the AMC = Spoonful

(a little)=20 News You Can Use from

Animal = Medical Center

May, 2005 =

Volume 1, Number=20 2

In This=20 Issue: Intestinal=20 Parasites

=B7 =20 Five Creepy=20 Critters

=B7 =20 Infection=20 Routes

=B7 =20 Prevention=20 Plan

=B7 =20 Your Family=92s=20 Risk

Also. .=20 .

=B7 =20 This month at=20 AMC

=B7 =20 Forms on the=20 Website

Visit our=20 Website

www.morgantownamc.com=20

Learn more about our = practice=20 philosophy, services & staff. Search our pet health library, = download=20 hospital forms, schedule an appointment or request a prescription=20 refill. =20

Adoption=20 information

www.morgantownamc.com=20

Have=20 room for someone to love? Find your purrfect=20 friend at AMC. We have several adorable pets waiting for homes = this=20 month.

Bob=92s Happy=20 Ending

www.morgantownamc.com=20

Read=20 Bob=92s whole story and his happy ending on our Needy Pet Fund=20 page.

Creeped = Out About=20 Parasites?

www.morgantownamc.com=20

We=92re=20 sorry if all this talk about worms and poop creeps you out, but we know you=92d be more = creeped out to know your pet was infected = with worms=20 and we didn=92t tell you how to fix it!=20

If it=92s=20 been six months or more since your pet=92s last fecal exam, call = us today to=20 schedule a fecal screening and any other needed=20 care.

Unsubscribe=20

www.morgantownamc.com=20

If you=20 do not wish to receive future e-newsletters, please let us know! = It is our=20 intention to only send wanted=20 e-mails.

Our Mission

We=20 follow the Golden Rule=20 of=20 treating others as we=92d want to be treated. We practice=20 Excellent=20 Medicine=20 and=20 provide Excellent=20 Service.

Talk to=20 Us

We=20 always welcome your feedback on our newsletters and on our other = services.=20 Let us know how we can serve you better and we will work to = satisfy your=20 needs.

E-mail=20 Us

www.morgantownamc.com=20

Schedule=20 an appointment, ask a question, share a comment or order a=20 refill.

Call or Write=20 Us

Animal=20 Medical Center

460 = Hartman=20 Run Road

Morgantown, = WV 26505

(304)=20 292-0126

www.morgantownamc.com=20

Your=20 Pet=92s Second Best Friend

This Month at = AMC

Welcome to the second issue = of our=20 monthly e-newsletter! A lot has happened at AMC this=20 month.

We hosted our first-ever = children=92s tours. Eight = groups of=20 children (about 70 children altogether!) and their families toured = the=20 hospital on two Thursday afternoons in April. Our staff did a = wonderful=20 job and we all had a great time doing mock exams on stuffed = animals for=20 the younger children and real exams on a volunteer dog (Duchess) = with the=20 older children. We loved the surprised expressions of the children = when=20 our nurses drew real-looking blood from their stuffed patients (a = vial of=20 red kool-aid was sewn in their legs!) = and the=20 many wonderful questions the kids asked. We=92re sure to see some = of them=20 back visiting with their DVM degrees in about 20 years! Photos and = more=20 information are available on the website www.morgantownamc.com. We are happy to schedule = a tour=20 for your scout, school, club or other group =96 just ask! =

The spring issue our hardcopy = newsletter,=20 the AMC Scoop hit the = presses=20 and was mailed to active AMC clients. If your copy was lost in the = mail,=20 go to our website=20 www.morgantownamc.com to=20 download the (.pdf) file or request = that we mail=20 you a new copy. Topics this issue include flea & tick control, = blood=20 testing, a team profile of client services (reception), preventing = chew=20 toy aggression, Bob=92s story and information about our new = computer system.=20

Another very special happening = in April=20 was that our AMC puppy, Bob,=20 found his own loving home, as did our orange kitty =93Fred=94. We = were sad to=20 see them go but very happy for Bob, Fred and their new families. = Of=20 course, we have a few new adoptive pets waiting for homes this = month=20 =96four adorable spotted puppies = and a=20 darling black bunny!

Our wonderful nurse, = Holly=20 Rice, has been=20 accepted to vet school for this fall! We congratulate = her on=20 her impressive achievement and wish her all the best in her = future! We=20 will greatly miss her excellent skills and caring manner and we = will=20 welcome her back to AMC whenever she gets a break from school! = Go, Holly, DVM Class of=20 2009!

Intestinal Parasites =96 What = You Need to=20 Know

Intestinal parasites are an = unpleasant=20 fact of life for most animals and they affect nearly all cats and = dogs at=20 various times in their lives. Intestinal parasites are not only = disgusting, they are also dangerous to your = pets and=20 your family. They can cause malnourishment, diarrhea, illness, = pneumonia=20 and even death in your pets and they pose serious health risks to = people=20 also. Most pets are infected with one or more type of intestinal = parasite=20 by the time they are old enough to leave their mothers. Treating,=20 preventing and controlling intestinal parasites is an essential aspect of preventive health = care=20 throughout our pets=92 lives.

Fortunately, effective and safe = methods=20 are readily available to prevent, control and treat intestinal = parasites.=20 Routine broad-spectrum deworming in an = appropriate monthly heartworm=20 pill will prevent or cure many infections. Routine = fecal screening will identify = many=20 infections not prevented by routine broad-spectrum deworming. When fecal screening, clinical = signs or=20 risk factors indicate infection with parasites, the veterinarian = will=20 prescribe a strategic treatment=20 plan targeted to the specific parasite(s) of concern = for your=20 pet. These simple steps will protect your=20 pet from the serious dangers of intestinal parasites = and will=20 also contribute to protecting human and pet health by reducing the = parasite population in our community.

Five creepy=20 critters you=92d rather never meet =

=20 plus one=20 more we=92ll get to next month

There are many types of = intestinal=20 parasites and within each type, there are multiple species. Each = species=20 has its own life cycle, preferred hosts, and infection routes. = Infections=20 with each species can be revealed with varying degrees of accuracy = through=20 a variety of testing methods and each species is effectively = treated by a=20 variety of specific drugs given at varying intervals. There is not = one=20 universally successful way to identify, prevent or treat all = intestinal=20 parasite infections. However, effective control IS possible! Your=20 veterinarian can prescribe an effective parasite control plan for = your=20 individual pet(s) by considering your pet=92s life style, risk = factors,=20 clinical signs and medical history. This article focuses on the = most=20 common five types of intestinal parasites.

1. =20 Roundworms grow up to several = inches=20 long and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, malnourishment, pneumonia,=20 intestinal obstruction and even death. Transmitted at birth, = nursing, from=20 contaminated soil or from eating infected prey animals. Affects = cats, dogs=20 and humans.

2. =20 Hookworms are bloodsucking = parasites=20 that infest the intestinal tract and lung tissue and can cause = severe=20 blood loss, weakness, and death. Transmitted through contact with=20 contaminated soil or from mother to pups during pregnancy or = nursing.=20 Dormant hookworms (which are not susceptible to deworming treatment) can survive in the body = for years=20 until they =93wake-up=94 and cause an active infection. Most = commonly=20 affecting dogs and very dangerous to puppies, hookworms less = frequently=20 infect cats and can also cause dangerous infections in people.

3. =20 Tapeworms (Dipylidium) are segmented worms = about 6=20 inches long that live in the intestines. Although it is not as = dangerous=20 as other intestinal parasites, it can cause decreased performance = in=20 athletic dogs and of course, it is just plain disgusting to have 6 = inch=20 worms living inside your pet. The worm has small flat segments =96 = each=20 about the size of a grain of rice, that break off and are = eventually=20 passed in the stool. Transmitted when the animal eats an infected = flea.=20 Effective flea control is necessary to prevent repeated = infections.=20 Affecting cats, dogs and, rarely, people.=20 Tapeworms (Taenia) are a = less common=20 type of tapeworm which are smaller and are transmitted through = eating=20 infected rodents.

4. =20 Whipworms are small blood = sucking worms=20 that live in the animal=92s digestive tract and can cause severe = diarrhea,=20 blood loss, weakness and dehydration or even death. Transmitted = through=20 contaminated soil (where eggs can survive several years). = Generally only a=20 concern for dogs.

5. =20 Coccidia=20 are very common tiny single celled organisms that can = cause=20 severe and even life-threatening diarrhea in puppies and kittens = (and=20 sometimes adult animals). Coccidia are transmitted through = contaminated=20 soil and are an especially serious problem in kennels, shelters = and other=20 group housing situations. Mature immune systems can fight off = coccidia=20 infections but young animals are susceptible to severe infections. = Drugs=20 that help the young animal fight off the infection can keep the = infection=20 under control until the animal=92s maturing immune system develops = the=20 ability to completely fend off the infection.

Plus One=20 More: Heartworm Heartworms are an awful parasite that = actually=20 lives in your pet=92s heart. Transmitted by mosquitoes and common = in this=20 region, heartworms are one of the deadliest parasites. We will = devote next=20 month=92s entire AMC Spoonful to heartworm.

How are your=20 pets infected?

As you probably noticed when = reading=20 (above) about the various types of parasites, there are many = different=20 ways your pet can become infected with intestinal parasites.=20

1. =20 From the=20 mother to the puppies or kittens during pregnancy or = nursing.=20 Transmission from mother to puppies or kittens is very difficult, = but not=20 impossible, to prevent. Aggressive deworming as=20 prescribed by your veterinarian before and during pregnancy can = minimize=20 this risk.

2. =20 From=20 contaminated soil to the animal through ingesting soil = (through=20 such normal behaviors as licking the paws, digging, or chewing on = soil=20 laden sticks). Some parasites in the soil can also burrow directly = through=20 the skin of the animal. Infective forms of some common parasites = can=20 survive in the soil for years!

3. =20 From=20 eating an infected flea. Infected fleas can carry = tapeworms to=20 cats and dogs. When the pet bites at the itching flea, they can = ingest the=20 flea (who carries a baby tapeworm inside its own body) and become = infected=20 with tapeworms.

4. =20 From=20 eating an infected prey animal. Mice and other rodents = and prey=20 animals can carry roundworms, tapeworms or coccidia to cats and dogs.

5. =20 Activation of dormant parasites already = within the=20 pet. Each parasite has a unique and complicated life = cycle.=20 During some stages of their life cycles, these parasites are = dormant or=20 hiding in various body tissues and are immune to treatment. At a = later=20 time, the dormant parasite =93activates=94 and an active infection = occurs.=20 Dormant phases can last years =96 so a pet who=20 might have been infected many years ago (maybe even before you = owned him)=20 might suddenly have an active parasite infection even though his = current=20 life style does not put him at high risk.

What you=20 need to do for your pet

There are several things you, = with your=20 veterinarian=92s help, can do to minimize the risks intestinal = parasites=20 pose to your pet=92s health.

1. =20 Routine=20 fecal screening. At Animal Medical Center, we use modern and = accurate=20 fecal screening methods to maximize our success in identifying = evidence of=20 intestinal parasites. Bring in a fresh (within one hour) stool = sample to=20 every Wellness Visit for a fecal screening. Most pets should have = a fecal=20 screening twice a year. Once yearly screening is acceptable for=20 indoors-only cats who do not hunt. Fecal screening cannot catch = every=20 intestinal parasite infection, but it does catch many and is an = essential=20 tool in an intestinal parasite control plan.

2. =20 Year-round monthly heartworm preventative = that=20 includes a broad-spectrum dewormer.=20 All dogs and cats who go outside should = be on a=20 monthly heartworm preventative to protect them against deadly = heartworm as=20 well as intestinal parasites. Although cats are less vulnerable to = heartworm than dogs are, they can contract heartworm disease and = are very=20 susceptible to intestinal parasites and the monthly heartworm = preventative=20 is an effective method to protect against both concerns. = Indoors-only cats=20 are at lower risk of heartworm and intestinal parasites, but they = are=20 still at-risk and so monthly preventative is an option for those = who want=20 an extra margin of safety for their cats.

3. =20 Individualized deworming=20 as needed and as prescribed for your pet based on fecal = screening results, risk factors and clinical signs. Be sure to = follow the=20 veterinarian=92s instructions precisely. Choosing from a wide = arraw of possibilities, the veterinarian = will select=20 just the right medicine, dosage and treatment schedule to = effectively=20 treat the specific parasite infecting your pet. Timely follow-up = doses are=20 often essential to effectively controlling the infection because = deworming medications are only effective = against=20 certain phases of the parasite=92s life cycle and the veterinarian = will=20 carefully time deworming doses to = eliminate the=20 infestation.

4. =20 Report=20 any worms, eggs or other weird stuff in the poop to the = veterinarian right away. You=92ll be asked to bring in a fresh = sample of the=20 poop, including any visible worms or eggs.

5. =20 Effective flea control. Avoid = tape worms=20 by using an effective flea control program such as Frontline. = Deworming for tape worms may be advised if = your pet=20 has been infested with fleas.

6. =20 Aggressive repeated deworming of puppies and kittens = beginning=20 as young as 2 to 3 weeks of age to control the very common = infections in=20 young animals and carefully = planned deworming of pregnant cats and = dogs to=20 minimize the risk of transmission of parasites from the mother to = the pups=20 or kittens.

Your pets=20 DON=92T put your family at = risk!

Although intestinal parasites = are a health=20 risk for people, you DON=92T need to worry about your well cared = for pets=20 directly infecting your family. Studies show that families with = pets are=20 not any more likely to become infected with parasites than = families with=20 no pets. This is because human infection generally occurs through=20 contaminated soil or food, not through direct contact with your = pets.=20

At=20 Animal=20 Medical Center, we take our = commitment to=20 your pet=92s health very seriously. We also appreciate our = responsibility to=20 help pet owners protect human health by abiding by the guidelines=20 established by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) as well as = other=20 respected human medical organizations.

To=20 safeguard your family, avoid skin contact with soil, sand and = other areas=20 that may be contaminated with feces and promote community = standards that=20 encourage scooping poop as well as community-wide parasite control = through=20 routine parasite control protocols such as those described here. = For more=20 information on human health risks, please go to our website=20 www.morgantownamc.com=20 and see the articles on human = parasite=20 risks in our Pet = Library or=20 follow the links on our Links=20 page to the CDC website or consult your personal=20 doctor.

AMC Forms now available on the=20 Website

This=20 month, we added a Forms = library=20 to the website. All of our most frequently needed information = sheets and=20 hospital forms are available as downloadable Adobe (.pdf) files so you can print them out at home = to=20 preview them or to complete them before checking in for your = appointment.=20 Each Forms Packet = contains=20 copies of all the information sheets and hospital forms you need = ahead of=20 time and provides you with option of completing your authorization = forms=20 at home instead of in the waiting room. Having the paperwork ahead = of time=20 allows you all the time you need to consider your options and ask=20 questions and also helps you have a speedier check-in. Forms for = many=20 needs are available: surgery, hospitalization, boarding, adoption, = new=20 client, drop-off appointment and others.

Our=20 website provides information about our services, staff, hospital = news as=20 well as a searchable library of hundreds of veterinarian reviewed = articles=20 on pet health and care. We also post photos of pets currently = available=20 for adoption and back issues of our newsletters. Online = appointment=20 scheduling & prescription refills are also available. Please = visit us=20 at www.morgantownamc.com.

Need to=20 Unsubscribe?

We do not want to send you = unwelcome=20 messages! Please let us know if you=92d like to unsubscribe by = going to=20 the e-Newsletter = Page on our=20 website www.morgantownamc.com, or you may just reply to this message with Unsubscribe = in the=20 subject line. We do our best to only send = welcome=20 messages and we sincerely apologize for any errors or=20 inconvenience.

Your=20 Pet=92s Second Best Friend