Annual Rabies Clinic Will Be 9/27/2019

World Rabies Day is 9/28/19: Learn about our Rabies Clinic

Nexgard is Buy 6 Get 2 Free For A Limited Time!

Lawndale Veterinary Hospital Newsletter

'Committed to building lifelong partnerships with pets and owners by focusing on the highest quality veterinary medicine, compassion, education, and prevention.'

Rabies: What you need to know

What is Rabies?

Rabies is a zoonotic viral disease in mammals that is typically transmitted by the bite of an infected animal. The virus then travels through the peripheral nervous system into the central nervous system. Ultimately, neurological signs will develop leading to the animal’s death. In North America, most cases of rabies are found in wildlife such as bats, foxes, raccoons, and skunks (CDC Data). The most common source of human rabies in the United States is bats.

Why should you keep your pet’s rabies vaccine current?

Rabies vaccines are effective in preventing the transmission of rabies to dogs and cats. North Carolina state law requires that all dogs and cats be vaccinated against rabies. This law is to protect both pets and humans. A lapse in vaccine status can have significant consequences if your pet is exposed to an animal suspected or confirmed to have rabies (e.g. outdoor wildlife encounter, bat in the house, etc.). In a situation such as this, the local health director can require that a pet be euthanized or placed in a quarantine for up to 6 months (for more information see the NC Rabies Control Manual).

What should you do if your pet (with a current rabies vaccine status) is exposed to a potentially rabid animal?

If your pet’s rabies vaccine status is current and your pet is exposed to a potentially rabid animal (e.g. fights with a wild animal, a bat is found in the house, etc.), you should have your pet’s rabies vaccine boostered within 5 days. Note that if a bat is found in the home, you should also contact your local health department for additional guidance.

Join us for our Annual Rabies Clinic Day on Friday 9/27 $12 Rabies Vaccines from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm!

To learn more go to our website here or go to Global Alliance for Rabies for more information.

Doctor's Digest

Is Your Dog Off the Hook? Maybe Not, If It's A Greyhound- Persistent Hookworms Seem to Plague the Greyhounds

For several years, it has been noted that greyhounds adopted from racing facilities in Florida very often came with large hookworm infestations, of the species Ancylostoma caninum. These dogs would have undergone regular deworming during their racing careers; however, they would arrive at adoption facilities and be found to be shedding very large numbers of hookworm eggs in their feces. Even after adoption and multiple rounds of deworming, the numbers of hookworm eggs remained high.

While it is known that these greyhounds continue to shed due to larval leak syndrome, it is not definitively known why such great numbers of hookworms are able to persist and recur in this particular breed. Is it a result of their history of being in highly contaminated environments, such as greyhound breeding facilities and racing kennels? Is it a result of abnormally elevated dormant larvae encysted in their bodies? Do greyhounds have decreased immune function, leading to compromised ability to fight parasite infestations? Has the Ancylostoma caninum hookworm developed a resistance to the deworming products that are routinely used in racing and breeding facilities?

Read more about Greyhound's Hookworm Resistance here .

Recent Blogs

Flint Davis- Not a Pitty to Pity: Fighting the Battle Against Skin Problems and Allergies

It's Almost Fall Y'all, But it's Still Really Hot...How to Keep Your Pet's Cool

Clinic News

Pet of the Month :

September Pet: Matilda Edwards

Breed: Golden Retriever

Age: 8 months

Read Why We Love Matilda

Customer Service Award :

September Winner: Jessica Brown

Team Role: Receptionist

Team Member Since: 2009

Read More About Jessica

Paws and Learn

Breed of the Month: Persian

By: Julie Hean

The Persian cat is characterized by long hair, short muzzle, and round face. The ancestors of the breed originated in Iran and were then imported into Italy in the 1620s.
The development of the breed has led to a wide variety of coat colors and increasingly flatter faces. The above picture shows a more traditional muzzle than that of the more modern Persian.
Persians are quiet-natured and are well-suited for apartment life. It is possibly for this reason that they are one of the most popular cat breeds in the US.
Variants of the breed include Himalayans and Exotic Shorthairs. Persians bred with Siamese developed the Himalayan cat, which tends to be a more active than the Persian. The American Shorthair crossed with the Persian developed the Exotic Shorthair breed. They are very similar in conformation and temperament, although they have a short coat.
Over the years, Persians have developed many health problems, some of which include: polycystic kidney disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, eye and urinary issues.

Information and photo from Wikipedia