Priest Lake Veterinary Hospital P-LLC
May 2010 News Letter
Happy Mothers Day. It is hard to believe that it is May
already. It seems the months just fly by. Everyone seems to be enjoying their
spring, planting, mowing, grilling out, walking their dogs, taking the kids to
the park, washing the car, and all the other activities warmer weather brings.
It is also the time of the year to treat your yard for fleas, ticks, and other
annoying pests. It will give you a head start and could prevent a serious
infestation later on in the year. Remember, more pets are outside and your pets
could be at risk if they are not protected against heartworms, fleas and ticks
as well as diseases that could be avoided if your pets are vaccinated. Call
your veterinarian and make sure all your pets are vaccinated and have their
stools checked every 6 months to find any parasites they have picked up.
Who's Who and What's What
I
t's here; the top 10 registered breeds.
1. Labrador Retriever 2. German
Shepherd
3. Yorkshire Terrier 4.
Golden Retriever
5. Beagle
6. Boxer
7. Bulldog
8. Dachshund
These are the common health concerns for the top 3 breeds
1. Labrador: hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation, cardiac
disorders and thyroid disorders
2. German Shepherd: degenerative myelopathy, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia,
thyroid disorders and patellar luxation
3. Yorkshire Terriers: patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, dental disease and
legg-calve-perthes disease.
Here are the top 10 breeds that are prone to periodontal disease. Nearly 4 out
of 5 dogs past 3 years of age show signs of oral disease. According to Banfield
Applied Research and Knowledge, this study was conducted on 250,000 dogs.
Toy Poodle Pomeranian
Yorkshire Terrier Shetland Sheepdog
Maltese Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Papillion Dachshund
Standard Poodle Havanese
It is very important to have your pets teeth checked every 6 months. It could
save your pet from having to have teeth extracted and prevent in their mouths
and the rest of their system. Periodontal disease is not only about bad breath,
it is about possible serious infection and illness.
Safety Tips
Spring and summer months are when
people are out with their pets, pets are out in yards, children are playing
outside and people are participating in outdoor activities. It is also a time
when dog bite cases increase. Some things to help you in preventing accidents;
(DOG PARKS) Don't take your children to the dog park, watching the children and
your pet at once is difficult even for the most cautious parent. Puppies less
than 4 months old do not have full immunity against diseases. If your dog is
bullied or exhibiting aggressive behavior, remove your dog from the situation
and the park. Mixing pets on leashes with loose pets can be a serious encounter
because the leashed pet can not make the choice of "flight or fight". Toys and
food should not be brought to the park, jealousy and aggression can result.
(UNLEASHED DOGS) Do not turn your back and run from a strange dog. Stand still
with your hands down at your side. Do not put out your hand. Speak calmly and
do not scream. It is best if you face the dog and not turn your back to it but
do not make eye contact. Back away slowly keeping your eyes on the dog.
(CHILDREN AND DOGS) It is important to teach your child early in life how to
treat and respect animals. Children are curious and want to touch and play with
any animal they meet. They are not aware of potential threats. A child must be
taught that they should never go up to a strange dog in a car, even if they know
the person in the car. Wrestling with a dog may be fun for the child but it may
cause aggressive behavior from the dog. A child should not be left alone with a
dog, allowed to discipline the dog or pull on it's ears, tail and collar.
Approximately 50% of children under the age of 12 will have been bitten by a dog
at some point. That is a statistic that no parent wants to hear.
Tid Bits
Installment number 3 of the human and pet health
connection conducted by petwebmd.website.
1. Make your pet an exercise buddy: You and your pet will both
benefit when you exercise with them. You can shine a flashlight or a laser
light on the wall or wave a string while you do a step aerobics routine. your
cat will get a healthy workout and you will be amply entertained. Some people
even use their cats as weights during exercise. There are yoga classes for
people and their dogs together, they are called doga classes. Your gym or yoga
instructor may know of one locally.
2. Better physical fitness: People who own dogs tend to be more
physically active then those who don't. To ensure that you meet the
recommendations for healthy physical activity, you and your dog will need to go
for a daily 30 minute walk. Dividing the walk up into two 15 minute walks one
in the morning and one at night will accomplish the same results.
3. Want stronger Bones? Walk the dog: Your best
defenses against osteoporosis are strong bones. Weight-bearing exercise
strengthens your bones and the muscles around them. Not to mention the vitamin
D that you will absorb from the sunshine. If you have osteoporosis, be sure you
do not fall or trip and don't walk a dog that is liable to jump on you or pull
you off your feet.
Hands On
Pet owners should check their pets
weekly for lumps, bumps and changes in their body. Karen Halligan, author of
What Every Pet Owner Should Know, recommends the weekly checking to pick up
growths, tumors, lumps, and bumps, see if their teeth are in need of cleaning,
or if their coat is abnormal. Catching problems early can mean the difference
between an inexpensive office procedure and an extensive surgery that can cost
thousands. It can also save your pet's life. Start at the head and work down
to the tail, feeling your way with your fingers and note or use a permanent
marker to mark the areas of concern. Some pets have many warts or small growths
all over their bodies. By marking these, it will be easy for you to show your
veterinarian where they are located and it will also help you observe them for
any growth or change in appearance.
When the owner's
away, the Cats will play:
Most cat owners think that
their adorable feline pet is sleeping or watching out the window when they re
not there. Dr. Jill Villarreal, an animal behaviorist took part in a study
performed by Friskies Pet Care, to capture life from a feline perspective.
Digital cameras which were set to take pictures every 15 minutes were attached
to the collars of 50 cats that participated in the study. What it showed will
surprise you. Many cats enjoyed watching the computer screen or the TV much
like their owners do. The color intensity, contrasts, rapid movements and
sounds of TV and video programs stimulate the cat's senses, says Dr.
Villarreal. Cats also spent time in sinks and bathtubs, sampled grasses and
plants, and hung out with the other animals in the home including the dogs.
30% Other activity, 22% looking out the window, 12% hanging out with other pets,
7% climbing, 6% Hiding under things, looking at TV or computer,sleeping,
5%playing with toys, 4% eating or looking at food, 2% relaxing in sink and tub,
is the breakdown of the study. So now you know the rest of the study.
Clinic News
The Bayer Corporation is offering another
promotion for Advantage Multi, Advantage, and Advantix. The
special runs from April 1st through August 31st. The offer is: buy 6 get 2
free, buy 4 get 1 free. It is a very good deal and if you are running low on
your flea, tick, or heartworm medications, call and place your order and we will
have it ready for you when you come in. Remember that fleas, and ticks can
cause many health related problems for your pet. We have seen an increased
number of positive heartworm cases in the last 2 years. Don't let your pet
become a victim of the disease. The cost of heartworm treatment is much greater
than the cost of the prevention.
We recommend a heartworm check every 1-2 years even if your pet is on the
prevention year round. Some heartworms are resistant to preventatives. Checking
regularly helps us be sure that your pet is protected. The medication used to
treat heartworms is very expensive and in short supply. Regardless of what
brand of heartworm prevention you use, have the heartworm test done once yearly
or every other year to protect your pet against this disease. Remember, it
only takes one mosquito to infect your pet. If you have any questions, please
ask your veterinarian.
If you would like to be taken off our mailing list please call the office at
615-361-4646 or email me at plvh@bellsouth.net