September 2013                                                                                        Volume 4, Issue 11


Month Year Vol 1, Issue 1
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The Carolina
Dog Times        
Information You Need about the Dogs You Love
News and Views from the Front of the Pack
                 
                   

For you Autumn lovers - I'm one of them! - only 19 more days until it's officially our favorite time of year! Cozy sweaters, leaves changing to vibrant colors and crisp, cool air! Can you hear my sigh of relief?!

 

As you enjoy these days outdoors with your furry friends, remember to continue protecting them against those nasty blood suckers that are still around like fleas, ticks and mosquitos. Prevention is key! In this month's newsletter you'll get to read Dr.Goodnight's easy advice that removes "the guesswork" to being a good caretaker for your dogs. Also, if you do happen to find a tick on your pup, check out how to safely remove it in this article by Veterinary Partners:

Ticks 

 

Finally, we are so excited to announce Tinkerbell's selection for our 7-day workshop with world-renowned dog trainers beginning next month. Stories, pictures and more will be shared throughout our experiences with Tink!

 

Woof!

Elaine   

   
In This Issue
Heartworm Disease
Burn & Learn is Back!
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Spotlight On: Heartworm Disease

  

                                   by Dr. Rachel Goodknight, D.V.M 

  

Without a doubt, heartworm is one of the most frustrating diseases for vets. Why? Because it is extremely easy to prevent! Worst case scenario, your dog could die from heartworm. Best case scenario, you drop $500-$1,000 to treat him. This is a bonafide no-brainer, people, and with all the rain we've been having this summer (Summer? What summer? But I digress..), it's an ideal time to mention this awful disease.

 

Hopefully, if you're reading this, you have not only heard of heart-worm but are religiously giving your dog his heartworm pills every month (Hey, I can dream, right?) But sadly, I see this disease far too often. 

 

Did you know that ANY dog can get heartworm? The larvae (vetspeak: "microfilariae") are transmitted by a mosquito bite, after which they enter the bloodstream and circulate for 1-3 months before becoming adult worms in the heart. 

 

What many dog owners do not understand is that heartworm "preventatives" are NOT "preventing" heartworm, but are actually CURING this larval stage before the larvae escape into the heart. Once these little suckers set up shop in your dog's heart, you have missed your chance to kill them with a simple pill. 

 

This is why it is imperative to give heartworm prevention EVERY month, year round, because you must give it every month AFTER your dog could have been exposed to mosquitoes. 

 

And how the heck are you supposed to keep track of that, without keeping a "Mosquito Activity Calendar"? You're not. Just give him his pill EVERY month of the year, removing the guesswork.

As an aside, many vets offer an injection that kills heartworm microfilariae for SIX months. If you cannot remember his monthly pill, this may be the way to go; just please make sure your dog is protected!


Thanks for reading!Rachel Goodknight, DVM                                          
 
Burn & Learn
    
  

Burn a few calories and learn a few new things all with your graduate dog!

       

Please RSVP to elaine@carolinadogtraining for the upcoming 
September 28th class by 9/23/13
  
We'll meet at the Paw Paw Trail's one-mile loop 
at Fred Bond Metro Park in Cary at 9:00 am sharp to burn a few and then learn some new things in our free group lesson that focuses on advanced exercises that teach your dog to stay focused in high distraction environments and practice good manners among their canine counterparts!.