Tick Paralysis in Cats Dogs and Other Species

Tick Paralysis in Cats, Dogs, and Other Species? Unfortunately, this is an issue for all animals, not just cats and dogs. Injecting a poison into the host’s bloodstream is what ticks do when they connect to the skin. Paralysis is one of several symptoms caused by the toxin’s effects on the nervous system, which worsen without treatment.

What causes it?

Ticks inject their poison into an animal’s bloodstream once they’ve hooked themselves to it. The neurological condition known as tick paralysis is not contagious and affects a small number of animals, including canines and felines. The condition begins with acute ataxia. The quick start of clumsy motions, which progress to lower-limb paralysis and then upper-limb paralysis, is a hallmark of the disease.

Common symptoms

Your pet may exhibit any combination of the following tick paralysis symptoms:

Incoordination in the hind legs, often known as “wobbliness,”
Abdominal heaving, grunting, labouring, or fast breathing
Barking changes or disappears
Coughing
Nausea and vomiting
Trouble staying upright
Discomfort when seated
Appetite loss
A single or bilateral inability to blink

What are the symptoms of tick paralysis?

Tick paralysis may occur in cats and dogs when the parasite causes them to be clumsy or shows other symptoms of the disease. It may be difficult to diagnose tick paralysis because ticks are not always easy to see. Immediately notify your veterinarian if you see any signs that might indicate tick paralysis in your pet.

Treatment of tick paralysis in cats, dogs, and other species

Several therapies are available for tick paralysis, the choice of which is dependent on the severity of the sickness. The veterinarian who treats your pet may provide you with treatment recommendations. To combat the effects of tick toxin, a serum is on the market. Toxic exposure almost always necessitates hospitalisation and ongoing supportive care for the dog. It may be essential to use a ventilator to help a dog breathe while it recovers in severe cases.

The first two or three weeks after returning home from the vet are always highly important for a pet’s rehabilitation.

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Dog Skin Issues

Dog Skin Issues: Many dog owners deal with a regular issue: dog skin problems. From minor to severe, several elements—including allergies, parasites, and skin infections—can lead to these problems. The best therapy depends on knowing the fundamental reason for the skin problem.

Common Dog Skin Issues

Among the most often occurring dog skin conditions are allergies, parasites, bacterial skin infections, dry skin, alopecia, skin cancer, hot spots, yeast infections, ringworm, and autoimmune illnesses. You can identify each of these problems by their symptoms, and you can treat them differently.

Treatment of Dog Skin Issues

The basic source of the problem determines the treatment of the skin issue. One may control allergies, for example, by avoiding the allergen or by utilising allergy meds. High-quality preventative products recommended by your vet may help to avoid parasites.

Usually treated with oral antibiotics or medicated shampoos, bacterial skin infections Antibiotics and anti-itch meds typically treat hot areas. Usually, oral or topical antifungal treatments help with yeast infections.

Treatments for other common dog skin issues

Oral and topical antifungal treatments treat ringworm. Oral omega-3 fatty acid skin pills or moistening leave-on lotions may help with dry skin. Alopecia could call for blood tests looking for underlying disorders. Usually identified with a biopsy, skin cancer might be treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery.

Usually, autoimmune disorders are treated with low dosages of prednisone or cyclosporine, immunosuppressive drugs.

Wrapping up

In essence, dog skin issues are a typical occurrence, as many elements might lead to them. To provide the best therapy, one must first determine the fundamental reason for the skin problem. Knowing the many kinds of dog skin problems and their remedies will enable dog owners and their animals to have happy and healthy lives. A vet needs to assess any dog skin problem; home treatments can exacerbate the condition.

A Guide to Healthy Eating for Your Pe.t

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A Guide for Looking After Old Pets

A Guide for Take Care of Old Pet: Preserving the comfort and happiness of elderly dogs in their twilight years requires considerate modifications to their living space, food, and medical regimen. Below you will find a comprehensive instruction on how to take care of older dogs and cats.

Understanding when your pet becomes a senior

Cats

When a cat turns 10, it’s often considered a senior.

Dogs

Size and breed determine a dog’s seniority:

Dogs weighing fewer than twenty pounds: eight to eleven years old.
8 to 10 years for medium-sized breeds weighing 20 to 50 pounds.
Age range: 8–9 years for large breeds (50–90 pounds).
Estimated 6-7 years for giant breeds (90 pounds or more).

A Guide for Looking After Old Pets

1. Regular Veterinary Care

To detect and treat age-related health problems, older dogs need to see their vet more often, preferably twice a year. These checks could include more extensive procedures than those for smaller animals, such as:

2. Taking care of our teeth

Untreated dental disease is a common cause of discomfort and illness in older dogs.

Clinical Laboratory Tests

For example, it may help find diabetes, renal illness, or an imbalance in the thyroid gland at an early stage.

Early detection of illnesses associated with ageing

Arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and cancer screenings are all part of this. You may greatly enhance your pet’s quality of life by detecting health issues early.

3. Preserving Flexibility

Arthritis and weak muscles may make it harder for elderly dogs to move about. Encouraging kids to stay active is crucial.

Take them on short walks if they’re in good enough shape, and let them play interactively if they’re in poor health.
To avoid hopping or climbing steps, build ramps coated with nonslip material so they can reach their preferred places, such as beds, sofas, or vehicles.
Make sure they’re not at risk of pressure sores by providing them with supportive bedding.
Pets may also benefit from mobility aids such as paw grips or harnesses when it comes to navigating uneven or slippery flooring.

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Senior Dogs Health Checks

Senior Dog Health Check: To keep them healthy and happy into old age, senior dogs need specialized care that changes as they become older. Veterinarians conduct thorough exams known as senior dog health checks to monitor the general health of older dogs, identify any early warning signs of illness, and assist in managing age-related illnesses. The following is a full rundown of the components of various health screenings:

Why Are Senior Dog Health Checks Important?

Arthritis, renal failure, cardiovascular disease, cancer, cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), hypothyroidism, and diabetes mellitus are some of the chronic disorders that may arise in older dogs. By identifying health problems early and intervening quickly, routine checkups may help people live better by reducing the severity of their symptoms and the likelihood of consequences.

Components of a Senior Dog’s Health Check

To evaluate the physical state of an older dog, detect any problems, and manage changes caused by aging, a standard health checkup for dogs comprises the following components:

1. History Taking

Before getting into the specifics of your dog’s health, the doctor will want to know about any recent changes in your pet’s habits or behaviour.

2. Get a full medical checkup

Using our five senses (sight, touch, smell, etc.), we do a comprehensive physical examination. What the veterinarian will see is:

Heart and Lungs: Pay attention to any irregularities in breathing or murmurs.

Muscles and Joints: Detecting Atrophying Muscles and Arthritis.

3. Minimum Database Testing

It is common practice to recommend routine laboratory tests for dogs, regardless of their outward appearance of health. Among them are:

A full blood count analysis

It explains how the immune system uses white blood cells, how platelets help in clotting, and how red blood cells carry oxygen. It may show signs of anemia, inflammation, infections, or cancers.

Biochemistry Profile

It checks for diseases like diabetes or electrolyte imbalances and evaluates the function of the organs (kidneys, liver).

Urinalysis

Urine screens for kidney disease, UTIs, diabetes, and cancer indications.

Analyzing Thyroid Hormones

Hypothyroidism, which manifests in sluggishness, increased body fat, and skin issues, is a prevalent health concern in older dogs. This test examines thyroid hormone levels to identify the condition.

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Heartworm Disease And Treatment

Heartworm Disease And Treatment: The foot-long worms that cause heartworm disease dwell in the blood vessels of infected dogs and may cause a severe and sometimes deadly illness. The disease spreads when an infected mosquito bites. The mosquito takes tiny worms called microfilaria from an affected animal and puts them on the skin of a new target.

Causes and Transmission of Heartworm Disease in Dogs

A key player in the heartworm life cycle, the mosquito acts as an intermediary host, transmitting the illness from one pet to another. The parasite Dirofilaria immitis causes the illness as it travels through the bloodstream.

When infected mosquitoes bite, parasites spread from one host to another, depositing their eggs on the skin of unsuspecting victims. After invading a new host with a mosquito bite, the heartworm larvae need around six months to develop into adult worms.

Signs and Symptoms of Heartworm Disease in Dogs

A mild chronic cough, lethargy, lack of appetite, weight loss, and inactivity are some of the symptoms that may accompany heartworm illness in dogs.

Pets may have heart failure and a bloated abdomen from fluid buildup as the condition advances. Dogs may experience a potentially fatal kind of cardiovascular collapse if their hearts suddenly get clogged with blood.

Treatment of Heartworm Disease in Dogs

Melarsomine is an injectable medication that kills adult heartworms. It is a usual component of a course of injections given to dogs suffering from heartworm illness. Typically, a treatment plan will include a first injection, a 30-day break, and two further injections spaced 24 hours apart.

Along with pain medicine and other necessary supportive care, the dog will also receive treatment to destroy microfilariae.

Prevention of Heartworm Disease

The easiest way to keep your dog safe from heartworm is to treat them with a preventative and keep them away from mosquitoes. The American Heartworm Society recommends using an FDA- or EPA-licensed insecticide to protect your dog from mosquitoes.

Another way to avoid getting heartworm is to keep standing water to a minimum and stay inside during the morning and evening when mosquitoes are most active.

My Pet and Euthanasia

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Dog Dermatitis Assessment and Treatment

Dog Dermatitis Assessment and Treatment: Excessive itching and inflammation are defining characteristics of canine dermatitis, which is another name for atopic dermatitis. Toxins found in the environment are the root cause of this chronic illness.

Your dog may still have a good quality of life with the aid of excellent therapy, even if there is currently no cure. In other words, this is not a life-threatening condition in dogs.

Dog Dermatitis Assessment and Treatment

There is a hereditary component to canine dermatitis, as well as a skin deficiency and allergen exposure (including pollen, mold, dust mites, and dander). Excessive itching, licking, chewing, and scratching are signs of dog dermatitis. This may cause further infections and skin damage. Paws, bellies, and ears are the most typical sites of infection.

How to Diagnose Dermatitis in Dogs

It is common practice to rule out other possible causes of pruritus or itching in dogs before making a diagnosis of dermatitis. In order to diagnose the root cause of symptoms, a veterinarian will do a thorough physical examination, collect a full medical history, and maybe run tests like blood tests, skin scrapings, or allergy tests.

Physical exam findings, the presence of typical itchy symptoms, and the efficacy of atopic therapy all contribute to the final diagnosis.

Treatment of Dog Dermatitis

Because canine dermatitis is multi-modal, it usually necessitates a mix of therapies. Topical treatments, oral drugs, injectable pharmaceuticals, allergen-specific immunotherapy, and oral medications are the most effective treatment choices. In order to desensitize pets to certain allergens, allergen-specific immunotherapy entails giving them tiny amounts of the problematic allergen.

Shampoos, rinses, and medicated wipes are examples of topical treatments that may help alleviate inflammation and eliminate allergens. You may alleviate inflammation and irritation with the use of oral drugs including cyclosporine, corticosteroids, and antihistamines. Lokivetmab and other injectable medicines may alleviate inflammation and irritation.

Pet Insurance

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What Does Pet Insurance Cover

What Does Pet Insurance Cover: To assist in covering the expense of medical treatment in the event that a pet becomes ill or injured, many pet owners have gotten pet insurance policies. Pet medical insurance, pet health insurance, or comparable offerings protect pet owners against the financial burden of unforeseen medical expenses. This gives them peace of mind and financial stability.

Insurance for pets: how does it work?

By covering a percentage of authorised vet bills, pet insurance may help owners save money. While specifics may vary per policy, here is a general outline of how pet insurance often works:

If you take your sick or wounded pet to a licenced veterinarian or animal hospital, your insurance will reduce your out-of-pocket expenses. Your veterinarian visit should be paid for at the time.
Fill out an insurance claim form and send it in by regular mail, mobile app, or web browser. Keeping all of the papers and invoices from your vet visit is important. Certain pet insurance providers may need them to complete your claim.
You should expect to get 70% to 100% of your covered expenditures back if you hit your deductible. The typical timeframe for policyholders to get their reimbursement after lodging a claim is 5 to 9 days.

What Does Pet Insurance Cover

Unanticipated harm, such as swallowing a foreign item or breaking a bone, among other things.
Examinations (such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs), blood tests, and X-rays)
Costs of an urgent medical checkup
Cancer, glaucoma, hip dysplasia, parvovirus, and other unforeseen diseases
Surgical procedures (such as repairs to torn cruciate ligaments, cataracts, and
Medication

Illness and accidents

For example, if your pet gets hit by a vehicle or hurts themself by sliding down the stairs, an accident-only coverage will only pay for emergency treatment. Coverage of this kind does not extend to illnesses or problems unique to a particular breed.

In the event of an accident or unforeseen sickness, an accident-illness plan will pay for medical expenses. It accounts for almost all pet insurance policies (98%) and is therefore the most common. Although this plan does not pay for pre-existing diseases or preventative treatment, it will reimburse you for the vast majority of medical expenses.

Saving Money on Your Pets Medical Costs

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Grooming Service for Your Dog

Grooming Service for Your Dog: It’s no secret that dogs may spend hours upon hours grooming themselves, what with licking paws, smoothing hair, and rubbing ears and tails.

Did you know that regular grooming is essential to your pet’s physical and mental health? Grooming your dog entails a lot more than just giving them a good brushing.

Let’s look at some of the benefits proper grooming can bring to your pet.

The Benefits of Grooming Service for Your Dog

Assisting your pet in feeling clean and cosy offers several advantages. Grooming not only guarantees their physical and mental well-being but also considerably enhances their mood and attitude.

Some benefits include:

A clean coat and skin
Unobscured eyes and vision
Clipped, healthy nails
Healthy teeth
Reduced risk of eye, ear, skin, teeth and nail infections
Easier toileting, by clipping area around the tail
Getting your pet comfortable and used to being at the vet
Increased sociability

The Side Effects of Neglecting Your Pet’s Coat

Neglecting to provide dogs with the correct grooming may have far-reaching effects on their health and well-being. Dissatisfied, unpleasant, or even violent behaviour in a pet might result from neglecting its grooming requirements.

You may not know that dogs dislike knotted or matted hair. The hair tangles so tightly that it obstructs blood flow. This may lead to skin disorders and ulcers in cats and dogs. In addition to increasing the danger of overheating, matted hair may make dogs feel very weighed down.

In addition to being very unpleasant, parasites like fleas, ticks, and mites may be deadly to dogs if they live on unclean, uncared-for coats.

How Often Should Your Pet Be Groomed?

More regular home grooming is a duty that owners of long-haired cats or dogs with unique coats must embrace.

Depending on the species, pets often need grooming every four to twelve weeks. It’s best to ask local veterinarian near you to schedule grooming appointments to follow to best take care of your cat or dog’s coat.

Professional Grooming Service for Your Dog

At Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital we offer a wide range of affordable wellness packages for cats and dogs to Rockingham, Warnbro, Baldivis and surrounding. Pet grooming, tests, and vaccines are included in these bundles. Make an appointment at Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital for your pet’s grooming now and use this time to talk about your pet’s health plan.

By keeping track of your pet’s essential health metrics in this manner, you can ensure that you won’t neglect any aspect of their care, including regular trimming and clipping.

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How to Perform CPR on Cats and Dogs

Why Pet Insurance is Important All pet owners know that footing a veterinary bill can be quite expensive and ongoing medical care for your pet can quickly put financial pressure.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Perform CPR on Cats and Dogs to Save Lives

It might surprise you to know that being able How to Perform CPR on Cats and Dogs is an important skill to have if you own a pet. Whether your cat or dog is an inside or outside pet, knowing CPR will mean you can act quickly in an emergency and you could save a pet’s life in the process.

An emergency isn’t really the time to be searching on Google, so make sure you read this handy guide now so you are able to save the life of your pet or the pet of somebody else if you need to.

Here’s our guide to CPR in cats and dogs

Remove Any Obstruction if Possible

Your cat or dog may be choking on something that is obstructing their breathing. Before attempting any CPR, open your animal’s mouth and check to see if their air passage is clear. If there is something caught in their throat, remove it carefully. Your pet may be conscious and distressed which could cause them to snap or bite. If this is the case, it’s best to take them straight to a veterinarian.

Give Artificial Respiration

If your cat or dog is unconscious and their airway is unobstructed, you can attempt to give artificial respirations. This is done by closing the animal’s jaw tightly and breathing into their nose. You should see their chest rise. If this isn’t working or your pet is a small dog or cat, you could try covering their nose and mouth with your mouth and breathing over them. When doing artificial respirations, 2 breaths are sufficient.

Perform Chest Compressions

The way you perform chest compressions on an unconscious pet depends on its size. Large dogs can be positioned on their backs similar to humans and compressions can be done in the centre of their chest. This is difficult for small dogs and cats so you may need to do their chest compressions while they are lying on their side. Compressions are then done on the side of their rib cage. The rate of compression also varies depending on the animal’s size but generally, 80-120 compressions per minute are suitable for small to medium-sized dogs and all cats. 60 compressions per minute are sufficient for large dogs.

Alternate between Breathing and Compressions

Now that you know how to perform breaths and compressions during CPR, it’s also important to alternate between the two. If you’re giving 80 compressions then you should give a breath after 40. If you’re doing 60 compressions, give a breath after 30. Alternating between breaths and compressions helps to give CPR more of a chance of being successful.

What Now?

Once your cat or dog is breathing independently again you can cease CPR. You should take them to a veterinarian as soon as possible afterwards to determine the cause of the problem and to do a general health check. If CPR has failed, take your pet to the vet immediately.

The team at Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital understands, values, and respects the very special nature of the human-animal bond and are happy to assist you with how to perform CPR. We are also there for you in any emergency pet situation. Contact us to find out more today.

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5 Reasons to Join a Puppy Training Class

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5 Compelling Reasons to Enroll in a Puppy Training Class Today

Reasons to Join Puppy Training Classes: When you bring a puppy home they are instantly the star of the house but if they aren’t trained young, you might find your puppy becoming less popular. Chewing your belongings, aggressive behaviour and poor toilet training are all examples of bad habits your dog may exhibit. As they get older, these habits might be harder to break and some of them may even become dangerous to the wellbeing of others and result in extra vet visits.

Early education and socialisation are essential for the behavioural development and well-being of puppies. Young puppies learn obedience skills, toileting behaviour and social etiquette quite easily. All of these things set your puppy on the path to being a well-adjusted dog.

Here’s why you should join puppy training classes immediately.

1. Your Puppy will Learn to Be Social

This is one of the most important reasons to send your dog to puppy school. If your puppy doesn’t have the opportunity to mingle and mix with dogs and people of all different shapes and sizes, they won’t know the appropriate way to behave when approached by another dog or people who aren’t in your family.

2. Your Puppy will Learn to Hold Back the Bite

Some puppies won’t naturally learn to hold back from biting. The nature and breed of your dog also influence whether they are more likely to bite. At puppy school, you’ll be given the skills to make sure your dog learns that gentle mouthing is ok but biting hard won’t be tolerated.

3. You will Be Confident in Housetraining Your Dog

A lot of the time, a simple “No!” each time your dog commits a housetraining crime isn’t enough to train them to be obedient. At puppy school, you’ll learn specific techniques to make sure your dog isn’t destroying your home or garden.

4. Your Puppy will Learn How to Be Restrained

If your puppy doesn’t learn that humans might need to touch their paws, pick up their leg or pop them on a lead then it will be difficult when the time comes and they need to be washed or have an injury inspected. At puppy school, your puppy will learn that it is OK to be held and restrained for a period.

5. Your Puppy Will Become a Happy, Well Adjusted Dog

Puppy training sets your dog up for a lifetime without aggression or fear. A puppy school allows your puppy to become a dog that isn’t fearful of certain situations and one that knows how to handle a domestic home life around children, cars, street sounds and more.

Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital approx 17 mins from Rockingham or Baldivis runs weekly Puppy Classes. We offer a safe and secure environment for your new puppy to learn and meet new friends. Classes are small and tailored to the needs of you and your puppy – and they are great fun too.

5 Reasons to Join a Puppy Training Class. It is recommended that you commence Puppy Classes between 8 and 14 weeks of age. Contact us today about enrolling your puppy in our Puppy Classes.

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