Priest Lake Veterinary Hospital

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Newletter from:
June 1st, 2002

Staff News
& Pet Health Extras

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GREETINGS FELLOW PET LOVERS!

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STAFF NEWS


Congrats to James! He is receiving his 6 year longevity letter and
commendation this month. James is a tremendous asset to our
practice. Everyone loves his gentle and kind nature...when dealing with
people and their pets alike!

also.....

Grady is receiving his 2 year longevity letter and commendation this
month. Grady does a fine job in keeping our hospital clean and in good
order. He will be on a 1 month Hiatus on an archaeological dig at Dust
Cave in Florence, Alabama for the month of June. Bethany will be filling
in while Grady REALLY gets his hands dirty down south!

April, our morning receptionist, has a new baby .... a baby kitten that
is! Tangerine is a beautiful 6 wk old female orphan kitty that she just
adopted today. It was love at first sight for April and this beautiful
orange fluff ball!

Dr. Lucas' wedding Sunday at the Opryland Hotel went off without a
hitch. The groom showed up, Dr. Fought did not trip, and Dr. Pennington
refrained from heckling during the ceremony.

It was a beautiful wedding and reception despite the fact that Dr. McCollum
and I got trapped into doing the chicken dance :)

Amber is leaving us for a career in Newspaper :( We are sad but wish her
all the best in her new career down in Murfreesboro.

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WHAT IS THE BEST SHAMPOO FOR MY ALLERGIC PET?

* DRY SKIN: ALLERGROOM SHAMPOO * DRY SKIN WITH ITCHING: EPISOOTHE OATMEAL SHAMPOO * HEAVY FLAKING OF THE SKIN: SULFOXYDEX SHAMPOO * ITCHING DUE TO BACTERIAL INFECTION: HEXADENE SHAMPOO * ALLERGIES/INFLAMMATION DUE TO SKIN FOLDS (PUGS, COCKERS, BULLDOGS, ETC...): MALACETIC SHAMPOO

NOTE: RESICORT LEAVE ON CONDITIONER is an excellent anti-itch lotion
designed for dogs and cats of any age. This product is slow release and is
recommended by most veterinary dermatologists. Although more expensive than
most shampoos and conditioners, you may want to try it if your pet has difficult
and persistent allergies. RESICORT is applied after a general shampooing and rinse.

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HIGHLITE ON COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE: MILK THISTLE

Milk thistle is one of the best known and most often used herbs for humans
and pets with liver disease. Only a few conventional medications are
available for this condition. Supplementing with milk thistle may be
useful for pets with liver problems.

The scientific name for the milk thistle plant is Silybum marianum. Milk
thistle products come from the seeds. The active ingredient is called
silymarin.

Silymarin appears to function by fighting off toxins that try to bind to
the liver. Silymarin also seems to aid the body in making proteins and so
may help the sick liver rebuild itself. Silymarin may function as an
antioxidant by scavenging harmful free radical molecules and improving
liver cells.

Sometimes, chemicals harm the liver and make it inflammed. Silymarin
appears to help the liver by reducing the damage done by the chemicals. It
also has been found effective in treating poisoning by the death cap
mushroom, Amanita phalloides.

Milk thistle is recommended as part of the therapy for a variety of
conditions affecting the liver in dogs and cats. These conditions include
but are not limited to:

* Cholangiohepatitis/cholecystitis. These are inflammatory and infectious diseases involving the liver and gallbladder. * Hepatic lipidosis. Another name for "fatty liver disease". * Hyperadrenocorticism. Also called "Cushings disease". * Liver Cancer * Toxicity. This problem may arise from a number of medications, such as phenobarbital, corticosteroids, acetaminophen, and various chemotherapy medications; insecticides and pesticides; or mushroom poisoning.

Because of its liver support, milk thistle is often used when the dog or
cat becomes too ill or toxic for the body to keep the liver healthy. The
herb can also be used when medications that could be toxic to the liver are
given to the pet.

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NOVARTIS SUES INTERNET PHARMACIES FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUG VIOLATIONS


Novartis Animal Health U.S. is suing three internet retailers of pet care
products for trademark infringement, false advertising, and other
violations surrounding the company's brands of Heartworm prescription drugs.

Filed March 19 with the US District Court for the Southern District of
Florida, the suit identifies PetMed Express, Drs. Foster and Smith, and
Savemax as illegally selling in the U.S. foreign versions of the popular
parasite medications for dogs and cats.

Because the drugs are made for distribution in Europe and Australia, the
formulations and labeling differ from those approved by the Food and Drug
Administration for sale in the U.S.

The litigation is the most recent legal trouble for PetMed Express and
Savemax. The Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration is bring a case
against the Florida-based retailers for illegal distribution of drugs.

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TICKS....

Don't you just hate those little suckers!

Ticks are a nuisance for your pets and your family. Not only do they cause
blood loss, irritation, and infection where they attach, they may also
transmit to your dog and your family certain diseases, including the
dangerous Rocky mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease.

Both male and female ticks are blood sucking parasites. Although they
often feed for 4-5 days, ticks are not permanent parasites. After a blood
meal, they usually detach and fall to the ground, where they find a dark,
warm, and humid spot to hide - where the females lay their eggs.

Bushes and wooded areas in spring and fall are places where ticks are
usually found and where pets get infested. Unlike fleas, in which only the
adult stage is considered parasitic, all tick stages can feed on you or your pet.

The two best products on the market for controlling ticks are Frontline
(for dogs and cats) and the Preventic collar (for dogs only). Frontline
will kill both fleas and ticks. Preventic, while not effective against
fleas, will kill AND detach ticks within 24 hours.

I find that Frontline is good for general flea and tick control, while
Preventic is better suited to situations of heavier tick infestation/prevention
(for example if your dog spends much time near or in wooded areas).

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IGUANA FOOD CHART


Disease due to improper diet is EXTREMELY common in pet iguanas. Here is a
summary from Reptiles Magazine from May 2002 for your reference.

Supplemental protein: 1-3% of the diet Grain based foods: 0-4% Fruits: 10-15% Other vegetables: 30-40% Leafy greens: 30-45% Supplemental protein: 1-3 % Monkey biscuits, tofu, commercial iguana food, low fat meat free dog food (senior formula) Grain based foods: 0-4% Cooked pasta, cooked rice, cooked cream of wheat, bread Fruits: 10-15% Blackberries, mango, papaya, kiwi, peach, blueberries, apple, melon, pear, banana, apricot, cherries, grapes, figs, plums, strawberries Other vegetables: 30-40% Green beans, yellow wax beans, zucchini, yellow and crookneck squash, sweet bell peppers, peas, okra, celery, carrot (grated or finely chopped), rabbit pellets (alfalfa), black beans, pinto beans, garbanzo beans, sprouts, frozen mixed veggies (thawed to room temp). Leafy greens: 30-45% Collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, dandelion greens and flowers, hibiscus leaves and flowers, green onions, escarole, carrot tops, parsley, leeks, spinach*, chard*, beet greens*, chinese cabbage*, bok choy*, kale*.

* Items to go easy on: Vegetables with a low calcium to phosphous ratio. Shoot for a Ca:P ratio of 2:1. Combine the following Ca:P vegetables with plenty of calcium rich foods to try to keep the overall ratio in balance. corn 1:33, yams 1:3, potato 1:8, asparagus 1:3, brussel sprouts 1:2

Cruciferous vegetables:

Cruciferous vegetables contain substances (goitrogens) that can inhibit
iodine absorption, which in turn can lead to goiter. Keep the following
foods to a small percentage of any single meal and include them in your
iguana's food only once or twice a week.

Kale, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, bok choy, chinese cabbage

Vegetables with oxalates and or phytates:

Oxalates and phytates bind to calcium, thus preventing the calcium from
being used by the body. Keep the portions of the following foods low in
your iguanas diet:

Spinach, chard, beets, rhubarb, whole grains, beet greens, dock



Best Regards!

Dr. Pennington

priestlake@mindspring.com
http://www.priestlakevet.com
615-361-4646

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