Priest Lake Veterinary Hospital Newsletters
Newsletter for April 2005
In this
issue:
* Easter Pets
* Preventative Medicine
* National Pet Photography Contest
* Plants and Pets that don't mix
Easter pets are a year-round responsibility
Dyed eggs, chocolate goodies, and sugary sweets won't be the only things in some
Easter baskets. Many children will find an Easter surprise of the live
variety. Peter Cottontail will drop off new fuzzy friends at thousands of
homes this Easter. It's big business for suppliers like Family Farms.
For many, the cute cuddly critters are an affordable spring surprise.
Although a bunny may seem like the perfect Easter gift, the store and others
warn people that they aren't just buying a novelty but a pet that carries
responsibilities. Sometimes people get tired of the responsibility of caring
for a rabbit and just turn them loose. Unfortunately, bunnies don't live long
in the wild. These animals do not survive on their own out there. Something
will eat them. They may be alive for a couple of nights or maybe two or three
but something will eventually kill or eat them. Animal experts said these
babies can make wonderful pets if you take the time to train and take care of
them. A friend you can find on Easter morning if you're ready to love them
for life. According to petfinder.com, rabbits rank number three when it comes
to animals surrendered over to shelters. The domesticated animals can have an
average life span of 10 years.
Preventive medicine
will keep pet healthy
Preventive medicine is the cornerstone of good health. Semi-annual
examinations, vaccinations, fecal examination, and parasite control are my "Big
4" in terms of the basics.
A thorough physical examination is the single most important diagnostic tool
available to veterinarians. Not only does a physical exam allow the veterinarian
to identify obvious problems, it allows us to "narrow the search area" for more
obscure problems. For example, coughing has a wide range of possible
causes, from tracheitis (sore throat), to pneumonia, to heartworms, to
congestive heart failure and so on. The physical exam findings on a coughing
patient may help the veterinarian zero in on the most likely cause and thus be
able to order more appropriate diagnostic tests. I recommend semi-annual
examinations for my patients. More frequent examination allows for earlier
detection of problems and therefore earlier treatment. In my opinion, the
physical examination is the most vital part of any veterinary office visit.
Having pets vaccinated has dramatically reduced the incidence of contagious
diseases. Canine distemper was once a common ailment with some veterinarians
I've talked to reporting 2-3 cases a week (25-30 years ago). Now distemper is
rare in my practice; we diagnose 1-2 cases per year. Distemper is only one
example of a disease prevented by vaccination.
Parvovirus in dogs and feline leukemia virus in cats are also diseases of great
importance. Quality vaccines, administered properly, are the reason for the
decline in these problems. While frequency of vaccination and duration of
immunity are hot topics in the veterinary profession, there is no question of
their importance to the health of our pets.
Since some parasites common in animals have the ability to affect humans, fecal
examination is one of the most important tests run in veterinary clinics.
Besides the potential threat to people, intestinal parasites can cause a wide
range of problems in pets.
Pets with gastrointestinal problems (vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite)
should be checked for intestinal parasites. If left unchecked, some intestinal
parasites can kill the animal. I don't know a veterinarian who hasn't treated a
puppy that died from hookworm anemia. Many pets with intestinal parasites don't
show any signs that the worms are there, which is why fecal examinations are
often performed as part of routine visits.
By now, nearly everyone knows about heartworm prevention for both dogs and cats.
The introduction of these products revolutionized parasite control. Over the
years, heartworm prevention has evolved from daily medication, to monthly
tablets, to monthly chewables with added intestinal parasite control (one
product added flea control as well), to monthly topicals. All of these
formulations are still available and work well. The important thing is that your
pet (dog or cat) is taking one of these to prevent heartworm disease. Heartworms
cause a slow death in dogs due to congestive heart failure, and cats often have
chronic vomiting.
The cost to prevent this disease is between $0.09 and $0.26 per day depending on
the size of the pet (I think it's well worth it). Flea control has improved
greatly in recent years with the advent of the monthly topical products. These
products (Bayer's Advantage/K9 Advantix and Merial's Frontline Plus) are
waterproof when properly applied and will kill fleas for at least 30 days. These
products kill fleas quickly, often before they can bite your pet. Fewer flea
bites mean fewer flea bite reactions such as flea bite allergic dermatitis and
skin infections. As a side benefit, preventing fleas also lessens tapeworm
infections (tapeworms are carried by fleas).
The old adage, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, is among the
truest statements ever made. We recommend semi-annual exams to help your pet
have a long, healthy life.
Pets wanted for national photography
contest
Photographs can enhance children’s lives and give them a better sense of
their family history. That history often includes “Sparky” and “Scout,” family
pets.
Families nationwide are invited to enter the PicturesMatter.com “Pets Are Family
Members, Too!” a national printed photo contest.
Entrants must submit a 4x6 printed photograph, along with a 50-100 word essay
about why their pets are considered members of the family.
Four regional winners will receive $150 each and one grand prize winner will
receive a $250 cash prize and a photo prize package valued at $800, which
includes a digital camera, and a professional photo portrait of their family
(pets included).
Each entry must include a name, address, phone number and e-mail address.
Entries should be sent via U.S. mail and postmarked by May 13 to
PicturesMatter.com, National Photo Contest, c/o Rosica Strategic Public
Relations, 95 Route 17 South, Suite 109, Paramus, N.J., 07652.
For more information about the contest and to obtain an entry form, visit
http://www.PicturesMatter.com
Plants and pets that don't mix
As we get out in the nice weather and think about new landscaping, it is a
good time to educate pet owners about dangerous plants, and shrubs and flowers.
For example, did you know that aloe, that famous sunburn elixir, can cause
vomiting, depression, diarrhea and tremors in pets?
Listed below is information from the ASPCA® Animal Poison Control Center's
information on some common garden and household plants that can be poisonous to
your pet. This may not represent a complete list of all poisonous plants. Also,
your pet may have a sensitivity or allergy to a plant that is not on the list,
resulting in toxicity. Always contact your veterinarian immediately if you think
your pet may have ingested a poisonous plant.
Special Notice: Several recent reports of dogs having kidney failure after
ingesting large amount of grapes or raisins has the ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Center investigating to determine the causative agents or disease processes.
Click here for information.
Poisonous Plants by Category
* Bulbs: Amaryllis, Autumn Crocus, Daffodil, Day Lily,
Elephant Ears, Gladiolas, Hyacinth, Iris, Lily of the Valley, Narcissus, Orange
Day Lily, Tulip
* Ferns: Aparagus Fern, Australian Nut, Emerald Feather (aka
Emerald Fern), Emerald Fern (aka Emerald Feather), Lace Fern, Plumosa Fern
* Flowering Plants: Cyclamen, Hydrangea, Kalanchoe, Poinsettia
* Garden Perennials: Charming Diffenbachia, Christmas Rose,
Flamingo Plant, Foxglove, Marijuana, Morning Glory, Nightshade, Onion, Tomato
Plant, Tropic Snow Dumbcane
* House Plants: Ceriman (aka Cutleaf Philodendron), Chinese
Evergreen, Cordatum, Corn Plant (aka Cornstalk Plant), Cutleaf Philodendron (aka
Ceriman), Devil's Ivy, Dumb
Cane, Golden Pothos, Green Gold Nephthysis, Marble Queen, Mauna Loa
Peace Lily, Nephthytis, Peace Lily, Red-Margined Dracaena, Striped Dracaena,
Taro Vine, Warneckei
Dracaena
* Lillies: Asian Lily (liliaceae), Easter Lily, Glory Lily,
Japanese Show Lily, Red Lily, Rubrum Lily, Stargazer Lily, Tiger Lily, Wood Lily
* Shrubs: Cycads, Heavenly Bamboo, Holly, Jerusalem Cherry,
Mistletoe "American", Oleander, Precatory Bean, Rhododendron, Saddle Leaf
Philodendron, Sago Palm, Tree
Philodendron, Yucca
* Succulents: Aloe (Aloe Vera)
* Trees: Avocado, Buddist Pine, Chinaberry Tree, Japanese Yew (aka
Yew), Lacy Tree, Macadamia Nut, Madagascar Dragon Tree, Queensland Nut,
Schefflera, Yew (aka
Japanese Yew)
* Vines: Branching Ivy, English Ivy, European Bittersweet,
Glacier Ivy, Hahn's self branching English Ivy, Needlepoint Ivy
* Misc/Uncategorized: American Bittersweet, Andromeda Japonica,
Azalea, Bird of Paradise, Buckeye, Caladium hortulanum, Calla Lily, Castor Bean,
Clematis, Fiddle-Leaf
Philodendron, Florida Beauty, Fruit Salad Plant, Golden Dieffenbachia,
Gold Dust Dracaena, Heartleaf Philodendron, Horsehead Philodendron, Hurricane
Plant, Mexican
Breadfruit, Mother-in-law, Panda, Philodendron Pertusum, Red Emerald,
Red Princess, Ribbon Plant, Satin Pothos, Spotted Dumb Cane, Sweetheart Ivy,
Swiss Cheese Plant,
Variable Dieffenbachia, Variegated Philodendron,
Yesterday/Today/Tomorrow
Signs of possible poisoning:
Fever
Vomiting
Seizures
Dry mouth
Respiratory distress
Poison safety kit
A fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide 3%
Can of soft dog or cat food, as appropriate.
Turkey baster, bulb syringe or large medical syringe.
Saline eye solution to flush out eye contaminants.
Mild grease-cutting dishwashing liquid for the animal after skin contamination.
Rubber gloves.
Forceps to remove stingers.