Bradley Animal Hospital - Veterinary Care near Kankakee, Illinois (IL)

It's Mosquito Season!!!

Here is a little word from the Veterinary Staff at Bradley Animal Hospital in Bradley, IL, near Kankakee:

Spring and summer time and warmer temperatures bring many insects to our area, including mosquitoes. Not only are mosquitoes irritating to our skin, they can also infect our cats and dogs with a potentially life threatening disease - heartworm disease.

Here is a map showing Heartworm Positive pets across the country in 2010.

A mosquito becomes a carrier of heartworm microfilariae (baby heartworms) after it bites an infected animal and takes a blood meal. During a 14 day period, the microfilariae develop into larvae which are able to be transmitted to other animals. When the infected mosquito bites your pet, the larvae are transmitted and your pet has been infected. It takes 6 - 7 months for the larvae to develop into adult heartworms which then reproduce and release microfilariae into the bloodstream of your pet. All of these parasites accumulate in your pet's heart and lungs and can live within your pet for up to 7 years. It doesn't matter if your dog or cat is an outside pet, or primarily inside; it only takes one bite from a mosquito to transmit the disease.

Here is the life cycle of Heartworms...

The cost of treating heartworm disease can be quite expensive, as well as life threatening. Preventing heartworm disease is very easy and inexpensive. We recommend all dogs and cats be on heartworm prevention every month of the year. We have several products available to prevent heartworm disease, both topical products as well as oral products. Many of these products prevent several intestinal parasites as well. Heartworm prevention can only be purchased from a veterinarian. We recommend testing for heartworm disease before starting prevention (to avoid life threatening complications if you pet happens to be infected) as well as retesting every year.

Each year, Bradley Animal Hospital tests many dogs and we treat approximately 10 dogs. Thus far this year, we have already detected three heartworm positive dogs.

This information is courtesy of the American Heartworm Society

We understand how important the health of your pets are to you.

This section will hopefully give you some helpful information that will keep your pets safe and healthy!

Health insurance is always an option for you and your pet to help with some of the cost related to routine and emergency care necessary for your pet to live a long and happy life. Here are some links for pet health insurance:

www.aspcapetinsurance.com

www.gopetplan.com

www.petinsurance.com

www.petsbest.com

Did you know that every time you take your dog to the pet store, park, groomer, vet, or even a neighborhood dog party your dog may potentially be exposed to kennel cough?

Kennel Cough is an air-borne virus that can be very contagious to dogs. Signs of kennel cough are upper-respiratory problems from a dry hacking cough to sneezing. This virus is generally not deadly unless left untreated where secondary infections may set in (like pneumonia) which can be much more serious. To prevent your dog from catching this virus you can vaccinate against it. We require all dogs to be vaccinated against this virus when staying in our facility, but not all boarding facilities, groomers, and obedience classes require this. Therefore, we strongly recommend to vaccinate your dog at least a week before you enter any of the above listed places. Every vaccine takes a few days before it can protect completely.

There are many hazards in the home for your pets that you may not be aware of.

The following is a list of different household products and items you should keep out of reach of your pets...

• Ibuprofen, Tylenol, cold and flu medications.
• Home insect products
• Rat and Mouse baits and poisons
• Mothballs
• Liquid potpourri
• Tobacco products
• Certain Household Plants like: Aloe, Amaryllis, Andromeda Japonica, Asian Lily, Asparagus Fern, Austrailan Nut, Autumn Crocus, Azalea, Belladonna, Bird of Patadise, Bittersweet, Black Locust, Branching Ivy, Buckeye, Buddhist Pine, Caladium, Calla Lily, Castor Bean, Ceriman, Clematis, Cordatum, Corn Plant, Cycads, Cyclamen, Daffodil, Daylily, Devil's Ivy, Dieffen Bachia, Dumbcane, Easter Lily, Elephant Ears, Emerald Fern, English Ivy, Eucalyptus, Ferns, Fiddle-leaf Philodendron, Gold dust Dracaena, Florida Beauty, Foxglove, Glacier Ivy, Gladiolas, Golden Pothos, Heavenly Bamboo, Honeysuckle, Hurricane Plant, Hyacinth, Hydrangea, Iris, Jerusalem Cherry, Jimson Weed, Kalanchoe, Lantana, Lilies, Lily of the Valley, Lupine, Marble Queen, Morning Glory, Mother-In-Law, Mountain Laurel, Narcissus, Needlepoint Ivy, Nephthysis, Nightshade, Oleander, Panda, Peace Lily, Philodendron, Poison Hemlock, Precatory Bean, Privet, Red Emerald, Rhododendron, Ribbon Plant, Sago Palm, Satin Pothos, Schefflera, Striped Dracaena, Sweetheart Ivy, Tulip, Water Hemlock, Wisteria, Yew, and Yucca
• Avocados
• Chocolate (all forms)
• Coffee (all forms)
• Onions & Onion Powder
• GarlicGrapesRaisins
• Macadamia Nuts
• Bones - Turkey, chicken, and other small animal bones are very different from the large bones you find at the pet store. These small bones splinter easily and can cause serious internal damage if swallowed, so NEVER give them to your pet.
• Alcoholic beverages
• Moldy/spoiled foods
• Gum, candies, or other foods sweetened with xylitol
• Tea Leaves
• Raw Yeast Dough
• Antifreeze/Coolant
• De-icing salts
• Pesticides
• Cocoa bean shell mulch fertilizer

This information is courtousy of the ASPCA.

For more information about hazards in the home, visit the ASPCA at www.aspca.org or call/visit our professional staff at Bradley Animal Hospital in Bradley, IL, near Kankakee. Let our Veterinary and staff take care of your pets!

We offer a full line of veterinary services

• Physical Examinations - including nutritional recommendations
• Vaccinations - including heartworm and parasite prevention; new puppy and kitten protocols
• Dental - Cleaning, Polishing, & Removal of teeth when necessary with State-of-the-art dental equipment
• "Avid" Microchip - Placement & Reading of microchips
• Boarding Facility
• Diagnostic Laboratory Services - On-site services include blood, urine, and fecal testing along with full workup available through outside lab
• Radiology - Digital pictures with State-of-the-art Technology
• Ultrasound - We have state-of-the-art ultrasound available and offer consultations with board certified radiologist.
• Prescription Filling - We will be happy to fill or refill medications we have prescribed. This service is based on availability.
• General Surgery - Exploratory, Mass Removal, Wound Treatment
• Orthopedic Surgery - Cranial Cruciate Repair, Patella Luxation Repair, Femoral Head Ostectomy, Leg Amputation, and Fracture Repairs
• EKG/Pulse Oximetry - Vital monitering is performed during every surgery or critical care.
• Routine Surgery - Neuter, Spay, Declaw
• Blood Transfusion and Typing - we have donors available for blood transfusions along with supplies of frozen plasma on hand for necessary treatment. Our donors are health checked regularly.
• Acupuncture - for the treatment of Intervetrebral Disk Disease or arthritis
• Exotic Animal Services - medical care of rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, rats, ferrets, and most reptiles along with surgical services including spay/neutering of rabbits and guinea pigs and mass removal on rats.
• Behavioral Services - counceling for seperation anxiety and housemate aggression