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July is the time when the fireworks begin, thunderstorms can roll in at night and dogs can become anxious and scared. When our furry friends become scared by noises, there is potential for dogs to cause harm to themselves and others. Sileo (meaning "to be silent" in Latin) is a product developed by Orion Corporation and distributed by Zoetis, specifically for dogs with noise aversion. When dogs suffer from noise aversion they can show symptoms during events of fireworks and thunderstoms such as pacing/restlessness, lip licking, trembling, panting, cowering, hiding, freezing/immobility, clinginess, refusal to eat, yawning and vocalizing.  According to Zoetis's* website, "At least one-third of dogs in the United States have noise aversion. Dogs experiencing noise aversion are distressed and suffering. They can damage property, injure themselves or escape. The suffering associated with self-inflicted trauma is readily recognized, but the physiological and emotional toll experienced by dogs with less obvious signs of noise aversion is often overlooked." With July 4th and our own Utah holiday, Pioneer Day, approaching, there is great potential for dogs to become stressed and nervous due to the noise from fireworks. To help them and their owners, this product alleviates noise anxiety by calming the dog without sedating, which means they will have normal interactions with their owners. However, Sileo isn't just for events such as fireworks and thunderstorms. Does your dog suffer from noise aversion due to traffic? Construction work? Loud noise from parties or celebrations? Talk to your vet about using Sileo for cases like these!  Sileo is the first and only FDA-approved treatment you can use at home for noise aversion in dogs and is clinically proven to be safe and effective without other treatments. It is fast-acting and can be used as needed for each noise event.  If you have a dog that gets very nervous and scared during storms and fireworks, or displays some of the common behaviors shown in the picture below, give us a call to set up an appointment to discuss this product with one of our doctors.
Sileo is a prescription, therefore we will need to see your pet to prescribe this. If you have any questions please call our clinic at 801-782-4401.
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What is a heartworm? Heartworms are one of the most preventable parasitic diseases in animals. A parasitic roundworm, it spreads from one dog host to another. It is a serious and potentially fatal disease caused by the heartworm, which are a foot-long, that live within the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. This can cause heart failure, lung disease and damage to other organs.  What animals can get heartworms? Heartworm disease can affect dogs, cats and ferrets mainly. However they can also live within wolves, foxes, sea lions and coyotes (foxes and coyotes are fairly important carriers due to their general proximity to urban areas). Dogs are the primary host for heartworms which means the worms can mature and produce offspring. This also means that, if the dog goes untreated, they could potentially harbor hundreds of worms. Cats are an atypical host of the parasite. Most heartworms do not survive into adulthood when infecting a cat though this does not mean they cannot have adverse affects due to them. Because they only can only have younger heartworms in their system, cats generally go undiagnosed for this disease (the test used to find heartworms, tests for a specific part of the adult female parasite). The immature heartworms can cause a condition called Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease (HARD). Another problem cats can face with this disease is the fact that the treatment for dogs cannot be utilized for cats. How do pets get heartworms? Heartworm larvae (microfilaria) are transferred from animal to animal via the mosquito. The mosquito plays the most essential role in the transmission of heartworms.  Why should we use prevention? Heartworms can lead to severe problems with the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys, and can be fatal. In the past we have not had many cases here in Utah. However, since natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy, dogs have been shipped around the country from places with higher occurrences of heartworm causing the spread of heartworms from those dogs to ours here. Below you can see the American Heartworm Society's maps from 2001 up to 2013 and below that the most current map from 2016. This data is gathered every 3 years to understand what regions are heavily impacted and which are growing in the amount of cases. These maps are only including those cases REPORTED by veterinary clinics. Meaning, there could be several variants or anomalies that impact the data we see. If you look at the 2010 map you can see that it looks like there were less incidences that year but also remember our economy was not doing very well at that time and many people could not afford to take their pets to the vet. Another note to consider is cost of prevention versus possible treatment (see comparison below in the next section).   Isn’t there a treatment if my dog contracts heartworms? There are treatments. However, they are costly and painful. The only medication used for treatment is called Immiticide. Immiticide uses arsenic in its production, which makes it difficult to reliably carry it since not many people are willing to work with it. Currently supplies of Immiticide come from France. We try to have some in stock but we can’t always guarantee that we will have it if we have multiple cases occur in the same time frame. This last year we had two dogs diagnosed with heartworms within about a week of each other. If we had had a third dog come in within that next month or two we would not have been able to treat them. Another problem we run into when it comes to treating with Immiticide, due to the arsenic in it, it can be very painful to the dog being treated. It has many potential side effects including but not limited to: anorexia, agitation with or without tremors and excessive salivation, fever, depression, possible respiratory reactions to the dead microfilaria and thromboembolism can be observed 7-20 days after treatment. The cost of prevention is much less over a life time than it is to handle the treatment if a pet contracts heartworms. For example, a 26-50lb dog that is on prevention its entire life consistently, lives to be about 10 years old. The cost of 10 years worth of prevention can vary from about $840-1100. The cost to treat that pet, if they did contract heartworms, is upwards of at least $2000 and possible complications due to the heartworms and the treatment could end up costing you much more in the long run. In what ways can heartworms be prevented? There are several options that we offer on prevention of this debilitating disease. These include the chewable tablets Heartgard and Tri-heart (a generic of Heartgard) as well as Proheart. Proheart is an injection that will cover 6 months of heartworm prevention. It also treats the common hookworm infections that may be present. Proheart can be more convenient than the Heartgard and Tri-heart because you only have to come in to the clinic every 6 months versus having to remember to give a pill every month but it can be more expensive depending on the size of your pet. If you have a larger dog it could actually be more cost effective to do the injection.  How does the prevention work?
We give our pets prevention monthly. The reason is because the prevention works “backwards”. Meaning that, when we give our pet their dose of heartworm prevention it takes care of any heartworm they may have received in the past month. It only works on the stage of heartworm that is passed on from mosquito to pet. So what if your pet was wasn’t on heartworm prevention and was bit by a mosquito 2 months ago? Or 5 months ago? The best option at this point would be to get your pet on prevention and then in 6 months get a heartworm test. Wouldn’t I want to get a heartworm test done on my pet right away? Due to the way that a heartworm test works and picks up heartworms, it takes 6-7 months from the time that your pet is bitten to the time we can test positive for heartworms. The test reacts to hormones in the female worms that can only be picked up on the test when they are adults. When a mosquito transfers heartworms to your pet, worms are in a larvae stage that takes the full 6 months to grow. Even if you miss a dose of prevention on your pet you should get your pet heartworm tested 6 months from the time of the missed dose to make sure your pet is good to go. You should continue to give your pet their heartworm medication or call your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns. If there is anything we didn’t cover about Heartworms and their prevention in this article please let us know! We can get your questions and concerns answered! Keeping the Pearly Whites, Pearly White
Here at NOAH, we perform dental cleaning and polishing to prevent dental disease. This is recommended yearly for our furry friends that have consistent in-home care and a proper diet. When undergoing a dental cleaning or procedure, cats generally require 15-20 minutes under anesthesia and dogs generally require 30-40 minutes. However, if any extractions or major abscess treatment needs to be done, then it could take quite a while longer. Pricing varies depending on age, size of pet and whether or not it is a routine cleaning or not. We do not offer estimates over the phone due to this reason but we would happily see your pet for a free techinician examination and provide an estimate for you that is geared towards your pet's specific needs and situation. The pricing will include hospitalization, premedication, human grade anesthesia induction, monitoring during anesthesia, dental scaling above and below the gum line, comprehensive evaluation of each tooth, polishing and fluoride application. If any other treatment may need to be performed (i.e. tooth extraction, sutures, etc.), we will give you an approximate estimate. Our goal is to get and maintain a healthy and comfortable mouth for your pet. How does dental disease start?Dental disease starts with the accumulation of plaque. If plaque remains for 48 hours it turns into a rock hard substance called tartar. Plaque can be removed by brushing whereas tartar can only be removed by scaling. At first the gums (gingiva) will become red and swollen. Most pets won't have any symptoms but sometimes they will drool, hesitate while eating, or stop eating dry food. Bacteria infect the area causing bad breathe. Then periodontitis (the progressive loss of bone surrounding the teeth) starts to develop. This bone loss is irreversible . If this is allowed to continue, the tooth/gum will become painful and eventually the tooth will become loose and fall out. Another concern with the bone is infection. Bone infections can be severe enough to cause fractures or abcesses that drain onto the face or into the nose. As pets eat, bacteria can enter the bloodstream through the inflamed tissue and damage other organs such as liver, heart, or kidneys. In addition, airborne bacteria are continually inhaled which can eventually lead to lung problems.  Why does dental develop and are there breeds that are more prone?There are many reasons and causes that can lead to the development of dental disease. Smaller breeds are more prone to accumulating tartar and developing severe bone infections sooner compared to large breeds. The genetics of pets when it comes to teeth is very similar to humans. Some people are genetically prone to getting cavities as are certain breeds and bloodlines. We recommend for any pet: daily brushing, dry food (preferably Hill's Prescription Diet T/D), tartar control chews, and/or daily antibacterial rinses. We do not recommend offering bones due to the amount of fractured teeth are caused by chewing on them. What an idea of what your pet's teeth needs are?We would be more than happy to have you and your fur baby come in so we can tailor a plan to you and your pet! Give us a call to set up an appointment at 801-782-4401! We look forward to hearing from you!
 Chewing, teething, separation anxiety, boredom, digging, barking, crate training and weight management. These are some common topics among dog owners, whether good or bad, but how do we handle these situations and training? There are many products out there that can help, however, one of the best products that we here at NOAH have found that helps in all of the above situations are KONGS. [We now stock KONGS in the clinic including the Exclusive Veterinary KONG! Stop on by to pick yours up today!]
Turkeys and Snow!As we begin to head into the holidays, there are several things to consider during this time for our pets. This includes: boarding or pet sitters if you head out of town, what food and plants are in the home for special occasions, and the ever changing weather.
Overall, around the holidays when boarding find a good facility to match your pets needs, keep an extra eye out to make sure your pets are not getting into anything they shouldn't and help them stay warm in the freezing weather. If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of this information or anything else you may have thought of, let us know! Our number is 801-782-4401 and we are always happy to answer any questions you may have.
Enjoy the holidays! North Ogden Animal Hospital would like to remind you of the risks of Parvo Virus that is in our community. No puppy is protected until it has had a proper set of vaccinations from your veterinarian at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age.  Puppies should not be on the ground in areas where you do not have complete knowledge of the vaccine history of all dogs that could be in that area. This means not taking your puppy to dog parks, on walks, pet stores, hardware stores, any public common area, in the grass or on the sidewalk of a veterinary clinic until they are fully vaccinated.
Puppies should be carried in your arms from your vehicle into the clinic for any appointments or puppy class and then carried in your arms back out to your vehicle. Puppy classes are generally in a safe environment where all puppies have started an appropriate vaccine protocol. We recommend going to puppy classes so that your pup can begin to learn the basic skills of behavior and socialization to become a happy dog. If you have any questions or concerns please give us a call at 801-782-4401. We would be happy to assist you in any way we can! Animals are notorious for getting into things they shouldn't. We have all heard that pets shouldn't have chocolate, dogs shouldn't have grapes, and that pets in general also shouldn't have xylitol found in many sugar-free products such as gum and now in some peanut butters. Compiled below is a list of foods and other products in the general household that you should avoid feeding/keep out of reach of your furry family members.
-yeast dough (The dough can rise and cause bloat in the intestines and stomach. This is due to trapped gas in the system which can lead to life threatening emergencies.) -salt/salty snack foods (consuming large amounts of salt can cause excessive drinking and urination. Other signs of having eaten too many salty foods include: vomiting, diarrhea, fever, seizures and in extreme cases, death. Avoid foods such as potato chips, pretzels and salted popcorn.) -Raw or undercooked meat/eggs/bones (Raw meat and eggs can contain bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella. Raw eggs also have avidin, an enzyme that can decrease the absorption of Biotin and can lead to skin and coat issues. Raw bones may seem harmless and natural, however, it can be very dangerous for our pets who can choke on bones or get a bone splinter which has the potential to puncture digestive tract or get lodged in the body.) -Xylitol (Is contained in a lot foods including but not limited to: candy, gum, toothpaste, diet foods, some baked goods, and even low sugar peanut butter. Toxicosis can occur and the initial signs are vomiting, lethargy and a loss of coordination and within a few days elevated liver enzymes and liver failure can be seen.) -Chocolate (the worst chocolate for dogs to eat is baking chocolate and dark chocolate. While white chocolate is better than the others, it is still not advised.) -Onions, garlic, chives (gastrointestinal irritation can occur and can also lead to red blood cell damage. Cats are more susceptible, but dogs are at risk as well if ingested in large quantities) -Grapes and raisins (although the toxin that causes problems in dogs when they eat grapes is unknown, it is best to avoid feeding them to your pets) -Fatty and fried foods -Macadamia nuts (can cause weakness, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs, signs usually appear within 12 hours of the nuts being ingested and the symptoms can last 12-24 hours) -Avocados (primarily a problem in birds and rabbits as well as larger animals) -Coffee, Caffeine (Contain methylxanthines which can cause vomiting and diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, and tremors. -Citrus (stems, leaves, peels, fruit, seeds) -Coconut and coconut oil (when ingested in small amounts, this oil is not likely to cause serious harm but we do urge caution when using these products in your pet's food; Coconut water is high in potassium and shouldn't be given to any pets) -Milk/dairy (pets don't have the enzyme lactase which is responsible for breaking down lactose in milk, therefore it can cause diarrhea and other digestive upset if they ingest it) -Medicines (any medicine that a pet gets into and eats a lot of, regardless of it is a medication for them or not, needs to have immediate or as immediate as possible, induced vomiting. Over dosing is very real in our pets as well.) -Chemicals/Cleaners -Paint Be cautious when buying peanut butters due to the use of xylitol in many low-sugar and sugar-free products which can cause many problems. This should be listed on the label in the ingredients. If you pet happens to eat any of the above, the best option would be to contact your veterinarian to find out if the amount of that item they have eaten or the symptoms they are experiencing, is cause for concern. Of the above things chocolate, xylitol, grapes, medicines in excess of the prescription or medicines not prescribed to the pet and chemicals of any type are of the biggest concern. Please contact your veterinarian immediately in these cases. *Information in this article has been gathered directly from veterinarians as well as ASPCA.org.*
When the fireworks and thunderstorms come rolling around, dogs can become anxious and scared and there is potential for dogs to cause harm to themselves and others. Sileo (meaning "to be silent" in Latin) is a brand new product developed by Orion Corporation and distributed by Zoetis, specifically for dogs with noise aversion. According to Zoetis's* website, "At least one-third of dogs in the United States have noise aversion. Dogs experiencing noise aversion are distressed and suffering. They can damage property, injure themselves or escape. The suffering associated with self-inflicted trauma is readily recognized, but the physiological and emotional toll experienced by dogs with less obvious signs of noise aversion is often overlooked." With July 4th and our own Utah holiday, Pioneer Day, approaching, there is great potential for dogs to become stressed and nervous. To help them and their owners, this product alleviates noise anxiety by calming the dog without sedating, which means they will have normal interactions with their owners. Sileo is the first and only FDA-approved treatment you can use at home for noise aversion in dogs and is clinically proven to be safe and effective without other treatments. It is fast-acting and can be used as needed for each noise event. If you have a dog that gets very nervous and scared during storms and fireworks, or displays some of the common behaviors shown in the picture below, give us a call to set up an appointment to discuss this product with one of our doctors. Sileo is a prescription, therefore we will need to see your pet to prescribe this. If you have any questions please call our clinic at 801-782-4401.  Common behaviors in noise aversion *Zoetis is a leading animal health company who develops and manufactures medicines and vaccines for the animal industry. You can get more information on their company at https://www.zoetisus.com/
*This article has been reviewed by a licensed veterinarian* Time and time again we have heard about dogs eating things they shouldn't: From homework or paper, down to electronics. Sometimes, things pass through without anyone even knowing they were there, but other times ingested objects can cause intestinal obstruction which can be a medical emergency. Specific objects, like batteries and pennies, can lead to serious disease even without causing obstruction. In some cases (like in the picture below), smaller objects are still located in the stomach and a veterinarian can induce vomiting in the pet to retrieve the object. This is not always the case depending on the object and size.  Potential ingestible objects include: balls, socks, underwear, rocks, jewelry, toys, leashes, collars, plastic bags, pieces of shoe, peach pits, gravel, fishing lures, batteries (which is very dangerous just due to the acid contained in them), coins (even smaller coins like dimes and pennies can be dangerous!), needles (sewing or otherwise), string (especially in cats), pieces of blankets, towels, and stuffing from toys. The easiest way to prevent your furry family member from eating these items is to keep them out of reach. Keep clothes in baskets or drawers, keep batteries or jewelry in containers, and keep crafting materials out of reach. When your pets are playing with toys, keep your eye on them. If they are starting to rip them apart, it's probably a good time to take that toy away and dispose of it. Ingesting items is not the only way to get a foreign body. Porcupine quills, if not removed, can migrate their way through the body, even up in the brain or lungs. Other items that can do this include bullets, BBs, and sticks. Always monitor your pet's behavior to catch any potential foreign bodies from their environment. If you have any questions regarding the information above, please give us a call at 801-782-4401. *This article has been verified by a licensed veterinarian*
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Author:NOAH Staff Archives
April 2017
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