Priest Lake Veterinary Hospital Newsletters::March 2010

Priest Lake Veterinary Hospital
March 2010 News Letter

Is spring around the corner? I certainly hope so. February brought lots of snow, sleet and ice. Many will be looking forward to the flowers and trees budding and being able to finally get out in their yards and plant. Remember that fleas and ticks like the spring too. Be sure that your pet is protected against them. Mosquitos will be out again and your pet should be on a heartworm preventative. It is recommended that they stay on it year round.

How to make your home clean and healthy living with a pet.

How you tidy up your house has a large effect on your pet, remember this while you start your spring house cleaning projects.

The nose knows: cleaning products that contain phenols or benzyl alcohols are highly toxic to pets. These chemicals are found in products such as pine cleaners, disinfectants, deodorizers, floor and furniture polish, air fresheners, and even hair spray. An animal licks and breathes in products you apply to your floors and surfaces and spray in the air. Chemicals can be absorbed through the pads of their feet and by licking the fur and feet. There are many products on the shelves now that are "green" and safe for children and pets. Read the labels of all cleaning supplies you use.

Clean air: Many vacuums designed today are for homes with pets. They have stronger suction and larger tubing to prevent clogs of pet hair. Whichever vacuum you select make sure it has a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter. These filters remove approximately 99% of minute airborne particles such as pollen and pet dander. Air purifiers are also an effective way of purifying the air.

Less hair: If you own a cat and it's not a Spynx, or you have a dog you have pet hair in your home. Hair can be easier to control with a few inexpensive tools. A sticky lint roller can be used to remove cat hair on furniture and clothing. You can also use a panty hose over your hand, and a rubber dish-washing glove. You can also start a regular grooming schedule for your furry pets. Grooming also stimulates the skin which improves circulation and promotes a healthy coat.

What smells: For stains, and odor removal an enzyme based cleaner works best. These products break down and neutralize most offensive odors and stains rather than just covering them up with fragrances. An animal's sense of smell is a lot more acute than a humans. Keep this in mind when you purchase plug in room fresheners and room sprays. They might be too strong for your furry roommates.

Food and Fitness

Sometimes it is not the amount of food that is given to your dog but the amount of treats they receive, that puts weight on. Obesity is a problem that many vets see on a daily basis. If you can't see or feel your pet's ribs or if there is no visible waist line when you look straight down than the chance of your pet becoming obese is a strong probability. Sometimes cutting out the treats can reduce your pet's weight. Exercise is another factor in helping your pet loose those extra pounds. Implementing exercise into your daily schedule is healthy for you and your pet. Check the calories in your pet food and make sure they are per serving. Guidelines on many food bags tend to be on the generous side. Start by feeding on the low end of the feeding scale. Running freely in the back yard does not necessarily provide your pet with their needed daily exercise. Walking and inter-active playing is the best source of exercise.

Pets behind bars

There are many prisons that are implementing pets into their programs. Many inmates train canines for service organizations such as rescue groups, guiding the blind and bomb detection just to name a few. Training takes a lot of time and time is something that these men and women have plenty of. The dogs in turn give many of these inmates something that they have desired and never had, unconditional love and devotion. In some prisons inmates who follow all the rules are allowed to keep their dog in the cells with them. Trust is a large issue with the dogs and inmates and that is another thing that many of the prisoners have not experienced in a long time.

Dogs aren't the only pets that have been behind bars. There are prisons who adopt stray cats and over flow from the shelters. These cats are taken care of by the inmates who qualify. One of these organizations is the Nine Lives program. They assign several inmates as care givers who feed, entertain and love the cats while they are waiting for adoption. These inmates also alert the prison staff if there is any concern or problem with a particular cat. When cats are ready for adoption the public is permitted to view the cats in a room specifically for this purpose. This program gives the inmates and the cats a new lease on life and gives the prisoners a feeling of being needed and loved.

Excuse me? Is my smoke bothering you?

More than one quarter of pet owners who smoke would quit if they realized that the second hand smoke was effecting their pet. The American Animal Hospital Association notes that dogs react to smoke particles much like humans do, developing lung inflammation and breathing problems. Colorado State University documented back in 1998 that secondhand tobacco smoke increased dogs' chances of developing cancer. Long snouted dogs have a greater risk of developing nasal cancer where the small snouted dogs are at greater risk of lung cancer. Cats are also effected by the second hand smoke as well. Many develop upper respiratory problems as well as cancer. Remember the smoke particles in the air attach to the pets' fur and when they clean themselves, they are ingesting those particles. If you smoke around your pet or know someone who does, when you pick up or pat that pet, the odor of smoke is in the fur and on your hands.   Keep this in mind when you light up in front of your pet, they are suffering too.

Stages of Grief

When you lose a pet or have your pet euthanized, it is as if you are saying good bye to a family member and a best friend. There are stages of grief that you go through whether it be a human or pet death. There is no set time limit on how long each stage lasts. It is different for each situation and person.

Stage one- Denial: This is when we don't want to believe what is happening. It's a defense mechanism we use to try to protect ourselves from the hurt we know we will feel when the reality finally sets in. Many times when a pet runs away and is not found, it is harder for a person than if they know that a pet has died.
Stage two- Anger: After denial or when reality sets in, anger steps in. It is usually focused on yourself or other people.
Stage three- Sadness: This is the stage that we more often associate with grief. When a pet dies the owner often suffers more anguish than they can imagine. People tend to slip in and out of the sadness state.
Stage four- Acceptance: In the final stage people tend to recognize their loss and are able to look forward. Memories can be celebrated and getting a pet as a new companion is a possibility.

There are books and people that can help you through these times of grief. Ask your veterinarian for names of people equipped to help in this time and go to your library for books on pet loss.

Tid Bits

In the next few months I will be including some information from the petwebmd website. These are studies that have been done concerning the ways that pets improve your health.

1. Fewer allergies, stronger immunity: Researchers have noted that when children grow up in a home with a dog or cat they are less likely to develop allergies. The same is true for kids who live on a farm with large animals. In addition, higher levels of certain immune system chemicals indicate a stronger immune system activation which will help keep them healthy as they grow older.
2. Stay well with your animals: Animals make people feel good but we're talking about more than feeling glad they're around. Your favorite animal can make you healthy and help you stay that way. You may be surprised at just how many ways a pet can improve your health.
3. Soothing heat: A Mexican hairless dog, a Xolo, is known for generating intense heat. An organization called "Paws for Comfort, trains Xolos to be service dogs for people with fibromyalgia and other forms of chronic pain that respond to heat. People get relief just by placing their limbs next to the dog or by lying next to it. Some of the dogs have been trained to be worn around the neck of a person with chronic neck pain.

Staff News

February's winner for the dental prize was the Thompson family, for their pet, Girlfriend. Thank you for scheduling a dental for your pet during Dental Month. Remember even though Dental Month is over, have your pet's teeth checked regularly.

For the month of March, The Bayer Company is promoting their products: Advantage, Advantage Multi and Advantix.       During this month only, if you purchase a box of any of these products, you will receive a coupon. This coupon is for $20.00 if you bring the pet into our clinic for an office visit, yearly vaccines, exam, etc. This office visit must transpire between 4/1/2010 and 12/31/2010 only. You need to include the invoices and the coupon and mail it in yourself, to get the $20.00 rebate.

Becky, Sherri, Megan and Dr. McCollum attended the TVMA in Franklin. They are going to share all their new found knowledge with the rest of us at our March Staff Meeting. Our clinic realizes that continuing education is an important part of any veterinary practice and we encourage all staff members to participate if possible.

If you would like to be removed from this mailing list, please contact our office at 615-361-4646, or email me at plvh@bellsouth.net.