1-847-356-VETS (8387)

We now offer home delivery for most prescription refills. Call the office and we can take care of you directly or email your prescription request (for current clients only) to acclv@sbcglobal.net. Coming soon, we will have online payment available through though Paypal.

"compassionate medical care and personalized service"

Summer is Heartworm Season:

Protect Your Pet from This Deadly Disease

Summer is here and while it may be good news for us, it also signals the heat of heartworm season. The same sunny skies we bask under also nurture the mosquitoes that breed and transmit this life-threatening disease to our animal friends.

Heartworm disease can be deadly to either your dog or cat. The life cycle of the heartworm begins when a mosquito bites an infected animal. The mosquito takes in tiny immature heartworms (called microfilariae) when it feeds. During the next two to three weeks, the larvae develop within the mosquito into the infective stage. When the mosquito feeds again, it can transmit infective larvae to a healthy dog or cat. The larvae penetrate the dog's skin, migrating through the tissues and developing over the next few months, eventually reaching the animal’s heart. Once in the animal’s heart, the worms grow, causing significant damage to the heart, lungs and other vital organs.

If left untreated, heartworm disease can result in death. All animals are at risk—sometimes pet owners think their pets are safe because the animal lives indoors, but we all know that mosquitoes come inside. Also, now that so many people are traveling across the country with their pets, no state is entirely heartworm-free.

Heartworm disease isn’t just a problem that affects dogs. In fact, when it comes to heartworm disease, dogs and cats have a lot in common, and new research shows that in cats there is the potential for more severe reactions and even sudden death.

"The only way to know for sure whether your pet is infected with heartworm disease is to have your veterinarian conduct an examination and test," said Dr. McGinniss. "If your pet gets heartworm disease, treatment can be dangerous for him and expensive for you – but the good news is that prevention is Safe, easy, and convenient. In addition the heartworm preventatives also help prevent several intestinal parasites"

In addition to protecting your pet from heartworm disease, there are some other things you should be aware of, since spring brings its own set of health concerns for your pet.

Be sure to start grooming daily for tick removal as part of prevention of various diseases, such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and others.

Consider using a topical flea and tick preventative like Frontline TopSpot or Advantix to avoid the discomfort of these parasite infestations as well as the potential diseases they can transmit.

Also check to be sure your yard is cleared of accumulated animal waste, since this can be a source of internal parasites.

Even though spring is here, it can still be damp outside and pets that have spent a great deal of time indoors can become chilled easily.

As your pet’s level of energy increases, he or she can become an easy target for cars. Be sure to supervise your pet closely and keep your dog on a leash as much as possible. There is a higher incidence of hit-by-car cases in spring and summer than any other season.

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• Pet Emergencies
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• Losing A Beloved Pet
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Forms & Health Info

• New Client Form [pdf]
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• Surgery Consent Form [pdf]
  Dont forget this when you bring your pet in for surgery.
• Dog Forms Guide: Dog Owners Guide: New Puppies -------------------------------- How To: House Training How To: Brushing Teeth -------------------------------- Airline Travel Allergies Anal Sac Disease Anemia Aural Hematoma Baby to Dog Bladder Stones Blastomycosis Bloat Bone Diseases Bordetella Breeding Cesarean Section Coccidia Collapsing Trachea Corneal Ulcers Coronavirus Cruciate ligament disease Cushings Disease Cystitis Demodectic Mange Dental Disease Diabetes Diarrhea Diarrhea Questionnaire Dilated Cardiomyopathy Disk Disease Distemper dog dental chart Ear Infections Ehrlichia infections Endoscopy Esophagostomy Flea Allergy Flea Control for dogs Food Allergy Gastrostomy Tube Feeding gentling the puppy Giardia Grief in Children Heart Failure Heartworm disease Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis Hepatitis Hip Dysplasia Hookworm Infection Hypothyroidism Icterus Inflammatory Bowel Disease Inhalant Allergy Introducing new pets Kidney Failure Leptospirosis Lick Granuloma Lumbosacral Syndrome Luxating Patella Lyme Disease Mitral Valve Disease & Heart Failure Orphaned Puppies Pancreatitis Parvovirus Infection Prostate Diseases Pyometra Rabies Ringworm Roundworm Sarcoptic Mange of Dogs Seizures Staph Dermatitis Subcutaneous Fluid Administration Surgical Discharge Tapeworm Infection Tartar Prevention Tonsillitis Ultrasound Examination Understanding your pets blood work Vaccination Failure von Willebrands Disease Whipworms Wobbler Syndrome
• Cat Forms Guide: Cat Owners Guide: Introducing New Pets Guide: Litter Training Guide: New Kittens -------------------------------- How To: Breeding/Raising How To: Brushing Teeth -------------------------------- Airline Travel Allergies Anal Sac Disease Anemia Asthma & Bronchitis Aural Hematoma Bladder Stones Blastomycosis Bridge Busipirone for Elimination Problems C-Section Cardiomyopathy Cat Dental Care Cat Scratch Disease Cholangiohepatitis Chronic Nasal Discharge Chylothorax Coccidia Corneal Ulcer Cruciate Rupture Cryptococcosis Cystitis Cytauxzoonosis Dental Disease Diabetes Diarrhea E-Tube Feeding Ear Infections Elimination Disorders Endoscopy Fatty Liver Disease Feline Imunotrophic Virus Feline Infectous Anemia Feline Infectous Peritonitis FeLV Diseases Fight Wound Infections Flea Allergy Flea Control Food Allergies Geriatric Cats Giardia Infection Grief in Children for lost pets Heartworms Histoplasmosis Hookworms High Blood Pressure Hyperthyroidism Icterus Inflamatory Bowel Disease Kidney Failure Megacolon Neutering/Castration Pancreatitis Pyometra Pyothorax Rabies Rainbow Bridge Ringworm Roundworm Seizures Spay Ovariohysterectomy SubCcutanous Fluid Administration Surgical Discharge Tapeworms Thyroidectomy Tocoplasmosis Ultrasound exams Understanding Blood Work Upper respiratory infections Vaccine Failure Vomiting

Our Facility

Phone: 847.356.VETS (8387)
Address: 101 S. Milwaukee Ave.
Lake Villa, Illinois 60046-8593 [ MAP ]

Office Hours

Note: Doctor's hours by appt. only

Mon	8am - 6pm
Tue	8am - 6pm
Wed	8am - 6pm
Thur	8am - 6pm
Fri	8am - 6pm
Sat	8am - 1pm
Sun	Closed

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