Edwardsville Animal Clinic

ticks & tick-borne diseases

1/21/2023

A simple blood test (called a 4dx) can be done in clicnic to determine if your dog may be suffering from a tick-borne illness. If you suspect your pup may have any of the diseases listed below, call and make an appointment with us as soon as possible.

Lyme Disease | one of the most common tick-transmitted diseases in the world but only causes symptoms in 5-10% of affected dogs. It is caused by a spirochete (bacteria) species of the Borrelia burgdorferi group.

Symptoms include:

Stiff walk with an arched back
Sensitivity to touch
Difficulty breathing
Fever, lack of appetite, and depression

Superficial lymph nodes close to the site of the infecting tick bite may be swollen
Heart abnormalities are reported, but rare
Nervous system complications (rare)

Ehrlichia | transmitted by ticks including the Brown Dog Tick. Ehrlichiosis can have three phases. Signs of the acute phase of the disease usually develop 1-3 weeks after the bite of the infected tick. The acute phase of the disease generally lasts 2-4 weeks. The Ehrlichia enter white blood cells and reproduce inside of them. In addition to the blood, these cells are found in the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, and bone marrow.

Symptoms include:

Anemia
Fever
Depression

Loss of appetite
Shortness of breath
Joint pain and stiffness

Rocky Mountain Fever | affects dogs and humans and is transmitted from the bite of the American dog tick Through blood tests, it has been demonstrated that cats may also become infected, but the disease in cats is minimal. Various rodents, raccoons, and fox may carry the causative agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Symptoms include:

Fever
Loss of appetite
Depression
Muscle and joint pain
Swollen lymph nodes

Fluid accumulation in the face and legs (edemas)
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Dizziness or seizures

why we recommend hills science diet

1/21/2023

Hills guarantees great quality and great taste!

Each Hills ingredient is analyzed to ensure its safety when included in the food your pet.
Hills analyzes our product's ingredient profile for 50 nutrients to ensure your pet gets the stringent, precise formulation it needs.
Hills demands compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) and Hill's® high quality standards, so your pet's food is produced under clean and sanitary conditions.
Hills pays careful attention to olfaction. It is an important factor in food selection - dogs prefer chewier kibbles, cats prefer smoother texture and crunchier kibbles.

Hills' kibble is sized and shape-suited to how your pets like to chew and swallow their food.

Hills also has a program called Hills to Home, which allows you get your pet's food delivered right to your door. Order your pet's food through us today!

all about heartworms

1/21/2023

Heartworms are roundworms that spread to your animals via mosquitoes. They are found in all 50 states and can live anywhere between 5 and 7 years inside your pet. The best way to protect your dogs and cats against heartworms is to provide them with year-round prevention. Symptoms are not usually evident until it is too late and heartworms work fast. They do not go away without treatment and though they can be tested for in dogs, they can not be tested for in cats so prevention is much more important.

Heartworm Prevention:

Heartgard - a chewable, monthly treatment for dogs 0-100lbs that prevents heartworms, roundworms, and hookworms
Interceptor - a chewable, monthly treatment for dogs and cats that prevents heartworms, roundworms, and hookworms
Interceptor Plus - a chewable, monthly treatment for dogs 6 weeks and older that protects against heartworms, roundworms, whipworms, hookworms, and tape worms
Proheart - injectable heartworm prevention for dogs 6 months and older, that comes in a 6-month dosage and a 12-month dosage
Adnvantage Multi - topical prevention for cats that protects against fleas, hookworms, roundworms, and ear mites

More information on heartworms can be found here.

Apoquel (oclacitinib tablet)

1/21/2023

Apoquel stops allergic itch right at the source.All dogs itch sometimes, but when you notice it happening more and more, it could be a sign of a medical condition. Itching can be caused by a multitude of factors: environmental, parasitic, food, or skin contact with a certain substance. Apoquel has been proven effective in eliminating itching at the source.

Apoquel is:

Safe for short and long term use
Controls itch within 24 hours
NOT a steroid, anitihistimine or cyclosporine, so it does not lower immune system function
For use in dogs over 1 year of age
Minimal side affects

More information here.

join petly today!

1/21/2023

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Keep up with appointment reminders
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Read About Your Animals

ticks & tick-borne diseases

why we recommend hills science diet

all about heartworms

Apoquel (oclacitinib tablet)

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