“Green” Flea Control in a pill???
Comfortis

If you’ve been waiting for an alternative to spot-on flea control products… then wait no longer.  We have recently started carrying Comfortis, Lilly’s new oral flea control product.  The active ingredient in Comfortis (com-FORT-is) is Spinosad, a naturally occurring fermentation product of a microbe found in the soil of the Caribbean.  Since the mechanism of action is specific to the neurological system of the flea, it poses no risk to us or our pets.  In addition, Spinosad is the recipient of the Green Chemistry Challenge Award in 1999 and is approved for use in food production and agriculture.

Comfortis is a chewable pill that provides flea control for an entire month.  This product kills fleas quickly, so they don’t have time to lay eggs- therefore preventing infestation or extinguishing a current infestation with continual use.  The rapid kill of fleas is also important to flea allergic dogs (“Flea Allergt Dermatitis”), as new research is discovering that the duration of the feeding may play a significant role- so the quicker the kill, the less saliva that is deposited on you dog.  Even with topical products, this feeding still occurs, but with an oral product, there is no worry about frequent bathing or the use of medicated shampoos.

Now for the technical info… Comfortis does not need to be given with a full meal for optimal absorption and efficacy.  In studies, Lilly has found that the most frequent adverse effect is vomiting after the first dose; they have, however, found this typically won’t happen again after the next administration.  It is only for use in dogs older than 14 weeks and greater than 5 pounds in weight.  If you want to learn more or see if Comfortis may be right for your pet, please give us a call.

Name that Mutt… Schnoodlepuggleabrachow
Wisdom Panel MX – Mixed Breed Analysis

Did you ever want to know what made up your “Heinz 57” mixed breed?  After years of research, Mars Veterinary has developed a blood test that uses genetic testing to identify the presence of specific breeds in your dog’s family history.  The blood test looks for variations that occur at specific sites in the DNA- and, if these differences occur in specific combinations (‘breed signatures”), it can suggest a specific breed/lineage.  The Wisdom Panel MX can detect “signatures” of over 130 AKC recognized breeds- but as new advances are made, this database will continue to grow.

The report you receive will show each breed detected in your dogs genetic material and also the degrees of certainty of each breed (how likely it is that you’ll see physical traits of that breed).  The report also lists information on the breed make-up to help you understand the behavioral and physical characteristics of your pet, which in turn can help with diet, medical information, training, etc…  For more information, you can schedule an appointment today, or check out www.wisdompanel.com .  (Cost of blood test and analysis report: $138.00

Can’t you give “Kitty”/”Fido” a shot, instead of a pill? YES!
Convenia

This is a question we get asked often as we talk about starting a course of antibiotics; many people find it difficult/dangerous/tedious/(fill in with adjective of your choice…) to get their pets to take medication.  Unfortunately our answer has always been a sympathetic “no”.  However, Pfizer has changes that with the release of Convenia, a 14-day course of antibiotics in a single injection.  Convenia has been widely used in Europe for sometime now, but has recently been approved for the use in dogs and cats in the United States.

While Convenia is indicated for the treatment of skin infections (wounds, abscesses and pyoderma), it has also been successfully used for other infections, such as those of the urinary tract.  While oral antibiotics are tolerated by many animals and will remain widely used, this exciting product will be a HUGE relief to those who start stocking up on Band-Aids at the mere mention of having to give their pet a pill! Be sure to ask us at you pet’s next exam if you fall into this latter category.

Ok, more technical info… as with all antibiotics, there is small chance for vomiting and diarrhea; this GI upset is usually transient, but since the medication is a 2-week injection, it can’t be taken away once it is given.  Also, there have been reports of mild discomfort at the injection site.  Talk to one of us to find out if Convenia is right for your pet!