Discount Advantage Medicine

An informative article from a Carla, a pet loving member of the Discount Advantage Medicine team…

Many people all over the world enjoy the companionship and the joy that a pet can bring.  Actually there are a lot of benefits that a person could get from having a pet, both in terms of the emotional and health aspects.  But, taking care of a pet is not that easy.  A pet owner should be well aquainted with the various ways of keeping your pet healthy and also should always be prepared should any form of emergency or medical concern arise.

A pet owner ought to know the basics.  He should know the right type of food to give a pet.  These foods must have the essential vitamins and minerals that a pet needs to keep its physical condition in tip top shape. A good and safe shelter is also needed. If a pet owner has time and the finances he shall invest on a good dog or cat shelter so that the pet would really be comfortable and safe from any form of danger that can cause health problems. Exercise is also an important part of keeping the pet healthy. Walking or playing with a pet can give its body the exercise that it needs to stay in perfect condition.

The greatest fear that a pet owner could have is when their pet would acquire some disease or illness.  And really whatever you do, eventually your pets might acquire some disease that could make them really sick.  This is the reason why a pet owner should always be ready to treat a variety of diseases which might affect their pets.  And of course ,one could also use those really effective preventative medications and pet health supplements so that such serious diseases would be prevented from affecting their pet’s health.

The most common problems for our pets are parasite infestations.  There are a lot of parasites out there that could infest your pets.  They could be internal or external parasites.  Once your pets have these pet parasites, they could cause harmful effects in their over-all health condition and could also make them really uncomfortable.

Internal and External Parasites

The internal parasites (including intestinal parasites) are the ones that could infest on their blood stream, but or even their vital organs.  There are two types of examinations that you could let your pets go through so that you would know which intestinal parasites are infesting your pets. A fecal flotation examination can help determine the hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms and coccidian inside your pets’ digestive systems particularly in their small and large intestines. On the other hand, you could also resort to a direct fecal smear. However, this method is commonly used to detect bacterial growth and also giardia infection in your pets’ bodies. It is good to use these methods when your pets are having diarrhea.  So, if you think that parasites are causing the said condition, you would know immediately.  Other internal parasites such as heartworms may need blood tests, scans or x-rays to diagnose.

Here are some of the intestinal worms that could affect your pets and some other information about them.

1. Hookworms – Usually the larvae of these worms penetrate inside the pet’s skin and then migrate from the pet’s bloodstream to the lungs and trachea. Sometimes, pets could also acquire them through contaminated food. The latter is much more dangerous because when the larvae of these worms are ingested then, it could stay inside the pet’s intestines until they mature, and they would cause great damage there. When these worms are already residing inside your pets’ systems, they could cause anemia and diarrhea, and once these symptoms are sometimes they could cause even more complicated health problems.
2. Roundworms – These worms are commonly acquired by young feline and canine pets. The adult roundworms can live inside your pets’ small intestines. Usually, these worms can be seen and passed to other pets in the stool. It is very easy to spot these worms in your pet’s stool because they look like spaghetti. Roundworm infection can cause diarrhea, poor hair coat, ill-thrift and a pot-bellied physical appearance.  The use of dewormers is advised so that pet owners could treat this infestation right away. To prevent re-infection it would be best to use roundworm-specific preventative medications.
3. Whipworms – These worms can usually be acquired by your pets through contaminated soil or when they consume the stool of other pets that are infested by these worms. These terrible form of parasites are considered as the most common parasite that could affect your pets since they are virtually everywhere. Mature whipworms lay eggs inside the affected pets’ intestinal tract and they habitually cause blood loss since these worms feed on the blood of your pets. When you see blood in your pets’ feces, chances are they have chronic whipworm infestation. When the infestation gets worse, the pets would lose their ability to regulate the salt in their bodies, and this scenario in electrolyte imbalance could be dangerous in the long run.
4. Heartworms – These parasites could be transmitted to pet cats and dogs by mosquitoes that are bearing larval heartworms.  Heartworms are really dangerous because once they are already inside the pets’ internal systems particularly in the blood, they could attack the heart and the lungs of the affected pets. The initial symptom of heartworm infestation is coughing. When the infestation gets worse, it could lead to lung cancer, chest pains and other respiratory and pulmonary complications. Using medication that has Ivermectin and Selamectin among others can help a lot in eradicating these heartworms inside your pets’ systems. To prevent these infestation from happening, especially when you are in a place where the mosquito population is quite high, it would be best to give your pet the extra care that it needs. You should be very prepared.

These are some of the common internal parasites that affect domestic cats and dogs. There are actually other types that cause even more damage, but they do occur rarely. With this, it matters if we get to know the common ones first before worrying too much about the more rare types. Now, let us move on to the many external parasites. In reality, more pet owners are familiar with them than that of the aforementioned internal ones. Let us get to know a few of them.

1. Fleas- This type of external parasite is one of the commonly infesting dogs and cats. Most people think though that fleas found in dogs are called dog fleas and those in cats are called cat fleas. This is actually wrong because studies show that over 95% of fleas in dogs are actually cat fleas. Fleas in general cause itching and damage on the skin surface of your pets. They can easily be contracted from other animals which are infested and come in contact with your pets. Another misconception about fleas is they have wings. The reality is they do not. Fleas just have a set of strong legs at the back that allow them to jump from one animal to the other. Knowing that your pets have this form of parasite is really easy. If you notice them scratching their bodies then most likely they are infested. Try to check on their stomach area for flea feces. They usually look like finely ground peppercorns. Also, it helps to know that the parasites like to live in a part of a pet’s body that has a warm temperature. So, check for areas like the armpits.
2. Ticks- Among all forms of parasites, ticks are the ones which impose an significant amount of danger to humans. They carry a lot of diseases like Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, Tularemia, Cytauxzoonosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Tick Paralysis, and Babesiosis. Ticks may be acquired more by dogs than cats basically due to the ability of felines to groom themselves more thoroughly.  If in case you happen to bring your dogs to tick infested areas, such as places with long grass, try to check right away their fur because ticks may be acquired already.  Ticks appear in two basic forms. The first one is that of a small, match head sized form while the other one is something that can resemble the size of a pea but only gray in colour. The former is a male tick while the latter is a female. Ticks may be easily removed with the use of tweezers however, because some of them have the capacity to bury their heads on your pets’ skins, it is often prepared to prevent ticks latching on by using tick repellents. When you do so, be sure that you are guided well by the veterinarian since some animals tend to be sensitive against the ingredients brought about by such repellents.
3. Mites- Ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) are also commonly seen in both cats and dogs. Although they thrive in almost any part of an animal’s body, they thrive in the ears because they tend to feed on secretions and dead tissue in the external lining of the ears. Because of this, they often cause otitis externa aside from the general discomfort that they bring. The presence of ear mites also causes a build-up of tissue debris in an animal’s ears causing irritation which can lead to a chronic ear infection. If you see a coffee-ground like substance on the external part of the ears of your pets, then suspect the presence of ear mites. Immediately bring them to the vet for diagnosis. There are actually two ways to diagnose ear mites. First is a direct visualization with the aid of an otoscope and second is through a microscopic examination of your pets’ ear discharges. Though humans are generally unaffected by them, it is still vital for pet owners to ensure immediate treatment for their pets in cases of infestation.

These are the three common external parasites that can affect domestic cats and dogs. While it matters to get to know them, it is also important for you to know at least a little bit of information about certain pet medications that can help your beloved felines and canines to control such parasites.

Medications Against Parasites

As much as there are many drugs for humans, there are also a lot of pet medications that can cater the needs of your pets. They are basically categorized by their methods of administration. There are oral and topical pet medications.

1. Oral
   • Heartgard Plus-  this is one of the many pet medications that target several pet parasites. In particular,Heartgard Plus seeks to take down larval heartworms. It is chewable in form so your pets can easily take the drug. Given just once a month for a period of twelve months, this drug has the active ingredients known as Ivermectin and Pyrantel. Ivermectin is the one responsible in eradicating heartworms while Pyrantel, being an antihelminthic, is used to prevent intestinal parasites like hookworms and roundworms. Generally safe and effective, this is considered as one of the most ideal preventive pet medications for cats and dogs. Since Heartgard Plus chewable medicine is a major brand, it tends to be a little expensive. Now, if you want to ensure your pets are heartworm-free without spending a fortune, you may turn to generic Heartgard versions such as Iverheart Plus, Nuheart and Valuheart. Both have Ivermectin which is the basic needed active ingredient of the drug.
   • Interceptor Flavour Tabs- this drug is an appetizing treat for domestic cats and dogs. Interceptor is effective when you want to control heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms. Like Heartgard Plus, this drug is to be given once a month for a period of twelve months for your pets. It has Milbemycin Oxime which is the one responsible in taking down the aforementioned parasites. Although the drug is safe for your pets, some may show symptoms of depression, drowsiness, diarrhea, or vomiting among others.
2. Topical
   • Frontline Plus-  this drug is generally able to eradicate almost all common forms of external parasites in cats and dogs. With the presence of an ingredient  which acts as an insect growth regulator called S-methoprene, adult fleas, its eggs and larvae are all killed in a matter of hours. Aside from that, Frontline Plus is also effective against all stage of dog ticks, American dog ticks, lone star ticks, and deer ticks. Also, it is helpful in taking down sarcoptic mange in dogs. Frontline Plus is to be applied once a month for a period of twelve months. All you have to do is to follow application instructions and you are sure to be worry-free when it comes to parasites on your pets. Just a note, the drug can cause minor irritation at first application but it usually does not persist. If otherwise, do not hesitate to contact the vet of your pets right away.
   • Advantage Multi – Like Frontline Plus and all other parasitic preventive medications, Advantage Multi is an effective drug that is administered just once a month for a period of twelve months. The drug has two active ingredients, Moxidectin and Imidacloprid. Moxidectin simply works against internal parasites while Imidacloprid kills external ones like fleas, ticks, and mites. The drug is generally safe and effective so you do not have to worry about giving this to your cats and dogs.
   • Revolution- this is another topical drug for pets suffering from parasites. Revolution for cats and dogs has Selamectin as its active ingredient. With this, the drug is able to act against heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, ticks, fleas, ear mites, and sarcoptic mange among others. The drug must be administered on a healthy part of a pet’s skin preferably in between the shoulder blades. This is done once a month for a period of twelve months. Like the aforementioned pet meds, Revolution is also safe for your pet felines and canines.

These medications are the commonly prescribed ones for pet cats and dogs. Speaking of prescribed, you must keep in mind that even though there are various websites that offer the drugs even without you having to show prescription from the veterinarian, you must be able to ensure that the vets of your pets are able to examine and assess your felines and canines first.  Of course if you are merely buying a regularly used product such as Frontline or Advantage you will already know the dose and how to use the product.  But for previously untried products this is very essential as they are the only ones who can officially diagnose your pets.  Also, they have the responsibility of computing for the correct dosage of certain drugs.  Unless you yourselves are veterinarians, make sure that you don’t put your pets’ lives at more risk by playing doctors.

Taking care of pets is an experience which seem like you are raising real children. You may start to take care of them upon birth. Then, you make sure they get the right amount of nutrition by giving them the best kind and amount of food. Other than that, of course you provide them shelter that is well enough to let them rest well and move about at the same time. Hygiene is really important as well and must not be disregarded. These things will however go to waste when you are not able to become aware of the various forms of diseases that can endanger their health. So, be sure that you read about them and of course do not forget to bring them regularly to their veterinarians. It is really like raising your own children. With these tips, hopefully, you are able to become pet owners that are not only responsible but above all knowledgeable in the realm of protecting animals right in your own homes.