Warm Weather Health Tips 

                   
                          
            Insect Bites and Stings can cause a mild to severe reaction depending upon the potency of the venom and the
          sensitivity of the victim. The majority of pets involved are usually the young and inquisitive, kittens and puppies.
          Paws and faces are the most common sites. Treatment is dependent upon the symptoms involved.

          Mild reactions involve very little swelling and very little redness. If the site can be localized and a stinger can be
          visualized, removal of the stinger and cold compresses applied to the wound site. Do not place ice directly on the skin.
          Place a moist towel between the ice and skin. Do not apply the compress longer than five minutes at a time. Application
          can be done once every hour for four to five times. Be aware that most patients will not allow this to be done around the
          face.  A paste of baking soda and water can be applied to relieve irritation and itching. Seek medical attention if the site
          should not return to normal in 24 hours.

          Severe reactions such as facial swelling, hives, severe redness, raspy breathing, difficulty breathing...... should be treated
          immediately. Frequently, these pets require injectable antihistamines and steroids to prevent life-threatening problems.
          Some individuals require treatment for anaphylactic shock to prevent death. This involves intravenous injections of steroids,
          antihistamines, and intravenous fluids to maintain blood pressure, cardiac and kidney function.

          Heat Stroke symptoms include open mouth breathing, uncontrollable panting, drooling and foaming of the mouth, tongue
          turning blue or gray, seizures and coma. Act quickly to reduce body temperature. Submerge the pet in cool water (do not
          submerge the head) and get immediate veterinary help. Avoid heat stroke by providing large amounts of water at all times,    
          providing protection from direct sun, providing adequate ventilation of rooms and NEVER excessively exercise your pet.
          Avoid exercise during the hottest part of the day: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

          Snake Bites should be treated immediately by a veterinarian. Survival of a rattlesnake bite is dependent upon the size of
          the pet, the amount of the venom injected into the pet, and most importantly, the sensitivity of the pet to the venom.
          Past studies have shown that immediate treatment for pain and shock helps prevent life-threatening situations and increases
          survival. Keep calm. Keep your pet calm... do not allow your pet to run as this will circulate the venom more. Do not attempt
          to "drain" the site as shown in the movies. Do not place a tourniquet as shown in the movies. If at all possible... carry your pet.
          If this is not possible, WALK your pet to the transport vehicle. With treatment, the majority of pets survive. Treatment involves 
          antihistamines, antibiotics, pain control, and the prevention of shock and kidney failure.

          The use of anti-venom is controversial. Dr. Craig attended a seminar that reviewed the mortality rates of snake bite victims that
          were treated with anti-venom and those that were not. The use of anti-venom was not shown to increase survival rates. Before
          and after attending this seminar, Dr. Craig has treated several snake bite patients and has not lost a single patient from a snake bite   
          wound. (Knock on wood). She has used the anti-venom ONCE. 

          Recent studies have shown that the use of anti-venom may help in those rare cases that the patient is extremely allergic to the
          snake venom. The dosage is based on the size of the patient. Some large patients need three to four vials, twice. At the cost of
          $300 to $400 a vial, this has proven cost prohibitive to most clients.

           Avoid the handling of bats at all times. All bats are considered positive carriers of rabies unless proven otherwise. The majority
           of bats test positive for rabies. Should you find a bat in your back yard, should you find a bat in your pet's mouth, ..... do NOT
           throw the bat away. Using gloves place the bat in a container. Place the container in another container and contact/transport
           to Animal Control. Store the bat in a cool area. Do NOT place the bat freezer. The federal guidelines for Rabies exposure for pets
           recommend immediately re-vaccinating your pet for Rabies, EVEN if your pet is current on its rabies vaccine. If your pet is not
           current for rabies vaccinations --- consult your veterinarian for the appropriate vaccination protocol. If the patient has never
           been vaccinated, the protocol usually involves a 6 month quarantine if not euthanasia.

              Flea Control and Tick Control is very important. We recommend the product(s) Frontline® Spray, Frontline Plus® And Frontline
           Top Spot® (Fipronil) from Merial  Fipronil is a broad spectrum insecticide available as a spray or a drip-on. Fipronil binds chemically
           to the hair and is absorbed through the hair follicle by the sebaceous glands. In spray formulation Fipronil kills fleas at 95% for
           over 80 days after application on dogs and for 1 month with biweekly bathing. It is labeled for puppies and kittens of 8 weeks
           (10 weeks for Top Spot®) and the product is not washed off by bathing. It is also affective against ticks. The major problem
           with the spray  is the high volume of alcohol-based product that must be applied. Many cats will show minor adverse reactions
           with this application technique. The product must be applied no more than once a month. Frontline Plus® contains the insect
           growth regulator, S-methoprene and so provides control of eggs and adult fleas.