Priest Lake Veterinary Hospital, P-LLC
April 2010 Newsletter

 
Happy Easter. Spring is here at long last.  The only bad thing about spring is that the lawn needs mowed more often than ever. There is nothing more exciting than seeing the first signs of flowers poking their heads out of the ground.  The first daffodil and crocus are always my favorite spring sightings.  The air is clearer and the scents of the moist grass and dirt are unmistakable.  Ok, now for the down side.  Fleas, ticks, mosquitos and all the other bugs are out in full force.  Is your pet(s) protected?


Rabies---Are your 4 legged friends protected?

Another sign of spring is the mating season of skunks, raccoons, opossums, and other wild critters.  There has already been an incident of a rabid skunk in Williamson County.  It is very important that your pets are up to date on their vaccinations, especially the rabies vaccination.  After infection, rabies is almost always fatal, highly contagious, and transmitted through the infected animal's saliva.  Humans can catch the disease with the same painful and deadly consequences.   Rabid skunks are usually easily detected as they act very odd and are seen during the day time hours instead of their usual nocturnal behavior.  Remember that skunks aren't the only animal that carries rabies, bats and raccoons are also among the most reported rabies cases.  Make sure all your pets are protected with up to date rabies vaccinations, it is not only for their safety but it is also the law in Tennessee that a pet must be vaccinated according to a county's laws and be registered with that county.  Call your veterinarian for an appointment for the vaccination and while you are there check to be sure the other vaccinations are up to date and that heartworm protection is on board. 


Influenza Vaccinations   

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, canine influenza virus is a contagious respiratory disease.  Symptoms can mimic other respiratory illnesses and include cough, runny nose and fever.  Some dogs have almost no symptoms, but on rare occasions, the flu can turn into pneumonia and be deadly.  This virus can be spread from dog to dog, and from people moving between infected and uninfected dogs.  The American Medical Association says the virus can remain on surfaces for 48 hours, on clothing for 24 hours and on hands for 12 hours.  The vaccine is not recommended for every dog.  Dogs that travel, attend doggy day care, board, and go to groomers regularly are the ones most at risk.  The canine influenza vaccine is a "lifestyle" vaccine.  AVMA recommends the vaccines for dogs that participate in activities with many other dogs or are housed in kennels or boarding facilities with other dogs.  The AVMA suggests that dog owners consult with their veterinarians about whether the vaccine is appropriate for their pet.  The CDC says there is no evidence the canine flu can be transmitted from dog to humans and there has never been a case reported of a human with the canine influenza virus.  The vaccine is a two series vaccine and then recommended yearly.  Please call if you have any questions concerning the influenza and the vaccine.


What do I do with these?    

Do you have expired or unneeded medication in your medicine cabinet or your cupboard?  Most of us do and we don't think twice about flushing the unused medication or just tossing them in the trash can.  Whether the medication is for humans or for pets it is improper and  dangerous to flush or throw medication in the trash.  The correct procedure to dispose of medications is easy and safe.

1.  Squirt liquids into a zip lock bag with shredded paper or kitty litter.  Seal and then put in trash.  The paper and the litter will absorb the medication.

2.  Dissolve tablets or capsules in a small amount of water in a zip lock bag, then add shredded paper or kitty litter, seal and put in the trash.

By flushing the medication you are risking the environment, by  throwing medication in the trash without the above procedures you could be risking another person's health.

If you have a pet or a family member that needs injectable medication, it is important that these syringes are disposed of properly.  Never throw a used syringe in the trash.  The best thing to do is use a thick walled jug such as an empty bleach bottle or a sealable plastic or glass container to deposit the syringes in and take them to an appropriate disposal site.  It is permitted to throw the closed container in the trash. The best scenario, of course, is to purchase a Sharps container  that is made specifically for the disposal of syringes and needles.  Just remember that the container must have a sealable lid and be heavy enough that a needle won't penetrate the sides.  If you have any questions it is best to consult the doctor that prescribed the medication. 

Tid Bits     

This is second installment of information from the petwebmd. website.  These are studies that have been done concerning the ways pets improve your health.

1.  More interaction, less isolation:    One key to a healthy mind is staying engaged with others. Pet owners have a tendency to want to talk to other pet owners.  A dog is a conversation waiting to happen.  When a person is out walking their dog, it is very common for people to stop them and ask about their pet or want to have contact with that pet.  Visiting a dog park lets you socialize with other owners while your dog socializes with their dogs.
2.  Cats and asthma prevention:   It sounds counterintuitive.  Pet allergies are one the most common triggers of asthma.  Researchers have studied the effects of having cats in the homes of infants at risk of asthma.  What they found was that those children were significantly less likely to develop asthma as they got older.  There is one exception, however, children whose mothers have a cat allergy are three times more likely to develop asthma after early exposure to cats.
3.  Snack alarm:   For people with diabetes, a sudden drop in the level of blood glucose can be very serious.  Some dogs can alert their owners to a dangerous drop before it actually happens.  They may be responding to chemical changes in the body that give off a scent.  The alarm gives the owner time to eat a snack to avoid the emergency.  About one in three dogs living with people with diabetes have this ability.  Dogs for Diabetics is training more dogs to help these people.

Pet owners can seek information about their pets' medical conditions as well as their own through WebMD.  The AVMA has teamed up with WebMD to create the WebMD Pet Health Exchange where AVMA members will serve as experts to help guide discussions on animal health and well-being and satisfy pet owners' needs for accurate, easily accessible information in a user friendly format. 
  View the WebMD Pet Health Exchange.



A.W. A. R. E.
    
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urges pet owners to be A.W.A.R.E. before they purchase online prescription pet medications.  The following guide lines should be of help to pet owners if they decide to purchase medications on line. 

A.      (A sk you veterinarian) - Ask you veterinarian before buying online.  Find out if any of their other clients have used this       
           site and if ask if they trust this site.
W.      (W atch for red flags) - Some of the warning signs that the FDA points out to watch for :   the site does not require a veterinarian  
             prescription
             for prescription drug items,  there is no licensed pharmacist available to answer any questions that you may have, there is no physical
             business address, phone number or other contact information, the site is not USA based, the site is not licensed by the State Board of
             Pharmacy where the business is based, and the site does not protect your personal information.
A.       (A lways check for site accreditation) - In 2009 the National Association of Board of Pharmacy (NABP)  created a voluntary accreditation
             program called Vet-VIPPS (Veterinary - Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites).  This program helps identify online pharmacy sites
             legally selling veterinary prescription products.
R.       (R eport problems and suspicious online pharmacies) - If a pet has a problem with a medicine purchased online (for example a reaction to the
             medicine), first contact the medicines maker.  To report adverse drug events directly to FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) call
             1-800-FDA-VETS.  Click there for a copy of the reporting form (FDA Form 1932a) and for more information on how to report any problems.
E.        (E ducate yourself about online pharmacies) - The best defense against illegal online pharmacies is education.  Conduct research and be 
            online pharmacy A.W.A.R.E. before buying medicines online according to the FDA.

There is no foolproof way to tell if an online pharmacy is legitimate, according to FDA.  To help pet owners protect their pet the above guidelines  are furnished by the agency.   Use these guidelines and if there is any question about the pharmacy, ask your veterinarian.  Many times the prices at your veterinarian's is comparable to the online prices.  Do your homework before you buy online.




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