Ticks are very common here on the North Shore of Boston. They are found in every city and town here in Massachusetts and continue to become more common in New Hampshire and Maine. There are sometimes hundreds of ticks just waiting in the brush and grasses to join us. Being pet owners is a plus as having the awareness and knowledge of ticks and the disease that they can transmit is helpful for our safety.
Many people are familiar with ear "infections" that occur quite commonly in children these days. Our dog patients can also be affected by these problems.
Heartworm is transmitted by infected blood sucking mosquitos. The microscopic larvae that the mosquito injects into the animal's skin then matures into adult worms in approximately 6 months.
Many chronic gastrointestinal problems are lumped under the diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, other types are dietary indiscretion, parasites, metabolic, congenital and cancerous.
Many cats today can suffer from cystitis, an inflammation in their urinary system. There can be several causes of cystitis, therefore it is also referred to as Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease Syndrome or FLUTD.
Osteoarthritis is the condition of deterioration of joint surfaces and bones that occurs relatively frequently in our canine patients. Many breeds are predisposed to osteoarthritis while others may become susceptible after an injury...
Along with the fun of summer, for many dogs there is a somewhat unpleasant side effect of the romps in the grass and ocean..the hot spot!
