This month I want to congratulate Kathleen who has been a member of our
team for the past 3 years. Kathleen has done a fantastic job as an
administrative assistant, which really has been a big help to Kathy and the
rest of the staff. This month also marks Laura M's 12 year anniversary at
our practice. Laura is extremely knowledgeable about pet care and does an
excellent job in surgical monitoring.
We extend our sincere thanks to these individuals for all they do for us
here at Priest Lake!
RABIES CLINICS
Metro will be sponsoring low cost Rabies Clinics during the month of
March. Dr. Fought will be vaccinating pets at LAKEVIEW ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL on March 23 from 1-4 PM. The cost for dogs is $8 and $4 for cats
- this includes a tag and license. Remember yearly vaccines are not given
at the Rabies Clinics. I will be conducting several radio public service
announcements during the month of March with more detailed information on
the Rabies clinics as well as the threat of Rabies to pets and humans.
Clinics will be held at 35 additional locations around Nashville
March 16, 23, and 30. Let us know if you need information about a clinic
closest to you.
FERRET ADRENAL SURGERY
Ferret Adrenal Gland Disease continues to be a huge problem in our pet
ferrets. In many ferrets over the age of 3, one or both adrenal glands
develop hormone secreting tumors, leading to hair loss, thin skin, and a
decrease in body weight. Left unchecked, the disease will progress over
time to become a serious health issue - the tumor(s) can invade local
organs and the caudal vena cava (the largest vein in the body).
After much research and effort, we are gearing up to start performing micro
vascular surgery in ferrets with adrenal gland disease. Dr. Pennington has
recently aquired Satinsky Pediatric Vascular clamps, magnification head
loupes, vascular suture, gelfoam, and other equipment necessary to remove
right adrenal gland tumors from the caudal vena cava of ferrets. Up until
this point, the best we could do is debulk (or remove) as much of the tumor
without actually entering the vessel itself.
This is a very important breakthrough in that we may be able to cure
ferrets with one surgery vs just managing the problem with multiple
surgeries over several years. Very few hospitals in the country (including
the UT College of Veterinary Medicine) are performing vascular surgery on
ferret adrenal tumors. The technique that we are using was developed by
Dr. Jason Wheeler and Dr. Avery Bennett at the University of Florida
College of Veterinary Medicine.
FLEAS AND FLEA PRODUCTS
With the relatively mild winter we've had, now is the time to get started
in the fight against fleas.
The best flea treatment choices include Advantage and Frontline. Both of
these products are also in liquid form and are applied directly to the
skin. They also need to be reapplied every 30 days. Frontline is also
effective against ticks. Both of these products are safe to use in young
animals; however, puppies need to be older then 7 weeks to use Advantage
and 12 weeks for Frontline; kittens need to be older then 8 weeks to use
Advantage and 12 weeks for Frontline.
FRONTLINE SPECIAL: We have coupons from the manufacturer of Frontline for
a 1 month free dose of Frontline or Frontline Plus, good when you purchase
6 doses before March 15, 2002.
Flea Facts:
*In 30 days, 10 female fleas can produce 4,000 new fleas. In turn, assuming
half are females, that 4,000 can produce 80,000 fleas in 30 days.
*Fleas can jump 300,000 times without stopping. They can jump 50 times
their length vertically or horizontally, with a take-off acceleration of 50
times that of the space shuttle after lift off (140 g's).
*Fleas can remain frozen for a year and then survive.
*There are more than 1000 species of fleas in the world, with 238 species
in North America.
*Fleas, ranging in size from hardly visible to 1/3 inch long, have been the
transmitters of killer diseases such as bubonic plague and typhus.
CONGRATULATIONS to Mel Hacker! - the winner of our February Pet Health
Dental Month drawing. Mel will receive a free bag of Hills T/D dental dog
food for his dogs Iris and Lilly!
See you next month!
Dr. Pennington
Addendum....
For release on March 1, 2002
For more information, contact Dr. Van Pennington at 615-361-4646
2002 Metro Public Rabies Vaccination Clinic Dates Announced:
The Spring Rabies vaccination clinics will be held March 16, 23, and
30th at the following sites; Fees are $8.00 for dogs and $4.00 for
cats. This fee includes a license and tag for dogs.
March 16, 2002
Old Dodson Chapel Elementary School
McGavock Elementary School
Wright Middle School
Antioch Middle School (Old Antioch High School)
Joelton Middle School
Tusculum Elementary School
Madison School (Old Madison High School Bldg)
Bellevue Middle School
Bordeaux Elementary School
Hillsboro High School
Rosebank Elementary School
DuPont Elementary School
March 23, 2002
Andrew Jackson Elementary School Annex Hopewell Community
Litton Middle School (Hedgewood Dr.)
Haywood Elementary School
Whitsett Elementary School
Amqui Elementary School
Crieve Hall Elementary School
Brookmeade Elementary School
Park Avenue Elementary School
Wharton Middle School
John Trotwood Moore Middle School
Lakeview Elementary School
Old Brick Church Middle School
March 30, 2002
Hermitage Elementary School
Old Jere Baxter Elementary School, Gallatin Rd.
Norman Binkley Elementary School
Apollo Middle School
Neely's Bend Elementary School
Glenview Elementary School
Goodlettsville Middle School
Charlotte Park Elementary School
Julia Green Elementary School
Pennington Elementary School
Hickman Elementary School (112 Stewarts Ferry Pk)
Bellshire Elementary School
Rabies
Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals most often transmitted
through the bite of a rabid animal. The vast majority of rabies cases
reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) each year
occur in wild animals like racoons, skunks, bats, and foxes.
In 2000, 49 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico reported
7369 cases of rabies in animals and no cases in humans to CDC (Hawaii is
the only state that has never reported an indigenously acquired rabies case
in humans or animals). Wild animals accounted for 93% of reported cases of
rabies in 2000. Raccoons continued to be the most frequently reported
rabid wildlife species (38% of all animal cases during 2000), followed by
skunks (30%), bats (17%), foxes (6%), and all other animals
(1%). Skunks account for the majority of wildlife Rabies in
Tennessee..both Rutherford and Williamson Counties have seen significant
rises in skunk rabies over the past few years. Rutherford County had more
rabies cases than any other county in the state in 2001; Willamson County
had the second highest number of cases in the state.
Domestic species accounted for 7% of all rabid animals reported in the
United States in 2000. Rabies cases in cats continue to more than twice
as numerous as those in dogs or cattle. Texas reported the largest number
of rabid domestic animals for any state, followed by Virginia. In this
century, the number of human deaths in the U.S. attributed to rabies has
declined from 100 or more each year to an average of 1 o 2 each year.
How can I protect my pet from rabies?
First, keep rabies vaccinations up to date for all dogs, cats, and
ferrets. Second, maintain control of your pets by keeping cats and ferrets
indoors and keeping dogs under direct supervision. Third, spay or neuter
your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be
properly cared for or vaccinated regularly. Lastly, call animal control to
remove all stray animals from your neighborhood since these animals may be
unvaccinated or ill.
What happens if a neighborhood cat bites me?
You should seek medical evaluation for any bite. If the animal appeared
healthy at the time you were bitten, it should be confined for 10 days of
observation. No anti-rabies prophylaxis is needed.
If the animal appeared ill at the time it bit you or becomes ill during the
10 day quarantine, it should be evaluated by a veterinarian for signs of
rabies and you should seek medical advice about the need for anti-rabies
prophylaxis.
What happens if my pet is bitten by a wild animal?
Any animal bitten or scratched by either a wild, carnivorous mammal or a
bat that is not available for testing should be regarded as having been
exposed to rabies. Unvaccinated dogs, cats, and ferrets exposed to a rabid
animal should be euthanized immediately or placed in strict isolation for 6
months and vaccinated 1 month before being released. Dogs and cats that
are currently vaccinated are kept under observation for 45 days.
Can rabies be transmitted from one person to another?
The only documented cases of rabies caused by human to human transmission
occurred among 8 recipients of transplanted corneas. Investigations
revealed each of the donors had died of an illness compatible with or
proven to be rabies.
