Pet Health at Elanco

Fleas can cause a serious threat to you and your pet's health:

• Fleas can cause severe discomfort for both cats and dogs, including scratching, chewing, biting and restlessness
• Fleas are the source of flea allergy dermatitis (FAD)
• Severe flea infestations can cause anaemia (low blood count)
• Accidentally ingested fleas also can transmit tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum) to both animals and humans
• Flea bites can cause allergic reactions in humans

Fleas reproduce very quickly so a few fleas can result in a major infestation in a short space of time.

Ticks are part of the arachnid family, and so have eight legs. They are blood-thirsty parasitic bugs that latch onto your pet's skin while they enjoy the outdoors. A tick will position itself on a blade of grass and use their front legs to detect a passing host. As they feed, the appearance of the tick will change; the tick fills with blood and becomes engorged.

If you find a tick, try to remove it as soon as possible using a special tool, or speak with your vet. Ticks aren't just a nuisance for your pet, they can pass on serious diseases such as Lyme disease.

Your pet is likely to be exposed to all kinds of worms on a daily basis and can easily pick them up without you knowing. Many pets don't display any obvious symptoms of worms.

Some of the common signs that indicate your pet may have worms are:

• vomiting
• diarrhoea
• smelly stools
• a dull, lifeless coat
• loss of appetite
• lack of energy
• a pot-bellied appearance- particularly in puppies and kittens
• general changes in behaviour

Your vet is the best source of help and information about flea and worm control for your pet.

Or try the following sites for more information:

Wormwise

My Pet and I

ESCCAP

Did you know your pet can be affected by allergies?

Just as humans can suffer from skin allergies if they have reactions to substances in their everyday surroundings, so can dogs and cats. These allergies can make your pet's skin and ears feel itchy and uncomfortable.

Allergic skin disease is caused by sensitivity to substances in the environment, such as fleas, house dust mites, pollen and mould spores. Diet can also affect the condition. In dogs, West Highland White Terriers, Bull Terriers, Boxers, Dalmatians and Retrievers seem to be at higher risk. In cats, the disease doesn't appear to be linked to a breed.

Treating allergic skin disease

It's important that you talk to your vet to diagnose what might be causing your pets skin problems and for recommendations to ease their symptoms. Talk to your vet about suitable diagnostic and treatment options.

In most dogs, heart disease is usually a relatively slow, gradual disease that is lifelong. Treatment can help control the signs and slow the progression of disease.

Signs of heart disease can include:

• Breathing more quickly when resting or asleep
• Difficulty breathing - coughing
• Lack of energy - difficulty exercising
• Loss of appetite - weight loss
• Fainting / collapsing

If you think your dog might be suffering from heart disease, please call your vet straight away for advice.

As your cat gets older, it may start to suffer from kidney problems. It's one of the most common causes of illness and death in older cats. Unfortunately, it can be very difficult for you to know that your cat has a kidney problem because cats with this condition can appear perfectly healthy.

Kidney disease symptoms can include the following:

• Nausea
• Drinking more
• Polyuria (urinating more)
• Vomiting
• Lethargy
• Lack of appetite and weight loss

The disease can compromise quality of life if inadequately managed so if you think your cat might be suffering with renal disease, please call your vet straight away.

If you want to know more on kidney disease in cats, you may find the following website of interest International Cat Care

What is otitis externa?

Otitis externa is inflammation of the ear canal commonly associated with an ear infection.

What causes otitis externa?

Some dog breeds are more prone to ear infections due to the size or shape of their ears. Other dogs get infections due to frequent swimming or hair growth in their ears. An overgrowth of bacteria or yeast is often present in otitis externa. If your pet regularly gets ear infections, your vet may want to check for underlying conditions such as an allergy to something in their environment or diet.

What are the signs of otitis externa?

• Bad smelling ears
• Ear scratching and/or head shaking
• Tilting the head
• Discharge from the ear
• Swelling or redness around their ear
• Reluctance to have their head touched

If you think your pet may have an ear infection, please talk to your vet about suitable treatment options.

Pain can be difficult to identify in pets and the signs vary between individuals. Pain can be caused by an injury or may occur as a result of surgery. Your pet may also experience pain due to long term/chronic diseases such as osteoarthritis which is a painful disease that affects joints.

Common signs of osteoarthritis include:

• Change in their mobility e.g. not able to jump into the car
• Lameness or stiffness
• Loss of appetite
• Depressed, inactive or uninterested in things going on around them
• Breaking of house-training
• More aggressive or fearful
• Restlessness, unable to settle down or sleep

What to do if you think your pet is in pain or shows a change in mobility

Your veterinary practice will be able to able to support you and your pet, with advice on how to make your pet feel more comfortable. Lifestyle changes, activity modification and sometimes medications may be prescribed.