Charleston Harbor Veterinarians

Charleston Veterinarians | 280 Rutledge Ave, Charleston, SC 29403

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Canine Influenza Update – Charleston, SC

June 21, 2017 By admin Leave a Comment

Back on June 9th, we posted a blog that stated that the H3N2 strain of Canine Influenza was reported in South Carolina, but we did not know the location.  Recently, we have heard reports of a couple of confirmed cases in our lowcountry area.

Please, refer to the previously mentioned blog for information on the disease itself.   Veterinarian Charleston, SC 29403

Dogs who are the most at risk for catching this virus are dogs that will travel to locations such as shows or competitions, where they will have exposure to high numbers of dogs from many different locations.  For these dogs, we strongly recommend vaccination for influenza vaccinations H3N2 and H3N8 prior to travel to that event.

Dogs who are at moderate risk are locally social (visit dog parks or other pet friendly gathering spots) or attend boarding facilities.  Vaccination for these pets may be of benefit and something that you may wish to discuss with your veterinary practice.

Remember, that it takes 1 vaccination and then a booster vaccination 3 weeks later to complete the vaccination series.  Afterwards, it may take another week for your dog to have developed the immune response to be fully protected.  Therefore, pet owners who feel that their dog has a strong need to be vaccinated for travel or boarding should prepare a month in advance to make sure adequate time is allowed for both vaccinations to be administered.

Even with vaccination, there is no guarantee that your pet will not develop clinical signs if exposed to the influenza virus.  As with people receiving the human influenza vaccination, the goal is to lessen the severity of the symptoms should the disease develop.

We will continue to see all patients with respiratory infections outside in our parking lot for examinations, to decrease the chance of spreading this illness to any of our patients within the practice.  Thank you, for your understanding in this matter.

As always, thank you, for your trust in Charleston Harbor Veterinarians.  It is a joy to get to meet each one of your pets.

-Dr. Janette Blackwood

Filed Under: Dog Health Tagged With: Charleston, geo:lat=32.7929787, geo:lon=-79.94840850000003, geotagged

What Pet Owners Should Know About Canine Influenza

June 9, 2017 By admin 1 Comment

We know that many of our fellow Charleston dog owners have been wondering about the recent media posts about a “deadly” canine dog flu that has been documented in South Carolina.  We thought we would take a moment to share with you some bullet points that we know about this recent report, so that you can learn a little more about this virus.

Veterinarian Charleston, SC 29403

  1. There are actually two strains of the canine influenza virus:  H3N8 and H3N2.  Influenza H3N2 is the one that has been currently reported in South Carolina.  It has not been reported to spread to people, although nation-wide there has been the rare transmission to cats.
  2. As of the writing of this blog, we still do not know where in South Carolina this virus was reported or how many dogs have been affected.  It may simply be one dog in the upstate or several in the Lowcountry.  What we do know is that The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine is one of the many schools tracking this disease, especially after a recent new exposure at a dog show in Perry, Georgia.  The University of Florida issued a report this week simply listing the states that have had reported cases of H3N2.  South Carolina was on this list.
  3. H3N2 has actually been in South Carolina before this year.  A veterinarian in Mount Pleasant diagnosed it in 2 dogs traveling to our lowcountry, after staying in an infected boarding facility in Atlanta, in the spring of 2015.  The owner’s vigilant observation of her dogs’ newly developed respiratory signs and the quick thinking of the veterinarian to send off testing for the virus allowed these dogs to be isolated and likely prevented this virus from spreading to other local pets.
  4. The canine influenza behaves similarly to human influenza.  Dogs show signs of coughing, sneezing, lethargy, and fever.  The virus is highly contagious, and dogs can spread the disease some time prior to their symptoms becoming readily apparent.  Unfortunately, they can remain contagious for up to 4 weeks.  The good news is that while the dogs likely feel miserable (much like us when we have the flu), the infection is rarely fatal.  The University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine’s Infectious Disease Department speculates that there is a mortality rate of less than 1% for H3N2 (and less than 5% for H3N8).  Similar to people who become sick from the flu, cases are more likely to result in death for individuals who are older, very young, or immunocompromised from another disease.  While I appreciate the media for educating our community on the existence of this virus, the Charleston veterinary community sees a higher rates of pets passing away from other more common deadly diseases such as parvovirus, heartworm disease, and exposure to toxins such as antifreeze.  
  5. There are vaccines for H3N8 and H3N2.  Similar to vaccinating people for human influenza, vaccination does not result in a guarantee from a complete lack of illness should exposure occur.  The goal is to lessen the severity of symptoms should a dog become sick.  This is considered one of several “life style” vaccinations that we offer at Charleston Harbor Veterinarians, limited to dogs who complete certain activities regularly that would increase their risk of exposure to this disease.  This is similar to a conversation a person may have with their general practitioner about the benefits of receiving an annual “flu shot”.

 

What can you do to keep our community pets safe?

 

  1. Be a good neighbor!  If your dog is showing symptoms of coughing, sneezing, ocular drainage, and/or lethargy, this is a time for your dog to stay home and not socialize.  This is true for any contagious disease, not just canine influenza.  We have many contagious upper respiratory tract infections that are much more common in the Charleston area than canine influenza.  If your dog is sick, don’t go to dog parks or to the groomer’s office.  If you were making plans to board your dog, see if you can have a family member or a friend come to your home instead.  Your boarding and grooming facilities’ owners and your community’s neighbors will thank you for this kindness.
  2. If your dog is sick, contact your veterinarian.  Our physical exam can screen for complications to respiratory infections such as fever, dehydration, and pneumonia.  Testing to identify the offending pathogen is available, although it is completed at a reference laboratory and results can take about a week to return.  Dogs must also be tested soon after clinical signs start for more accurate results.  If indicated, we can prescribe medications to make your dog recover faster.
  3. Talk with your veterinarian about your dog’s lifestyle to see if vaccination is recommended.  Dogs that are exceptionally social or travel may benefit from the vaccination.  This would include dogs traveling to dog shows, dogs traveling for agility competitions, regular attendees at doggie day cares, and regular attendees to local dog parks.  Individual boarding facilities may start to require this vaccination, in an effort to minimize the chances of an outbreak within their businesses.

 

If you are making an appointment at Charleston Harbor Veterinarians to have a pet evaluated for a respiratory illness, please, do not be offended if we request to examine your pet in our parking lot, instead of bringing him/her into our building.  Like all veterinary practices, we routinely treat the elderly, pediatrics, and patients undergoing immunosuppressant therapy for other illnesses.  Due to the contagious nature of this disease, we do not want to place other individuals at risk and have a protocol in place to minimize the spread of respiratory diseases.

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Charleston Harbor Veterinarians is here to answer questions that you may have concerning canine influenza and of course other medical concerns you may have.  Feel free to contact us at 843-410-8290 or chvteam@charlestonvets.com.  

 

You may also read more about it at both The University of Georgia and The University of Florida veterinary colleges’ websites:

 

http://vet.uga.edu/news/view/canine-influenza-helpful-information

 

http://hospitals.vetmed.ufl.edu/canine-influenza 

 

Contributed by: Dr. Janette Blackwood

Filed Under: Dog Health Tagged With: Charleston, geo:lat=32.7929787, geo:lon=-79.94840850000003, geotagged

Frustrated with Fleas?!

May 31, 2016 By admin Leave a Comment

Downtown Charleston has a problem…FLEAS! The low country is prime real estate for fleas, but downtown has more than its fair share! Many clients have come in seeking relief for their itchy, uncomfortable pets since we opened our doors. Ridding your environment of fleas can be a frustrating endeavor – especially when it is difficult to control the environment outside your home. Strays, squirrels, and the dog next door may constantly infest the area with fleas. There are a few tricks of the trade that can help you get control through!

The need to know info:

1. Adult fleas like to stay on the animal, therefore you MUST TREAT THE PET. ALL the pets!
First, you must prevent those fleas from biting, laying eggs, and surviving on your pet. Fleas will constantly jump on your pet in the yard, during walks, and at the dog park. There are many oral and topical products available. Talk to your vet about the safest and best option for your lifestyle and for your pet. Some pets have an allergy to the flea saliva so even one flea bite can lead to intense itching. Consistent and appropriate flea prevention will help to reduce the discomfort! And if you only treat your dog but your roommate has a cat…your flea problem will continue. Everyone needs safe flea prevention. (Remember – not all over the counter flea prevention is safe for cats – read the label, and NEVER apply a dog product on a cat!)

2. Flea eggs are laid by those adult fleas on your pet and then quickly fall off. They land wherever the pet spends the most time (cushions, bedding, carpets), therefore you MUST TREAT THE ENVIRONMENT. 90% of the flea population is around the home, not on the pet!

a.Remove all toys, clothing, and storage from floors, under beds, and in closets to allow the areas to be treated.
b. Remove pets, pet food, bowls, fish or snake tanks from the area to be treated.
c. Wash and dry all pet bedding, throw rugs, and blankets.
d. Vacuum the environment daily for several days after the home is treated. The goal is to remove as many flea eggs and larvae as possible to prevent  them from hatching into adults down the road. Remember to vacuum under cushions, in corners of the room, and under all furniture. Flea eggs and    larvae like dark, warm areas! Be sure to empty the bag/canister after each vacuuming session.
e. Apply a safe insecticide to the indoor and outdoor environments. Discuss options with your veterinarian or your exterminator. People and pets       should remain away from treated areas until the product is dry. Remember to address those areas where your pet hides or sleeps such as under the bed! Areas of the yard where the pet plays and sleeps as well as areas under porches will need to be treated too.

3. Those eggs that do survive will hatch into larvae which transform into pupae in protective cocoons. The cocoons protect the pupae from insecticides for up to 4 weeks or longer – therefore treatment MUST BE CONSISTENT and on-going. Even after treating the pet and the environment you may see a few fleas as they emerge from the cocoon and hop a ride on your pet! Don’t worry, they won’t last long! Make sure to repeat the environment cleaning in 2 to 4 weeks to capture each and every cycle of the fleas.

-Dr. Kahuda

 

Filed Under: Cat Health, Dog Health Tagged With: flea prevention, Fleas

What does your dog like to do?

March 8, 2016 By admin Leave a Comment

By: Janette Blackwood, DVMJanette Blackwood, DVM with pup

My first couple of years out of veterinary school, I worked out in a military town in Georgia. One day, I had a client come in with a new adult shetland sheepdog rescued from the shelter. Even though it was about a decade ago, I still remember reading the paperwork filled out by the original owner at the time the dog was surrendered to the shelter. The paperwork had a list of the standard questions you would see on these forms, such as “Is this dog on heartworm and flea prevention?” or “Is he good with small children?” But, there was one question and answer that really stuck out to me, because it really made me think about the bonds (or lack of bonds) that we form with our pets:

Question: “What does he/she enjoy doing?”
Answer provided by owner surrendering pet: “I don’t know.”

The relationship (or lack thereof) between an animal and a pet can be so valuable, that it actually has a medical term taught in veterinary colleges and recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): “the human­-animal bond”. The AVMA’s website defines the human-­animal bond as “a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and animals that is influenced by behaviors that are essential to the health and well ­being of both.” The definition further goes on to state that a veterinarian should work to maximize the potential of this bond between their clients and pets. As a new graduate, my mind was constantly in a whirl to make sure that I was keeping my animal patients’ bodies physically healthy. Were all my dog and cat patients on parasite prevention monthly and properly vaccinated to keep them safe from infectious diseases? Were my senior pets comfortable in managing their arthritis? And, were my senior sets treated appropriately for their periodontal disease, so that they would continue to eat without pain? But, reading that question from that shelter’s paperwork really got me thinking about wondering if I was doing enough to make sure that my pets were also happy in their daily lives, thereby building that human­-animal bond.

At the time that I was meeting that newly adopted Sheltie, my own little white, fluffy mutt Radar was a young guy full of tremendous energy. And, even though we had only had him for a few months, I knew for sure how to answer the question: “What does he enjoy doing?” He has always loved the game of chase with anyone throwing a squeaky toy. He loves long walks in any new area; bonus points if there are random tuffs of grass for him to mark as his own. The end to a perfect day full of activity would consist of a quiet evening with a Greenie chew and maybe a little tomato for dessert after eating his dry kibble. And, if you were sitting on the floor, he can always find a way to position himself directly in front of you in the perfect location for a gaining a back rub.

As Radar and I both grow older and life finds me and my family somehow busier than ever, I do have to make myself stop and reassess: Am I still providing Radar what he needs to be happy? He is so quiet; he rarely complains. At these times, I usually stop what I am doing and grab his harness and leash. Then, we head outside for a walk through the neighborhood, making sure to walk a little more slowly in the areas with tall tufts of grass.

If you feel inclined, comment below on what you feels gives your pets meaning and happiness in life. It might give others ideas of activities to do with their pets, especially as the nice weather is starting to return.

Janette Blackwood, DVM

Website to the AVMA description of The Human­-Animal Bond.
https://www.avma.org/kb/resources/reference/human­animal­bond/pages/human­animal­bond­avma.aspx

Filed Under: Cat Health, Dog Health, Senior Pet Health Tagged With: Charleston, Dr. Blackwood, geo:lat=32.793072, geo:lon=-79.94824, geotagged, Human Animal Bond

Blood Sample with Heartworms

October 14, 2015 By admin Leave a Comment

Have you ever wondered what heartworms look like? If you look closely, you might catch a few wiggling heartworm microfilariae in this video of a blood sample!

On the 1st of each month,  don’t forget to give your monthly heartworm and flea/tick prevention to protect your furkids from these nasty guys!

Filed Under: Dog Health Tagged With: Charleston, geo:lat=32.793072, geo:lon=-79.94824, geotagged, Heartworm, Heartworm Prevention, microscope

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Charleston Harbor Veterinarians

280 Rutledge Ave
Charleston SC 29403

(843)410-8290
CHVteam@CharlestonVets.com

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