JULY NEWS LETTER

 
Well, summer is here and it doesn't show any signs of going away anytime soon. This month we are giving you some tips and precautions to take and alternatives to use during the summer months.

Hot weather alternatives and cautions

Try a treadmill.  Turn it on a slow setting, praise them as you go and adjust for a more natural pace ending after a minute or two.

If you do walk outside, remember to keep the walks fairly short and have a jug of water for you and the pet.  Pavement can be very hot in the summer, so remember that if you are walking in the street or on a sidewalk.

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

DON'T leave your pet in the car for any length of time, even with the window down.  They can die of a heat stroke not unlike humans.

Many people with long-haired dogs have them shaved in the summer to keep them cool.  That is a good practice, but make sure they don't get sunburned.


Snuggle Up

Pet owners surveyed by VPI, Veterinary Pet Insurance
  
   56 %  said their pets sleep next to them at night.

   21%  said their pets sleep in the bed with them.

   1%  said their pets sleep outside.


Good summer sense

Avoid these major hazards:

1. Beat the Heat:  Just walking a snub-nosed breed in the high heat can mean sudden death.  They cannot handle xtreme heat.  A heat stroke doesn't take long to develop, but once it does, it's dramatic. There are three things to do to immediately treat a heat stroke.
          1. Get pet in the shade
          2. Soak pet in water (not cold or iced water) regular hosed water is best
          3. Provide a breeze, such as a fan
Then get your pet to a veterinarian for continued treatment.

2. In the Swim:  Dogs have to learn to swim, they are not natural swimmers.  Make sure your pool is fenced and consider adding a ramp as an emergency exit.  Every year many dogs and cats drown in pools and ponds, or while boating.

3.  Hide the Chemicals:  The chemicals that clean pools are just as dangerous as the pools themselves. Make sure they  are not left where any pet or child can get to them.  Put all hazardous chemicals up high on the shelf so dogs can't get to them. Other chemicals used in the summer are, pesticides, weed and feed chemicals for the lawn, snail and slug baits, and rodent poison.  Dogs and cats alike find these chemicals very interesting.  Don't let your pet out on the lawn after chemical use until the product is dry (for about 2-4 hours).

4.  Bug Off:  Stay current on your pets' tick and flea products.  Remember that humans can get many of the tick bourne diseases that pets get.

5.  Home Improvement:  Warm weather can bring out the Bob Vila in all of us.  Just remember that glues and solvents can be deadly.  Turpentines, kerosene, paint thinner, and wood strippers are very caustic and light oils can be aspirated and get into lung tissue easily.  Remember that dogs can bite into and puncture cans.

6.  Great Escapes:  FREEDOM, that's what a pet thinks when summer comes around.  The smells from open doors and    windows can entice all pets, yours and and neighborhood critters.  Pets want outside more now after having been inside during the cold weather.  Mend the fences, fill in the holes, and check the gates.  Make sure your pet has identification tags on their collars and that their vaccinations are up to date.  Just remember that with the summer comes BBQs, get togethers, out door activities and the doors being opened and closed more often.




SKUNK!!!!!!!!!

To your pet, the outside world is a playground, and coming head to tail with a skunk is an adventure.  The scent of the adventure may be a little hard to take.  But rest assured there are things that can take away the aroma of your pets playmate.  
The most important thing to do is check the pet's nose, eyes and mouth.  The irritants in the spray can cause inflammation.  Rinse his eyes, nose, and mouth with plain water.  If after rinsing, his eyes look red, and he is rubbing his face, he should be seen by a veterinarian.
The next step is getting rid of the smell.  The traditional method of using tomato juice doesn't neutralize the odor very well.  There is also the concoction of one teaspoon of dish washing liquid, 1 cup of baking soda and 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide(3% strength).  Soak pet in this mixture and rinse with tap water.  Other options are the chemicals they sell at pet stores.  One place to check is www.SkunkSquad.com or (888) 334-9698.  One of our clients used this with great success.
Make sure to report any skunk seen out during the daytime hours.  Skunks are nocturnal and usually come out at night. If one is out during the day it could be rabid and should be avoided at all costs. That is just one of the reasons why it is so important to keep your pets' vaccinations up to date. Call your animal control office and report any unusual skunk sightings as soon as possible. 
Skunks not only have a terrible odor, but they also have sharp teeth and claws that could injure a cat or dog in a fight.
Let's face it, skunks should be avoided no matter what.
 





 
FYI

Do you ever wonder when you go to the doctor, dentist, veterinarian, etc., just how much experience they have?  I went to all the employees that you see running around here and asked them how many years of experience they had in the profession of animal care. I was very surprised at the total.  We have an accumulative amount of 176 years.  That averages out to be approximately 13 years per person.  The 3 doctors alone have an average of 20 years.  That is a lot of experience.  Not only do we have all this experience but most of the employees have received their experience at this hospital.  For instance, Sherri has worked here for 20 years and Laura has worked here for 18 years.  I think that is a reflection of our hospital's standards, ethics, and our love for the profession.  I have worked at many hospitals and clinics and this is one of the best.  Our doctors and staff are very competent, compassionate and caring.  Hence our saying "CARING PEOPLE CARING FOR YOUR PETS".

Pam

Staff News

Drew is getting married on July 7th.  He and his fiancee, Heather graduated from MTSU this summer.  After their honeymoon, they will be residing around the Murfreesboro area.  They are the owners of several pets, including cats, dogs, ferrets, and goats.  Please join us in wishing them congratulations and much luck in the future.


For those of you who would like to see Dr. Lucas, she will be working the following dates:

July     19th and 26th

August   4th, 17th, 18th and 22nd

September   12th, 21st, and 27th

October  1st, and 2nd

Please call for an appointment.




Have a Happy and Safe 4th of July




Doctors and Staff