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Published at
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December 2011 |
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Published at
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December 2011 |
A Small Animal Practice
Celebrating © Monroe |
In This Issue..
Christmas Decorations/Plants Can Be Dangerous for Pets
It's easy to see that curious pets can get in trouble with Christmas decorations like garland and ornaments, but did you know that some of our favorite holiday foods can be dangerous for pets? For more information on holiday goodies that can be poisonous for pets, check out the poison control holiday article. http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/ Eye Problems for Senior Dogs Question: Eye issues can be prevalent in senior pets and something owners often ignore or underestimate. Why are seniors particularly vulnerable to eye problems, and what are the most common eye issues you see in your older patients? Answer: Seniors are more likely to have eye problems for a few reasons. First, some disorders are a result of aging and wear and tear. Cataracts, retinal degeneration, for example, are often age-related degenerative conditions. Second, older animals have had more opportunity to sustain injury to the eyes, which can lead to long-term complications like glaucoma. Lastly, some eye diseases are a result of systemic conditions -- such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cancers -- all of which are more common in the elderly. Cataract: A cataract is when some or all of the lens becomes opaque, or white. The lens is made mostly of protein, and ideally it is transparent. It is similar in this way to an egg white. When heat is applied to the clear part of a raw egg, it turns white. The loss of transparency is from permanent changes in the arrangement of the proteins caused by the heat.
A cataract is likewise a result of damage to the protein
arrangement of the lens material. The only treatment for cataracts is surgery to remove the cloudy lens material and replace it with an artificial-lens implant.
Have you thought about purchasing it for your pet? As families look for ways to reduce spending, they sometimes cut back on health check-ups, vaccinations, and other wellness exams for their pets. This may reduce some costs, but may actually increase health care costs in the future. Many health issues can be identified by routine blood work or exams. If these issues are caught early, they may be treated and the health costs may be lower than treating "full blown" illnesses which may require extensive treatment and hospitalization. Pet Health Insurance is available for your pet, just as health insurance is available for your family members to reduce out-of-pocket health care costs. This article on health insurance for pets describes some of the benefits as well as the typical insurance claims made for pets These are some of the frequently listed health care insurance claims: Dogs- Ear infections, skin infections, allergies - hot spots, vomiting, diarrhea, arthritis, bladder infections, tumors and hypothyroidism. Cats-Urinary tract disease, vomiting, renal failure, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, diarrhea, dental disease and ear infections. If you would like more information on pet health insurance plans, please call our office (770 267 3690) and we would be glad to provide you with information that would be applicable for your pet.
Rabies Update Rabies is a world-wide disease that still causes 70,000 human deaths each year. There are about 7000 cases of animal rabies in the US yearly. Most of these cases are in wildlife species, but these animals can expose humans or pets to the disease. Most people associate rabies with dogs ("mad dog"), but cats are more likely to be infected with rabies than dogs. How can you prevent rabies?
What should you do if you or your pet is bitten by an animal? Contact your veterinarian if your pet has been bitten. Your pet should be evaluated and checked for current vaccinations. If you can identify the animal that bit your pet or if the animal can be captured, it will help determine if your pet has been exposed to rabies. If you have been bitten by an animal, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. Contact your physician immediately. Report the bite to the local health department and evaluate the need for post-exposure treatment. If the animal can be identified or captured safely, you may not have to have shots. Dogs, cats, and ferrets may be observed for a specific time to see if they pose a risk of rabies exposure to you. It may be more difficult if the bite was from a wild animal unless that animal can be captured. Prompt and appropriate preventative treatment after being bitten and before the disease develops can stop rabies infection and prevent the disease.
Snake Encounters Increase in Dry Fall Weather Our unusually dry summer has prompted more encounters between humans, animals and snakes as the reptiles seek water. This link shows photos of poisonous snakes in our area and describes their habit and precautions to take for both pets and people.
Dog Bite Prevention Being bitten by a dog can leave emotional scars as well as physical scars. Over 800,000 people receive treatment annually for dog bites and more than 400,000 of them are children. The second most common age group for dog bites is senior citizens. The real tragedy comes when the bite is from a family pet or a familiar dog. What can you do to protect your family from being bitten by a dog? The American Veterinary Medical Association offers these tips:
There are a number of things that you can do to avoid dog bites, ranging from properly training and socializing your pet to educating your children on how, or if, they should approach a dog. Information is one of the best cures for this public health crisis. What's a dog owner to do?
This link from AVMA provides further information on dog bite prevention. No owner ever wants their beloved dog to be the "dog who bit someone". You cannot predict every dangerous situation, or protect everyone, but you can become aware of potential "dog bite" situations.
Flying with your pet or having a pet shipped to you by plane has not gotten any easier or cheaper this year. The rules for transporting pets by plane vary greatly between the various carriers. If you plan to take your pet on board with you, research the rules for your airline. All major airlines have increased their fees for pets. All airlines have weight and carrier size restrictions that may vary from carrier to carrier. Pet safety has become a pressing issue with an increased incidence of animals being lost, injured or dying in the last year. You may remember the tragic story of a military family whose pet was lost at the Atlanta Airport last summer. The restrictions may also be breed specific. Snub-nosed pets like bulldogs or Persian cats are not allowed on some planes because they are prone to breathing problems. There were several bulldog deaths last year and Delta no longer permits bulldogs on its planes. This is an excellent article from The New York Times that provides more in-depth information on traveling with pets. What to Know When Traveling With Your Pet - Practical Traveler - NYTimes.com
Pets can be separated from their owners under many circumstances. Pets wander away, they can be frightened by a storm, dig out from a fenced area, or be lost after a tornado. If your pet has ever been lost, you know the heart-ache you suffer until your pet is returned to you! What have you done to make sure that your lost pet can be returned to you? Does your pet have a collar with a rabies tag (which can be traced to the veterinarian who vaccinated your pet) and a collar with your contact information? A collar is only helpful IF your pet is wearing the collar when the pet has been found. Collars are easily lost, especially in emergency situations. The most reliable method of identifying your pet is to have a microchip implant for your pet. Microchips are strongly recommended for ALL pets. This link from the American Veterinary Medical Association provides answers to most questions about microchipping for pets. Our Clinic uses the Avid microchip product. There is a national directory for Avid and most animal shelters and veterinary clinics have readers for the microchips. They will contact the veterinary clinic that provided the microchip for your pet . It is very important that you make sure that you provide your most up-to-date contact information to your veterinarian. If you have a new phone number or have moved since your pet was micro-chipped, you really need to up date your information. We recently scanned a "lost" dog who was presented at our clinic and were able to re-unite him with his owner in an hour. The family had spent hours unsuccessfully looking for their pet, but because of the microchip, they got their pet home safely. Many people never think of microchipping their cats, but cats often slip out unnoticed. Cats frequently lose their collars or may not even be wearing a collar, so identification may be impossible. A microchip is the best solution for identification for lost cats. This article tells of a lost cat who was identified 5 years after microchipping and located hundreds of miles from home! Most of us have some sort of first aid kit for our families, but do you have one for your pets? Some of the same products can be used for both people and pets, but there are different requirements for pets. The AVMA provides good information for emergency supplies for pet.
The National Pet Poison Hotline listed the top calls they received in 2010 concerning pet poisoning. Almost half of the calls were for problems caused by pets swallowing human medicines. It is difficult to protect your pets from every possible plant, food or chemical that could make them sick, but you can protect them from human medications! Not all pets are inquisitive, but you know your pet and the things that they might do. The Pet Poison Helpline recommends these tips for protecting your pet from human medications.
The Top Ten Human Medicines that were cited by Pet Poison Hotline These were the top human medicines that were frequently ingested by pets in 2010.
If you think that your pet has swallowed any human medications, try to identify the medicine and the quantity that your pet has consumed. Call the Veterinary Clinic (770 267 3690) or Poison Control Hotline (800-213 6680) for Pet immediately.
Dr. April Mitchell is the new owner of Monroe Veterinary Clinic!
Dr. Henry Wall and Dr. Joey Gross are delighted to announce Dr. April Mitchell is the new owner of Monroe Veterinary Clinic! Dr. Mitchell is a not a new-comer to Walton county since she is a Walton County native and has been employed at Monroe Veterinary Clinic since 2002. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mitchell have been clients since 1963 (before Dr. Mitchell was born!) We are so happy that Dr. Mitchell chose to practice veterinary medicine in Walton County. Dr. Wall will continue to practice at Monroe Veterinary Clinic on his normal work schedule.
The Readers' Choice Awards-The Walton Tribune The Walton Tribune (the Walton County Newspaper) conducts a Readers' Choice contest in which readers of the newspaper vote for their favorite businesses, etc. in Walton County. We are so pleased to announce that our Clinic has been singled out for recognition again this year. We received the awards for Favorite Animal Hospital in both Monroe and Walton County, the Favorite Veterinarian in Monroe and Walton County - Dr. Henry Wall and the Best Secretary Award - Shonna Horacek! Thank you to all of our friends and clients who voted for us in this year's poll!
Shonna Horacek - Best Secretary
Lining up your pets for tooth brushing may not be your idea of fun. It is a way of preventing tartar build up on their teeth and future gum problems. If you decide to brush your pet's teeth, never use toothpaste meant for humans. Pets, especially cats, like to swallow and don't need the fluoride found human toothpaste. You need to use toothpaste that is designed for pet use. If you want to brush your pets' teeth, this clip from the AVMA may be helpful. If you are not excited about brushing their teeth, you will be glad to know that there are pet foods and treats that are specifically designed to help prevent dental problems.
Your pet’s teeth can benefit from brushing. Most of us are not willing to brush our pets’ teeth, but there are food-related options that can help clean your pet’s teeth. Hill’s Science Diet foods offer both a food and treat that promote good oral health. The t-d prescription diet food is a unique kibble that scrubs laden plaque in the mouth. It has been clinically proven to reduce plaque, stain and tartar build-up, while reducing bad breath. The t-d prescription diet food has received the Seal of Acceptance from the Veterinary Oral Health Council for helping reduce both plaque and tartar accumulation. Since it is a prescription diet product, you need to have a recommendation from your veterinarian. T-d treats are superior to normal treats for promoting good oral health. If you are interested in learning more about the T-D products, please call our office at 770 267 3690 for more information and for coupons for the products.
Weight gain can be a problem for humans and animals. Weight gain comes from extra calories and decreased activity. Both of these are issues for us during the busy holiday season when we eat more calorie dense foods and exercise less. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, about half of the nation's companion animals are overweight Animals who are overweight are more likely to develop diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, kidney and heart disease, high blood pressure and many forms of cancer The result: high medical bills. In 2009, the Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. said its policyholders filed more than $17 million in claims for conditions and diseases that can be caused by excess weight. Making matters worse is the normalization of excess weight. Pet owners simply don't recognize that their pet has gained more weight and is now overweight. If you stroke your animal and cannot easily feel their ribs because of the fat pad covering the ribs, your animal is overweight. It is easy to equate love and food for our pets. We want them to be happy, and they seem to love their treats, so we give them more treats. This can set up a vicious treat cycle. One of the first things you can do to help your pet's weight issues is to cut our high calorie treats, especially those with fat and sugar. If you must give them treats, make sure that they are low in calories. Make sure that any "low calorie" pet foods are providing the nutrition that your pet needs as well as being less calorie dense. Serving size is important as well. If you are unsure about what to feed your pet, talk to our Clinic staff. They can recommend food products that can make a difference in your pet's health. One of the best things that you can do for you and your pet is to plan some specific exercises with them. Walking a dog benefits you both. Tossing a ball or frisbee for your dog helps you both stretch and use your muscles ! You will feel less stressful after interacting with your pet and you are both burning calories. It is a little more challenging to exercise with you car. You may not be able to walk your cat, but you can encourage play with a laser light, feather toys or balls. Simply interacting with your pet is good therapy for you both!
Can You Anticipate A Dog's Reaction By Looking In His Eyes?
Before you pet a dog that you don't know, look at his eyes and his body language. Is he ready for fight or flight or will your attention be welcome? With a trained eye, you can have a better idea of a dog's reaction to you. This can be very important for children who rush up to pet a dog and run the risk of being bitten. This link to Modern Dog Magazine will give you insight into the body language of dogs. There are some excellent photos that would be a great learning tool to use with children to help them better understand dogs and perhaps protect them from unpredictable dogs. (Don't be "put off" by the first of the article about a bridal shower. The information about dogs is quite good).
Celebrity Clients Have Their Own Page
Does your dog need a flu vaccination? There is a lot of information and misinformation about the flu shot that is available for dogs. Our clinic currently recommends this vaccination for dogs that are exposed to other dogs in activities such as dog shows, dog parks, doggie day care, commercial pet stores where dogs "shop" with their owners, vacationing dogs (especially for travel into FL where the canine flu is more wide spread) or dogs that are involved with field trials and competitions. If your dog spends most of the time in your home, they may not need the vaccination. We have the vaccine available at our office and would be happy to talk to you about it. For more information, call 770-267-3690. More information on canine influenza is available from the CDC.
The Monroe Veterinary Clinic Celebrated 60th Anniversary in 2009 The Doctors of Monroe Veterinary Clinic have been providing health care for animals in Walton County and the surrounding areas for over 60 years! There have been many changes in veterinary medicine during these 60 years and we continue to offer the most up-to-date treatments for our patients. We would love to see you and your pets at our clinic! Please drop by and meet our staff and see our facilities.
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![Red Tabby Kitten with an Ornament [BD9744]](images/red_tabby_kitten_with_an_ornament_bd9744.jpg)
