Priest Lake Veterinary Hospital Newsletters::September 2007

September News Letter

Can you believe that September is here already? Where did the summer go? Kids are back in school and hopefully fall weather will be here soon. August's heat was unbearable. It was hard on everyone, 2 legged and 4 legged. Let's hope we get a little rain in September, not to mention cooler weather. Have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day.

Keep cats thinking inside the box.

One of every 10 cats will have litter box problems at least once in their lifetimes. Here are some hints to keep them thinking "inside the box".

Get a checkup--Misses can be a sign of a medical condition. Call your veterinarian at the first sign of trouble. Regular 6 month checkups are very important as well.

Provide privacy--Keep the litter box in a quiet out of the way place. Some cats prefer a place that has an an easy exit and access. In a multi-level house, one box per level is recommended.

Set the stage--Place the box on a rug or astro-turf and fill it 2/3 full with litter. Use an easy to enter box. You should have at least one litter box per cat.

Take the litter test--There are 3 main typed of litter, non-clumping clay based, clumping clay based, and non-clumping silica gel based. Use whichever one your cat prefers.

Minimize disruptions--Avoid moving the litter once your cat becomes accustomed to it's place. If you must move it, only move it an inch or so per day to minimize confusion.

Keep it clean--Most cats are very particular about their place of business. Scoop out solids at least once a day and dump and clean the entire box every other week (or sooner if necessary).

Did you know?
     In 2006, 4.7 million people were bitten by dogs. Small children are, of course, the most common followe by the elderly and US Postal Service (USPS) employees. That is why the USPS and AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Assoc.) and American Academy of Pediatrics sponsor Dog Bite Prevention Week and why US Representative, Thaddeus McCotter (MI), chairman of the House of Representatives Policy Committee, introduced a resolution to recognize the week. The resolution recommends enforcement of animal control ordinances, adoption, and enforcement of non-breed specific dangerous dog laws (because any dog of any breed can bite), prohibition of all dog fighting and creation of educational programs for children and adults that track pet selection strategies, pet care and responsibilities, and bite prevention techniques.
     "The only cures for dog bites are training, knowledge, and caution." says AVMA president, Roger Mahr, DVM. "Any dog may bite if it feels threatened, if it's put into an unfamiliar situation, if it's out of control, or it is scared."
     To help educate the public, the AVMA has developed a brochure entitled "What you should know about Dog Bite Prevention." It offers tips on how to avoid being bitten, how owners can prevent their dogs from biting, and how to treat dog bites. For more information you can visit www.avma.org/press/publichealth/dogbite/mediakit.asp.

Let's hear it for the women......
Female Veterinarians now outnumber male veterinarians. Today, four veterinary schools or colleges have female deans, and veterinary classes are, on average, 75% women. This year, for the first time in US history, female veterinarians, outnumber male veterinarians according to the June 15th issue of JAVMA (Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association).

Full Moon
We always thought that a full moon effected emergency room visits by people, but pets too? Yes, not exceedingly so but there was an increase during a full moon and a new moon. Who knew?

CHOW-CHOW-CHOW

     I personally feed my cats dry food only. Every once in a while they beg for something we are cooking or eating. My largest cat, Scorch, reaches up and touches us on the arm if we are eating something that he thinks he needs or wants. My thinner cat, Dufus, just meows at us and weaves between our legs. One of Scorch's favorite foods are green olives and Dufus loves potato chips and corn chips. Occasionally they will persuade us to share a tidbit with them. Below are some snacks and foods that are poisonous to cats.

Alcoholic beverages                     Apple Seeds
Apricot pits                            Candy
Coffee (grounds, beans)                 Grapes
Macadamia nuts                          Moldy foods
Mushroom plants                         Mustard seeds
Onion ad onion powder                   Peach pits
Potato leaves and stems (green parts)   Tomato leaves and stems (green parts)
Rhubarb leaves                          Yeast dough
Walnuts                                 Raisins
Salt

Does a four legged family member share your bed?

Here are some tips for bed sharing:

A flannel sheet covering your bedspread will catch any stray hair and reduce extra laundering.
Teach your pet to lie in a certain place on your bed then they won't edge you out of your favorite spot
Pet your pet soothingly in their approved place before you go to sleep

It's best not to let your pet in your bed if your bed is too high and your pet is small. If your bed is too high for your pet to jump onto themselves, it's too high for your pet to safely jump down.

Your pet growls or snaps if you try to move it once they are settled. This behavior can usually be helped with training, so find an experienced trainer or behaviorist to guide you.
Your pup pees when excited. Most pups will outgrow this lack of control by 6-7 months of age.
Your pet smells bad or has fleas. Give them a bath or a flea treatment. If the smell persists, it is wise to call your veterinarian. The odor could be caused by an ear, skin, or other infection or problem. A clean pet is healthier, more comfortable and nicer to be near, even if you choose not to share your bed.

Your're going away?

     1. Practice gradual departures: Collect your belongings as if you are going out, then leave for a few minutes and return. Increase these training trips by 5-10 minutes at a time until, after a couple of days you work up to outings lasting a few hours. This sets your dog up to withstand future, longer absences much better.
     2.   Maintain low-key arrivals and departures: Make a fuss over your dog when you wake up, not when you leave or get home. This helps remove some of the tension that surrounds the event.
     3. Exercise your dog before you leave: A tired dog is less likely to feel stress when you go.
     4.   Crate train: Most dogs feel safe in a small secure environment. However, some dogs won't take to a crate if introduced to it later in life or they fear confinement.
     5.   Discourage clinginess: Place your dog in a sit-stay or down-stay command, to keep it from following you room to room when your're home. Praise it quietly when you return to the room it's in.
     6.   Give a special treat or chew toy when you leave: This acts to counter-condition the dog by pairing something great with something that previously was stressful.

You won't believe that such simple things can make that much difference.

Staff News

This time it was Dr. Pennington that went to a continuing education seminar in Birmingham, Alabama. He will be sharing his experience with us at the September staff meeting.

Christine is in Knoxville, getting ready to start her classes in Veterinary studies.

Megan, our newly hired veterinary technician, passed her boards and is now a LICENSED veterinary technician. Congratulations, Megan.

Drew and Heather are back from their honeymoon and doing well.

Kortney is starting the veterinary technician program this fall.