Tuesday, December 11, 2007
BLOOD PARASITE SCREENING
The staff at Veterinarian Associates Stonefield has taken another step
forward to assure the health of your pet. Every year we recommend testing
your dog for Heartworm disease which is caused by the common mosquito and
can be deadly if not caught in the early stages of the infection. Now we
are also testing for two more infectious agents that can harm your beloved
pet which are both caused by common ticks that live and thrive in our
region.
Borreliosis, also known as Lyme disease, is an organism (Borrelia
burgdorferi) carried by the very common deer tick (Ixodes dammini). This
tiny little organism can cause big problems in your dog. Lameness,
Anorexia, high fever, enlarged lymph nodes, and severe weight loss are some
of the clinical signs seen with this infection. Borrelia can also
infiltrate the kidneys, heart or neurological system. Kidney infection
with Borrelia is the second most common canine syndrome and is often fatal.
Although the topical flea and tick products widely available today help in
the prevention of ticks living on your pet they do not prevent the tick
from biting your pet (the tick will most likely die after the blood meal is
taken but the organism can be transported in that one tick bite). Now we
can test for Lyme disease in the same test we use for Heartworm screening!
Ehrlichiosis is the third disease we can now test for in one combined simple
test. This infection is caused by the organism Ehrlichia canis which is
transmitted by the common brown tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus).
Ehrlichia causes very similiar clinical signs as Lyme disease, however,
Ehrlichia causes a significant decrease in platelets (the blood cell that
helps slow down bleeding). Without sufficient amount of platelets the
body can not stop a bleeding incident. Ehrlichia also causes problems in
the bone marrow, which results in the inability to fight simple infections.
Now we can detect Ehrlichia early before these detrimental infections occur.
Therefore, when you bring your dog into Veterinarian Associates Stonefield
for a heartworm test, on your receipt you will see the phrase Blood Parasite
Screen reflecting the improved testing to keep your dog healthy.
Dr. Karen Lazas, DVM Veterinary Associates Stonefield
The staff at Veterinarian Associates Stonefield has taken another step
forward to assure the health of your pet. Every year we recommend testing
your dog for Heartworm disease which is caused by the common mosquito and
can be deadly if not caught in the early stages of the infection. Now we
are also testing for two more infectious agents that can harm your beloved
pet which are both caused by common ticks that live and thrive in our
region.
Borreliosis, also known as Lyme disease, is an organism (Borrelia
burgdorferi) carried by the very common deer tick (Ixodes dammini). This
tiny little organism can cause big problems in your dog. Lameness,
Anorexia, high fever, enlarged lymph nodes, and severe weight loss are some
of the clinical signs seen with this infection. Borrelia can also
infiltrate the kidneys, heart or neurological system. Kidney infection
with Borrelia is the second most common canine syndrome and is often fatal.
Although the topical flea and tick products widely available today help in
the prevention of ticks living on your pet they do not prevent the tick
from biting your pet (the tick will most likely die after the blood meal is
taken but the organism can be transported in that one tick bite). Now we
can test for Lyme disease in the same test we use for Heartworm screening!
Ehrlichiosis is the third disease we can now test for in one combined simple
test. This infection is caused by the organism Ehrlichia canis which is
transmitted by the common brown tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus).
Ehrlichia causes very similiar clinical signs as Lyme disease, however,
Ehrlichia causes a significant decrease in platelets (the blood cell that
helps slow down bleeding). Without sufficient amount of platelets the
body can not stop a bleeding incident. Ehrlichia also causes problems in
the bone marrow, which results in the inability to fight simple infections.
Now we can detect Ehrlichia early before these detrimental infections occur.
Therefore, when you bring your dog into Veterinarian Associates Stonefield
for a heartworm test, on your receipt you will see the phrase Blood Parasite
Screen reflecting the improved testing to keep your dog healthy.
Dr. Karen Lazas, DVM Veterinary Associates Stonefield
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