Here at Ulrich Veterinary Clinic, we are dedicated to taking good care of our patients. We are proud to offer intestinal parasite screening and deworming.
Intestinal parasites not only hurt your pets but also can cause damage to you too, so it is really important to us to offer intestinal parasite screening and routine deworming.
Intestinal parasites often make pets hungry. Many suffer from diarrhea and even vomiting. They can’t gain or maintain weight because the parasites are using all of the food the pets eat to grow and cause more damage.
Intestinal parasites can do the same damage to the human body. Some forms can even cause blindness in children, so it is important to check your pets for parasites routinely and deworm them regularly. It is for your own health too!
With a simple stool sample, we are able to screen for parasites so that we can deworm patients with the best dewormer. Every dewormer targets different parasites, which is why screening is so important. Still, there are times when we deworm pets regularly just to keep them and their owners safe.
If you have any questions about internal parasites or screening for them, don’t hesitate to contact us today at (618) 827-4141.
HEARTWORM TREATMENT/PREVENTION
Heartworm disease is a major problem for dogs in our area. For this reason, it is important for owners to understand a little about the disease, treatment, and the prevention.
Heartworms do not always cause a problem until they are adult worms. They can grow up to twelve inches as an adult. At that point, they live in the right side of the heart and the lungs. Affected dogs can have lung disease and heart failure.
Treatment is necessary or death will occur. However, as the heartworms die, they can cause even more problems so it is important to watch dogs carefully through the treatment process. There are times when more than one treatment is needed.
Fortunately, heartworms are preventable. Here at Ulrich Veterinary Clinic, we recommend preventing heartworms instead of dealing with the consequences. We believe in a once a month chewable. It is much easier than dealing with the heartache of losing a beloved dog to heartworms! Preventable heartworm medications also help to keep your dog healthy by taking care of intestinal parasites.
Please contact us to get your dog started with a heartworm test and heartworm prevention today.
LEPTOSPIROSIS AND LYME DISEASE
Leptospirosis and Lyme Disease are some diseases that are prevalent in our area. However, not every dog is at-risk so here at Ulrich Veterinary Clinic, we want to discuss your dog’s lifestyle to decide whether or not he or she needs any additional vaccinations to protect against these diseases.
Leptospirosis can cause liver and kidney disease. It not only affects dogs but can be transmitted to humans so, if your dog is susceptible to the disease, you should make sure that he or she is vaccinated for your own health. It has been known to be fatal to humans!
Leptospirosis can be spread in several ways. It is often found in stagnant water. It is also transmitted through the urine of affected animals, including rodents, raccoons, and other wildlife. For this reason, we recommend vaccinating dogs that are predominately outside, especially hunting dogs.
Lyme Disease is another problem in our area. More and more humans are becoming sick and so are their dogs. The disease is carried by ticks and causes lameness in dogs. They may become stiff and sore or have complete trouble walking.
For this reason, we believe in preventing the disease. There are two ways to accomplish this. Here at Ulrich Veterinary Clinic, we believe in year round prevention for fleas and ticks. There is also a vaccination that is available to help prevent Lyme Disease. Though it is not 100 percent effective, it is very helpful, especially with dogs that are going to be exposed to the disease.
If you have any questions or are just curious on whether or not your dog needs the Leptospirosis or Lyme Disease vaccinations, feel free to contact us today. Be sure to discuss this with one of our office staff or our veterinarians at your next visit. Don’t forget to stock up on flea and tick preventative as a way to help against Lyme Disease.