There is no better diagnostic test that a veterinarian can perform than a physical exam. At Truesdell Animal Care Hospital and Clinic, our patients are given annual and frequent physical exams based on their age and health conditions. Our pets age faster than we do, and much can change in a year. Based on exam findings and routine test results, we will prescribe treatment or advise further testing for any abnormalities identified. We strive to make visits as stress free as possible for you and your pet.
When pets venture outdoors or congregate with other pets while boarding or attending day care, they can be exposed to harmful or deadly viral and bacterial diseases, Fortunately, many of these diseases are preventable through vaccination. At Truesdell Animal Care Hospital & Clinic, we offer core vaccines necessary for all pets and non-core (optional) vaccines based on your pet's medical history, lifestyle, and risk of exposure. For the most effective protection, your puppy or kitten should begin receiving vaccinations between 6 and 8 weeks of age.
In the state of Wisconsin, rabies vaccines and tags are required of all dogs by the age of 5 months. In Madison, rabies vaccines and tags are also required of all cats by the age of 5 months. This vaccine is updated 1 year later and then every 3 years for dogs and every 1 - 3 years for cats.
Canine:
Rabies: Rabies is a virus that is deadly to all mammals. It is spread when an infected wild animal bites another animal. In Wisconsin, bats and skunks are the most common carriers of rabies. Rabies causes neurologic signs and death and is contagious to people.
DA2PP: This combination vaccine prevents 4 dangerous diseases: distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and parainfluenza. Most dogs will be exposed to these viruses at some point during their lives, so vaccination is critical.
Feline:
We administer only adjuvant-free vaccines for your cat's safety.
Rabies: Rabies is a virus that is deadly to all mammals. This virus is contagious to people and causes neurologic signs and even death. Indoor cats are frequently exposed when a bat enters the house and they try to catch it. Although the state does not require cats to be vaccinated against rabies, most cities do. At Truesdell Animal Care Hospital & Clinic, we strongly recommend it for you and your cat's protection.
FVRCP: This combination vaccine prevents 3 dangerous airborne diseases: feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia. Vaccinating against these diseases are critical as most cats will be exposed to these viruses at some point during their lives.
Canine:
Feline:
When it comes to parasites, prevention is the best medicine. In Madison, Wisconsin, parasites like fleas, ticks, intestinal worms, and heartworms are a threat year-round. That's why our doctors recommend annual parasite testing and year-round preventatives.
Fleas frequently cause rashes from allergic reactions. They can carry tapeworms and spread bacterial infections including Bartonellosis (cat scratch fever). In chronic, heavy infestations, fleas can cause anemia and even death. Fleas produce up to 40-50 eggs a day. The eggs live in the environment and move through larval and pupal stages emerging as adults in as little as 21 days. Once identified, environmental control is critical for preventing recurrence.
Ticks can transmit bacteria that cause Lyme Disease, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and other infections. Ticks are most prevalent in wooded and grassy areas including backyards. Unlike common belief, they do not fall from trees, but hang on plants at knee level and catch a ride when a dog, cat, or person walks by. The sooner a tick is removed, the less likely it is to transmit bacteria, so be sure to check your pet for ticks during daily grooming and after being in risky areas. In Wisconsin, over one in ten dogs will be exposed to Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme Disease) and Anaplasma. There are effective monthly oral, topical and collar preventive options for flea and tick control. At Truesdell Animal Care Hospital and Clinic dogs are tested annually for these common tick-borne infections.
Intestinal parasites like roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms are extremely common in dogs and cats, especially puppies and kittens. Worms are easily spread through contact with contaminated soil and the stool of other pets. This means your pet can contract intestinal parasites simply by going outside. Parasites steal nutrition from your pet and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and poor condition. Our lab at Truesdell Animal Care Hospital & Clinic performs very sensitive tests to detect parasites in pet's stool. Most infections are easily prevented by giving heartworm preventive monthly year round! In addition, all of the major heartworm preventive products contain medication to treat and control intestinal parasites.
Pet parasites can even infect people as well, and it's important to give your pet monthly preventative medication to protect your family. The US Centers for Disease Control recommends that a pet's stool be tested twice per year for parasites to identify infections and prevent human exposure. Children have the highest rates of infection because they are most likely to put objects and unwashed hands in their mouths. Infection in humans can range from a mild rash to blindness or worse. To prevent exposure, everyone should wash their hands well after interacting with animals, and wear gloves to pick up and dispose of pet waste promptly and properly.
Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes, and a single bite puts a pet at risk for heartworm infection. Mosquitoes can spread heartworms by biting wild hosts such as a coyote or wolf and then biting an uninfected pet. The incidence of heartworm disease in Wisconsin is rising due to the increased adoption of dogs originating from southern states. Heartworm infections are more common in southern states due to the continuous presence of mosquitoes. Heartworm larvae develop into foot-long worms that infest the heart and blood vessels of the lungs. Over time, the worms cause significant and irreversible lung damage, heart failure, and even death. Dogs are natural hosts, but cats can also become infected. Studies show that cats have a much higher exposure rate than previously estimated. At Truesdell Animal Care Hospital and Clinic, a blood test for heartworm infection is performed annually on dogs and on symptomatic cats.
Most pets show little to no outward signs until the disease is advanced. Signs of heartworm infection in dogs include coughing, lethargy, labored breathing, and weight loss. Signs in cats include vomiting, labored breathing, and sudden death. Treatment is available for dogs but not cats. The treatment is painful, may cause blood clots in the lungs, and requires cage rest for several months
Heartworm disease can be easily prevented in dogs and cats by giving an oral or topical preventive once a month year-round.
All kittens and newly adopted cats should be tested for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus. These retroviruses can affect the quality and length of a cat's life. The tests are performed at Truesdell clinic's in-house lab, on a small blood sample.
Even if you're the most careful pet parent, accidents happen. We want to make sure your pet has the most foolproof identification. As quick as a routine vaccination, a microchip can be implanted between your pet's shoulder blades and stores your contact information. Your information is entered into an online database that can be updated as often as you need. With a microchip in place, the chances of a reunion with a lost pet are much greater. Unlike collars and ID tags that can become lost, microchips are a permanent form of identification your pet will always carry. Animal shelters and veterinary facilities nationwide are equipped with special scanners, so if your pet is found you will be contacted right away. Still, we recommend using all forms of identification for the safety of your pet. If you ever move or change phone numbers, be sure to update your pet's microchip contact information online.
Understanding your pet's food label is no easy task. At Truesdell Animal Care Hospital & Clinic We don't want nutrition and weight management to be a mystery. To make sure your pet is being fed the most healthful diet, we are always available to offer professional advice and guidance. Diets are recommended based on your pet's unique nutritional needs considering its age, weight, breed, health status, and lifestyle. Many pet food companies spread more myths than truths about what makes a quality pet food. At Truesdell clinic we will direct you to resources that dispel these myths and help you understand your pet's nutritional needs.
Obesity in pets is a growing concern. Extra pounds can lead to health conditions that not only decrease your pet's quality of life, but also shorten its lifespan! If your pet is overweight or obese, we will offer advice on how often to administer food using portion control and how to incorporate more physical activity. We strongly urge our clients not to share human food with their pets to avoid obesity and begging behavior. Sharing human food also prevents inadvertent exposure to poisonous foods for pets including grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, avocados, and chocolate.
At Truesdell Animal Care Hospital & Clnic, we carry a wide range of therapeutic veterinary-approved diets. If your pet suffers from conditions such as obesity, food allergies, bladder inflammation, urinary stones, kidney or liver disease, a prescription diet can do wonders in minimizing signs and improving the quality of your pets' life.
Most dogs do not need grain-free foods and, in fact, are at risk for developing obesity from the increased calorie load in grain-free diets. Recently, an association has been made between grain-free diets and exotic protein sources in a connection to a heart muscle disease called dilated cardiomyopathy. While much research is needed to identify the cause, we recommend feeding most patients a diet that contains grains and a standard protein source such as chicken or beef.
Most importantly, if your pet's eating habits or weight change unexpectedly, call us right away to schedule a consultation.
A message from the doctors and staff at Truesdell Animal Care Hospital and Clinic
You may have heard about a link between grain-free diets and a heart disease called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. Starting in 2014, the FDA received reports of DCM in dog breeds not previously known to have a genetic predisposition. This spurred research into potential causes, and an association was made between DCM and boutique, exotic ingredient, and grain-free (BEG) diets. The actual cause of DCM has not been determined but it is believed to be multifactorial and complex.
If your dog is currently eating a BEG diet, don't panic. Most dogs eating these diets do not develop DCM; however, we do recommend transitioning to a diet that includes grains and a conventional protein source. We recommend Royal Canin, Hill's/Science Diet, Purina, and Iams/Eukanuba brands because these companies have long-standing dedication to ethical nutritional research. It is unnecessary to test a taurine level if your dog is asymptomatic for heart disease. If your dog needs a hypoallergenic diet, we recommend transitioning to Royal Canin Hydrolyzed Protein Hypoallergenic diet.
Signs of heart disease include fatigue, coughing, shortness of breath, and fainting. Schedule an appointment if you see any of these signs. If your dog is symptomatic, we will discuss measuring taurine level as well as performing other tests to assess the heart.
The FDA released an update on this condition on June 27th, which you can view here.
DCM results in thinning and weakening of the heart muscle. Over time the heart muscle stretches, and the heart becomes dilated. These changes result in poor function. Affected dogs eventually succumb to a fatal arrhythmia or congestive heart failure.
In December 2018, a commentary on current concepts was published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. You can view the article here.
Cumming's School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University has a Clinical Nutrition Service. This is a link to Tuft's articles on grain-free diets.
The Tufts website is an excellent resource for other nutritional topics as well. Please let us know if you have any questions about your pets nutrition.
Pets cannot tell us what they are feeling, making behavioral issues frustrating and often a mystery. Behavior modification is challenging, but it is worth saving the bond between you and your pet. If your pet is exhibiting unpleasant behavior such as house soiling or aggression, we understand it is stressful for everyone in your household. Bad behavior is the top reason pets are given up to shelters and we don't want your pet to be one of them! At Truesdell Animal Care Hospital & Clinic, we are trained to assess and offer treatment for an array of behavioral disorders such as:
To overcome unwanted behaviors, we first need to understand why your pet is acting out. It is not uncommon for behavioral problems to be linked to hidden medical conditions. We will perform a complete physical exam and may recommend laboratory tests in order to ensure symptoms of illness and disease are not confused with bad behavior. Consider the following scenarios:
If your pet's behavior is not due to a medical problem, we will work with you to address its difficult behavior. Behavior modification can be approached in a variety of ways including positive reinforcement, redirection, training, along with increased exercise and socialization. For training, we refer to several trusted, local certified trainers. Use of a Thundershirt, the Adaptil and Feliway line of products, and natural supplements can help reduce anxiety. Finally, many pets may need an anti-anxiety prescription to lead a normal life.
Just minutes from downtown Madison, Truesdell Animal Care Hospital and Clinic is located 5 miles from city center off of US-51.
Phone: 608-244-2555
Grooming: Monday-Saturday mornings
