Happy Birthday!

Aziza, Fritz, Stripes, Bue, Tyler, Coal, Clyde, Bensteel, Gigi, Amelia, Zepplin, Jake, Munne, Bogart, Jackson, Kubla Khan, Peter, Butterfly, Tessie, Roy, Roadie, Angel, Caoimhe, Beauty, Riley, Sunny, Timber D., Bubber, Chloe, Beau, Tiger, Ginger, Molly, Sophie, Luka, Petey, Sammy, Maisie, Mango, Toto, Gertrude, Buster, Zelda, Jack, Shelby, Sabrina, Cocoa, Livie, Sam, Mona, Diamond, George, Milo, Maggie, Silas, Tristan, Tela, Lucky, Tenny, Yeti, Peaches, Pumpkin, Marley, Jessie, Jerry, Scooter, Puggy Sue, Kira, Jane, Max, Lexy, Galla, Gir, Lexi, Baxter, TJ, Diego, Cedar, Izzy, Lil Al, Botswana, Little Gray, Pinkie, Bailey, Lulu, Shiloh, Chester, Shadow, Simba, Merlot, Coco, Lexie, Ellie Mae, Baby, Kira, Jade, Molly, Simon, Ryker, Isis, Jack Daniels, Murray, Lisa, Vinnie, Razook, Tippy, Holly, Latte, Co-co, Rascal, E.G., Sassy, Emma, Sally, Calisto, Winston, Mamie, Wick, Katrina, Rogue, Tigger, Bitsy, Casey, Tidal, Lindsey, Rowdy O’Riley, Bella, Hershey, Reba, Gracie, Wizzy, Abigail, Kashi, Edgar, Fred, Isabelle, Erma, Mattie, Maximus, Morgan, Billy, Sadie Jane, Lilly, Loocee, Maya, Kiki, Peach, Cody.

Microchips

Home Again Microchip Company now offers a proactive approach to help lost pets. With their new service, if your pet should become lost, an email alert will be sent to all veterinary clinics and shelters within a 25 mile range to alert the pet community of your pet’s missing. Pet owners will have access to their pet’s vaccination history on their website and a picture ID card will be issued with pertinent medical history. Your annual membership will also allow you free access to the ASPCA medical and poison control hotline. This hotline will also give pet owners that are out of town phone numbers and directions to the nearest vet clinic in an emergency situation, giving you ease of mind traveling with your pet.

HomeAgain is committed to taking pet recovery and well-being to a new level and we are delighted to be their partner. If your pet is already microchipped the first year fee for this service is only $19.99 and each additional pet is $14.99.

News Alert

There is a new feline disease that is highly contagious and deadly.

For decades, our feline patients have been routinely vaccinated for and protected against the upper respiratory Calici virus. Now there is a new mutated form of this common virus and it can kill a healthy cat within 24-48 hours once contracted. 

Virulent Systemic Feline Calicivirus (VS-FCV) causes high fevers, facial and limb edema, ulceration and hair loss especially on the face, muzzle and feet and organ dysfunction. Transmission from cat to cat occurs through ocular and nasal discharge, saliva, feces, blood and urine. This virus is also spread from infected cat to unaffected cat by human contact.

There is now an approved vaccine for this deadly disease our doctors strongly recommend. The VS-FCV vaccine will be given on your cat’s second 6 month wellness visit because felines can be sensitive to vaccines.

Lepto Disease

Another canine disease pet owners should be aware of is Leptospirosis. “Lepto” is a bacterial disease spread by contact with urine from infected animals, including dogs, raccoons, squirrels and skunks. Lepto causes high fevers, severe head ache, vomiting and, if left  untreated, kidney damage or liver failure.

Lyme Disease

April is Lyme Disease Prevention Month. Lyme disease has now been detected in all 48 contiguous states of the U.S.A. This disease is spread by ticks and causes arthritis and kidney damage. A vaccination protecting dogs against this disease is available. Talk with a staff member or our doctors to see if your dog may be at risk.

In March, seven of our staff members had wellness lab tests performed on their seemingly healthy pets.

THE RESULTS ARE IN
One cat is now being monitored for hyperthyroid disease. Thyroid levels are nearing the above  normal reference range indicating the thyroid gland is starting to over produce a hormone which can lead to severe weight loss, vomiting, increased heart rate and blood pressure and can have a direct effect on kidney function and health. No symptoms of this common middle age feline disease is apparent yet in this patient.

One dog showed inflammation in the urinalysis. Further tests were done to rule out bladder stones and infection. No symptoms of blood in the urine or constant straining to urinate had been noticed.

While this is a small section of testing, 29% of our pets tested revealed some hidden medical problem. The remaining 5 pets’ lab results were normal.

Note: One cat tested was being fed one of the recalled diets causing kidney damage. As of March 3rd, we have normal baseline values for her kidney function. Since the recall, she had a diet change to another food, not involved in the recall, and we will continue to  monitor her labs to make certain no kidney damage occurred.

A new Hill’s Prescription diet will soon be available. C/D Multicare Feline reduces the risks of both calcium oxalate and struvite stone formation in the bladder. Anti-oxidants and Omega 3 fatty acids have been added to help reduce inflammation. Lower levels of salt will avoid  undiagnosed kidney disease. If your cat is currently eating Hill’s C/D or X/D we will begin switching them over as soon as this diet is available.