Using Heartguard? There's something you need to know.

In 2011, the company that made Interceptor, a heart worm preventative discontinued production. Many people switched over to Heartgard.

As you may well know, both Interceptor and Heartgard contain ivomectin as its main ingredient. They both also contain an ingredient to cover most intestinal parasites. Neither will take care of tapeworms, the evil little creatures that come from fleas, but they do take care of rounds and hooks.

Here's the difference. Only Interceptor prevented/killed whipworms.

I took a friends dog to the vet the other day. She was having bloody diarrhea. She was an older dog that had been vaccinated, so I was not concerned about parvo. I expected the diagnosis to be pancreatitis, which often happens when dogs are given human food or get into the trash and find something their tummies are not used to.

However, the vet was concerned about one other thing: Whipworms.

She told me 60-80 percent of her cases of bloody diarrhea in adult dogs since Interceptor was discontinued was whips.

I wanted to kick myself for not realizing that, but my worming protocol covers everything, even without the Interceptor, so I had not had that issue.

So, if your dog is not on a heart worm/intestinal parasite preventive, it is incredibly important. Even if you live in areas that are not prone to mosquitoes, the ingredients in these preventatives will prevent the nasty and unhealthy affects of intestinal parasites. Keep in mind, intestinal parasites can be passed to humans and kids are most vulnerable.

The company was still producing Sentinel in 2011, which covers the same parasites AND fleas, but it was much more expensive. In 2015 interceptor returned to the market. There are also many other heartworm and flea products now available that were not marketed during the time Interceptor wasn't produced.

When I wrote my last book, I was paying only $1.60 per month to prevent heartworm in 12 dogs. That's $1.60 TOTAL, not $1.60 each. If I added cost of prevention for intestinal parasites and fleas, I was paying about $7-10 per pet. Heartworm, intestinal parasite, and flea prevention for much less than any product out there.

For more information on my protocol, and much, much more please check out my book Secrets of a Vet Tech. It will cost you a lot less than a box of Heartgard.

The Saga of T.Paws Vet Adventures and How to Manage Your Pet Dollars.

Thanks to some hard thinking and ingenuity, I am able to take care of eleven dogs (and 8 cats and a bearded dragon)  for probably less than what most people spend on one. Here, is a little insight on how I manage it and also a reminder that its Rabies Month in Tennessee!!!

In Tennessee, May is Rabies Awareness Month. Rabies is an acute infection of the brain caused by a virus.  It is usually transmitted from wild animal to unvaccinated pet and then to human. We have been able to make it a rare issue by mandatory vaccination.

Some states require the vaccine every year, while others require it every 3 years. There is no difference in the vaccine, however, the states make the decision based upon the possibility of exposure. For instance, in Tennessee, we live very close to wildlife. Many of us live in the mountains among the forest. While some states allow you to give the vaccine yourself, Tennessee is not one of them. So in Tennessee it is required once yearly to be given by a veterinarian.

The good news is that Rabies Clinics are offered all over the state this month at a discount. A rabies clinic may be held at a local Tractor Supply or feed store. Some veterinarians will pick a Saturday and spend the day giving rabies vaccines. Other vets, like mine, Mount Carmel Pet Hospital   is simply honoring the price all month long. You have no idea what a blessing that is for multiple dog owners.

(For availability in your area, check with your local humane society and check with your vet to see what they will be doing.)

I've decided to use the month as my vaccination month. I vaccinate my own pets for all other diseases, so that's what I did this month. However, I did it a week before I had them vaccinated for rabies simply to reduce the chance of vaccine reaction since most of my dogs are chihuahuas.

I also gave most of my guys a little dose of benadryl (1 mg/lb of body weight) prior to leaving for the vet. This helped them stay a little calmer and also helped to prevent vaccine reactions. 

Since I have 11 "forever" dogs at my rescue, T.Paws, being able to take a few at a time was very helpful. I started out with 3 who had skin issues (Tinker, Blue, Athena) and Ms Ruby, my "right hand dog", who insisted on going.  We discussed the cause, the doctor's recommendation, and cost. They are well aware of the financial challenges I face and are excellent at helping me prioritize and talk things through. I also had the doctor check Tinker's hernia which has been repaired once, and we talked about the possible outcomes of not having it repaired again. I also asked about Ms Ruby's teeth (which they looked at from afar :). She had just had a dental last year, but the tarter was horrible, so dental costs were discussed.  And we talked about the possibility of Blue having a thyroid problem. Then those guys were vaccinated and went home.

Next came Casey. She is my golden retriever mix. She is also absolutely terrified of storms, riding in the car, fireworks, and slippery floors. Dealing with 4 scared chihuahuas is a breeze compared to dear sweet Casey. Not only did she go for rabies, but also to get acepromazine, a common sedative for dogs who are not prone to seizures (it can lower the seizure threshold). Getting there and getting the exam was easy. Even getting the vaccine was a breeze. Getting home was CRAZY! She was so stressed when we got home, she took a sedative and so did I. I was done with rabies shots for that day!

Since the others only needed their rabies vaccine, my dad came over the next day and I had the rest of the clan in two crates. Teddy and Scrappy in one. Pearl, Onyx, Bo, and Panda in the other. We loaded it on the truck and off we went. Teddy was happy to see everyone as he had visited them not long ago, and, being Teddy, wanted to show "his" pack around (he takes his position as the official spokesdog of T.Paws very seriously). Everyone was weighed and vaccinated, and it was a very pleasant visit. Not to mention they loved the ride in the truck.

Here's where money management comes in. As I always do, I put it on the CareCredit Card. As I have mentioned before, this card is a healthcare card that gives me (usually) six months interest free to pay it off.

With a big group like I have, and little money to work with, I try to think ahead and plan on doing one thing a month. In January for instance, I might buy several months worth of Fipronil for fleas even though I don't need it. February, I might purchase extra food, March, vaccines, and so on. So now that I know that Ms Ruby needs a dental, Tinker needs hernia repair, Blue may need blood work, my goal is to put the money I would have been using for flea control (but already bought in January) into my CareCredit and get it paid off.

The doctors both agreed that Tinkers hernia repair needs to be first. So that is what's planned next. Some vets will give you discounts if you have multiple animals having a procedure on one day, so don't be afraid to ask).

But by spreading out the costs of the needs of my animals, using the techniques in Secrets of a Vet Tech , utilizing CareCredit, taking advantage of special discount months, and being completely open and honest with my veterinarian, I am able to take care of more animals for less than some spend taking care of one. And THAT is the secret of living as a rescue here at T.Paws.

Financial Aid for Vet Visits: Options and Ideas

This week, my little Pearl, a tiny chihuahua, got very ill. She started coughing and could not stop. I mean, she could barely take a breath. I suspected kennel cough was being fought by all the dogs after fostering a little puppy who was apparently a carrier. Even though my guys had been vaccinated, this strain must have been a doozy.

It was 3:30 pm and I knew most vet offices closed at 5pm. I called the one place I had been considering after looking at their website, Mt. Carmel Pet Hospital and thankfully, even though we were new clients, they got us in right away. I knew this wasn't an issue I could treat myself and I am very thankful to the staff for helping me. Ms. Pearl is on the road to recovery and will be going back tomorrow for one more injection. 

Sometimes people assume that I wrote Secrets of a Vet Tech to replace a veterinarian. That is far from the truth.  First, the book was an autobiography showing what I did when I didn't have any choice. I could either figure out solutions or give up a group of un-adoptable animals to the shelter. If I did that, not only would several of the pets have died, I probably would have too as my heart exploded into a million pieces. So, yes I did some unconventional things to make it through.

Second, I'm a firm believer that while one should be well educated on things they can do at home, you also have to know when its time to go to the vet. There are simply things that should be left up to the vet and times when xrays and lab work are required. So being a partner with your veterinarian, or as I call it, part of your pet's health care team, is very important.

Knowing I didn't  have a lot of spare cash laying around, how did I pay for Pearl's visit?

Care Credit. This card is a healthcare credit card. It can be used for human care as well, but I try to reserve it for my pets. The way it works is you are given a certain debt limit, just like with any card. Once you use the card, you have usually 6 months to pay it back interest free. Go over that six months, and the finances charges are high, but you have to use it wisely. Not all veterinarians accept Care Credit, but you can find out on the website if your vet does. I was very happy to find out this week that my new vet Mt Carmel Pet Hospital did accept Care Credit.

On Facebook, I often see people asking if anyone knows a vet that accepts payments. This keeps that worry at bay. And you have to know that its really not fair to ask them to wait for payment if you have another option. 

There are also other options including a pet savings account that you put your nickles and dimes in and budget a certain amount monthly. There are groups who will help pay under certain conditions as well. In Secrets of a Vet Tech, I have a list of these types of groups, but today, this list came across my Facebook, so I wanted to share it.

Distemper in Dogs: In Memory of Petra

Recently in Southwest Virginia, an animal shelter was shut down by the state vet after a suspected distemper outbreak. The parvo virus is the most talked about disease to plague shelters as I have discussed in previous blogs. The reason for that most likely is the explosive bloody diarrhea that makes it so memorable. Distemper works differently, has been around longer, and is actually the cause of more deaths.

My first experience with it was long before I worked in the animal care field. I found a small puppy near my college campus, took her home, and named her Petra. She seemed to be doing well, and I took her for her vaccines. Then she started showing symptoms of illness. She lost her appetite and began to lose weight. She had a runny nose and some diarrhea. then she has a seizure. What was a happy puppy, was suddenly very sick.  It was a Sunday and I paged  Dr. Pilkington right away. He was in church but didn't think twice to tell me to meet him at his office. He looked at Petra and asked if I could leave her with him and he would do all he could. No matter how hard he tried, she didn't make it. It was distemper. I had only had her for about 9 days.

I later learned that the first stage of distemper symptoms appear 6-9 days following exposure. When I found her, she had already been exposed. She was at that age after 8 weeks where she had already lost her mom's immunity, so she really didn't stand a chance. At least she knew love before she passed.

Distemper attacks so many different areas including the brain, the mucous membranes (think nose/eyes), the skin, respiratory tract and on to the gastrointestinal tract. It can mimic a cold, allergies, and even parvo. Over a few days, the nasal discharge turns from clear to yellow and thick. The pet may have a dry cough.

Its a bit unusual for dogs to die as quickly from distemper as my Petra did. Doc said she was so young and skinny when I found her, she didn't have the typical immunity she should have. With some puppies, they may improve temporarily if antibiotics are started as they fight off secondary infections.

The second stage can take up to two to three weeks after exposure. Its at this point that the brain becomes involved. Petra's seizure was the distemper attacking the brain. Sometimes pets will walk in circles, fall over, or appear to be blind. At this stage, an untrained eye would fear rabies, when in fact, it is the distemper causing the damage. The muscles will contract painfully. Often pets with distemper will develop hard pads on the feet and a rough, thorny texture to the nose.

Dogs can survive distemper. When I lived in California, I met a couple who found a dog in Mexico, brought him home and had him treated for distemper. His brain was quite affected and he could not walk normally, but he was loved. The pads of his feet were hard and his teeth were not well protected by enamel which is another side effect of the disease.

Generally dogs who do survive will do so with some type of lasting brain damage. Their behavior may be abnormal and they may be epileptic. Eventually, the damage will most likely worsen and most will need to be humanely euthanized.

On the positive side, proper vaccination can prevent all of this. Just as with parvo, it is important to keep an unvaccinated puppy isolated from the elements. Distemper is passed along very easily and since the disease takes time to manifest itself, you never know if the puppy you are exposing your pet to at the park or pet store is a carrier. So be careful.

Note that cats are not susceptible to this form of distemper. Although there is a cat disease we call distemper, it is not the same. I will explain further in another blog. Humans are also not able to catch this disease even though it is very similar to our measles. Unfortunately many of our wildlife are susceptible and unfortunately, it is the one disease that domestic animals have passed on to wildlife instead of the other way around. Some species are even becoming endangered, including that black footed ferret. So please keep that in mind and vaccinate your pets. Humans have done enough damage to our wildlife. We can stop this damage with proper vaccination. Its not a lot to ask. 

When Vaccines can be Dangerous to Rescue Puppies

If you have ever worked in an animal shelter, you are terrified of  Canine Parvo Virus (CPV) commonly called simply "parvo". It is enemy "number two" of the shelter world (behind too many pets and not enough homes).

Parvo was first recognized as a separate virus in 1978 and spread like wildfire. While proper vaccination is the first step toward eradicating it, the problem is, too many pets remain unvaccinated. The virus spreads through feces. The infected pet defecates on the ground, the feces decays into the ground where it can live for up to ten years. Another pet visits the same area or a person walks on that infected ground and often, takes the virus with them.

Parvo has two forms. The most common form is explosive, bloody diarrhea that causes extreme dehydration if not treated. There is no cure for parvo, only medical support. A puppy that has been diagnosed as positive by a parvo test must be hooked up to IV fluids, and all medication given through the IV port, in the fluids, or by injection. Giving medication by mouth to a parvo pup will usually result in vomiting. In my book, Secrets of a Vet Tech, I do show how I gave subcutaneous fluids (fluids given under the skin) to a pet, but it is rare that subcutaneous fluids will do enough to save one with parvo. Its not impossible, but it does not give the pet the best chance for survival. 

The second form I have only observed once in my career and that is when parvo attacks the heart muscle. The one incident I saw was in one of my foster pups. It was the quickest I have ever seen parvo cause death. It was just a matter of hours from lethargy to death.

Here's how a puppy's world is supposed to be like: In an ideal situation, a puppy is given his/her mother's immunity through breastfeeding. This immunity lasts up to about 8 weeks old. Vaccines are usually started at 6-8 weeks to keep the immunity up as mom's immunity dissipates. Vaccines are continued every 3 weeks until 4 months.

Its important to understand how vaccines work. Usually a tiny strain of the virus is introduced to the body. Sometimes the virus has been deactivated (often called "dead") which tends to be safer. The body recognizes an invasion, creates the weapons needed to fight it. Those weapons are antibodies. Each time the virus in introduced, the number and strength of the antibodies grow until they have formed a huge army that is capable of eradicating the virus. It takes time and repeated exposure to make the army strong.  

Taking a young (under 4 months old) well vaccinated puppy out to the park or public areas where other pets have been can still be dangerous. While the army is in training, it is not ready for the war.
 I always recommend waiting until at least 2 weeks after all vaccines are completed before venturing out to the doggie park.

Shelter puppies most often have not come from this ideal situation. Few have been vaccinated at all, and if so, it is often improperly. This doesn't mean however, that adopting a shelter puppy is going to guarantee that you will get a parvo puppy. Some will have a bit of acquired immunity from small amounts of environmental exposure or be young enough that mom's immunity is still working. 

Many years ago, when I was on the board of directors of a humane society that ran the local shelter, one of our big discussions and conundrums was what to do with the puppies? While proper sanitation with bleach or other anti-parvo cleaners can do wonders, you still will miss some place, some how. Ideally, the puppy would have been vaccinated 2 weeks before coming into the shelter, but we had no control over that. We couldn't afford to vaccinate them coming in only to put them to sleep when no one adopted them. And then there was the issue of did vaccinating drop their immunity just at the time they are exposed?

Just like with human children, vaccinating a puppy will not immediately give him/her immunity. Vaccinate a puppy walking into the shelter, the immunity drops temporarily as he/she develops the antibodies to fight the introduced virus. Expose that puppy to a strong strain of parvo from a sick animal, and that puppy isn't prepared.

Most shelters, it seems has found that fostering is the best option. Get those puppies out and away and into a more controlled environment. I believe this has made a world of difference in survival rates.

I do think one mistake is often made in this process. Once we take them out to foster them, we vaccinate too early. If they were surrendered today, not even taken into the general population, then yes, I can understand vaccinating them immediately. However, if they have had possible exposure or were found in a questionable environment, then I believe, vaccinating immediately is the worse thing you can do.

From the moment of exposure to parvo until you are "in the clear" is ten days to two weeks. Anything that reduces immunity during that time is dangerous. And what to vaccines do temporarily? Exactly.

When I started fostering for a local humane society a few years ago, the common practice was for the animals to be pulled from the shelter, taken to the vet, vaccinated, and then brought to my rescue, T.Paws. I lost a precious chihuahua, Zorro to parvo, but his sister lived. I lost Sophie to parvo (that attacked her heart), but her sister Maggie survived. I had a group of chihuahuas come in from a hoarding situation, and Pearl, who was over a year old, came down with parvo, but lived as did the other chihuahuas. The dogs had all been fine at the shelter. No symptoms of any problems. All the deaths and parvo cases came within days of the vaccine.

So I said enough. Any pet that was to come to my rescue from the shelter were not to be taken to the vet for vaccines. If they wanted to test for heartworm and deworm, fine, but no vaccines. When the pups/dogs arrived, they were only allowed to be within a certain area of my property. They could be with my permanent pets who were well vaccinated, but not in any area a stray could access. If they had not been dewormed at the vet, I dewormed, usually with Panacur. If no sighs of parvo were evident after 10 days, I vaccinated.

As of this post, I have not had any incidents of parvo. (Knock on wood).

Right now, I have a 4 week old lab puppy named Rocky. He was given to me by an older couple who found him in the street. He was a hungry boy when I brought him home. His digestive system is getting used to Puppy Chow and he is having some loose stool. He has been getting Panacur for two days now, and today he threw up round worms which is not unusual for any puppy. I've been giving him bits of yogurt which is a good way to give his tummy the proper bacteria to digest as it should. The loose stool is not surprising considering the diet change, but I still watch his every move looking for parvo signs. I am hoping, if I am correct about his age of 4 weeks, that mom's immunity is still working in him. My plan is to give him until two weeks before vaccinating and focus on getting his digestive system in good working order with regular meals and give his body time to adjust.

To keep updated on his progress, join me  at T.Paws Rescue on Facebook. If you are interesting in knowing more about vaccines, I covered it very thoroughly in "Secrets of a Vet Tech". I think you will be very surprised at what you will discover.