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If you live in Connecticut, you’ve almost certainly heard of Lyme disease – you may even know someone who’s had it, or have had it yourself. This disease (also called “Borreliosis” after the bacteria which causes it, Borrelia burgdorferi) is spread by the bites of affected ticks and can cause symptoms such as fever, a rash, joint pain, and nerve pain.

But Lyme disease doesn’t just impact humans – our pets can also be affected. Dr. Nicole Belward, one of Pieper Veterinary’s board-certified Internal Medicine specialists, talks about how to recognize the signs of Lyme disease and how to protect your pets from tick-borne illnesses.

How can I Tell if my Pet has Contracted Lyme disease?

Exposure to Lyme is confirmed by special blood tests.  One important thing to understand about Lyme disease is that most dogs (95%) will recover naturally and do not become ill. Of the dogs who develop clinical signs (less than 5%), the most common symptoms are those associated with arthritis, such as lameness (limping/pain which may shift between legs) and fever.

There is a less common syndrome called Lyme nephritis, where the Lyme infection damages the kidneys.  This occurs in about 1-2% of patients exposed to Lyme. These patients experience an increase in thirst and urination and may also have vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and lethargy.

Unlike humans, effects on the heart and neurologic system have not been seen in dogs and cats.

If my Dog Tests Positive for Lyme, what Treatment is needed?

A positive blood test indicates exposure to the bacteria, but most dogs will clear Lyme disease on their own.  A dog with lameness and fever, along with a positive test, should be treated with antibiotics and will typically recover quickly.  If a dog tests positive for Lyme exposure but is not showing other symptoms, they should have urine testing done to check for Lyme nephritis (kidney damage).  Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that a dog with a positive Lyme test with no signs of arthritis or nephritis should be treated with antibiotics.  This topic is still somewhat controversial.

For dogs that show the symptoms of arthritis, lack of treatment will lead to increased joint pain, weakness, and fever. Lyme nephritis left untreated leads to severe complications of kidney damage and high blood pressure, and is often fatal.

Is Lyme disease contagious?

Lyme disease is not directly contagious from dog-to-dog or dog-to-cat.  However, a tick that has attached to a dog with Lyme disease can feed, fall off, then climb on to another animal and transmit the disease.

Can my Cat Contract Lyme disease?

Cats can be exposed to Lyme disease and test positive, but we do not yet have clear evidence that Lyme causes sickness in cats.  Nonetheless, we recommend all cats with outdoor exposure be treated with tick preventatives.

Do I still need to Watch for Ticks/Lyme disease in the winter?

Absolutely.  There are many environmental factors that affect the tick population through the winter months, and we do see patients with ticks even in the winter.

How Common is Lyme disease in Connecticut?

Connecticut is an endemic (native) region for Lyme disease.  In fact, Lyme disease got its name after a population of humans in Old Lyme, CT were found to have the same symptoms that were ultimately linked to the infection from the causative bacteria. The Companion Animal Parasite Council tracks the number of positive Lyme tests, and Connecticut frequently has the highest percentage of positive results in the country.

What’s the Best way to Protect my Pets from Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks, and in this area the ‘deer tick’ is the major carrier.  Preventing ticks is the best way to protect your pet.  Frequent and thorough tick checks are very important, as is using year-round tick preventatives.  Year-round tick prevention is critical as well. There are a variety of oral, topical, and collar options available on the market now, with oral products having some advantages with improved distribution and residual activity. Since Lyme Disease is endemic in Connecticut, Pieper Veterinary recommends that most dogs receive an annual Lyme vaccine.

In regards to tick control around the home, the CDC has excellent information available on their website: https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/about/index.html

Dr. Nicole Belward is an Internal Medicine specialist at Pieper Veterinary. She graduated from Gettysburg College and received her doctorate from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed her residency at the Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island. Dr. Belward has special interests in immune-mediated diseases, hematologic diseases, and infectious diseases, and is a member of the AVMA and ACVIM.

Police in Groton, CT announced recently that a family dog in the area tested positive for rabies. Rabies has become rare in the US thanks to the rabies vaccine and public awareness, but this deadly disease is responsible for almost 60,000 human deaths worldwide every year.

Dr. Benjamin March, one of Pieper’s primary care veterinarians, answered some questions for us about the dangers of rabies, and how we can help protect both our pets and our human families.

How Can My Pet Contract Rabies, and What Dangers Does It Present?

Rabies is caused by a virus that can be transmitted through saliva via a wound (ex: bite, scratch) or via mucous membranes (ex: mouth, nose, eyes). It is typically transmitted through a bite or contact with an affected animal, though infection through inhalation of aerosolized virus may occur when exposed to bats, and infection can occur rarely after ingestion of an infected animal.

Rabies can spread from animals to people. There is no established cure or treatment for rabies in people or animals, and it is considered to be 100% fatal in those that contract it.

Why Is the Rabies Vaccine Mandatory by State Law?

Rabies vaccinations in pet dogs and cats are a very important mechanism to protect people from potential exposure. Because dogs and cats are more likely to interact with infected animals (either outside or any that may enter the home), they can potentially be exposed to rabies and then subsequently expose a person.

In cases when a pet develops rabies, there is no treatment and the disease is always fatal. There are almost no other diseases – not even plague or Ebola – that carry this fatality rate.

Vaccination is a very easy, inexpensive means of protecting your pets from this universally fatal disease that, until relatively recently, was very common in the United States.

Do I Still Need to Vaccinate My Indoor-Only Pets Against Rabies?

Yes. Indoor-only pets can still be exposed to bats, rodents, and other animals that may make their way into the house. Also, pets do escape houses.

Are There Any Negative Side Effects From the Rabies Vaccine?

Vaccine side effects are very rare. The most common side effect, an allergic reaction, is easily treated with medications. Very rarely, anything that stimulates the immune system (such as a vaccine) can be associated with autoimmune disease. Tumors at injection sites do occur extremely rarely in a small subset of cats (1 in 10,000). To put it in perspective, the odds of being struck by lightning in your lifetime are estimated at about 1 in 3,000. In cats predisposed to injection site tumors, they can occur with any injection (ex: fluids, insulin), and are not specifically related just to vaccinations.

I’m Not Sure If My Pet Has a Current Rabies Vaccination — What Should I Do?

Call your veterinarian and ask if your pet’s rabies vaccine is current. If not, we would recommend scheduling an appointment to get your pet updated as soon as possible.

Dr. Benjamin March has been with Pieper Veterinary since 2014. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Connecticut, majoring in Animal Science and Pathobiology and minoring in Molecular and Cell Biology.  Dr. March obtained his veterinary degree at Cornell University. While at Cornell, Dr. March was the recipient of the Frank Bloom Pathology Award, the Veterinary Cancer Society Award for Proficiency in Clinical Oncology, the Westminster Kennel Foundation Scholarship, and the Tracy French Clinical Pathology Award.

Hill’s (Science Diet) has updated their January food recall, which included several varieties of canned food found to have high levels of vitamin D. To see the updated list of all affected foods, please review https://www.hillspet.com/productlist .

Due to multiple recalls over a short period, Pieper Veterinary has elected to temporarily remove Hill’s canine canned diets from inventory until additional information from Hill’s is available. We recommend discussing options with your veterinarian. To continue feeding a Hill’s canned canine diet, please purchase from https://pieperolson.vetsfirstchoice.com/ or another online vendor during this time period. If you would like to transition to a comparable diet, please contact your veterinarian to discuss alternative options. Please remember, all diet changes should be gradual to reduce the risk of causing gastrointestinal upset.

We checked in with Dr. Nunez, a veterinarian and one of the owners of Pieper Veterinary, to find out more information about how we can help our pets during this recall.

What Are the Signs of Vitamin D Toxicity?

Some of the signs include lethargy, decreased or lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, increased water drinking and/or urination, nausea/drooling, weight loss, or occasionally joint issues

What Should I Do If I Think My Dog Is Sick?

If you think your dog may be exhibiting these signs, please call your veterinarian to discuss your concerns and/or schedule an office visit so your veterinarian can do a physical exam and assess your pet’s condition. In any case, we recommend to discontinue feeding the recalled diet immediately. If your veterinarian suspects that your dog is exhibiting signs of Vitamin D toxicity, lab test screening will be performed to investigate this possibility and/or rule out other potential contributing diseases.

Is Vitamin D Toxicity Treatable?

In some cases, discontinuation of the diet and close observation may be the only recommendation.  In other cases, specific treatment intervention with hospitalization will be necessary. In most cases, full recovery is expected after discontinuation of feeding.  In cases of any pets consuming the recalled food, Hills will pay for diagnostic screening and reimburse pet parents for medical treatment for any affected pets.

My Dog Eats a Prescription Diet That Is Being Recalled — What Can I Feed Instead?

If your pet eats a prescription diet that is being recalled, please ask your veterinarian what alternate prescription diet is recommended based on your pet’s individual medical condition.  Purina and Royal Canin are two pet diet companies that offer comparable prescription diets.

I Purchased Food From Pieper That Has Been Recalled — How Do I Return It?

If purchased at Pieper Veterinary, please return all recalled canned food diets to us for reimbursement. If purchased at our online pharmacy Vet First Choice, please contact Vet First Choice directly for reimbursement: support@vetsfirstchoice.com

Where Can I Find More Information?

For an updated list of recalled products please go to www.hillsvet.com . Additional information is also available at https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm634087.htm.

To contact Hills consumer affairs directly, please email contactus@hillspet.com or telephone 1-800-445-5777 available 7 days a week.

Dry food, cat food, and treats have not been affected by this recall.

Virginia Nunez, DVM, obtained her DVM from Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine in 1981. She is a member of the AVMA, CVMA, VMG-VSG, serves on the Middlesex Community College Veterinary Technology Program Advisory Board, and the Middlesex Community College Veterinary Technology Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

Lexi the Labrador is one very lucky dog! This lovely girl was at home when her feline sibling knocked over a pack of Icebreakers gum, which Lexi quickly scarfed down. Unfortunately, the gum contained an ingredient called Xylitol. Xylitol is a sweetener that is common in gum, but for pets it can be deadly – even just a few pieces of gum can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), liver failure, and seizures.

Thankfully for Lexi, her family acted fast and brought her straight to our Middletown ER where Dr. Urbonas, our head of emergency services, started treating her. Lexi was already hypoglycemic by the time she came in, and was admitted to the hospital for fluids, medication, and round-the-clock monitoring.

 

Hill’s Pet Nutrition is voluntarily recalling select canned dog food products due to potentially elevated levels of vitamin D. While vitamin D is an essential nutrient for dogs, ingestion of elevated levels can lead to potential health issues depending on the level of vitamin D and the length of exposure, and dogs may exhibit symptoms such as vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling, and weight loss. Vitamin D, when consumed at very high levels, can lead to serious health issues in dogs including renal dysfunction. Pet parents with dogs who have consumed any of the products listed and are exhibiting any of these signs should contact their veterinarian.

For families affected by the ongoing government shutdown, Pieper Veterinary would like to help. If you are a federal employee and find your pet in need of emergency care, please inform our front desk staff at our Middletown or Madison 24 hour emergency hospitals. We have flexible payment options and support that we can offer you to help ensure that your pet continues to have access to the care that they need. Please bring your federal ID card.

The recent winter storm has covered the state in ice, and with it, has brought some unexpected dangers! This beautiful girl is Lavie, a 1-year-old Lab mix who decided to sneakily grab a snack from a bag of icemelt (a chemical mix used to keep roads and sidewalks unfrozen). Her family brought her to our emergency hospital in Middletown, where she saw Dr. Tipton.

Icemelts are toxic to dogs and cats, but luckily Lavie’s bloodwork showed that she hadn’t eaten quite enough to have any severe side effects. After getting some fluids to keep her hydrated and some stomach meds, she was able to go back home with her family.

As the snow starts to move in tonight we wanted to remind you that no matter what, our Middletown and Madison Emergency Room locations WILL remain open. We’re here if you need us. Be safe!!

 

Our emergency rooms are open 24 hours a day, and that includes Christmas! A huge THANK you to our hardworking doctors in this photo, and all the other staff, technicians, assistants, receptionists, and other people who keep our emergency rooms in both Middletown and. Madison running all day, every single day, just in case you need us. Thank you ALL, you’re amazing!