AUGUST NEWS LETTER
 
You may not know this but August is Senior Month.  So we are going to highlight a few things to watch for and to assist the senior pets.

 

Seven Essentials for the care of your aging cat.
    
         1. Seniority Rules
                 cats slow down
                 8-10 years old is a common age for senior diseases to start
        
        2. Comfort Inn
                 Make sure your cat is comfortable
                 Arthritis can set in
                 Stairs may become difficult

        3. Routine Scene
                 Keep a regular schedule
                 Reduce stress

        4. Vet Visits
                 frequent checkups are necessary
                 A check up every 6 months can possibly uncover a
                 problem early enough for treatment.

        5. Second Childhood
                 May start to get unruly again
                 Severe senility may develop

        6. Oops, an Accident
                 Not surprising to have accidents outside of the litter box
                 They    are more at risk for kidney, liver disease, diabetes
                 and osteoarthritis

        7. Mega personality
                 Whatever personality a cat has is exaggerated during seniority



 
Seven signs that could mean trouble to your senior's health

        1.  Limping or lameness
                 arthritis
                 DJD (degenerative joint disease)
        
        2.  Change in appetite or weight
                 kidney- liver-heart
                 diabetes
                 oral problems
                 hormonal  imbalances
                 parasitic diseases

        3.  Abnormal Chewing
                 dental disorder
                 sinus disease
                 mouth tumor
        
        4.  Increases Water Consumption
                 kidney-liver disease
                 diabetes
                 endocrine disorders

        5.  Changes in Urination
                 urinary tract infection
                 urinary stones
                 tumor

        6.  Behavioral Changes
                 brain tumors
                 neurological disorders
                 senility

        7.  Lumps and Bumps
                 benign tumors
                 malignant tumors
                 warts
                 fibromas

Seek treatment if any of these signs are noted.  Your veterinarian can run several tests to determine causes or to diagnose these problems.  As senior pets, they should ideally have an exam every six (6) months to catch many of these problems before they escalate or even develop.


Canine Seniors

Things to help your aging canines

1.   pet ramp
2.   non-skid mats
3.   specially designed harness
4.   dog beds
5.   platform feeders
6.   access to clean drinking water
7.   keep at a good weight
8.   supplements
9.   regular activity
10.  social events




Pets and Senior Moments

Ways for you to work with pets' behavior
    
     Teach pet to sit or lie down and relax.  
    
      Pay attention to the pet during regular times of the day, this decreases anxiety.
   
      Provide routine interaction that is relaxing such as massage, gentle manipulation of joints or gentle grooming        
    
      Continue to play games.  As pets age we tend to play less with them.  It's exactly this time that they need more creative games that rely on brain than brawn.




Home Made Pet Food

Since the pet food recall, several people are making their pets food at home.  If you are one of these pet owners, here are some important facts for you to keep in mind.  Making your pets meals has some down sides as well as benefits. Dogs have different nutritional needs than humans.  Make sure you are making and feeding a well balanced diet.  Always check with your veterinarian to be sure that what you are making is nutritious for your pet.  You may need to supplement the diet with some vitamins and minerals.                                                                                             

Foods to Avoid:      Find the complete list at www.dogchannel.com/peoplefood
     Chocolate
     Fresh Garlic                                        
     Raisins                                                     
     Grapes
     Onions

The average adult dog needs
  20%  protein
  15%  fat
    5%  vitamins and minerals
  60%  Carbohydrates  (#1 supplier of glucose which produces fuel)



Disposing of Expired Drugs
 
The environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the stream of waste disposal in the U.S.  In addition to following recommendations from the agency, veterinarians and their staff should advise clients about proper disposal of unused or expired products and drugs. Tablets and capsules should be placed in a zip lock bag, then add a teaspoon or so of water to the bag, resulting in the tablets and capsules dissolving.  The bag should then be placed in the regular trash.  For liquid medication, put kitty litter in a zip lock bag and slowly pour the liquid medication onto the litter until it is completely absorbed.  Dispose of the bag in the regular trash.




I hate to be a pest and repeat myself, but here are some
important things to remember:

Make sure your pets have plenty of fresh water and shade.

Do not leave your pets in the car...ever.

Watch pets around pools and other bodies of water, not all pets can swim.

Make sure your pet's vaccinations are up to date

Bring a sample of your pet's stool (bowel movement) into the veterinarian every 6 months to check for parasites.

Consider micro-chipping your pet, especially now with storms, open doors and some firecrackers left over from the 4th of July.  Many pets ran away last month due to all the storms and firecrackers.

Pets get sunburned too.

Watch The hazardous chemicals used on lawns and in pools.  Keep them up out of pets reach.


Staff News

Dr. Ollis and Becky, one of our licensed veterinary technicians, attended a continuing education conference in Washington D.C. last month.  They learned many new things while they were there.  They will relay this information to us at our next monthly staff meeting.  They did take some time to enjoy the scenery and sights at our nation's capital.

All of the doctors and technicians at priest lake veterinary hospital attend continuing education classes yearly, to maintain their licenses.  They enjoy learning new things and brushing up on the old ones.  All of this knowledge helps us to keep your pets as healthy as possible.


Our Hours:
Just a reminder to everyone:

Monday thru Friday                               8:00 am- 7:00 pm
Saturday                                                8:00 am- 5:00 pm
Sundays                                               Closed