Now we finally have a bit of warmer weather, the chances for your pets to catch ticks are increasing. They can get them during their walks outside or also from other animals, and it is almost impossible to prevent your pets being exposed to ticks in this part of the world!!
A tick goes through a cycle of three or four nymph stages before becoming an adult tick. For each of this stages, it needs blood to progress to the next stage.
Ticks inject a type of venom into their host (your pet!!) in order to be able to feed on blood. Unfortunately, when injecting their venom into the victim, ticks can transfer quite severe diseases like Lyme’s Disease, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, amongst others.
Therefore, it is very important to prevent your pets from being infested with ticks!
Here are a few tips:

• Brush your dogs and cats regularly (ideally your dogs every time after the walk outside) to remove lose ticks that might be hiding in the coat. The most common spots are the face/muzzle and chest area.
• Remove ticks with and adequate tool (available at your vet) by twisting it off anti-clockwise. If you are just pulling it off, a lot of times the head will remain in the skin. The tick will not be able to transfer further diseases – however the remaining head can sometimes cause skin irritations or infections.
• Tick prevention: spot-ons or tablets are available at our clinic that can protect your pet for up to 3 months from ticks (depending on the ingredient/product); Some products are combinations of tick, flea and worm treatments. Remember, prevention is better than cure.... please ask at the counter for the most suitable product for you and your pets.

Then all that's left is for you and your pets to get out there and enjoy the great outdoors this summer!!!

Spring is in the air, (kind of !!) and many horse owners may consider breeding their mare this year. One of the most rewarding but greatest challenges in owning and working with horses arises when it comes to breeding. In normal healthy stock a conception rate of only 70% is expected, so you can see how important it is to prepare as best you can for breeding, in order to give your mare the best chance. Breeders can spend thousands of euro on getting their mares in foal, so when a mare fails to take or manages to conceive but then aborts, it's not only the mare's health that's at stake!!!
Breeding problems can turn an attempt to breed your favorite mare into an ongoing battle with nature! However, many problems can be prevented or cleared up by the intervention of your vet, so don’t despair just yet…..
Before you go anywhere near a stallion, you and your vet need to be confident that your mare is healthy and has the best chance she can of getting in foal. A simple pre breeding check of your mare by the vet is the best place to start, and will involve an ultrasound exam of her uterus and ovaries in order to pick up any obvious abnormalities, depending on findings and the history of the mare further tests may be needed and we will discuss these in more detail later. Also for thoroughbred mares, tests for EAV, CEM and EIA will be required and your vet will run you through these.
If all is well, its now time to get your mare covered/inseminated. The best techniques and protocols for covering/ inseminating are important, but I will limit myself to the management of the mare in this article. Suffice to say always visit the stud you wish to use before hand and satisfy yourself that procedures and standards are up to scratch, remember you are the customer in this situation.
When your mare returns from stud just let her back into the paddock or stable, just as she was always kept, and just let her relax for a week or two. Then its time for the 15-17 days scan (post ovulation) to see if she is indeed in foal, also the timing is vital to detect the presence of twins. Scans after 17 days cannot be relied upon to detect twins. Twin pregnancy is undesirable in horses, and if twins are detected your vet will squeeze one embryo, resulting in a single pregnancy. Horse very rarely carry twins full term and if they do almost always cause difficulties foaling. Please don’t expose your mare to this risk and make sure of the 17day scan.
If your mare is not in foal it is time to have another look with your vet before she goes back to stud. Some of the conditions the vet may diagnose include:
Endometritis
Endometritis is the general term given to any inflammation of the uterine (womb) lining, but there are different kinds of endometritis brought on by different conditions or organisms.
Bacterial Endometritis
Much better known is bacterial endometritis, which is probably the most common complaint in infertile mares. Experts in horse health, name it as one of the major reasons that mares won’t conceive, or conceive but then slip the foal. It’s a problem that is often picked up at a pre breeding check and the mare can have a swab taken and be treated effectively with an antibiotic lavage (wash) before traveling to stud.
 
Fungal Endometritis
Much harder to spot is a fungal infection, which must diagnosed with a specific fungal test. Fungal endometritis can be passed from stallion to mare, and unfortunately, there are no noteworthy cures as yet. Management of fungal endometritis relies primarily on reducing the sheer numbers of fungi through lavage using diluted vinegar, Betadine or DMSO.
In a related problem, weakened reproductive structures in the mare may cause urine pooling, a condition in which mares do not void urine completely, particularly during estrus. The retained fluid can cause inflammation, and prevent conception.
Other diseases include:
EVA
Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) infection is known to affect reproduction in mares and stallions, causing abortion after the third month of pregnancy or the loss of foals after birth.
CEM
Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) is a venereal disease of horses, which is carried by stallions and causes infertility or abortion in mares.
Again, your vet can test for these conditions at the pre breeding stage. Thoroughbred studs will insist on tests for these conditions before they will accept your mare.
Other obstacles to easy breeding include hormonal problems, which may range from true disease to management error, such as making mistakes about the mare's being in heat, or breeding off season light. The use of systemic antibiotics and arthritis treatment drugs has also been shown to negatively impact fertility.
Obviously, prevention is important in fertility: regular vet checks, proper weight and an increasing plane of nutrition, a basic check-up for potential problems such as laminitis, good management and hygiene all contribute to the health and fertility of your horse. Supporting your horse's immune and reproductive system with a good quality supplement can have a positive impact on fertility. For more information or if you have any questions please go contact the clinic at 064 6642695, alternatively email info@kenmarevc.ie or with any questions you may have regarding breeding your mare.

A weekly ear check should be part of basic pet care for your dog and cat. Usually, cleaning the ears is not always necessary that often but it is still good to inspect the ears regularly as problems like mites, infections, etc. can be detected at an early stage. Moreover, your pet will get well used to the procedure and for that, it will not mind it as much. Therefore, you should also start to get your pet used to routine procedures like cleaning the ears as early as possible so as puppy or kitten – it will make your life a lot easier later on when you need to do it!
The most common ear problems in dogs and cats are:

• Ear mites (more cats than dogs)
• Yeast infections (more dogs than cats), bacterial or fungal infections
• Allergies
• Foreign bodies
• Tumours

Step 1
Prepare everything you need – ear cleaner (from your vet), cotton wool/pads, lukewarm water.


Step 2
Restrain your dog or cat properly – that way you reduce the risk to hurt him or her. Sometimes, especially the first times, it might be handy to have another person with you to restrain your pet. A cat can be even wrapped in a towel for restraining it (if it is particularly reluctant to get the procedure done), a (big) dog is often easily restraint between one person’s legs.
 
Step 3
Hold the tip of the ear between your thumb and forefinger. Then, you can slightly pull the ear up and back (or even fold back the ear) so that you can see the inner part of the ear.
 
Step 4
Look for signs of problems: redness, scabs, discharge, excessive dirt/cerumen (dark brown), blood, etc.
If you spot any of these symptoms, please book an appointment with your vet as soon as possible.
 
Step 5
If the ear needs cleaning, moisten cotton wool in lukewarm water and gently wipe the ear. If there is more dirt further inside the ear, administer ear cleaner into the ear. For doing that, it is usually easier if you pull the ear slightly up and away from the pet’s head. Once the cleaner is administered, you should gently massage the base of the ear.
Step 6
Gently wipe the inside of the ear with cotton wool to remove excess ear cleaner/left cerumen.
 
Step 7
It is normal that your dog or cat would be shaking its head after the procedure. However, if it is still shaking its head excessively hours or days afterwards, please go to your vet to get it examined as there might be more severe problems behind it.
 
DO NOT USE COTTON BUDS TO CLEAN THE INSIDE OF THE EAR AS IT PUSHES DIRT, ETC. FURTHER DOWN INTO THE EAR!
Please ask us for advice and make sure you use the right cleaner/product and technique to clean your pet’s ears. Incorrect using of ear cleaning products or too late treatment can result in permanent damage of your dog’s and cat’s hearing!

The idea of having to administer eye drops themselves to their dogs and cats at home is stressful for a lot of pet owners!! However, with the right technique, it can be an easy enough treatment that owners can do at home without having to bring back the pet to the vet every day.
Ideally, you get the vet to show you how to do it the first time – this is usually not a problem, as most likely, you are in a consult with your pet where an eye problem that needs treatment is spotted – therefore, the vet can show you right away how to apply the eye drops.
Make sure you get clear instructions how often to use the eye drops and how many of them to put into the eye (also in both eyes or just one?).
At home, before you start with the actual treatment, make sure that if there is a lot of discharge around the affected eye, to carefully clean it, ideally with a sterile saline/eyewash solution or if you do not have that on hand, with clean, warm water.
Ideally you have another person with you to help you restraining your dog or cat as you will need both hands for administering the eye medication. If you are on your own, try to restrain your dog or cat by backing them with their hindquarters against a wall so that he/she cannot back away from you. Remember, the better the dog/cat is restrained, the easier it will be for you to apply the treatment and also the less chance that you will hurt him or her.

The actual administration of the eye medication:
If you are right-handed, place your left hand around your dogs/cats chin and muzzle and push it slightly upwards, so the eyes will be looking towards the ceiling. Then, you pull down the lower eyelid of the affected eye downwards with the fingers/thumb of the same hand. Like this, you will get a pouch formed by the lower eyelid into which you can apply the eye drops. Your other hand holding the medication should be meanwhile resting on your dog’s or cat’s head. Keep that contact to the head ideally at all times during the procedure so in case your pet moves, your hand with the medication will be able to follow without wasting the eye drops or hurting the eye.
You can now drip the recommended amounts of drops into the pouch of the eyelid. Be careful not to touch the eye/eyelid with the tip of the bottle. Once the drops are in the pouch, slowly let go the lower eyelid, close upper and lower eyelid and lightly massage so that the medication spreads evenly over the surface of the eye. Now you can let your dog or cat go.
As always however; Don´t be afraid to ask us for help or to show you how to do it best yourself at home, we are more than happy to help you!
 

Vets warn of risk of Weils disease (Leptospirosis) due to floods
 
Whilst the recent floods have had a devastating effect on the businesses and families involved, vets are also warning pet owners in flooded areas of additional risks to pets and dogs in particular.
Leptospirosis is a severe and often fatal water-borne illness caused by the bacteria Leptospira.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can be passed between animals and humans. It is transmitted through contact with infected animal urine mainly from rats and it can contaminate puddles, rivers, ponds and flood water. In its early stages, Leptospirosis is often hard for vets to diagnose. But if left untreated it can quickly progress to potentially fatal liver or kidney failure.
Even if treated early with antibiotics, infected dogs can carry the bacteria in their urine for months or even years and spread the disease to other dogs and even you! With water levels rising across the country - and therefore a larger likelihood of contact with rats - humans and their pets are potentially at a higher risk of developing the condition.
Vet Henk Offereins DVM said: “It is vital to double check your dogs vaccination status with regard to Leptospirosis at the moment if they are being walked in flooded areas.”
He adds, "Weil's disease typically enters the body through cuts and scrapes, or the lining of the nose, mouth, throat or eyes’.
"If you are in an area that has been affected by flood water, it is essential that your pet has any cuts and abrasions covered and avoids splashing and swallowing water.
"Where possible, you should thoroughly wash your pet after coming into contact with flood waters." 
 
How to prevent leptospirosis in dogs:
Check your dogs vaccination status!! Dogs that are not vaccinated, or whose vaccinations have lapsed are at risk of contracting the disease. Remamber vaccinations need to be boostered on an annual basis and a simple, painless injection is all that is needed to protect your pet against this potentially life threatening condition.
Please contact the clinic if you are unsure about your pets’ vaccination status, and our staff can advise you.
 
Symptoms of leptospirosis in dogs:
Early signs of leptospirosis can be vague and non-specific making diagnosis difficult in the first phase of the disease. However developing symptoms can include lethargy, vomiting and diarrhoea, fever as well as muscular pain with the dog appearing to experience stiffness or difficulty moving.
 
Treatment of leptospirosis in dogs
Dogs suspected to be suffering with leptospirosis are treated with a combination of antibiotics and rehydration therapy.  Care must be taken in handling a dog with leptospirosis and the appropriate protection, including facemask, disposable gloves and gown, should be worn at all times to prevent contracting the disease. 
Matt Brash adds: "If you are concerned that your dog may be at risk of leptospirosis Kenmare Veterinary Centre for advice.
 

 The Dangers of Christmas
 There are only a few days left until Christmas, slowly the decoration is   set up and everyone is looking forward to a nice time.
 Sometimes this relaxed time can be suddenly interrupted by troubles  with your pets as unfortunately, some of our traditions around   Christmas can be dangerous for them.
 Here a list of the most common threats:

Common Christmas plants causing poisoning:
Christmas Rose, Holly and Mistletoe:
poisonous to cats and dogs
symptoms: excessive drooling, lethargy, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, hallucinations (noted as unusual behaviour), if big amounts are digested, they can lead to seizures and even death.
The Christmas Tree:
The Christmas tree is only slightly poisonous as such but sometimes, the oils produced by the tree can lead to irritations of your pet’s mouth and stomach and so lead to drooling, vomiting and diarrhoea. The needles itself – if excessively ingested – can mechanically cause gastrointestinal irritation, punctures and obstruction.
Another danger considering the tree can be the water used to nourish it – it can contain bacteria, molds, fertilizers, etc. Only little amounts of it can lead to severe gastrointestinal symptoms.
 
Dangerous Christmas Food:
Raisins (grapes):
If bigger amounts are taken in, they can not only lead to intestinal problems but also kidney failure and so death. As the toxin is more concentrated in raisins, they are a lot worse than grapes if eaten.
Symptomes: vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive drinking, anorexia (not eating), lethargy
Chocolate:
Dogs cannot metabolize a substance that is contained in cacao. Therefore, chocolate, especially the one with higher contents of cacao, can be dangerous for dogs.
Symptoms: intestinal (vomiting and diarrhoea), if bigger amounts are taken in, neurological symptoms (disorientation, seizures, coma, death)
Other dangers can be decorations that are swallowed and can cause for example severe mechanical constipation and puncture wounds.
If your pet shows any of the symptoms mentioned above, please contact your vet immediately! Ideally, try to find out what and how much of it your dog or cat ate and how long ago.
Even better: Keep none of the poisonous plants in your house or if you do, out of your pet’s reach. And don’t leave your cat or dog alone in a room with Christmas decoration or sweets. Like that, you save yourself and your pet a relaxed and enjoyable Christmas.
Merry Christmas to all of you and your pets and a Happy New Year!