It's warm out, things are turning green, and the bugs are awakening, too!  Particularly, mosquitoes that transmit deadly heartworm disease!  Heartworms are just that - long, skinny worms that live in the heart and arteries that feed the lungs.  A mosquito transmits the disease by taking blood from an infected dog, then introducing those heartworm larvae into the skin of a new dog.  Those tiny larvae find their way into the capillaries of the skin, then into the rest of the blood supply, going through several changes until they reach adulthood in approximately 6 months.  A dog with an adult heartworm infection may appear perfectly healthy, but over time, the worm burden causes heart failure and death.  Heartworm preventatives kill heartworm larvae in the early stages, but every once in a while, a larva squeaks by and makes it to adulthood.  So, it's pretty clear why we like to heartworm test every dog on a yearly basis!  It's vital to give cats monthly heartworm preventative as well as dogs, because there's no treatment for heartworm disease for our feline friends.  The treatment for dogs is costly, painful, and risky, but available. 

We now have Proheart 6, a heartworm preventative injection that lasts 6 months at a time!  If you find that you occasionally miss monthly preventative doses for your dog, this may be a good option.  Give us a call to talk with our team about this wonderful product!

“BIGGEST LOSER” PROGRAM FOR PETS AT DAH:  We are kicking off this new program because nothing affects our patients’ overall health more than their weight!  Did you know that excessive weight can shorten your pet’s lifespan by up to 2 years?   40% of pets in the U.S. are overweight and 25% are obese!    Overweight animals have a higher incidence of other diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, joint injuries and arthritis, kidney disease, and cancer.  Other side effects of excess weight are breathing difficulties, reduced activity, and skin infections associated with rolls of fat.  Does your pet need to shed some pounds?  Can you feel his ribs easily?  Does he have a waistline?  If you answered no to these questions, a weight loss plan may be in order.  If your veterinarian has already recommended a diet, now is the time to take action!  If you’re not sure how to go about helping your dog or cat, make an appointment for a weight assessment and diet and exercise recommendations… you won’t be disappointed, and this could change your pet’s life!

Here’s how the program works:  a new contest will begin every 10 weeks.  The pets will be required to weigh in at DAH every 2 weeks to chart their progress.  2 winners will be declared at the end of each contest: the dog and cat with the highest percentage of weight loss!  Call 419-692-9941 or send us a message on Facebook to enter your pet – there is no cost, and the winners will receive some nice gift baskets full of products donated by our suppliers.

PLEASE ask us if you have any questions regarding diet changes and weight loss strategies for your pets.  Sometimes diet changes can be tricky, especially for finicky cats and small dogs.  Furthermore, too much exercise can be bad for an obese pet, so we can also give you recommendations for activity. 

THE NEXT BIGGEST LOSER FOR PETS CONTEST WILL BEGIN MONDAY, APRIL 23rd – Are you up for the challenge?  There is no greater gift you could give your pet than a longer, higher quality life!

Picture from www.slentrol.com