Ypsilanti Animal Clinic Videos
Leptospirosis: Old Disease is Causing New Problems
Feline Heartworms... A Hidden and Deadly Threat
Flea And Tick Prevention For Your Pet
Dental Care for Pets
Eighty percent of all dogs have some form of dental disease and gum disease can be very severe. Dental disease affects much more than fresh breath. It frequently leads to more serious health problems such as liver, kidney and heart disease. One new development is the prevention of plaque using a barrier sealant gel. This is applied by the veterinarian and then continued at home. Watch this video to learn more.
Leptospirosis: Old Disease is Causing New Problems
The Centers for Disease Control removed Leptospirosis from the "reportable human diseases" list, but there is still significant concern over this zoonotic disease. Our pets are susceptible to lepto as well, but many owners are afraid to vaccinate for the illness. What's the real story and how can we keep our pets and families safe?
Pet owner Mary Fleming always followed the advice of her veterinarian when it came to her miniature poodle, Mitsie. Regular examinations, heartworm preventive and even a good diet helped keep Mitsie active and healthy. Thinking that Mitsie was safe, Mary did not opt for a Leptospirosis vaccine for her dog. Unfortunately, Mitsie got very sick not long after visiting her city's dog park and needed intensive care and hospitalization. Thankfully, her veterinarian was there to help her recover and explain how moist soil or puddles at the park actually put Mitsie at risk!
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease – a disease that can be passed between animals and people. It is spread by spirochete (spiral-shaped) bacteria in the urine of infected rodents, wildlife, and pets. There are more than 200 different strains of lepto and certain strains appear to prefer certain hosts, like dogs, pigs, raccoons or even rats.
Feline Heartworms... A Hidden and Deadly Threat
Dog owners are well aware of the threat of heartworm disease, but many pet owners would be shocked to know that their cats are in danger as well. Heartworms are spread by mosquitoes and are capable of infecting cats in addition to dogs. Unfortunately, our cats rarely show physical signs of this infection and are more likely to die due to their body's reaction to the parasite. The good news is that your veterinarian can help you prevent this deadly feline disease.
Cats are abnormal hosts to heartworms and these heartworms will live shortened lives. You might think that this is a good thing but, heartworms actually can cause more serious and severe disease in cats than they do in dogs. It is not unusual for a dog to live for years with 50 worms in their heart. But a cat with a single heartworm can die suddenly, often with no apparent clinical signs whatsoever. In addition, your "inside only" kitty is just as susceptible as the outdoor tomcat. Watch this video to learn more.
Senior Pets
For years, many pet owners just accepted the fact that their four-legged friends were just going to live a relatively short life, get old, and pass on. But modern veterinary medicine can help pets live longer with less painful or debilitating problems. Watch for changes in thirst, appetite, bad breath, lumps and changes in behavior. See your veterinarian more often and work out a senior wellness plan to help your pet live happy senior years. Watch this video to learn more.
Flea And Tick Prevention For Your Pet
If you own a pet, fleas and ticks are nothing new. In a special video report, Dr. Jim Humphries with the Veterinary News Network and PetDocsOnCall discusses the importance of flea and tick prevention and shares tips on how to keep pesky parasites away from your pet.