Priest Lake Veterinary Hospital Newsletters::January 2008

January News Letter

Well, the new year is here, but where did the old one go? Now is the time for new year resolutions for some of us. I, unfortunately, break mine most of the time. This month is pet weight loss month, so here are some articles and tips to make that happen. I hope your Holiday season was a safe and happy one, now we can sit back and enjoy the leftovers...UGH.

Fat Cats
Obesity can cause health problems

shorter left expectancy
problems giving birth
high blood pressure
cardiovascular disease
heart challenges and breathing problems (asthma)
joint, ligament and tendon troubles
diabetes (3 times more susceptible)
skin problems (lack of grooming ability)
urinary tract complications (straining)
hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease)

Green Beans

Dangers Of Obesity

Hormonal abnormalities
        diabetes mellitus
        under or over active thyroid
        cushings disease
Orthopedic problems
        ligament damage
                arthritis
         inter-vertebral disc disease
High blood pressure
Respiratory difficulty

It is a vicious cycle: A dog puts on weight because he is inactive and is inactive because he is overweight.

Fs in this registry would be maintained for two years and could be subject to FDA inspection.

Chewing In Dogs

Destructive chewing is very common:
What to do

Determine the motivation for the chewing behavior: Is it when you are there? Or when you are gone?
Provide chewing alternatives: Chew toys enhanced with food are often preferred.
Remove or make inaccessible items that must not be destroyed.
Provide daily exercise, interaction and training.
Avoid physical punishment or reprimands.

p maintain that weight. We even have a recipe for making your own treats.

A Pre-adoption Check List
Use this list, created by Dr. John Ciribassi, to help in the selection of the right companion, including the right species and breed.

What is the purpose of adopting a pet: Companionship, or an animal to compete in agility training
Does anyone in the family have allergies? If so what are they? : Consider all family members who may spend time with a proposed pet.
Are there children in the household?: If so what are there ages?: Cats may be better choice for a family with small children.
How much time will you have to exercise the pet?: Dogs should have at least a 15 minute walk a day.
Do you have access to exercise areas?: Dogs should have access to a fenced yard, a local park, or an off leash park.
For how much of the day will the pet be alone?: Dogs should not have to be alone more than 8 hours a day.
How much grooming and shedding can you deal with?:

How much room do you have in your home?: An English mastiff is probably not a good fit for a small apartment.
Do you have room for cages, an aquarium, or little boxes?:

How much can you financially manage with the pet?: The larger the pet, the greater the costs are for feeding, general care, and medical needs.
Have you considered how adding a new pet to your household will affect your current pet?: Discuss the possible repercussions and how you would best handle them.
Have you had a pet before?: Less-demanding pets can be a great way to get early experience. For example, if you like birds, get a cockatiel before a macaw.

Ask your veterinarian for suggestions if you have any questions. They are very informative in regards to health problems and personalities of different breeds.

New equipment to help our patients

We just purchased a "top of the line" Cordell Anesthesia Monitor for our patients. This upgrades our anesthesia monitoring equipment. This unit measures EKG, oxygen saturation, body temperature and blood pressure during the anesthetic period. This is another investment we've made to provide state of the art medical care to your beloved pet.