Miller Animal Hospital

04/24/2025

What is Leptospirosis? (or Lepto, for short)
Leptospirosis is a deadly bacterial disease commonly spread by wildlife.
Lepto has been diagnosed in all types of dogs, and all breeds and sizes are at risk.
Common Lepto carriers include raccoons, deer, opossums, squirrels and rats. Livestock can also carry the disease.
Lepto bacteria can survive for long periods in water and on wet grass.
The numbers of canine Leptospirosis cases have risen in recent years. Today, Lepto is the number one infectious cause of acute kidney failure in dogs.
Lepto should be considered if your dog has a fever, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea or lethargy. Early recognition is important for a full recovery.

How is my dog exposed?
Lepto bacteria are shed in urine. Dogs become infected when they come into contact with fresh urine from infected carrier animals.
Infection occurs when dogs wade, walk or play in contaminated soil or water or drink from contaminated water sources.
The bacteria can enter through a cut in the skin or mucous membranes, such as the eyes, nose or mouth.
Take steps to protect-
Remove food, garbage and nesting materials from your yard to minimize wildlife activity.
Discourage your dog from drinking standing water and change outdoor water sources every morning.
Vaccinate your dog against Leptospirosis annually.🐾🐾

04/22/2025

🌷Spring Flowers Are Blooming… but Some Can Harm Cats! 😿🌼
As gorgeous as springtime bouquets are, many popular flowers can be toxic to cats. Just a nibble or even brushing against the pollen can cause serious issues.

⚠️ Common Spring Flowers That Are Toxic:
• Lilies
• Tulips
• Daffodils
• Hyacinths
• Crocus
• Azaleas
Even a lick of pollen or a sip of vase water can lead to serious illness or even kidney failure, especially with lilies 😿

🚨 Watch for:
• Vomiting
• Drooling
• Lethargy
• Refusing food
• Trembling or seizures

If you think your cat had contact with any of these—call your vet immediately!

🌻 Safer flower options? Think roses, sunflowers, or orchids

🐾 Keep your curious kitty safe—share to spread the word!

04/21/2025

4/20 -- it’s a great time to remember: what’s safe for humans isn’t always safe for pets. Keep ma*****na products out of paws’ reach!

04/20/2025

04/15/2025

How Do Cats Get Intestinal Parasites?
Cats can become infected by intestinal parasites in several different ways, depending on the specific parasite and the age of the cat. Cats most at risk are kittens, cats that go outdoors, or cats coming from places where large numbers of cats are housed together, like animal shelters, pet stores, or breeding catteries.

Kittens often get infected from their mother during nursing because some worms can be passed from mama cat to the kittens through the mother’s milk. It’s very common for kittens to be infected with worms. Starting at two weeks of age, kittens are dewormed every two weeks until they are about three months old. From 3 to 6 months of age, kittens are dewormed once a month.

Adult cats and kittens can also be infected with intestinal parasites by sharing food and water bowls or litter boxes with infected cats, eating rodents (roundworms or tapeworms), ingesting f***s or contaminated soil or plant material (roundworms, hookworms, coccidia, or Giardia), walking across contaminated f***s or soil (hookworms), or swallowing a flea (tapeworms).

04/09/2025

Looking for an online pharmacy with no fuss? Go to our website @ millerah.com and scroll down: our online pharmacy, VetSource will pop up as online pharmacy. Any questions? Call us at 518-283-1166.

04/07/2025

Heartworm disease is caused by Dirofilaria immitis (a parasitic worm) that is
spread by mosquitoes.
Signs of disease can be:
• Subclinical, i.e. no obvious signs.
• Slowly progressive. Dogs may develop cough, weakness and exercise
intolerance.
• Severe. Dogs can have signs of congestive heart failure (cough, severe difficulty breathing, fluid accumulation in abdomen), kidney or liver disease, fever, or coughing up blood.
Optimal therapy for adult heartworm infection involves pre-treatment for microfilaria (young heartworms) and suspect Wolbachia bacteria, followed by adulticide therapy (elimination of adult heartworms).
Heartworm is found globally. Regular use of heartworm preventive medication is critical to prevent the disease.

04/01/2025

What is heartworm disease?
Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease in pets in the United States and many other parts of the world. It is caused by foot-long worms (heartworms) that live in the heart, lungs and associated blood vessels of affected pets, causing severe lung disease, heart failure and damage to other organs in the body. Heartworm disease affects dogs, cats and ferrets, but heartworms also live in other mammal species, including wolves, coyotes, foxes, sea lions and—in rare instances—humans. Because wild species such as foxes and coyotes live in proximity to many urban areas, they are considered important carriers of the disease.

Dogs. The dog is a natural host for heartworms, which means that heartworms that live inside the dog mature into adults, mate and produce offspring. If untreated, their numbers can increase, and dogs have been known to harbor several hundred worms in their bodies. Heartworm disease causes lasting damage to the heart, lungs and arteries, and can affect the dog’s health and quality of life long after the parasites are gone. For this reason, heartworm prevention for dogs is by far the best option, and treatment—when needed—should be administered as early in the course of the disease as possible. Learn more about heartworm medicine for dogs.

03/28/2025

RESPECT YOUR CAT DAY
Every year on March 28, cat lovers worldwide observe Respect Your Cat Day, a special occasion dedicated to appreciating and honoring our feline friends. This day serves as a reminder to acknowledge the role cats play in our lives, from offering companionship to keeping our homes pest-free. Whether you’re a devoted cat owner or admire these graceful creatures, Respect Your Cat Day is the perfect opportunity to show extra love and care to your furry friend.

03/27/2025

Help us welcome our new Veterinarian Dr. Singh, DVM.

03/25/2025

During winter, adult ticks unable to locate hosts retreat underneath leaf litter or other surface vegetation, becoming inactive in temperatures below 13 degrees Fahrenheit. With the exception of unusually warm winters, adult ticks will begin to become active again in late February / early March, when they will resume their quest for a bloodmeal.

After feeding on their final host, and depending on the weather and time of year, ticks will look to begin mating. Males typically die after mating with a female, and females will reproduce by laying thousands of eggs during the spring and die shortly thereafter, thereby completing the tick lifecycle.

Always remember to keep a lookout for ticks at each stage of their lifecycle so you’re best equipped to avoid tick bites and to protect yourself, your family, your friends and pets.

03/21/2025

Cats can be poisoned in several ways, including ingestion of a toxic substance or poisoned prey; inhalation of a gas, liquid, or powder; or topical exposure to a chemical. With topical exposures, the skin may absorb the toxin, but the cat can also ingest it when grooming its fur.
What clinical signs might warn me that my cat may have been poisoned?
The symptoms vary depending on the poison. Toxins may produce the following signs:

Gastrointestinal signs such as drooling, lack of appetite, gagging, vomiting, and diarrhea
Neurological signs including hiding, hyperexcitability, incoordination, tremors, seizures, lethargy, or coma
Respiratory signs such as coughing, sneezing, panting, or difficulty breathing
Skin signs including redness, inflammation, burns, and swelling
Liver injury that causes signs such as stomach upset, dehydration, jaundice, and weight loss
Kidney injury that causes signs including stomach upset, halitosis (bad breath), changes in thirst and urination, lethargy, and weight loss
Anemia, which may include signs such as yellow or pale gums, lethargy, weakness, heavy breathing, and hiding
Some toxins act on more than one body system and can produce any combination of the above signs. It is important to remember that, while most cases of intoxication cause acute (sudden) problems, chronic, delayed intoxication can also occur.

03/20/2025

Dog poison No. 2: People food. Your canine companion may look so cute as they sit there begging for a bite of your chocolate cake or a chip covered in guacamole but not giving them what they want could save their life. Animals have different metabolisms than people. Some foods, such as onions and garlic, as well as beverages that are perfectly safe for people can be dangerous, and sometimes fatal, for dogs.

Alcohol. Symptoms of alcohol poisoning in animals are similar to those in people, and may include vomiting, breathing problems, coma and, in severe cases, death.
Avocado. You might think of them as healthy, but avocados have a substance called persin that can act as a dog poison, causing vomiting and diarrhea.
Macadamia nuts. Dogs may suffer from a series of symptoms, including weakness, overheating, and vomiting, after consumption of macadamia nuts.
Grapes and raisins. Experts aren’t sure why, but these fruits can induce kidney failure in dogs. Even a small number may cause problems in some dogs.
Xylitol. This sweetener is found in many products, including sugar-free gum and candy. It causes a rapid drop in blood sugar, resulting in weakness and seizures. Liver failure also has been reported in some dogs.

03/20/2025