Dear Dr. Barchas,
What is heartworm? Does my dog need to take medicine for it? Can cats catch it, too?
Elizabeth, Washington, DC
Heartworm is a blood parasite of dogs and cats. It is spread by mosquitoes. After a pet is infected, worms develop that live in the heart and the arteries leading out of the heart. Severe infections can cause heart failure and death.
Fortunately, several medications exist that prevent heartworm disease. These medications are highly effective and extremely safe, and are available for both dogs and cats. Most are given on a monthly basis. Many heartworm preventatives also help to remove certain intestinal parasites from pets as well. Blood testing for heartworm disease may be necessary before starting a preventative program.
Heartworm disease occurs throughout much of the world, including most of the United States. However, each pet’s risk varies with season, location, and lifestyle. In general, pets living in warmer areas are at greater risk than those in colder climates.
I strongly recommend that you discuss your pet’s circumstances with your veterinarian to determine whether heartworm testing and prevention are appropriate.
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Hi Dr. Barchas,
My vet recently recommended that I apply Advantage or Frontline to my cat. I’ve only seen a few fleas. I’d rather not put chemicals on my pet. What do you think?
Anne, El Campo, TX
Advantage and Frontline are, indeed, chemicals. They are extremely effective at eliminating fleas. However, they are almost completely nontoxic to mammals, including cats, dogs, and people.
In the last several years, only a couple of my patients have had adverse reactions to these products. And the reactions have been mild. Animals sometimes lose hair at the spot where the product is applied. If Advantage is applied improperly to a cat and she gets it into her mouth, she may salivate and become nauseated from the taste.
Although reactions to Advantage and Frontline are rare and generally mild, the same cannot be said about reactions to fleas. Among my patients, fleas are without a doubt the most common and most bothersome pest. Fleas can cause terrible itching, skin rashes, and hair loss. They spread diseases such as tapeworms and cat scratch fever (which can then spread to people). They are thought to contribute to mouth ulcers, asthma, autoimmune disease, allergies, and just about every skin condition imaginable. Fleas can cause anemia. I have even seen pets die from extreme flea infestations.
So, although Advantage and Frontline are not perfect, I believe that they’re much safer than the alternative: fleas.
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Is it okay for cats to eat dog food?
J. Yo, Oakland, CA
Cats and dogs have unique and specific nutritional needs. Their respective foods are carefully tailored to meet those needs. Cat food, in general, is too rich for most dogs. Dog foods typically lack nutrients that cats need. Therefore, I do not recommend feeding dog food to cats (and vice versa).
That said, ice cream is rich and does not contain all of the nutrients needed by people. Yet we can still eat it in moderation, as long as our overall diet is balanced. And, in healthy animals, the same principle applies. As long as the overall diet is balanced, a little variation won’t cause much harm. So, if your pets are healthy and their stomachs aren’t upset by it, don’t worry if they occasionally nibble each others’ crunchies.
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Hi Dr. Barchas,
Is chocolate actually toxic for dogs? And if so, is it really poisonous enough to kill them, or will it only make them sick if they consume a certain amount of it?
Daniel, Houston, TX
Chocolate is poisonous to dogs. It contains a number of toxic substances. The most notable is a stimulant related to caffeine.
After eating chocolate, a dog’s symptoms depend on its size and the type of chocolate consumed. In general, darker chocolate is more toxic than lighter chocolate. Larger dogs can tolerate larger amounts of chocolate than can smaller dogs.
So, a Labrador retriever that consumes a very small amount of milk chocolate may suffer no ill effects, or may act like he’s had too much coffee. A toy poodle that gets into dark baker’s chocolate may act wired at first as well. Unfortunately, his symptoms may later progress to heart palpitations and even death.
Because of the potential seriousness of chocolate toxicity, any known or suspected ingestion of chocolate, regardless of type of chocolate and breed of dog, warrants immediate veterinary attention.
While we’re on the subject of toxic foods, cat and dog owners should be aware that grapes and raisins have the potential to cause fatal poisoning in both species. This is a relatively new discovery, and the mechanism of toxicity is not yet fully understood. Cats and dogs should not eat grapes or raisins.
At this point, I presume I do not need to cover the subject of pets consuming chocolate covered raisins.
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You have questions. 