Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Hope

A belated Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. It is hard to believe December 1st is Thursday. The past few months have flown by and we find ourselves quickly approaching the end of 2011.

As I reflect on this past year, you probably share my feeling that this year has had its ups and downs. Our world has changed so much. Maybe, just maybe, 2011 was a turning point for us.

I suppose it will be how we move forward from this year that determines our "new normal". While the past years have seen rapid growth, greed, loss of integrity, and war, a kindness and desire to re-claim our country emerged and seems to dominate our hopes for our future.

This holiday season, my family and I have chosen to spend differently, to be more aware, to make the season more about what it should be - family, friends, goodness, and hope. I suspect many of you will do the same, changing traditions that no longer work, and strengthening those that do. If we stop to really think about things, now is the time that we can best offer hope, peace, and friendship to each other and to those who need it most.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Freedom Guide Dogs For The Blind

We have known Sharon and Eric Loori for quite some time. They are two of the most generous and dedicated people in the guide dog profession. We have been honored to have been involved with the care of their guide dogs as well as their organization.

Freedom Guide Dogs has grown tremendously over the past several years. They receive their funding through foundations, organizations, corporations, and individuals. Recently, FGD launched their 365 Club so that individuals and small businesses could have an opportunity to donate to this worthwhile cause.

What is the 365 Club?
A person or business becomes a member of the 365 Club when they donate $365 to Freedom Guide Dogs to support the cost of guide dog equipment for one guide dog placement.
Harness                     $90
Harness Handle         $90
Leash                         $30
Brush                         $10
Bowl(2)                      $10
Dog Food (1 bag)      $45
Crate                          $90
Total                        $365
That’s $1 a day! Some of us spend more on our morning cup of coffee! So why not put that $1 toward something that’s going to make a difference in someone’s life? For more information or to see what else FGD is doing, visit their website at http://www.freedomguidedogs.org/.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Speak up!

I was talking with a client yesterday who was having some difficulty with her cat. Without divulging too much information, she was frustrated that her cat wasn't responding to the medical treatments prescribed by her veterinarian. After reviewing the case and speaking with her, I quickly concluded that she was reluctant to communicate her concerns to her veterinarian.

Communication is important to any relationship. Without clear, truthful communication, expectations cannot be met. Good communication involves speaking up for what you need, discussing concerns, getting questions answered, and providing feedback. Good communication also involves listening. Without listening to the other person's advice, point of view, or comments, you cannot understand what their needs are.

The point I am trying to make is that it is important for our clients to tell us what they need... even if they are telling us something that is not good. Our pets may be perfect but as humans, we are not. We can't change or fix what we don't know is broken. So when you think we are not listening to you or we have done something less than perfect, please, tell us. Give us the opportunity to make a change, to fix things, or to meet your needs. We want to hear from you. If you have a question about your medical care, your bill, your interaction with a staff member, or even a compliment, please, speak up. We want to be your partner in pet care!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Raising money for a good cause...

The second annual Pet Calendar is almost ready! Our staff is putting the
finishing touches on it as I write this. Last year, our staff had a terrific idea to create a pet calendar with pictures of our client's pets. We were able to do this only because our staff was so creative and dedicated to helping our friends at the Stevens-Swan Humane Society.

We have spent the last year working closely with the shelter, trying to help them in any way we can. From working with the wonderful staff,  providing high quality pet care to the shelter animals, and raising money for shelter needs, our staff has really hit this one out of the park!

The calendar is filled with wonderful pictures and pet related awareness events, holidays, and campaigns. All proceeds from the calendar go directly to the Stevens-Swan Humane Society. Last year, NHAH raised over $1300 for the shelter from calendar sales alone. This year, we hope to top that! Please stop in and purchase a pet calendar in support of our humane society.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Lost Pets!

Lost pets are a reality. One in three pets goes missing during its lifetime. Without proper ID, 90% never return home. We hear countless tales from our clients and people in the community who have lost a pet because they ran away or were stolen.

At NHAH, we microchip many pets. Ideally, we perform this service at the time of spaying or neutering. However, microchipping does not require surgery, it does not hurt your pet, and it will never wear out. We hold microchip clinics on weekends which allows us to provide the ID protection for patients who might be new to our practice or to the idea of microchipping altogether. Of course, we can insert the microchip during any veterinary, grooming, or boarding appointment as well. 

Many clients like the peace of mind that comes with knowing their pet is identifiable with something other than a tag (which can be removed or lost).

At NHAH, we use the HomeAgain microchip system. HomeAgain is the only dog & cat microchip on the market that has the Bio-Bond patented anti-migration feature to help ensure that the microchip will stay in place. This makes it possible to be easily located and scanned. If your pet gets lost and is taken to an animal shelter or veterinarian, they will scan the microchip to read its unique dog or cat ID code. This is the number used by HomeAgain to identify the pet and retrieve your contact information, which is used to contact you and reunite you with your pet. It is important to register with HomeAgain each year and make sure your contact information is up to date.

A microchip for dogs & cats gives the best protection with a permanent ID that can never be removed or become impossible to read. For peace of mind, it is a worthwhile investment!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Disease carrying ticks!

The other day a client was in our reception area waiting for her pet's appointment. The appointment was for an annual comprehensive exam and vaccinations. Routine, right? As our technician came out to greet the pet and escort them to the examination room, she noticed 2 ticks crawling off the pet onto the bench that the pet was sitting on. This dog happened to live close by and had not ventured out of the area recently. The ticks were picked up right in the dog's backyard.

Ticks were never a problem in our area 20 years ago. The only time we had to worry about ticks was when we travelled with our pets to the coastal areas or took our pets hunting. Tick have since migrated into our living spaces. Unfortunately, they have brought their diseases with them.

Ticks are gross. But they are also dangerous. Not only to our pets but to us as well. If you think about it, as those tick were crawling off the pet, they could have easily been crawling onto a human member of the household. This particular pet slept with a child in the household and the ticks could have easily crawled from the pet to the child.

There are many diseases that ticks carry. I am sure you have heard of Lyme disease. Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. It is transmitted through the bite of infected ticks. The typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a often a rash. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the joints, heart, and the nervous system.

There are other equally serious diseases that ticks carry. We are not as familiar with them because, at this time, they are not as prevalent as Lyme Disease. Two Tick-borne diseases that we test for at NHAH in addition to Lyme Disease, are Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis. We test for all three of these tick-borne diseases at the same time we test our canine patients for heartworm disease. If a dog tests positive, we can treat him or her with antibiotics even with no symptoms present. Believe it or not, we have many pets that test positive for tick-borne diseases. And if your pet tests positive, you and your family have likely been in the vicinity of these same ticks.

Educating yourself, vaccinating your dog for lyme disease, and using monthly, year-round external parasite prevention are steps you can take to protect your pet and your family. It is much easier and less costly to prevent than to cure.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Mosquitos are still a threat to our pets!

Yesterday I was speaking with a client on the phone when she mentioned that she saw a mosquito on her window. Yes, even though it is November, mosquitos are still out! And look, it's snowing in upsate NY this morning!

It's interesting when clients tell me that they are using external parasite control only during the spring and summer months. It makes sense because late spring, summer, and early fall are the seasons we normally see mosquitos. When heartworm disease first came to our area, the recommendation was for only 6 months of preventative. At that time, heartworm prevention was used from April through October. That was in the old days of daily heartworm pills which some dogs would take readily and others would not. There was a huge issue with compliance since many dogs were not properly protected when they didn't take the medication each day. When manufacturers created a chewable, monthly preventative, we saw a big decrease in the number of positive heartworm cases. And our clients began following the new standard of year-round heartworm protection.

Now, since heartworm is transmitted by a mosquito, you might ask, "Why does preventative need to be given in the winter months when there are no mosquitos?" The answer to that is in my first remark: mosquitos are out, even in the colder months. It takes only a few warm days for moquitos to become active again. We have all seen the warm 60 degree days in January. Some types of mosquitos mate in the fall, enter hibernation in animal burrows, hollow logs, or basements, and pass the winter in a state of torpor. These are the mosquitos you see on the warm days in January and February. If your dog is not on Heartworm preventative during those months, they have no pretection from the heartworm bearing mosquitos.

Monthly heartworm prevention is easier than ever before. And what most people don't realize is they are getting a lot more for their money than just heartworm prevention. Many forms of heartworm prevention, like Heartgard, which is commonly used, pack powerful internal parasite control as well. Internal parasites can cause illness and even death to our pets and as important, they can be transmitted to humans. Protection is important, especially since our pets live so intimately with us, sleeping in our beds, and so on.

Remember, it is much easier to prevent heartworm disease than to treat it. Monthly prevention is easy, safe, and affordable!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Pet Emergencies and First Aid

We sold the last of our Pet First Aid kits the other day and I thought that this might be a subject worth writing about. If you own a pet, you have probably thought about what you would do in an emergency situation. Our clients often wonder what they can do if their pet becomes ill or has an emergency. Of course, we always tell them that if they have a question or a problem, that is what we are here for. However, it is never a bad thing to be educated and prepared. With that said, I have outlined a few general guidelines for pet related emergencies:

Basic Rescue Checklist / Initial Assessment of Injured Pet 


If your pet is lying in the road, be sure the area is clear and that traffic is stopped. If you have a pair of gloves, put them on. It is best to wear gloves when uncertain of the orgin of any blood. You may need to muzzle your pet if he or she is injured. Dogs often bite when excited, scared or in pain. If you don't have a muzzle, cover your pet with a blanket or wrap a rope, necktie or belt around the bony part of his or her mouth and nose 2-3 times, so that it doesn't interfere with breathing. If your pet begins to retch or vomit, remove the muzzle immediately. Move your pet gently to prevent further injury. If your pet may have sustained a head, neck or spinal injury, slide them onto a flat, firm surface such as an ironing board, collapsed cardboard box, or plywood. Be sure to slide them slowly by pulling by the loose skin on the back of their neck and back. Lay your pet on its side and gently tie or tape him or her to the support.

Transporting Injured / Ill Pets

When you're ready to transport your pet, encourage him or her to lie quietly on their side. Cover your pet with a blanket. This will also help your pet to hold still and prevent heat loss. Don't put pressure on the abdomen. Keep their head and neck in normal position as much as possible. Be sure to call your veterinarian before transporting your pet so that they can be prepared to assist you when you arrive.

First Aid for Your Pet

First Aid is only a temporary measure until you have time to get to your veterinarian.
Here are some tips:

Bleeding - wrap a towel around the wound and apply pressure.
Vomiting / Diarrhea - withhold food, offer small amounts of water.
Fever - Take your pet's temperature with a lubricated (with Vaseline) rectal thermometer. A pet's normal temperature is 100-102.5°F.
Seizure - Remain calm; if necessary, move your pet away from stairs or other objects they may injure themselves on; avoid touching your pet until they come out of their seizure; record the length and severity of the seizure; when the seizure has ended, call your veterinarian.

Remember, your best bet is to call your veterinarian. No question is silly or stupid. Afterall, we are pet lovers just like you and want to help you keep your pet happy and healthy!


Wednesday, November 9, 2011

The Giving Tree

Hello Pet Lovers! Welcome to my new blog, Pet Talk from NHAH. NHAH is short for New Hartford Animal Hospital, my companion animal veterinary practice located in upstate NY.  My blog will share interesting and informative information about pets and their bond with us two-legged creatures.

I have seen some amazing things in my career as a veterinarian, many of which have changed my life and made me a better person. One of the most rewarding experiences has been sharing my committment to pet care with my amazing staff. We partner with our local humane societies to provide top quality medicine to those animals who have not found homes yet. My staff has recently created a Giving Tree to benefit the Stevens-Swan Humane Society in Utica, NY. The Giving Tree hosts "stars" which have pictures of pets and their "wish" for something small to make their lives at the shelter more enjoyable. Some stars are simply for donations to the humane society's spay and neuter fund. Afterall, no pet can be adopted out until they are spayed and neutered. The sooner this happens, the sooner they can find a good home!

Join me in congratulating my staff on their selfless committment to the pets in our community who have so little. May we all be as thoughtful with our "gifts" this season!