Fleas in Las Vegas: What Pet Parents Need to Know

August 26, 2024/in Blogs, Parasites /by Supportadmin

Fleas are the most common external parasite in dogs and cats. They cause intense itching, hair loss, and skin infections. They can also carry diseases that may affect both dogs and people. While flea issues are minor in Las Vegas, they are still present, especially when people travel with their pets.

What Are Fleas?

Fleas are tiny, wingless insects that feed on the blood of mammals and birds. They prefer warm, ambient temperatures and moderate humidity, making the inside of homes a prime environment for them to thrive. There are four stages in the fleas’ three-week life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Adult fleas live on animals, while the other stages are in the environment.

Each female flea lays about 40 eggs daily on an animal’s skin, which can easily roll off into the surrounding environment. Larvae hatch from eggs and seek dark, warm areas such as carpet fibers, forming a cocoon and becoming pupae. Pupae can remain undisturbed for months and not be killed with insecticides, freezing, or drying. Adults emerge from cocoons when they sense a potential host nearby, detecting vibrations, light, or carbon dioxide.

Since adult fleas prefer not to leave a host once they find one, dogs generally get fleas from being in an environment with newly emerging adult fleas rather than by making direct contact with another dog with fleas.

Symptoms of Flea Infestation

Symptoms of flea infestation include scratching, red bumps, hair loss, and flea dirt. The severity of symptoms depends on the extent of the infestation and the size and age of the host animal. Common clinical signs include:

Itching, biting, or over-grooming
Hair loss or redness on the back near the tail and in between or on the back of the legs
Small red bumps or flaking skin if an infection occurs (flea allergy dermatitis)

How to Tell if My Pet Has Fleas

Although your pet may be infested with fleas, they are not always easy to find. One of the best methods for checking your pet for fleas is to look for flea dirt (feces) in your pet’s hair coat. Briskly comb or rub a section of your pet’s hair while your pet is sitting or lying on a white piece of paper. If your pet has fleas, black specks (flea dirt) will fall onto the paper. Transferring these specks to a damp piece of paper will turn red or rust-colored due to the blood in the flea’s waste.

Treatment and Prevention

The goal of flea treatment is to interrupt the flea life cycle on the pet and in the environment, which may take a few months to manage completely. This is achieved by:

Treating all pets routinely with appropriate flea products: Some options, including topicals or long-acting collars, are available over the counter. Oral preventatives require a veterinary prescription. Your Pet Health veterinarian can help you choose the most effective product for your pet.

Washing all bedding and vacuuming frequently triggers the release of pupae. This is followed by the use of a spray intended to kill adult fleas quickly and stop their reproduction. Remove pets from the area before use.

Outdoor maintenance: Remove leaf or brush piles, and consider spray treatment of shaded areas where pets frequent. Multiple treatments at set frequencies will be needed to interrupt the life cycles. Professional exterminators may also be used.

Flea Activity in Las Vegas

Is flea prevention necessary in Las Vegas? The answer is generally no. Fleas prefer warm and humid conditions, typically between 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and need about 50% humidity to survive. The hot summers and arid year-round climate of Las Vegas make it a very inhospitable place for fleas to survive.

While flea occurrences are rare in Las Vegas, they happen, especially when traveling to places like San Diego, which has a perfect climate for fleas year-round. If an infestation occurs, it can take up to three months of consistent flea prevention (for all pets in the household), cleaning, and vacuuming to get it under control. If you are traveling outside of Las Vegas with your pets, talk to your Pet Health vet about flea preventative before you leave. This is much easier than dealing with a flea problem after you come home.

Tackling Ticks: A Comprehensive Guide to Protecting Your Pet in Las Vegas

August 19, 2024/in Blogs, Parasites /by Supportadmin

Welcome to the ultimate guide to dealing with ticks in the Las Vegas Valley! While ticks might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the desert, there have been increased sightings, particularly in areas like Mount Charleston or Red Rock, during the spring months. In this blog, we’ll explore everything you need to know about ticks and how to keep your pet safe.

Understanding Ticks

Ticks are not insects but rather arachnids, closely related to spiders and mites. These tiny parasites feed on the blood of their hosts, including pets and humans. They have a unique life cycle comprising four stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. Female ticks lay thousands of eggs on the ground, and once hatched, the larvae seek out hosts for their first blood meal. Ticks can transmit Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Ehrlichiosis, making them a potential health threat to pets and people.

Ticks in the Desert

Contrary to popular belief, ticks can exist in desert environments like Las Vegas, especially during the spring. While a dry climate is inhospitable to ticks, areas with higher humidity, such as Mount Charleston or Red Rock, provide suitable conditions for these parasites to flourish. Additionally, a cold and wet winter and the presence of wildlife, such as deer or rodents, contribute to tick populations in these areas.

How Does My Dog Get Ticks?

Ticks use a behavior called “questing” to find their hosts. They climb to the top of grass blades or shrubs and extend their legs, waiting to latch onto passing animals or humans. Once attached, ticks can feed for several days, engorging themselves with blood. Dogs are particularly susceptible to tick bites, especially those that spend time outdoors in areas with tall grass or dense vegetation.

Types of Ticks

In the Las Vegas Valley, the most common tick species encountered is the Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus). Unlike other tick species that prefer feeding on wildlife or humans, the Brown Dog Tick primarily targets dogs and can transmit diseases like Ehrlichiosis. While other tick species, like the Western Black-Legged Tick (Ixodes pacificus) or the American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis), may occasionally be found in Nevada, they are less prevalent than the Brown Dog Tick.

Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus)

Prevention Tips

In Las Vegas, tick occurrences are relatively rare, especially for pets without extensive outdoor exposure outside of the City. I have a dog with ticks at Pet Health maybe once yearly, so I don’t recommend a tick-preventative for every pet. However, tick prevention becomes more critical if your pet enjoys hiking adventures at locations such as Mount Charleston or Red Rock during the spring. Ultimately, discussing your pet’s lifestyle and risk factors with your Pet Health veterinarian is essential to determine the most appropriate tick prevention strategy.

Numerous tick preventatives are available, ranging from over-the-counter options to those your veterinarian prescribes. These preventatives come in various forms, including topical treatments to the skin at the back of the neck and chewable tablets administered orally. These monthly or every 3-month treatments offer convenient and effective control against external parasites like ticks.

What if I Find a Tick on My Dog?

Tick checks are crucial for pet parents with active outdoor lifestyles, particularly those who enjoy camping, hiking, or exploring areas like Mount Charleston and Red Rock Canyon. After outdoor adventures, inspecting yourself and your pets for ticks is essential.

If you find a tick on yourself or your dog, follow these steps for safe removal:

Use fine-tipped tweezers or disposable gloves to handle the tick.
Grasp the tick as close to the skin surface as possible to prevent the tick’s head from detaching.
Pull the tick straight out with steady, even pressure. Be patient, as the tick may take a minute or two to release.
After removal, disinfect the bite area thoroughly and wash your hands with soap and water.
Consider preserving the tick in rubbing alcohol or a ziplock bag in the freezer for future identification. Providing this information to your veterinarian or physician can aid in diagnosing any potential illnesses transmitted by ticks.

While ticks may not be as prevalent in Las Vegas as in other regions, they are still a concern, particularly in certain areas and during certain times of the year. By understanding the risks associated with ticks and taking proactive measures to protect your pet, you can help ensure their health and well-being in the desert environment of Las Vegas.

Cardio BNP

August 16, 2024/in Blogs, Diagnostic /by Supportadmin

Diagnostic testing enables our team to pinpoint the underlying cause of your pet’s symptoms, diagnosing their condition(s). We want our pet parents to be involved in the decision-making process, and we thoroughly discuss the diagnostic testing we recommend for your pet and their diagnostic test results. Personalizing your pet’s diagnostic plan ensures we avoid unnecessary tests and procedures while leading us to a more personalized and effective treatment plan.

Diagnostic Overview

Cardio BNP

Cardio BNP (Brain Natriuretic Peptide) testing, although common in human medicine, has emerged as a tool in diagnosing cardiac issues in dogs and cats. This biomarker test measures specific substances in the blood, offering insights into cardiac health. It is particularly significant when pets exhibit signs of cardiac distress, such as dyspnea or difficulty breathing. Cardio BNP is primarily released from the ventricular myocardium due to physical stress and low oxygen levels.

Originally developed as a screening test for cardiac disease in dogs and cats, its role in routine dog screening has diminished due to a tendency to produce false positives. However, it remains a crucial diagnostic aid, especially in cats, where differentiating between respiratory and cardiac causes of dyspnea can be challenging. This is particularly important because cats presenting with breathing difficulties may not be stable enough for more invasive diagnostics like radiographs.

In the case of cats, a SNAP test called the IDEXX SNAP Feline proBNP Test is available, providing a convenient and rapid means of assessing Cardio BNP levels. Studies have demonstrated that this test can be 84% sensitive and 83% specific, making it a valuable tool for identifying cats with moderate to severe subclinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). It’s important to note that Cardio BNP testing should complement other diagnostic findings and not be evaluated in isolation. It is an adjunctive tool, helping Pet Health veterinarians strengthen or weaken their suspicions of cardiac involvement in pets with respiratory distress.

Heartworm Prevention: Is It Necessary in the Neon Desert?

August 12, 2024/in Blogs, Parasites /by Brandon

Few topics in pet care raise as many questions and concerns as heartworm disease. Commonly associated with regions featuring warm climates and high mosquito activity, heartworms pose a significant threat to our beloved canine and feline companions. However, in the unique landscape of Las Vegas, where desert heat dominates and mosquitoes are a rare sight, the necessity of heartworm preventatives may come into question. Let’s delve into this topic further to understand the nuances of heartworm prevention in the neon desert.

Understanding Heartworm Disease

Heartworm disease is a formidable adversary, affecting nearly 300,000 dogs annually in the United States alone. These foot-long parasites, transmitted through mosquito bites, find their way into a dog’s bloodstream and migrate to the heart and lungs, where they wreak havoc. As they grow, they can obstruct blood flow, leading to severe organ damage and, if left untreated, death.

Diagnosis of heartworm infection typically involves blood tests to detect the presence of heartworm antigens. Treatment for heartworm disease is complex and often consists of a series of injections of an adulticide drug, along with supportive care to manage symptoms and aid recovery.

Las Vegas: A Unique Landscape

Las Vegas is no stranger to extremes. The city’s climate starkly contrasts the humid environments typically associated with heartworm transmission. Due to the arid climate, mosquito activity in Las Vegas has historically been minimal. However, recent developments have raised concerns about the emergence of new mosquito variants, particularly during fall monsoons.

One such variant is the Aedes aegypti mosquito, notorious for its daytime activity and attraction to standing water. While mosquito populations in Las Vegas remain relatively low compared to other regions, the emergence of these vectors in 2023 underscores the potential risk of heartworm transmission, especially during increased humidity.

Pet Health’s data over the past five years sheds light on the prevalence of heartworm disease in the Las Vegas Valley. With nearly 7,000 tests conducted over the past five years, the number of positive cases has been minimal, at two total cases. The two positive cases are attributed to pets relocating to the area (one from Louisiana and one from Mexico). However, as the city continues to grow, with over 50,000 residents moving to the metro area in 2023 alone, the landscape of heartworm risk may evolve.

Dr. B Points: Is Heartworm Preventative Necessary in Las Vegas?

My answer: Probably not.

Here are the important points to consider when deciding if heartworm preventative is necessary for your pet in Las Vegas:

Consult Your Vet: While heartworm preventatives may not be mandatory for all dogs in Las Vegas, discussing preventive care options with your veterinarian is essential. Every pet is unique, and factors such as travel history and lifestyle can influence the need for preventive measures.
Travel Considerations: Preventive medication becomes crucial if you frequently travel with your pet to heartworm-endemic areas or plan to do so in the future. Protecting your pet from heartworm infection is always safer than treating your pet for the disease.
Monitoring Disease Trends: As responsible pet parents, staying informed about disease prevalence is vital. Part of the Pet Health commitment to partnership with our pet parents involves monitoring emerging trends and advising of any changes that could pose a risk to their pet. While heartworm disease may not be a prevalent issue in Las Vegas, ongoing monitoring of mosquito populations and heartworm testing allows us to make proactive adjustments, if necessary, for your pet’s Lifetime care plan.

Don’t Forget the Doo-Doo: Understanding Intestinal Parasites in Pets

August 5, 2024/in Blogs, Parasites /by Supportadmin

Welcome to Pet Health’s August blog series dedicated to the well-being of our pets in the face of pesky parasites! This month, we’re diving into various aspects of parasite prevention and management, starting with the importance of intestinal parasite testing. But don’t worry; we’ve got plenty more parasite-related topics coming your way, so stay tuned!

Understanding Intestinal Parasites: Intestinal parasites come in various forms, from worm-like structures like roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, and whipworms to protozoal organisms such as Giardia or Coccidia. While some pets infected with these parasites may show symptoms like diarrhea, weight loss, poor haircoat, or failure to grow, many can be asymptomatic, making detection through testing crucial.

Are Intestinal Parasites a Problem in Las Vegas? Despite Las Vegas’s dry climate, intestinal parasites can still threaten our pets. In 2023, Pet Health submitted 1388 intestinal parasite screens for testing in dogs, with 6.3% returning positive results. Among the most common parasites detected were Giardia (3.9%), Coccidia (1.2%), Hookworms (1.0%), and Roundworms (0.3%).

Dr. B Points for Intestinal Parasites in Las Vegas:

Community Growth: With 50,000 residents moving to the Las Vegas metro area in 2023, pets are also relocating, potentially bringing intestinal parasites from other regions.
Lack of Preventatives: Many pets in Las Vegas are not on preventatives for intestinal parasites, making them more susceptible to infection.
The Real Risks: Several intestinal parasites are zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from pets to humans. This underscores the urgency of regular testing and preventive measures, especially for households with children.
Pet Parents Role: You play a crucial role in your pet’s health. Always bring a fresh stool sample to your pet’s appointment, as it aids in accurate testing and diagnosis. A small amount, about the size of a quarter, collected within 24 hours of the visit, is ideal. Plastic or paper bags, as well as small disposable containers, are suitable for transport.

Intestinal parasite testing is a vital component of Pet Health’s commitment to ensuring the well-being of our beloved pets. By staying proactive and informed about the prevalence of parasites in Las Vegas and taking appropriate preventive measures, we can keep our pet companions healthy and happy. Stay tuned for more parasite-related insights in the coming weeks!