The Facts About Anesthesia

There's no need to be afraid of anesthesia. Although it is normal to feel a little apprehensive when the vet recommends anesthesia for a procedure or surgery on your pet, the concerns should be minimal. Modern anesthetics are very safe when administered by trained veterinarians and technicians. While there is a chance of complications, this is extremely rare.  Not only does your pet remain safe and comfortable during surgery, but comes out a better and healthier animal.

Here's how anesthesia works beginning to end:

1. Preanesthetic medication is administered

After a physical examination and preanesthetic blood profiling, a sedative is given to relax your pet. While being monitored closely by our staff, your pet will soon feel calm and relaxed after about 10 minutes.

2. IV fluids are given

An IV catheter is placed and fluids are given throughout the entire procedure. Some clinics do not include IV fluids during surgery, however, it is beneficial for your pet to be hydrated throughout the whole process. Not only does it prevent dehydration, but helps maintain blood pressure and kidney function.

3. Anesthesia starts

An intravenous medication is administered to your pet and he/she becomes fully sedated within 30 seconds.

4. During the procedure

We have trained technicians and veterinarians that monitor the anesthesia, which is maintained with a gas mixed with oxygen and can be adjusted according to your pet's needs.

5. After the procedure

You pet is never left unattended as they wake up from the anesthesia. Our technicians monitor him/her closely and make sure his/her needs are met. It usually takes about 15 minutes for your pet to come to consciousness. Pain control is important after a procedure and we make sure your pet is as comfortable as possible.

We take these important steps to ensure your pet is comfortable and stable during procedures and surgeries. If you have any questions or concerns about anesthesia or surgery, please don't hesitate to ask us.

Heartworm Prevention Month

You've probably heard of heartworms, the stringy things that embed themselves in the hearts of cats and dogs and come from infected mosquitoes. This is known as heartworm disease and it is deadly. But did you know that your cat or dog is at risk of these parasites all year round? Did you also know that heartworm disease can be prevented?

April is National Heartworm Awareness Month and the perfect time to be educated on heartworm disease and prevention.

Has your doctor ever prescribed you medication for some sort of prevention? Birth control for pregnancy? High blood pressure medication to help your heart? Like these types of prevention, heartworm protection keeps your cat or dog healthy and safe. It is something they must be on all year round. They are continually at risk for heartworm disease, as mosquitoes are everywhere and there is no way to track which ones carry the disease.

So what exactly are heartworms?

Heartworms are worms, transmitted by mosquitoes, that damage blood vessels and reduce the heart’s pumping ability in dogs and cats. It results in severe lung and heart disease. Treating heartworms once they are in the body is complicated; it requires strong drugs and/or surgery, and is expensive and a burden on the animal. Many heartworm cases end in fatality if left untreated.

How can I protect my animal?

For dogs, we give Proheart 6 injections. They are administered every six months and the company has a guarantee that should the dog get infected while on the medication, all medical expenses will be paid by them. Don't worry, there is a slim chance of your dog getting heartworms while on this medication.

For cats there are no injections available, but we usually prescribed Heartgard or Revolution to protect them against heartworms.

If your pet is not on heartworm protection, now is a good time to start. With the warm months upon us, there are more mosquitoes and more chances of getting heartworm disease. There have been multiple cases of heartworm disease in Utah and we have diagnosed cases in two dogs in the past year. 

Be prepared, get your pet protected and enjoy the upcoming nice weather!

Heartworm Protection all Year

A question we often get from our clients is whether or not their cat or dog should be on heartworm protection year round. The answer to this question is a big YES!

Let us tell you a little bit about heartworm first.

Heartworms are worms--transmitted by mosquitoes--that damage blood vessels and reduce the heart’s pumping ability in dogs and cats. It results in severe lung and heart disease. Treating heartworms once they are in the body is complicated; it requires strong drugs and/or surgery, and is expensive and difficult on the animal. Most heartworm cases end in fatality.

Heartworms being extracted from a heart

Signs of heartworm disease in dogs:

In the early stages of the disease, dogs often don’t exhibit significant symptoms. As the disease progresses; dogs may have persistent cough, reluctance to exercise, fatigue, decreased appetite, and weight loss.

Signs of heartworm disease in cats:

Cats tend to show signs of disease that are mild or extreme. Symptoms include coughing, some vomiting, lack of appetite, or weight loss. In some cases, a cat may collapse without warning.

Prevention

At Parrish Creek, we take heartworm prevention seriously. We recommend pets be on heartworm and intestinal parasites medication all year, without a break. But Utah is a dry climate and there are no mosquitoes or parasites during the cold winter months. This is FALSE! According to data collected by the American Heartworm Society, Utah does in fact see heartworm cases every year. Even strictly indoor pets are at risk—they eventually will go outside sometime in their lives, and mosquitoes can also live indoors.

Here’s the issue with limiting your pet to heartworm protection only during warm months:

How are we to gage which months your pet should be on or off the heartworm protection? The weather this February is a perfect example. In many places throughout Utah, temperatures have been in the 50’s, and even 60’s. We have seen many pets outside during this warm spell. If say, your dog had gone off its heartworm protection back in November, and is still off that protection and went outside to play yesterday, who’s to say he or she has not been affected? Mosquitoes love warmth and water.

For safety sake and complete protecion, we highly recommend your pet stay on heartworm protection 365 days a year.

Proheart 6 is the ideal heartworm prevention in dogs, and we recommend this over monthly pills (however, in some cases, we will still prescribe them). Given every six months, Proheart 6 is an injection that requires little effort on your part, and provides continual protection from heartworm and intestinal parasites. A blood test is required for the first two injections, and if this program is followed, the manufacturer will cover all costs for diagnosis and treatment should your dog become infected.

For cats, there is no injection option available, so our veterinarians will prescribe monthly pills such as Heartgard or Revolution.

We sincerely want the best for your pets, and this means protecting them. Please feel free to ask our veterinarians or technicians if you have any concerns or questions about heartworm prevention.