One of the most common neurological conditions our pets face is seizures. A seizure is an involuntary disturbance of normal brain function. If your pet suddenly drops to the floor and starts kicking as if treading water, your pet may be having a seizure. At Colonial Manor Animal Hospital in Homer Glen, IL, we provide effective treatment for pets suffering from seizures.

What Causes Seizures?

The cause of seizures is not always known. For some animals, a head injury, stroke, blood sugar problems, or brain tumors can be the cause. Pets with kidney disease may also experience seizures. Animals that have ingested a poisonous substance can experience a seizure. In some cases, genetic factors may be the cause of your pet’s seizures. Some canine breeds are more prone to seizures, such as beagles, collies, German shepherds, and Labrador retrievers.

Diagnosing Seizures in Pets

Blood testing and urinalysis can provide clues to the origins of your pet’s seizure. Noting the age of the animal and the age when the seizures began can also help our veterinarians determine what type of problem is causing the seizure. For a more thorough analysis, we can use CT scans or MRIs to provide important information.

Treatment for Pet Seizures

A number of different medications are used to control pet seizures. Our veterinarians will examine your animal before determining the right medication to control the seizures. Adjusting the dosage of the medicines is common, and animals may need to be monitored for side effects from the drugs with periodic testing.

What To Do If Your Pet Has A Seizure

If your pet is experiencing a seizure, try to remain calm. Try not to move your pet while the seizure is happening, and remove any sharp or dangerous objects from your pet’s vicinity. Pets can involuntarily bite during a seizure. Keep your animal cool with a fan. If your pet’s seizure continues for more than 5 minutes or if several seizures occur in succession, take him or her into our office for emergency vet care.

In the dog days of summer, your pet may become dehydrated or have a pet heatstroke if it is not monitored closely while playing outside. This is more common in dogs than cats and more likely to be a puppy or an older dog that just won’t stop playing fetch, even though they need a rest. At Colonial Manor Animal Hospital in Homer Glen, we can treat your pet quickly and efficiently if it is overheated or has heatstroke.

Is it Dehydration or Heatstroke?

If your pet is playing outside, you need to make certain that it stops to cool down and drink water to avoid dehydration. If your pet is dehydrated, the condition can get worse in the form of heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Heat exhaustion occurs when a pet’s body temperature is over 103 degrees. Heatstroke is associated with a pet’s temperature at 106 degrees or higher. Overheating can be extreme and lead to your four-legged friend’s organs and heart shutting down, which can cause death.

What are the Symptoms of Dehydration and Heatstroke in Pets?

Your pets don’t sweat as humans do, but instead, they pant to keep themselves cool in the warm and hot weather. Panting is not adequate to cool their body and keep the body temperature regulated, resulting in heat complications in pets. Some symptoms of an overheated pet or pet heatstroke to watch for include diarrhea, vomiting, and excessive panting. They may have thick saliva and be drooling instead of panting like normal. Your pet may be dizzy and wobble when walking, and an irregular or rapid heartbeat can accompany this. You may notice tremors with shaking limbs or seizures. Your pet may also urinate very little or not at all when trying to relive itself, and in the worst cases, your pet will be unconscious and have bloodshot eyes. These are all very serious signs that tell you to take your pet indoors and get them hydrated with lots of cool fresh water while calling your veterinarian simultaneously.

How to Prevent Dehydration and Heatstroke in Pets

Whether you and your pet are traveling together or just outside, there are several items to keep in mind. Always carry water with you on a trip, and at home, provide your pet with cool water in a shady spot, so your pet can cool down in the summer heat. It’s best to avoid peak hours in summer outside altogether if possible. If you have a high-energy pet, try swimming instead of hiking, running, or biking in the summer. Remember never to leave your pet in a vehicle without ventilation because a 70-degree day can turn your car into an oven very quickly.

Often, people think about allergies as something that pets can give to people but not have allergies themselves. However, pet allergies are something that many pets have to deal with and can make them uncomfortable. Make sure that you are prepared if your pet has allergies. Our veterinarians in Homer Glen at Colonial Manor Animal Hospital will advise on how to handle your pet’s allergies and medication to help your furry friend feel better.

Common Pet Allergies

Pets often have allergies to different foods. For instance, on the whole, cats are lactose intolerant to milk, despite the common stereotype. Different pets will have various allergies to food, like dairy, wheat, eggs, and various meats. Other pets can have allergies to things like pollen and other common seasonal allergies. These allergies can manifest in several different ways. Your pets may have dry and itchy eyes from their allergies. If they continually are pawing at their eyes, trying to scratch them, this is a sign that they are dealing with allergies. Also, a constantly runny nose could be a sign of allergies, rather than something like a cold.

Treating Pet Allergies

If you notice that your pet is suffering from allergies, it is a good idea to bring them to a veterinarian so your pet can be properly diagnosed. Furthermore, by taking your pet to the veterinarian’s office, we can give you advice on how to treat your pet’s allergies. As is the case with humans, the treatment will depend on the severity of the allergies affecting your pet.

The best way to treat any allergies affecting your pet is to have it avoid whatever causes the allergic reaction. If your pet has a food allergy, make sure you exclude any foods containing that allergen. If your pet is allergic to something in the environment, keep it away from it as much as possible. Of course, your dog still needs to be walked, and that will always expose it to seasonal allergies like pollen. So, to help your pet with those allergies, you can give them allergy medicine. There are chewable treats for pets that are designed to help pets, but as always, never give medicine that is meant for humans to an animal. For the safety of your pet, please contact a veterinarian before giving your pet any new medications.

Ear infections are a common problem in pets that can result in pain and loss of hearing. Ear infections can be caused by many factors, some of which can bring about chronic problems. At Colonial Manor Animal Hospital in Homer Glen, IL, we offer effective treatment for ear infections in pets.

The ear canal may look reddened and swollen, and an odor may be present. You may notice crusts in the ears as well. These symptoms should prompt a visit to your vet.

Causes of Ear Infections

Bacteria, yeast, and fungus are common causes of ear infections. However, other factors may leave your pet vulnerable to develop an ear infection, such as:

• Allergies
• Thyroid disease
• Endocrine system problems
• Autoimmune disorders
• Excessive wax
• Foreign objects in the ear
• Ear canal injury
• Excessive cleaning of the ear

Diagnosing Ear Infections

Your veterinarian will look into your animal’s ears with a special instrument called an otoscope. This device provides a clearer view of the ear canal and eardrum. In some cases, your vet may need to take a sample of the fluid or tissue in the ear for an accurate diagnosis.

Ear Infection Treatment

Your veterinarian in Homer Glen will clean your pet’s ears with a medicated cleaner to remove dirt and excess wax. Topical medication is generally prescribed to eliminate the infection. Allergy medications may also be needed to clear up the underlying problem. You should carefully follow your vet’s instructions to ensure the complete elimination of the infection. Some animals are prone to recurring ear infections, so it is important to return to our veterinary hospital for an examination and treatment. Complicated ear infections may require surgery to resolve the problem.

Pets suffer from asthma just as humans do. It is caused by a lung problem that causes airways to narrow. Often, the tubes that carry air into the lungs get inflamed, which can cause coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness. Asthma can significantly reduce the quality of our pet’s life. At Colonial Manor Animal Hospital, we have years of experience providing pet owners in Homer Glen, IL, with reliable veterinary services, including asthma treatment.

What Causes Asthma?

It is believed that asthma is caused by allergens. Asthma becomes worse when the afflicted individual comes into contact with the allergen. Common triggers include dust, pollen, air particles, and even weather conditions. The same things that cause asthma in people can cause it in pets. When the pet comes in contact with these conditions, it can cause swelling to the airways, making breathing difficult. 

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a lung disorder that causes the narrowing of the airways, the tubes which carry air into the lungs. Symptoms of asthma include shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. If your pet has problems breathing or wheezes all the time, it may be time to have your pet checked by our veterinarians at Colonial Manor Animal Hospital in Homer Glen, IL. 

How Does a Vet Diagnose Asthma?

Our vet will conduct some tests like a chest X-ray. This enables the veterinarian to rule out other respiratory conditions. It is similar to what physicians do to diagnose asthma in human patients. In many cases, the treatment will include steroids, bronchodilators, and antihistamines. There are also specific metered-dose inhalers that can be used in pets actively having an asthma attack.