• Time to Start Tick Control
• Fife's Dog Owners Urged to Guard Against Kennel Cough
• Be Lungworm Aware!
• Hook, Line and Nearly Sunk!
• Worrying About Your Holidays?

Time to Start Tick Control

Tick numbers in the UK have been steadily on the increase in the last decade and with spring approaching, it is now time to start your tick control treatments.

There are three types of ticks found in the UK and pets may encounter these when exercising in parks, fields, woods or even in the garden.

Tick bites can cause a variety of problems ranging from uncomfortable skin reactions to potentially fatal parasitic infections. In the UK, the most recognised of the tick-borne diseases in dogs and cats is Lyme disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia. Transmission of the Borrelia organisms via the tick's saliva requires the tick to be attached to the host for 24 to 48 hours, as the bacteria live in the gut of the tick and migrate towards the mouth and saliva when they detect the tick feeding on blood. Humans may also be infected with Lyme disease if bitten by an infected tick but there is no evidence that they can pick it up from an infected pet.

Preventing ticks from biting your pet is the best defence against tick-borne disease. At St. Clair, we can advise you on the most effective spot-on treatments to protect your pet. If you find a tick attached to your pet, it is best to remove it as soon as it is discovered. It is very important that the correct technique is used to fully remove the head and jaws of the tick and to avoid squeezing or stressing the tick as this may increase the chance of disease transmission. Simple tick removing tools which are cheap and effective can be purchased at our surgeries. Please contact us for any advice that you require.

For further information on ticks, visit www.bada-uk.org.

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Fife's Dog Owners Urged to Guard Against Kennel Cough

We are urging dog owners to have their dogs vaccinated against kennel cough, following recent survey work that suggests there may be around 180 new cases of the disease each day and that more than half of reported outbreaks are likely to arise from ordinary day-to-day contact between dogs, and not from kennels as the name implies.

With an estimated 65,000 cases of the disease diagnosed by UK vets last year alone, kennel cough is the country's most widespread infectious disease of dogs. A recent telephone survey of veterinary practises suggested that 56 per cent of the recently reported outbreaks were likely to have arisen from parks, neighbours' dogs, training classes, dog walks and other environments where dogs mix.

Kennel cough - also known as infectious bronchitis - is a complex respiratory infection, caused mainly by the bacteria Bordetella bronchiseptica and the Parainfluenza virus. Every dog is at risk, however healthy, and once your dog has been exposed to infection, it will generally take 3 - 10 days before symptoms are seen. It usually causes a dry, retching, 'honking'-style cough that affects dogs of all ages, can last for weeks and is very hard to treat. Unfortunately, by the time your dog has started coughing, the disease has already damaged its respiratory system.

Repeated retching with a frothy mucus being brought up causes a lot of distress for both the dog and the owner and although most dogs eventually recover, it can take several weeks. Some are left with a persistent cough and a small proportion can develop pneumonia with potentially fatal consequences.

As with any serious disease, prevention is always better than cure but a recent YouGov poll shows that there is misunderstanding among dog owners about both the risk and scale of the problem posed by kennel cough. 77 per cent of dog owners think their dog is currently protected by their annual booster yet only 10% of dogs are vaccinated against kennel cough.

We are aiming to address this lack of understanding by running a campaign this spring and summer to raise awareness of this widespread and distressing disease and encourage owners to have their dogs vaccinated against the main causes of this condition. No one who hears a dog with kennel cough will ever forget the experience so it is our aim to reduce this common and distressing problem.

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Be Lungworm Aware!

Dog owners are being urged to be aware of a potential new threat to their pets. Angiostrongylus vasorum, also known as the French Heartworm, is a potentially fatal parasite and has been identified in Scotland. The parasite is carried by slugs and snails and dogs become infected by swallowing these or by eating grass with a fresh slug trail on it. Symptoms of the disease are varied but can include coughing, breathing difficulties or unexplained bleeding problems such as spontaneous nose bleeds.

Owners can help to prevent their dogs from becoming infected by regular worming with medicines recommended by your vet. Restricting access to snails and slugs by avoiding outdoor feeding, changing water bowls daily and good outdoor hygiene such as daily removal of faeces should help reduce the likelihood of infection.

If you want more advice on this disease or on worming treatments, please contact us or visit www.lungworm.co.uk.

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Hook, Line and Nearly Sunk!

Burntisland's anglers have been urged to clean up their fishing hooks before they go home after a dog was severely injured recently. Little terrier Rory was being walked on Burntisland breakwater when he swallowed a baited h ook with a line of nylon attached.

Rory was rushed to our Kirkcaldy surgery where X-rays quickly confirmed that Rory had the hook lodged in his stomach.

Major surgery was then required to open his stomach and remove the hook and we are delighted that Rory has made a speedy and excellent recovery. However Rory's owner is aware that the outcome could have been very different had she not witnessed the line briefly hanging from his mouth and acted so quickly.

She explained, "He was lucky because I know a dog died from exactly the same thing at Burntisland not that long ago. The people at St. Clair were brilliant and within one and a half hours of the incident, Rory was undergoing surgery and they managed to save him."

Rory now recovered from his ordeal angling for a treat at his post-op check-up.

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Worrying About Your Holidays?

Volcanic ash giving people grief has been been grabbing the headlines but holidays can be stressful for pets, too - a stay in a kennel or cattery, a new house-sitter or a changed routine can all be unsettling. The thought of leaving a pet makes many owners worry whilst they are away, or in some cases makes them think twice about going on holiday in the first place.

Common signs of stress shown by an animal in unfamiliar situations include frequent pacing in their runs, changed appetite, repeat vocalisation (some dogs are hoarse after a stay in kennels) and also some behavioural problems such as over-grooming. Many cats withdraw into themselves, and stop playing and socialising until they adapt to the change in their routine or their owners come home.

Zylkène is a natural product, proven to help pets manage stress in many common situations, e.g. moving house or the arrival of a new pet. It can also help many dogs and cats at holiday time - which helps their owners to have a relaxing break, too! It can help your pet cope with a stay in a kennel or cattery, and can also help cats be more confident with the person feeding them at home. It is easy to give by mixing the palatable powder with food and has not been associated with any side-effects. Ask us about Zylkène next time you are planning a holiday - and help ensure a happy holiday for all the family.

It is also important your pet's vaccinations are also up-to-date for a cattery or kennel stay. Dogs should also be vaccinated against Kennel Cough. This is not always included as part of the annual vaccination, so please ask us for details.

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