FACT: Pet bad breath means periodontal infection.

FACT: The most common disease in dogs is periodontal infection (in 80% by age 3 years)

FACT: The most common cause of discomfort in dogs is periodontal infection.

FACT: Periodontal infection is preventable. Prevention saves discomfort and money.

Every pet owner would like their pet to avoid the chronic “silent” pain of periodontal infection, the mouth odor from infection and the risks to the heart, liver and kidneys. So many pet owners describe a feeling of shock when they hear that extractions are needed because oral disease has progressed too far.

Your dog will be much happier with healthy teeth and gums.

AHNA has sophisticated anesthesia, digital dental x-ray and dental procedures. Our dental assistants are highly trained. We have Dr. Thompson who dedicates 100% of his time to the practice of veterinary dentistry.

Yes, we perform safe technical dental procedures, but the BEST SERVICE that we can provide is for all of us to work as a team to PREVENT infection, discomfort and extractions. Your pet needs you to believe in home care.

At some age, every parent of a child is told by a pediatrician that their daughter or son is ready for tooth brushing. The child may resist of even cry, but as a parent, you do not question your obligation to brush your child’s teeth. Your pet will greatly benefit from a regular program of home care from you and professional care from us.

Our team is happy to help you learn how to brush your pet’s teeth (never risk being bitten).

Rabies is a fatal disease of the nervous system. It is caused by a virus that can infect all warm-blooded animals, including humans. The virus attacks the brain and spinal cord, causing severe nervous system dysfunction and eventually death. While instances of rabies infection are lower than ever, the disease remains a continuing problem. Vaccinating your pet against rabies is a key prevention method.

The most common way to contract rabies is through a bite from an infected animal. When a rabid animal bites, the rabies virus in its saliva passes through the broken skin of the victim. Rabid cats can also transmit rabies through their scratches if they have saliva on their paws.

Skunks, bats, coyotes, foxes, and raccoons are very susceptible to rabies. Cats, dogs, cattle and horses usually contract rabies through encounters with rabid wildlife.

The symptoms of rabies can be quite varied. In general, the disease shows three stages that occur in succession. (NOTE: not every animal will display these signs, so any animal behaving abnormally should be regarded with suspicion.)

• Stage 1 – Attitude Change: The animal may show nervousness, shyness, aggression or other changes in its normal personality. May show a lack of fear of humans.
• Stage 2 – Furious or Excitable Phase: Animals may become extremely agitated, or behave erratically. Animals may bite and snap at anything. Wild animals may wander into unaccustomed areas and attack livestock, people or pets. The tone of an animal’s voice may change as its vocal cords become paralyzed. Seizures may occur.
• Stage 3 – Paralysis: Victims become progressively paralyzed. Animals may be unable to move their hind limbs and unable to swallow, resulting in choking and frothing at the mouth. This phase ends in death, usually from paralysis of the respiratory muscles.

Rabies cannot be diagnosed with certainty based on symptoms alone. The suspicion of rabies can only be confirmed by testing samples of an animal’s brain tissue.

Vaccination is an inexpensive, effective means of protecting your animals from rabies. If your pet is not vaccinated against Rabies, please call our hospital to set up an appointment. If you would like additional information, please contact us at 828-253-3393 or stop by our hospital. We are located just off Merrimon Ave at 1 Beaverdam Road, Asheville, NC 28804. Vaccinating your pet not only protects your pet and you against the disease, it is also the law.

Thank you.
The Staff at Animal Hospital of North Asheville

Recently, the staff at Animal Hospital of North Asheville has been getting questions from some of our pet owners about a new dog virus called canine influenza. They were concerned about stories they had seen or read in the local news about dog flu outbreaks. In answering their questions, we realized that all of our dog owners may have similar questions and concerns. So we’re writing on our blog to tell all our pet owner friends about canine influenza, what puts dogs at risk, and what can be done to protect them.

Canine influenza is a respiratory disease that can cause coughing, runny nose, watery eyes, loss of energy, and/or loss of appetite. The signs of infection are similar to those of other respiratory diseases in dogs, but the coughing caused by canine influenza can last for several weeks. With proper care, most dogs generally recover. However, canine influenza can lead to more severe or even life-threatening infections, such as pneumonia, and has been fatal in up to 8% of cases.

Because canine influenza is caused by a relatively new virus, dogs have no natural immunity to it. And since it’s highly contagious, visiting places where dogs congregate, such as kennels, doggie daycares, dog parks, or groomers, puts dogs at higher risk for catching this new virus. Making things more difficult is the fact that dogs can spread the virus to other dogs before the coughing and other signs of sickness appear.

The best way to protect your dog from canine influenza is through vaccination. Fortunately, the USDA has issued the first vaccine that aids in the control of disease caused by canine influenza.

Like the human flu vaccine, the new canine influenza vaccine doesn’t completely prevent infection, but it can dramatically reduce the severity of the disease. The vaccine also significantly reduces the amount of virus that dogs shed, minimizing spread to other dogs—so it’s the ideal way to protect all the dogs that your pooch comes into contact with. We recommend vaccinating dogs against canine influenza and have vaccine available. To give your dog the most complete protection, the initial vaccination requires two doses of vaccine given 2 to 4 weeks apart, followed by a single booster dose given annually.

Please call Animal Hospital of North Asheville at 828-253-3393 to discuss any questions you might have or to set up an appointment. We are conveniently located at 1 Beaverdam Road, Asheville, NC 28804.

Thank you – The Staff at Animal Hospital of North Asheville