Newsletter

West Coast Vet Clinic Newsletter May, 2009

Here is our latest newsletter informing you on some important information regarding fleas and on new equipment and products available at the clinic. We had a huge response to our first newsletter of the year and hope to keep you informed with the latest research and achievements in the veterinary industry in subsequent newsletters. We also like to receive photos of your pets to feature in our newsletters and also to view at the clinic, so please send us your latest photos of your pets to the clinic email address available on our website or to zorand@xtra.co.nz.

FLEAS AND FLEA ALLERGY DERMATITIS PART 2

In any discussion of flea products, it is important to recognize that the product in general do not prevent fleas from biting the animal. That means that even after treatment, there could be some dermatitis in flea allergic pets until the infestation is resolved.

The flea reproductive cycle must be broken and stopped because each female flea can produce up to 50 flea eggs a day, depending on environmental conditions.

Flea allergy dermatitis is the most common hypersensitivity skin disorder in dogs and cats. There is up to 2000 different species and subspecies of fleas in the world. Flea biology:

1. Flea egg
   • Pearly white, oval, 0.5mm long
   • Lays eggs on host, then falls into the environment
   • Hatch within 1-10 days
2. Flea larvae
   • Free living, feed on organic debris/adult flea faeces
   • Larval stage 5-11 days, depending on food/climate
   • Susceptible to heat and desiccation
3. Pupa
   • Found in carpet, bedding, under furniture, soil
   • Flea emerges in 5-8 days
   • Fully formed adult flea that resides in cocoon may survive up to 140 days.
   • Only life stage that is not affected by flea treatments
4. Adult flea
   • Spends entire life on host
   • Begin feeding within seconds
   • Mating occurs in first 8-24 hours
   • Producing eggs within 36-48 hours of their first blood meal, may lay up to 50 eggs a day, and continue for 100 days.

NEWS FROM WORLD CONGRESS OF VETERINARY DERMATOLOGY

Are essential fatty acids (EFA) beneficial for dogs with atopic dermatitis?

Omega-6 and omega-3 EFA have been proposed for reduction of signs of atopic dermatitis in dogs for more than twenty years. Multiple combinations of EPA are available commercially as specific formulations, either in capsule or liquid form, and most commercial diets have enriched their content in EFA.

There is insufficient evidence to recommend the use of EFA supplements or enriched diets for SOLE TREATMENT of canine atopic dermatitis. EFA may be helpful to reduce the dose of oral glucocorticoids needed to control signs, but this observation must be confirmed in additional studies and with other supplements.

Supplementation with EFA may cause minor digestive signs.

NEW PRODUCTS

Initialize Flavoured Tablets For Dogs

This is a combination of carprofen and green lipped mussel extract. This product is used for the relief of chronic and acute pain and inflammation and for the enhancement of health and wellbeing in dogs.

NEW EQUIPMENT

Electrosurgery Unit

The purposes of electrosurgery are to destroy benign and malignant lesions, control bleeding and cut or excise tissue. One of the major advantages of using electrosurgery is the capability of performing nearly bloodless surgery and decreasing treatment time. Electrosurgery is simple to perform and is especially useful for removing small superficial lesions such as skin tags and small angiomas (tumours).

Please visit us on our new website, and if your have any questions you can e-mail us from the contact page listed on the website.


Yours sincerely
West Coast Veterinary Clinic