Last week I shared with you my story of Harley, what I termed my recycled dog for Earth Day. Below is another story of a pet adoption through our local group Pet Adoption and Welfare Service (PAWS). Buddy was found abandoned on a local highway and a very nice person picked him up. He was very a friendly dog, but had severe separation anxiety. When placed in a yard with a nice fence around it, he'd get over-anxious and dig or climb his way out. A co-chairman of the group, Nancy Shepherd, housed Buddy, helped train him with other volunteers, and kept searching for a permanent home for him. It took a couple of months, but Buddy finally found a home that was just right for him.
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It’s that time of year again when we start to think about the impact of our everyday lives on the environment: April 20th is Earth Day. Most of the goals we make around Earth Day include recycling more, turning the lights off before work, not running the water while brushing our teeth, and maybe not taking a 30-minute shower. Okay, the last one is definitely NOT happening in my case. Believe me, after delivering a rotten calf, I’m doing people a favor with my excessive amount of time in the shower (although my husband may disagree). However, few people probably think about Earth Day in regards to pets. Today, we’re talking about the benefits of adopting a homeless pet, or as I like to say in this context, a recycled pet! Will this have a lasting impact on the environment itself? Probably not, but it will make a world of difference in the life of that animal. Not only that, by choosing to adopt a dog rather than buy from a breeder, you are helping to reduce the pet overpopulation problem. We can all agree that fewer stray dogs in the streets, unwanted or abandoned animals, or animals euthanized in the shelter is a good thing. I’m going to start by telling my adoption story of my own dog, Harley. If you have read previous blogs, many of you know that my husband and I lost our Great Pyrenees, Shalane, to cancer just before Christmas. I wanted to adopt a dog at some point, ideally a Great Pyrenees as I have a particular fondness for the breed. When you lose a pet, it’s hard to decide when is the right time to add a pet to your family. The answer is there is no “right” answer. Every person processes grief differently. Some feel better if they adopt a dog immediately. Others need more time before they’re ready. However, there’s no reason to feel guilty for wanting to adopt soon after losing a pet. You’re not replacing the pet you lost. You’re giving your love to another animal and filling the void in your home. I wasn’t necessarily biting at the bit to adopt right away. I knew that the right dog would come at the right time, and I simply needed to be patient. I was working one day when I received a text from a close friend and classmate of mine. She had just taken a tour of the Jefferson City Animal Shelter and sent me a picture of a cute looking Pyrenees. She told me she appeared friendly and was relatively young. She seemed to be exactly what we were looking for. I tentatively sent my husband the picture, expecting an immediate refusal. To my surprise, his response was, “Go get her.” Another classmate of mine is the shelter veterinarian at this shelter, so I sent her a message expressing interest. I told her I would love to come meet the dog, and we arranged a time for that to happen on my afternoon off. My husband and I drove down to Jeff City to meet Harley. I had never been to the Jefferson City Animal Shelter before. It was a relatively new facility, and I was impressed with the cleanliness and overall facilities they had. My friend and classmate escorted us back to the kennels. Apparently, since we last talked, the shelter had actually acquired one more Pyrenees for us to meet. We were escorted to a room and spent some time with both dogs. Both dogs were so sweet, but we definitely connected with Harley right away. She had been found wandering as a stray in a nearby town several days before. She was a bit underweight and looked like she’d been neglected and fending for herself for awhile, but that didn’t stop her from loving everyone she met. We decided to adopt her. I was surprised how hard it was to choose just one. I felt bad for leaving the other dog, but my classmate assured me that they have a high adoption rate and she would likely be adopted quickly. I was also impressed by the relatively inexpensive adoption fee of $50. For that amount of money, I received a pet that had been spayed, vaccinated, and started on parasite prevention. That is a deal if I ever heard of one (which my frugal husband appreciated). While taking her out to the car, it was apparent that she had never really been on a leash before. She planted her feet and refused to move forward. We finally coaxed her into the car. Her first day with us was a bit of a whirlwind. I was preparing to sing several songs with a former bandmate of mine for a PAWs fundraiser, and we were meeting in a nearby town for our last rehearsal before the event. Yes, you’re probably thinking that it’s hard to believe that I was actually cool enough to be in a band at one time. Our name was Zu Zu’s Petals. Most of you can probably figure out that movie reference. Anyway, while we were killing time, I stopped by a local pet store in Columbia to buy some essentials, including a new dog bed, a collar, and about three dog toys. My husband would probably argue that these actually aren’t essentials, but I beg to differ. We went to a local trail to walk her around and get her more used to the leash. It was a cold and windy day, the day before Valentine’s Day. As I zipped my coat all the way up and bared the cold weather, wishing I had brought gloves, I was surprised how quickly she picked up the leash training. We drove to my friend’s house to practice, where she got to meet even more friends, including their dog, and be serenaded by our singing. I picked the name Harley as my husband is a motorcycle fan and has talked about getting a Harley for some time. This was my smart-aleck solution to his lifelong dream. We finally drove another 30 miles home at about 9:30 P.M. As we got close to town, my husband slowed the car down and said, “Wait! Was that an owl on the side of the road just sitting there?” I was honestly spacing out and hadn’t noticed it. We turned the car around and parked on the shoulder. Sure enough, there was a barred owl just sitting on the side of the road, clearly not concerned about us standing right next to him. I told my husband to grab his coat from the back seat of the car. Having worked at a wildlife sanctuary in the past, I was somewhat experienced at handling birds of prey. I wrapped the coat around the owl and swooped him up without much of a fight. So there we were, late at night with our brand new adopted dog in the back seat and me holding on to an owl in the front seat. This could have been a recipe for a complete disaster. Looking back, now I’m seeing Harley baring teeth, barking relentlessly, the owl waking from his stupor, spreading his wings and attempting to fly in the very limited space of a Toyota Corolla, as my husband and I scream like little girls, trying to keep the car on the road, while trying to not get our eyes clawed out before we get the owl out of the dang car. Surprisingly, everything was fine and we drove the owl to the clinic where I put him in a quiet cage in the back, away from the dogs and cats. I digress, but for those curious about the fate of the owl, he was taken by my husband the following morning to Raptor Rehabilitation at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. He didn’t do this without some sarcastic comment about being a wizard and picking up chicks at Barnes and Noble. He was taking time out of his day off to drop off a random owl that I wanted to save, so I’ll give him that. The person there agreed that the owl was probably stunned from hitting a windshield, was a bit underweight, but should make a recovery and be able to be released after some nursing care. Since our adoption day, Harley has filled our lives with joy. Our home felt so empty without a dog. We’ve had a few challenges along the way, including some mild separation anxiety and chewing behavior. So far, she has chewed the heel of one of my running shoes, the top of my Ariat work boots, and a sleeve of my black leather trench coat that I inherited from my late grandmother. Of course, all these things are either expensive or have sentimental value, and all of them are mine. Why she doesn’t chew my husband’s stuff is beyond me. Aside from the minor challenges, it’s been very rewarding inviting her into our home and family. She loves to run and will run up to three to four miles with me (not typical of a Pyrenees). Compared to our last Pyrenees, Shalane, Harley is quite obedient, comes when called, and stays by our side. She is also a bit afraid of cows and the dark. Shelter pets can have interesting histories, even if you adopt young. Many of them may have been neglected or abused, or just plain ignored. Most of these pets are forever grateful to have a loving home. No dog, whether it’s a purebred bought from a breeder or a shelter pet, is immune to minor behavioral issues. In fact, I often see more behavioral and genetic problems in dogs bought from breeders. Usually with a little patience, training, and establishing trust, you’ll end up with not just a pet, but a new member of your family. The reward is well worth it. It is National Heartworm Awareness Month, so I’m doing my bit to inform you about this disease in your dog. Don’t worry cat lovers, I’ll catch up with you later. In terms of heartworm disease and personality, of course, Milo is a whole other ball game compared to Otis. Today, I’ll focus on the canine in your life. I’ve taken some commonly asked questions and tried to answer them without a long list of vocabulary terms you must learn. No one likes a smartie pants, or so my husband tells me. Enjoy! Is heartworm disease common in my area? Do I really need to treat my dog? Yes, heartworm disease is common in many areas of the United States. Heartworm disease is caused by a parasitic worm, Dirofilaria immitus, which is spread by mosquitos. It can cause lung disease, heart failure, organ damage, and death in certain animals, mainly dogs, cats, and even ferrets. There are certain times that it is more prevalent than others, but it has been diagnosed in all 50 states. Because of real estate development, the change in environment in the West, and urban sprawl that has created “heat islands,” heartworm infection has a greater potential of spreading. Mosquitoes cause the spread of heartworm disease, so they enjoy warmer climates and wet, unirrigated areas. Basically, some place in the U.S. has this climate at one time or another, although some may have mosquito breeding environments longer than others. It could still be a problem at any time though because of travel and ever-changing weather patterns. Basically, yes, you should treat your dog because it has the potential to spread and has been diagnosed all over the U.S. If it is more prevalent during certain times of the year, can I save money and not give it during the winter months? You should treat your dog monthly. It can sometimes seem to make sense to only treat your pet when needed, but as I explained before, because of ever-changing weather patterns that might bring about an influx of mosquitoes that could be carrying heartworm disease and because of extensive animal movement, you must give a preventative year round. It is also difficult to estimate when to start and stop the medication to be active when a season starts, especially if you live in an area with unpredictable weather, like Missouri, or basically anywhere in the U.S. My husband and I were sitting by a pond on the farm in the beginning of February of this year and getting bit by mosquitos. February! It can spread any time, any place. You want a continuous round of heartworm prevention to make sure it’s taking effect when it should, and also because most heartworm prevention medications also contain a wide array of dewormers to prevent other types of infections. What should I give my dog for heartworm prevention and how often? There are a number of drugs available, mostly oral medications that are taken monthly (30 day dosing intervals). They all require authorization by a licensed veterinarian. Check with your veterinarian to see what works best for your dog. When should my dog start getting a heartworm preventative? A dog should receive a heartworm preventative as soon as possible if they have never received it. A puppy should have one no later than eight weeks. If started after that, your dog should really be tested for heartworms, even after having a preventative, six months after the initial dose. If your dog is seven months of age or older, it will need to be heartworm tested before even starting heartworm preventative. Even dogs that get a heartworm preventative should still be tested yearly as giving the preventative to a heartworm positive dog can cause a deadly reaction. Annual testing is for their safety, not because we veterinarians are trying to make more money. I have diagnosed several dogs with heartworm disease that are on heartworm preventative MOST of the year. All it can take is a few missed doses or even getting a little behind on the 30-day dosing interval. So do your pup a favor, and get it started on a heartworm preventative (if you haven’t already). Maybe my next blog should be a series of answers to the age-old question, “How do I get my dog to take a pill?” Trickery, my friend. Plain old trickery. When I was a new graduate, I would love looking at the schedule and seeing, “Itchy dog” or “cat scratching so much it’s bleeding.” As a new graduate, these were simple cases for me to solve as 95% of the time, the itching was caused by fleas or even an animal being allergic to the flea bite. Now when I see those descriptions on the clinic calendar, I feel dread and get the sudden urge to brush that case off onto Dr. Vroman (my colleague). Why is it I hate seeing those cases now? One word: Fleanial. It is a common condition afflicting pet owners, and veterinarians use this word to describe an individual that is in complete denial that their pet has fleas. I have not been trained to treat human conditions, and this particular condition is quite difficult to treat. The ONLY hope for treating fleanial is education, which I hope to provide in this blog post (along with a little entertainment). Before we move on to the rest of this blog post, we need to go over the basics of the flea life cycle. It is important for you to understand this for my explanations later in this blog post. The flea life cycle is divided into four parts: eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults. The complete life cycle can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to many months depending on environmental conditions. The flea life cycle begins when an adult female flea lays eggs after a blood meal (from your pet). These eggs are smaller than a grain of sand and normally laid in bunches of 20. They lay these eggs in your pet’s fur, carpet, bedding where they rest, in the seams of hardwood floors, or in your yard. The female flea starts laying eggs after her first blood meal and lays up to 50 eggs per day. Eggs can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to hatch, depending on environmental conditions. If your environment is cool and dry, it will take longer. They hatch and develop quickly in hot or humid weather. Ideal temperature is 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the temperature of most homes unless you’re a Stroupe like me with a wood stove and no air conditioning. The two temperature settings in my house are either hypothermia or eternal hell fires. Anyway, eventually the eggs hatch and larvae emerge. The larvae are blind and avoid sunlight. They survive and develop by eating digested blood (also known as flea dirt) that the adult fleas pass or other organic debris in the environment. If all goes well, within 5-20 days of hatching, the larvae will spin cocoons. This leads to the next life stage, which is the pupae. The cocoon protects the pupae for several days or weeks until the adult flea emerges. If the environmental conditions are not ideal, the cocoon can protect the developing flea for months or even years. The cocoons have a sticky outer coating, which allows them to be buried deep in carpet or other materials. This also makes them difficult to remove with vacuuming. When conditions are ideal and the adult flea senses vibrations, increased carbon dioxide levels, or body heat, it emerges from its cocoon...like a beautiful butterfly. Or not. The adult jumps on your pet, takes a blood meal, and the cycle repeats over and over again until you have tens of thousands of these guys in your house or yard. Now that we’ve gone over the flea life cycle, I will list the most common phrases uttered by individuals with fleanial, and my response, which may be somewhat more sarcastic than what I give in the exam room (a perk to reading the blog). 1. I don’t have fleas in my home. I haven’t seen any and they’re not biting me! Did I just comb a bunch of live fleas or flea dirt off of your dog? Does your dog go into your house? Then the answer is yes, there are fleas in your home. After learning the life cycle above, you probably understand that it is physically impossible to have fleas on your dog or cat but NOT have them in your home. You may not see them because for the most part, the fleas are either on your pet or getting into the carpet or other areas of the environment to lay eggs. There are over 2,000 species of fleas. The most common species of flea found in households in North America is the cat flea. Dogs, cats, and humans are the preferred hosts for this flea. However, the fleas mostly prefer dogs and cats, which is why you might not experience flea bites in your home until you have a heavy infestation. 2. I don’t think my pet has very many fleas. She only has 2 or 3 fleas. Oh no. Where there is one flea, there are often thousands of them just after a few days of laying eggs. As mentioned above, an adult female flea lays up to 50 eggs per day. The average flea infested dog has about 20 fleas on them at one time, but heavily infested dogs can have hundreds. It’s a party in your pet’s fur, and the more the merrier. 3. There can’t be fleas in my house or on my pets! I’m a clean person! Fleas don’t really care if you live in a gated community or disinfect every surface of your house and vacuum three times a day. Fleas also don’t care if you bathe your dog twice a week. If fleas jump on your pet and they’re not on effective flea preventative, no amount of cleaning will completely prevent the flea lifecycle from taking place or spiralling out of control. While vacuuming can help remove adult fleas, larvae, and eggs from the environment, many other measures also need to be taken to eliminate fleas in your house or on your pet. The best person to ask for advice on this is your veterinarian. They know what preventatives will work best for you and your pet, and they can walk you through treating the environment. 4. Yeah, I know my pet has fleas, but I really don’t think that’s what’s causing her itching. Do you realize how ridiculous this statement sounds? Imagine you have bugs crawling on you, biting you, and sucking your blood. That is definitely enough to make you itch and scratch. Heck, I’m scratching right now just thinking about it! Of course fleas are causing your animal’s itching! This could even be complicated by a flea allergy in your animal. Pets with flea allergies have an even more severe itch response to flea bites as they are allergic to the saliva of the flea. In some cases, all it takes is one flea bite to set them off. 5. I’ve tried everything! Nothing gets rid of the fleas! A flea infestation on your pet or in your home can definitely be frustrating. However, “I’ve tried everything” usually means the client has tried every single crappy, over-the-counter flea preventative that Wal-Mart has to offer. Look, I understand. You see commercial flea products on the shelves and assume that they not only work but that they’re also safe for your pet. Unfortunately, neither of those things are true. Not all flea preventatives are created equal, and you usually get what you pay for. I’m convinced that some of these cheap supermarket flea preventatives actually attract fleas. I’ve even had some patients die from certain over-the-counter flea preventatives. PSA: Do NOT apply Sargent’s Silver to your cats. I have had two patients die from this flea product from a pyrethrin toxicity. Pyrethrins are a pesticide toxic to cats. This company gets away with using this pesticide because it is not listed as an active ingredient. If you look at any box of flea preventative and it says, “Other ingredients: 45%”, that is a HUGE red flag! Even if you’re not buying your preventatives from your vet (which you should), you should at least consult your veterinarian before using a flea product on your pet. It can save their life. Good flea preventatives aren’t usually cheap, but it prevents the headache and expense of treating a flea infestation. Most importantly, flea prevention prevents a number of diseases and discomfort in your pet. Consult your veterinarian and find out what preventatives work best for you and your pets. We can be a great resource to you. 6. My pet doesn’t have fleas. They never go outside! Indoor only pets can certainly be exposed to fleas. While outdoor animals are more likely to become infested with fleas, as well as ticks and other parasites, indoor pets can get them as well. When you consider that a flea can jump nearly 100 times its height, you realize how sneaky they can be. Fleas can hitch a ride on your pant leg or shoes and get into your home. If you have a dog that goes outside and plays in the yard, they can pick up fleas and bring them inside to your other indoor pets. Fleas are also small enough that they can get indoors on their own by jumping through a screen door, through window cracks, or any small opening. Once inside, the flea jumps on your pet and the rest is history. The ONLY way to prevent a flea infestation on your pet and in your house is to use a reliable, flea preventative as labeled year round. Fleas do not go away in the winter months as they survive on your pet’s body heat and move indoors. As mentioned earlier, consult your veterinarian on what products work best for you and your pet. I hope this blog post was both informative, entertaining, and maybe even prevents the outbreak of fleanial plaguing pet owners. There’s no need to be ashamed. I promise not to judge you for having a pet with fleas if you promise to listen to reason and allow me to help you.Your pet will thank you. And besides, who wants larvae crawling around in the their carpet? Gross! |
Jessica Stroupe, DVM
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