due to our climate (heat and humidity).
- Mosquitos are the main vector (carrier) for microfilaria: the baby stage of the heartworm.
- Further, a mosquito feeds on an infected animal and picks up the microfilaria, or “baby heartworms,” in the blood. Then those “baby heartworms” are transferred to another dog when the mosquito bites them. It takes 6-7 months for the microfilaria to grow into an adult heartworm inside the dog.
- Additionally, adult heartworms can live for up to 5-7years in a dog. Dogs can also be re-infected even if they already have heartworms, adding more heartworm load in the body if they are not treated and kept on prevention, such as ProHeart.
- Doxycycline – Treats secondary infections and also makes the adult worms sterile
- Melarsomine – This medicine contains a trace amount of arsenic that will kill the adult worms, allowing bits to break into the bloodstream
to be reabsorbed. When heart/activity rate is too high, more bits of the worms will enter the bloodstream than can absorb in time. This can
lead to issues such as blood clots, pulmonary embolism, heart attack/stroke, etc. - ProHeart – 6–12-month preventative to keep your pet safe from reinfection.
- Crate Rest is necessary the first 4-6 weeks after an injection (each inj.). Walking and yard play should be done on leash. No rough play with
other pets in home. If your pet is calm, or a couch potato, you can allow them to be outside of kennel as long as supervised. Lick mats, puzzle
feeders, and pupsicles are great mental stimulators to keep your pup engaged during their crate resting period. - We perform a heartworm therapy here. Your vet may want to continue on with the normal heartworm treatment protocol which consists
of an additional 2 injections after the 30 day “crate rest” period. You, as the adopter, have the choice on whether to continue the treatment
with your own vet at your own cost. - At this time, we do not offer financial support for the additional injections, but we can help provide some low-cost resources for you if you need them.
Basic Pet Wellness
What vaccines should I get my pet?
All pets in the City of Dallas must be vaccinated for rabies. Dallas Animal Services also recommends dogs receive their core vaccines, which include parvovirus, distemper, and canine hepatitis. Dog owners may also want to consider the vaccine for Bordetella, particularly if they frequent dog parks, boarding facilities, doggy day cares, or pet groomers. For cats, Dallas Animal Services recommends the vaccines for panleukopenia (feline distemper), feline calicivirus, feline herpesvirus type I (rhinotracheitis). While we recommend keeping all cats indoors, any pet owners who allow their cats outside should also consider the vaccines for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus.
What monthly preventatives should I give my pet?
DAS recommends all dogs and cats be on monthly flea and tick preventative. Fleas and ticks can carry a variety of diseases that can cause illness in both pets and humans.
DAS strongly recommends ensuring your dogs and any cats exposed to the outdoors are on heartworm preventative. Talk to your veterinarian about the best option for your pet. Heartworm treatment is very expensive – save money and ensure your pet’s health by keeping them on heartworm prevention.
What do I do if my pet eats something toxic?
Please call the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
What plants are safe for my pet?
ASPCA has a database of plants that are toxic and non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses
Upper Respiratory Infections in Dogs
What are Upper Respiratory Infections?
An upper respiratory infection (URI) is an ailment that can affect the lungs, air passages, throat, and nasal cavities. It’s often caused by bacteria or a virus, and it’s highly contagious. Fortunately, it’s typically not life-threatening unless it leads to complications like pneumonia. One of the upper respiratory illnesses currently spreading is canine influenza virus (CIV), commonly known as the canine flu.
How Do Upper Respiratory Infections Spread?
Almost all dogs are susceptible to URI. A vaccine for CIV exists but is currently unavailable at many clinics due to supply chain delays. The CIV vaccine does not provide 100% protection. URIs spread faster inside shelters and boarding facilities because of the number of dogs housed closely together. URIs, including CIV, are spread mainly by respiratory droplets produced during coughing and sneezing by infected dogs or through contact with contaminated surfaces. Dogs coughing or showing other signs of respiratory illness should be isolated from other dogs and cats and see a veterinarian as soon as possible. Clothing, equipment, surfaces, and hands should be cleaned and disinfected after exposure to dogs showing signs of URI.
What are the Symptoms of Upper Respiratory Infections?
The signs of URI in dogs are cough, runny nose, fever, lethargy, eye discharge, and reduced appetite. Not all dogs will show signs of illness. If your dog begins showing symptoms, please consult your veterinarian immediately. Most dogs recover within 2 to 3 weeks. However, some dogs may develop secondary bacterial infections, which may lead to more severe illness and pneumonia. If your dog is under treatment and is either not getting better or seems to be getting worse, notify your veterinarian immediately.
How are Upper Respiratory Infections Treated?
It is important to keep your dog hydrated and comfortable while their body fights the infection. Your veterinarian may prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics if a secondary bacterial infection is suspected.
Distemper
What is Canine Distemper?
Canine Distemper Virus commonly referred to as distemper is a contagious viral infection that can cause airway, lung, eye, urinary, intestinal, and central nervous system symptoms. Unvaccinated dogs and dogs with weakened immune systems are the most at risk of catching distemper from an infected dog or wildlife, such as raccoons. Distemper is spread through bodily fluids including saliva and mucus and can be passed through the air or surfaces. Distemper can be fatal and could have lasting neurological impacts, but with supportive care, dogs can survive and go on to live long lives.
How Does Distemper Spread?
Distemper is spread to unvaccinated dogs and dogs with weakened immune systems just like the common cold - through contact with bodily secretions of infected dogs or wildlife, such as raccoons. Sneezing, coughing, nasal secretions, and saliva can all spread distemper. Unvaccinated dogs can also get distemper through sharing water bowls, touching noses, or being in the same place at the same time as dogs or wildlife with distemper. With distemper, prevention is key. Distemper is very difficult to control among unvaccinated dog populations because dogs infected with distemper can take up to 14 days to begin showing symptoms, however, they can begin spreading the illness to other dogs during that incubation period.
What Can I Do to Protect My Dog From Distemper?
The vaccine for distemper is highly effective at protecting dogs from contracting distemper. DAS recommends contacting your veterinarian about getting your dog vaccinated for distemper.