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 WHAT’S NEW
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We Are AAHA Certified
 We recently passed our AAHA inspection, which is good for three years. What does this mean to you and your pet? The American Animal Hospital Association was founded by seven veterinary professionals, in 1933. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) promotes high quality standards within the veterinary field. In the 1960’s, consultants were hired and formed the organization we see today. AAHA is committed to excellence and felt it was important to provide wonderful facilities and methods than were currently available. AAHA not only encourages professional development, but also encourages educational opportunities and promotes high quality standards within the hospital. The current AAHA mission statement reads as:
- Enhance the abilities of veterinarians to provide quality medical care to companion animals
- Enable veterinarians to successfully conduct their practices and maintain their facilities with high standards of excellence
- Meet the public’s needs as they relate to the delivery of small animal veterinary medicine
The AAHA has a wonderful website, which we encourage you to visit for useful resources for you and your pet.
WHAT’S NEW WITH OUR STAFF |
Congratulations to Tina and Grant!
We are excited to announce that Tina and her husband welcomed their baby boy at the end of July to their family. He is a healthy baby boy with a head full of hair! We have yet to see him in a police uniform like his daddy’s! Congratulations to Tina and Grant!
WINTER WELLNESS TIPS |
Canine Kennel Cough
Infectious tracheobronchitis or “kennel cough” is caused by a primary viral infection usually complicated by a secondary bacterial infection. Several different viruses have been isolated from cases of kennel cough. Among those isolated are canine parainfluenza virus, canine adenoviruses 1 & 2, canine distemper virus, canine herpesvirus-1 and canine reoviruses 1 & 3. The most common bacterium isolated from cases of kennel cough is Bordetella bronchiseptica.
 Kennel cough occurs when the viruses replicate and damage the respiratory mucosa, thus allowing the bacteria to colonize the respiratory tract. Furthermore, some of these viruses can replicate in the hosts’ macrophages or impair macrophage function. Macrophages are the first line of defense against bacterial infection. As a result, the lining of the trachea becomes irritated leading to a distinct dry cough. The cough often increases with exercise. Severe cases may have mucus production with the cough.
Kennel cough is spread through the air by an infected dog that sneezes or coughs. Dogs become exposed by contact with contaminated surfaces or through direct contact with the infected dog. Symptoms of kennel cough can often appear 3 to 10 days from the initial contact. Symptoms may last as long as 3 to 4 weeks. Kennel cough is often contracted where large groups of dogs congregate, such as boarding facilities, dog shows, dog parks, grooming facilities or even veterinary hospitals. Healthy dogs that have been vaccinated against the viral and bacterial components of kennel cough usually have an occasional cough with episodes of retching or vomiting. The cough is caused by swollen vocal cords, pharyngitis and laryngitis. Such dogs can recover without treatment. Dogs with no prior vaccination history or dogs with weak immune systems exposed to high levels of the pathogens will often have fever and anorexia in addition to the above mentioned signs.
If a dog is showing symptoms of kennel cough, he/she should be quarantined away from other dogs until symptoms disappear. Treatment for kennel cough is often with antibiotics and/or a cough suppressant.
Current canine vaccination guidelines by the American Animal Hospital Association (AHAA) recommend vaccination for the canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus-2 and canine parainfluenza virus before 16 weeks of age. The vaccine is then boosted 1 year after the initial series and every 3 years thereafter. There is also a vaccination available for protection against Bordetella bronchiseptica, although it is not 100% effective. The Bordetella vaccine is also recommended at two doses before 16 weeks of age, then boosted annually except in high-risk dogs that board frequently, then the vaccine is boosted every 6 months. Vaccinating your pet is definitely recommended if he/she is around groups of dogs. Please talk to a veterinarian about vaccinating your pet to control the spread of this disease.
PET NUTRITION |
We Believe In a Healthy Diet For Your Pet
Our clinic believes in a healthy diet for your pet for reasons other than it “just being a dog food and my pet eats it”! There are different medical conditions that diets may help. Many dogs and cats have allergies just like we do. Feeding a diet that does not have corn, soy, or wheat is very beneficial to these pets. It helps with both itching and other side effects such as ear infections, hot spots, and anal gland trouble due to common allergies. For cats in particular, it helps with vomiting. There are also grain-free diets, which help with common allergy troubles, and have an anti-inflammatory property too. If a suspected allergy patient may benefit from a specific diet, we often recommend a novel protein as the meat source.
 Novel proteins would be those such as venison, duck, and rabbit. They are not as readily available, but oftentimes, they help with a lot of the allergy symptoms. It may not eliminate the symptoms, but reduces them drastically. Always give a food trial 6 to 8 weeks to truly know the benefit of it. These holistic varieties of diets also tend to have higher calorie content, so you do not have to feed your pet as much. The initial cost of feeding a holistic diet may seem like a lot in the beginning, but the amount you save in veterinary bills and food bills in the long run will be worth it. Almost all of the diets have a wet food to compliment. Feeding wet food to cats in particular is a great idea. The extra moisture in the food is wonderful for them and allows their palate to get used to the texture of a canned food. As our pets age, we may find underlying medical conditions that may encourage a prescription diet that treats a particular condition. Our doctors will keep you up to speed on diets that may benefit your loved one. Please remember that if you take the time to feed your pet a holistic type diet, remember to feed a complimentary treat along side of it. Any way you go, we anticipate a nice shiny coat, regular formed bowel movements, a healthy weight, and a happy pet eating the food. We carry California Natural, Innova Evo, and Holistic Select pet foods. Lovable Pets Bakery and Boutique have all high quality pet foods that we would recommend. We have several different high quality treats to feed your loved one also. A few websites to review are: naturapet.com, holisticselect.com, and tasteofthewildpetfood.com.
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PET RESOURCES |
K9 Playtime Professional Pet-sitting & Errand Service
If you are ever looking for a great adventure for your pet or need someone to take care of your beloved pet, seek the professionals with K9 Playtime Pet-sitting! From group walks to pet-sitting, they do it all! Go to their website and check them out! www.k9playtime.vpweb.com
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SPECIAL OFFERS |
Dental Discount Month
 We are pleased to extend the dental month discount to all patients from January 1st, 2011 to March 31st, 2011. Our discount applies to all dental related items. Dental prophylaxis, extractions, dental radiographs, dental surgery, and dental products will all be discounted 10% for the dates listed. We would be happy to schedule a complimentary dental exam with one of our technicians to see if your pet would benefit from a dental cleaning. Our dental cleanings are scheduled Monday thru Friday. Your pet will be put under anesthesia in order to have a cleaning performed, for both the safety of your pet and the dental technician. If we have a current exam, within the last 6 months, we schedule your pet to come in the morning to be dropped off and would stay for a majority of the day.
If it has been longer than six months since we have seen your pet, or are a new client, we would be happy to set an appointment up for you to meet with the doctor prior to dropping your pet off with us. We also send home a complimentary dental diet by Hill’s Prescription Diet called T/D. You may feed it as treats or as a complete diet.
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS! |
Holiday Precautions
 Remember during the holidays to keep your pets safe from holiday hazards. These hazards can include Christmas trees and ornaments, table scraps, presents and bows, and cold weather. Please remember that holiday houseguests can cause stress in your pet’s life. Any change in a normal routine may cause your pet to act abnormally. Make sure your pet feels safe and secure in their environment and enjoys the holiday time too!
Happy Holidays!
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