Shawn M. Finch, DVM

Wouldn’t that be something?  If we went through this entire month and NOBODY was diagnosed with heartworm disease??  We just saw another case of heartworm disease very recently…So sad.  I know I have been on an “I hate cancer” kick lately, but as always, I am on my “I hate heartworm” kick too.  (I have quite a few kicks…)  Heartworm disease is 100% preventable, and though treatable (treatable in dogs - not so much cats and ferrets), prevention is so much less expensive and easier on the dogs’ systems.

I promised to be more upbeat here at Riley and James as soon as possible!  So here goes…

Today’s monthly heartworm post is on how heartworm preventative medications work!

Science…medicine…the wonders of canine physiology…heartworm examined not as a pet stealer or dog damager, but more clinically, as a very cool (disgusting) mortal, intricate parasite.  How exciting is that??  Well, I think it is exciting…

The Medicine

All heartworm preventative medications currently on the market are a form of macrocyclic lactones, medications derived from bacteria in the Streptomyces genus.  They do not prevent heartworm infection in the strictest sense, they prevent heartworm disease - they kill the larvae (L3 and L4, “baby heartworms”) before they can mature into adult worms.

(Interesting side note!  Until the late 1980’s, only daily medications were available because they were only powerful enough to kill the “L3″ stage, which lasts only two or three days.)

Macrocyclic lactones are neurotoxins to the heartworm larvae (L3 and L4), paralyzing their mouthparts and causing them to starve to death.  The medication needs to be repeated monthly because they kill all of the parasites that are in the pet’s system that have infected him or her in the last thirty days.  The picture that came to mind when I was trying to make it understandable was one of a rainstorm.  Bear with me…

Heartworm preventatives are not umbrellas - they are windshield wipers.  Your dog is continually at risk of being bitten by a mosquito that is carrying heartworm larvae (L3) - the mosquito would be the cloud and the heartworm larvae would be the raindrop…if clouds were buzzy and annoying and raindrops were potentially fatal.

The Worm

We think of heartworm preventatives as protecting our pets against heartworm disease, and they do.  But they do it more as a windshield wiper (that sweeps every thirty days) than an umbrella that is a constant barrier to infection.  Our pets are at risk of being infected by heartworm larvae - but are protected from heartworm disease that is caused by adult heartworms in the pulmonary vessels and heart.

The Disease

I think the disease should be called subcutaneous-tissue-then-pulmonary-arteries-and-if-it-is-a-really-heavy-infestation-even-right-heart-and-vena-cava-worms, but it is not.  Heartworm is too cute of a name for such a horrid disease.

That’s All I’ve Got.

If that helps you understand the pathogenesis of heartworm disease, awesome.  It helps me to be disciplined when giving heartworm preventative medication to my pets to think of it as a “windshield wiper” stopping heartworm larvae that may have already started their unholy travels to the very heart of my pets, rather than a barrier or “umbrella” that I can just put up when it is sunny and warm and just right for a heartworm attack.  If it just grosses you out, and you like being grossed out, that is good too, I suppose!

Coming Soon…More Awesome Heartworm Information of Some Sort

Let me know what other heartworm related topics you would like to cover.  Ideas…heartworm disease in cats and ferrets, treating heartworm disease, I would love a guest post from someone who has had a pet with heartworm disease, or worked in a rescue organization and dealt with heartworm disease, or any guest post with a heartworm-related story!  Let me know if you have topic ideas or would like to write a guest post here!

Today’s To Do List:

Noodle the Poodle - Wormshield tablet

Max the Cat - topical Revolution

(Joy the Puppy is on injectable Proheart 6.)

Coming Next Month…

How do injectable sustained release heartworm prevenative medications (Proheart 6 and Proheart 12) work?

Previous Happy Heartworm Free Month Posts…

January 2011

February 2011

March 2011

American Heartworm Society Website

Isn’t this FUN?

-Dr. Seuss

I love this article for two reasons, neither of which have to do with content - it was inspired by a walk I took with two of my Very Favorite Women in the Whole Wide World, Jodi and Lu (and a few of our favorite kids and dogs), and it was my first article in print.

Grown-ups (left to right):  Lu and me, Jodi is taking the picture!

Dogs (clockwise from left):  Oscar, Ebony, Taco, Noodle, Max)

I had a disclaimer in the original article draft about how this was about team conflict, not dog behavior - and it is.  I spend my days with dogs but am not a trainer or behaviorist!  So I try to keep the interpretation to a minimum and just use it as an example of a group interacting in a healthy way!

Overcoming Team Conflict

Shawn Finch, DVM

I am about to anthropomorphize, but go with me on this.  Is there a simpler word for ascribing human traits to nonhumans to explain a concept?

A few months ago, my two friends and I took our three kids and five dogs for a walk together.  Some of these dogs were friends, some were housemates and some had never met, but all five had never been in the same place at the same time, and all had strong and distinct personalities.

My dogs are Ebony the Labrador mix and Noodle the Poodle.  Ebony is fine with any dog.  Noodle is afraid of many dogs and will growl if he feels threatened.

Jodi brought Taco, the huge Belgian Malinois, an incredible dog who has phobia issues like Noodle’s.

Lu had Oscar, the kind Greyhound-Lab, and Max, the Pit Bull, who is as strong and bullheaded as he is sweet.

We took them on a two-mile walk around the neighborhood.  We lat the dogs play together afterwards while the people visited.  They interacted as if they had been friends since puppyhood.

Let’s talk about how this relates to team conflict.  Here is where anthropomorphism comes in.  We are not, of course, the same species, but I think we can learn much from our dog friends.

I believe the key to the dogs getting along well is that they were all traveling in the same direction with a common goal and strong leadership.  For the first hour of their first group gathering, they were walking together in a straight line.  They were sniffing the same poles.  They were crossing the same streets.  They all love walks and believe very strongly in them.  They did not have the time or lack of focus to worry about any differences that may have distracted them from their goal of walking.

There are several significant factors that could cause or heighten conflict within a veterinary team (or group of dogs on a walk), such as personality differences, varying temperaments, unique preferences and a variety of goals and priorities outside our careers (or walk).  I believe that trying to negate or minimize these differences is not a healthy or effective way to avoid conflict.

Rather, minimizing conflict comes down to getting all of us moving in the same direction and involved in a common goal.  Our overarching goal is to protect and restore the health of pets.

If we can focus on that, we should be able to do what it takes to work with each other, our clients and patients to achieve it.  Our differences can then become assets, instead of distractions.

With strong leadership, we can then come together and lead associates through the day-to-day achievement of our goals.  Gently lead your associates on a path you know is best for them and for the team as a whole.

Oh!  I thought of another word for anthropomorphism:  fable.  But this is a true story, really it is.

This was first published in Banfield - Achieving Success in Practice and Life, September/October 2009.

This was meant to be a summary of veterinary medicine in 2010 in 500ish words - ha!  I picked some highlights.  What would you have added??  If I talked about my personal year as a veterinarian, that would have been a completely different article.  This was very fun to write.

The Year in Review - Veterinary Medicine in 2010

Shawn Finch, DVM

Stem cell therapy has become fairly common, the melanoma vaccine is being used in dogs with great success, Proheart returned to the veterinary market, we were all affected by the melarsomine shortage, the balance tipped from a majority of male veterinarians to a majority of female veterinarians…2010 has been quite a year to be a veterinarian!

This year has seen exponential growth in veterinary internet involvement.  We started out dealing with the internet “defensively,” trying to undo problems created by false information.  We quickly learned to proactively add our voices as reliable authorities on animal health issues.  We have had to deal with client feedback in a more public way than ever. As disconcerting as that has been, we have handled it with the prompt attention and grace that we always have.

The increase in online interactions between pet parents and veterinarians has raised many ethical issues.  We can put all sorts of medical information onto the internet, but we still cannot diagnose or treat without a valid patient-client-doctor relationship firmly in place.  We have the ability to post patient pictures and cases onto the internet in full view of the world almost instantaneously.  We have shown tremendous restraint in doing that only when we have permission from our team leadership and clients.  Clients know that in this age of instant information, they can still trust us completely with their privacy and that of their pets.

Many of our veterinary journals have become accessible online.  As much as I have enjoyed the internet explosion and accompanying learning curve, I still request paper copies of my favorite journals.  I will probably be among the last of us to give that up.  Just admitting that makes me want to plant a tree.

We have always advocated humane breeding practices.  As restrictions on high-volume puppy sellers have tightened in the United States, international puppy sources have become more popular.  Our next battle may be assuring that the puppies imported into our country are shipped humanely and legally and enter the country free of contagious and zoonotic diseases.

A second report on veterinarians and suicide was published in England earlier this year.  The authors’ first report revealed that we are much more likely to commit suicide than people in the general population.  Their second report explored the reasons this may be true.  Everyone is an individual, and the sample size was relatively small, so we are not doomed.  Do keep a caring eye on your colleagues though and take good care of yourself.

Finally, the United States Congress recently proclaimed 2011 “World Veterinary Year” in honor of the 250^th anniversary of our profession.  The resolution was introduced by the two veterinarians serving in Congress and passed with support from veterinarians across the country.  2010 was quite a year to be a veterinarian.  I am excited for what is to come, next year and beyond.

This was first published at The Wagging Tail for Veterinary Professionals on December 28, 2010 as “A Great Year for Veterinary Medicine.”

Reminder:

If you give your pets heartworm preventative medication on the first…it’s the first!

Heartworm Preventative Medication

The following is a list of prescription medications available in varying combinations and permutations from your veterinarian.  (If you see any I missed, let me know and I will add them!)  Getting the weight-based dose and species correct is super important AND your veterinarian has your pet’s medical history which could impact which preventative is ideal.  So please get your veterinarian’s input in choosing which medication is best for your pet!

The brand names are listed first, with the active ingredient against heartworm disease in parenthesis.  Many of these medications also protect against other parasites.  I can add that information too if you would like!  You really only need to know which meds YOUR pet is on, but isn’t veterinary information FUN??

Dogs

Heartgard Plus (ivermectin) - monthly oral medication

Iverhart Max (ivermectin) - monthly oral medication

Tri-heart Plus (ivermectin) - monthly oral medication

Wormshield (ivermectin) - monthly oral medication

Interceptor (milbemycin) - monthly oral medication

Sentinel (milbemycin) - monthly oral medication

Trifexis (milbemycin) - monthly oral medication - new!

Advantage Multi (moxidectin) - monthly topical medication

Revolution (selamectin) - monthly topical medication

Proheart 6 (moxidectin) - sustained release injectable medication, given every six months (a form given every twelve months, Proheart 12, is available in Australia and parts of Asia)

Cats

Heartgard (ivermectin) - monthly oral medication

Interceptor (milbemycin) - monthly oral medication

Advantage Multi (moxidectin) - monthly topical medication

Revolution (selamectin) - monthly topical medication

Ferrets

Heartgard (ivermectin) - monthly oral medication

My checklist for today:

Ebony Dog - Wormshield tablet

Noodle the Poodle - Wormshield tablet

Joy the Puppy - Proheart injection

Max the Cat - topical Revolution

Princess the Gerbil - no prophylaxis needed*

*Since Princess is not susceptible to heartworm disease, she, Max and Joy get snacks since Ebony and Noodle get oral medication so as not to feel left out, which they would all argue is MORE important than having a heartworm-free household.

Potentially Helpful Links…

#barkoutloud Heartworm Discussion Notes

Heartworm Disease on Riley and James

(This one was written when I treated the dogs seasonally and poor Max the Cat not at all - now I treat everyone year-round!)

Heartworm Disease and Omaha Pets - Wuzzy Chronicles

American Heartworm Society Website

Coming Soon to The Riley and James Heartworm Series!

March 2011…Safety of heartworm preventative medication - Is it safe to give my Collie heartworm preventative medication?  Why is Joy the Puppy getting Proheart but not the old dogs?  Are some pets developing heartworm preventative medication resistance?  Are there valid drug-free options for preventing heartworm disease?  If you have other questions or concerns, let me know, and we will address those too!

(Do not wait until next month’s post if you need to know the answers to these questions now - ask me or ask your local vet - do not worry about spoiling the surprise!)

April 2011…How do these medications work?

May, June, July…I have not planned that far ahead!  What do YOU want to know about heartworm disease??  THAT is what we will talk about!

…and thank goodness!  Because, as you know, Ebony is MY dog.  I was trying to write a dramatic nutritional case study, but by their very nature, nutritional case studies ARE boring…problems take months or years to develop and resolve, and (here is the upside of boring) dog and cat nutrition is SO excellent these days, that we do not have most of the dramatic health issues we had in the past.

So read this if you are having trouble sleeping…otherwise, just be thankful we have such excellent nutritional choices for our pets, and that problems like nutritional hyperparathyroidism and feline taurine-deficient dilated cardiomyopathy are so rare anymore, that we usually only get to read about them in medical journals!

Nutritional Case Study

Ebony:  nine-year-old 70 lbs. spayed female Labrador Retriever mix

Ebony presented as a four-month-old puppy, thin (body condition score two) and healthy.  She ran and walked regularly and was fed Science Diet Puppy at one cup per ten pounds per day divided into three meals.

At six months of age, she was switched from three meals a day to two meals a day.  At one year of age, Ebony was transitioned to Science Diet Adult, and her daily amount of food was decreased to one cup of food per twenty pounds, due to her decreased rate of growth.  At about this time, her body condition score increased from two (thin) to three (normal).

At three years of age, Ebony decreased her exercise from running and leash walks to leash walks only.  Her diet remained the same.  Over a period of several months, her body condition score increased from three (normal) to four (overweight).  Hypothyroidism, a common contributor to excess weight gain in dogs, was ruled out with blood work. She was switched to Science Diet Light and returned to a body condition score of three.

At seven years of age, Ebony was switched to Science Diet Senior.  Between lower fat and higher fiber in the senior diet and some age related muscle atrophy, Ebony, now age nine, has remained at a body condition score of two (thin) for the past two years.

She has recently developed osteoarthritis diagnosed by clinical signs, physical examination and hip radiographs taken under anesthesia.  She has done well on non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (Rimadyl, carprofen).  Her diet has not been changed, as she is at an ideal weight (body condition score two, thin) and an adequate nutritional level.

Pets have advantages over humans in reaching and maintaining nutritional goals.  Willpower is a much smaller consideration.  The caretaker has control over the amount and type of food a pet eats, as well as his or her exercise schedule.  It is often easier to be objective about someone else’s nutritional and health needs than our own.

Another advantage pets have over humans is the widespread availability of complete balanced nutrition in a single food source.  No similar product to dog food or cat food exists for humans.  Only a few decades ago, very serious nutrition-related diseases were commonly seen in pets that are rare today. The range of available pet foods continues to be expanded and improved by veterinary nutritionists and other professionals in many excellent organizations working to promote health and longevity in our dogs and cats and even pocket pets, birds and exotic pets.

Though nutrition cases today are inherently less dramatic and slower to develop and resolve than other veterinary cases, nutrition and body condition scores are central to the health and longevity of our pets.

I should say something profound, on this, the first day of 2011.

Maybe this is SO simple that it is REALLY, REALLY profound.

One of my goals this year is to remind everyone to give their pets their heartworm preventative every month.  (We give the dogs and Max theirs on the first, so that is when reminders will go out!  I am willing to give you personalized reminders on a different day if you prefer…and a hug*, for being as heartworm obsessed as me!)

Today, Joy the Puppy, Ebony Dog and Noodle the Poodle got their oral Wormshield (ivermectin, like Heartgard).  Several excellent oral monthly preventatives are available, as are topical preventatives.  Your pet may also be on the twice a year injectable preventative, Proheart.  Next month, I will post a list of available preventatives, if it would be helpful.  If your veterinarian prescribed it, it is good! Next month, Joy the Puppy is switching to Proheart.

Max the Cat is on the monthly topical heartworm preventative Revolution.

We have no ferrets, but if we did, they would be on the oral heartworm preventative Heartgard, mostly because it is the only one labelled for ferrets, but also because it is an excellent product.

This post is sort of spur of the moment, as in, I jumped up from dinner and said “Oh yeah, it’s the first!” and Abby and I got the pets their meds.  Next month, I will cover heartworm disease more comprehesivly with links and pictures - NOT of a heart with worms floating out of its valves - that is so gross, and so last millinium! I will also cover whatever aspects of heartworm disease that you would like to hear, so let me know!

These days, it seems most pet owners are very well educated about heartworm disease - If there is a barrier to care, it is convenience of medicating. So we will talk about the monthly preventatives and a bit about Proheart, the once every six month medication, and join hands* and thank God that heartworm disease is preventable and that the preventative medication is no longer only available in ONCE EVERY SINGLE DAY form!

*If you prefer, we can leave hugs and hand holding out of all future medical discussions.  I just thought it would be nice.

One of the Veterinary Technicians with whom I work is starting a pet sitting business.  Angela is a wonderful pet nurse, pet sitter and rescuer.  I love working with her, and am hoping to be one of her very first clients as soon as we can take a trip to see our awesome family in OHIO!! : )

I love that she will be able to medicate Fuzzy Rat and that all of my pets already know and love her!

Angelas_petcare@yahoo.com

(402) 740-8720

Call me (402) 331-1108 or Angela for references or more information!

In one month from today, we are taking all three dogs on the Nebraska Humane Society 2010 Walk for the Animals.  I think it will be a very fun time!

All proceeds raised go to support the dogs and cats (and little guys!) of Nebraska Humane Society.  I think they should label the corner behind the cats “Miscellaneous” as a joke, but maybe some people would not get the joke and then it would not be a good label.  That’s where all the non-dog and cat pets are.  I LOVE that corner!!  In just the past few months, they have had super cute newborn fuzzy white bunnies, painted turtles, ferrets, rats, gerbils, budgies and even a cockatiel.

ANYWAYS, Russ and Jodi and I are all attempting to raise money for the Nebraska Humane Society.  You don’t even have to bet on whether I will finish the mile or number of laps or anything.  You can pledge a set amount…or just wish us well (which is free!)

Here’s my link! Here is the link for Family Finch (Jodi, Russ and me)

If your business would like to become a corporate sponsor, here is the link…I have read through the list of sponsors, you would be in the company of awesomes!

Sponsor Donations

Last night’s #dogtalk was about pet blogging.  Very fun.  Find the entire transcript on Dr. Lorie A. Huston’s Pet Health Care Gazette site.

(Thanks Doctor!!)

I wanted a place to gather all of the websites mentioned last night, so I could go back and look at each of them one by one.  Many I already know and love.  So I will start with a list of last night’s participants and add others I like and discover as we go.  Hopefully this page will end up as out of control and fun as the follow friday page!

First the blogs of the four awesome bloggers who were featured last night:

Dancing Dog Blog by Mary Haight

Dawg Business by Jana Rade

Dogan Dogs by Dino Dogan

Pet Health Care Gazette by Lorie A. Huston, DVM

And, the rest!

Daisy the Wonder Dog and No Dog About It

Dr. Patrick Mahany - Patrick Mahany, DVM

Fang Shui Canines - Hillary Lane

Flex Pets

I Still Want More Puppies

K9 Cuisine

Mary’s Dogs by Mary Doane

Pampered Pets Pal by Stevan R. Grimes (link to old blog)

To Dog With Love

And in case you are inspired to start blogging (I KNOW you love pets - you might love blogging too!) here is a fun article from Dino Dogan on starting…http://askaaronlee.com/blogging-how-do-i-get-started-in-10-steps-or-less/

Here’s a list of other blogs I love.  Most of them are here and there in Riley and James, but now they will all be in one place.  Someday, maybe I will get even more organized and have them all on the home page or something!  Not today though…

Blogs by Veterinarians - I created a seperate post!

Blogs by Other Pet Lovers:

Bunny’s Blog by Vikki Cook

Darlene Arden by Darlene Arden

Dog Spelled Forward by Eric Goebelbecker

Fearful Dogs by Debbie Jacobs

Fido Factor

Will My Dog Hate Me by Edie Jarolim

And, finally, not (directly) pet related, but I LOVE these blogs:

And Now We Are Six by Cathy Babcock

Artists for Hope by Roberta VanderZwaag and friends

Beat the Hell Outta ALS by Team Anderson

Boobs and Coffee by Vera Jo

5AMthinking by Gordon F. MacPherson, Jr.

Life as a Vicar’s Wife by Kelly Rasmussen

Names Have Been Changed to Protect the Idiots by KindaSassy : )

One Year Bible by Stan Parker

ProBlogger by Darren Rowse

Secret Penguin by Dave Nelson

Shellybobbins by Shelly Bobbins

Maybe with a bit of encouragement, all of Omaha will begin to shift to a dog-welcoming atmosphere.  How fun would that be?  If you know of dog-friendly businesses or events, let me know and I will add them.  If you OWN a dog-friendly business, let me know and I will add it and also say, I think you are awesome.

Check out this site that I LOVE - Go Pet Friendly - and thank you guys for allowing me to link to your site!  My little blog post here will have Omaha-specific information as I collect it.  Go Pet Friendly has country-wide information, including pet-friendly hotels!  Very fun site to visit, even if you do not happen to be heading out the door with your pup!

Also check out Fido Factor - They also have helpful information on pet-friendly places!  Pretty soon we will be able to walk in about anywhere with our pups!

Omaha Pet-Friendly Places…

October 14, 2010 *Just in time for Halloween!* Thanks Alicia!

Pumpkin Patch 120th and Military - inexpensive pumpkins and very dog friendly!  Support your local farmers!

Hefflinger Dog Park

Petsmart - 6 area locations

PetCo

Outdoor concerts at Shadow Lake Towne Center

Jazz on the Green concerts at Midtown Crossing

Bookworm Bookstore

Canfield’s Sporting Goods

Trocadéro “Lifestyle and Accessories Emporium” - Old Market

Underwood Hill’s Presbyterian Church - This church in Dundee has special services to which pets are invited.  I was reminded of this great program recently when I saw a fellow grocery shopper with a Underwood Hill’s t-shirt with paw prints on it.

Subway in the Old Market (outdoor seating)

Upstream in the Old Market (outdoor seating)

La Buvette in the Old Market (outdoor seating)

Farmer’s Markets - Old Market (Saturdays), Aksarben (Sundays)

(Come to think of it…The Old Market and the surrounding areas have amazing dog walking and hanging out areas.)

McFoster’s Natural Kind Cafe 302 South 38th Street (outdoor seating)

Trovato’s Italian Restaurant - Dundee (outdoor seating)

Chipolte Mexican Grill (outdoor seating)

Goldberg’s - Dundee (outdoor seating)

Nebraska Humane Society - in designated areas

QC  Supply in Elkhorn - went there today (Sept. 27, 2010) with Noodle the Poodle, LOVE this store!!

Old Chicago - beer garden at Old Chicago of 76th and Cass - I will find out about other locations!  It will be fun to support this one - I love their food (and drinks!)

Merle Norman Cosmetic Studios - 50th and Dodge

Call a business or restaurant ahead if you are unsure if they welcome pets!  Even if they say “no” you will get them thinking!

*****

Some stores will make exceptions if your pet is cute enough.  Russ and I would always walk to Blockbuster’s in Littleton Colorado.  I would stay outside with our dog Benji while Russ went in to get our movie.  One time, the manager came out to the parking lot to pet Benji and said, “You can bring him in if you want to.”  I always did from then on, and we rented movies there more than ever to say “thank you” to that kind manager.  It is a very good memory now over ten years later.

OK, this one is not official, so don’t go bringing your dog in to Sam and Louie’s just because you brought him on errands and didn’t think through how hot it is out!  But I DO want you to support Sam and Louie’s, specifically the one near 72nd and L Street!  I went there once with my friend Erika, and we overheard a guy at the bar saying he was just going to get a drink or two while his dog waited in the car.

Both of us have dog-loving qualities that are about one hundred times stronger than our introversion (which is a pretty strong trait in both of us!)  ANYWAYS, the manager there ended up relenting to our pleas (so we let go of his ankles and stood up), and Ray Charles, the very cute, very blind, very brachycephalic Boston Terrier got to sit under his owner’s feet at the bar instead of in the hot car with the windows up during the lunch hour.  Thank you Very Nice Sam and Louie’s manager. Because I no longer get my movies at the Littleton Blockbuster’s, I will transfer all of my love for the Blockbuster’s manager to you and express it by buying your pizzas and sandwiches as often as possible.

Thank you to Alicia Weiland, Jen Howell, Jess Kamish and Russ Finch for help with the initial info gathering.  You are three of my favorite women and my absolute favorite guy.