Wednesday, January 26, 2011

The most unusual names for 2010...

According tp the Veterinary Pet Insurance company the most popular pet names last year were latched to the "Twilight" series. Bella ranked the most popular name for a dog and Max was the most popular for cats.

Other top dog names were;
Max, Lecy, Buddy, Maggie, Daisy, Charlie, and Sophie.

Top cat names were;
Chloe, Oliver, Lucky, Gizmo, Bandit, and Charlie. The previous top names like Tiger and Tigger fell to the bottom of the list.

Some of the most unusual names noted were;

Pickle Von Corndog, Badonkadonk, Dog Vader, Purr Diem, Bing Clawsby, Chairman meow, Optimus Pants, and Admiral Pancake.

Go figure?

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Preparing for Pet Emergencies! The First Aid Kit...

Hopefully your pet will not have cause for emergency medical treatment but "just in-case" here are some ways to be prepared. The purpose of your pet first aid kit is to stabilize your animal in an emergency for further treatment by a veterinarian. Treatment at home should never replace the assessment and treatment by a trained professional in an animal hospital. We DO NOT advise the administration of tylenol or aspirin to your pet as it can be toxic, cause stomach ulcers and/or cannot be combined with certain drugs that are commonly prescribed by the veterinarian.

- Know what is normal for your pet.

-Keep the veterinarians's phone number on hand and the Huronia Veterinary Emergency number as well

-Learn how to handle and transport a sick or injured pet.

-Do not administer any home remedies without first checking with your veterinarian.

- Don't panic.

Assembling a basic first aid kit;

Select a storage container that will allow you to organize your supplies neatly. A tackle box or tool organizer works well. Keep the kit out of reach of children and check it reguarlarly for expired or depleted supplies.
Numbers for the Animal Poison Hotline & Poison Control for Pets (800/548-2423 or 900/680-0000 both numbers charge a fee). The National Poison Control Hotlines for humans should also be included

Contents:

* muzzle                                           
*protective gloves                          
*rubbing alcohol
*digital or rectal thermometer      
*gauze roll/squares                         
*vasoline jelly
*hydrogen peroxide                        
*antibacterial soap                        
*cotton roll
*non stick wound dressing           
*small flashlight                             
*blanket for transport
*corn syrup                                      
*tweezers                                       
*bandage scissors
*instant hot and cold compress    
*Sock or stocking                          
*leash
*current pet first aid book             
*syringe to feed                             
*latex gloves

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Infectious Tracheobronchitis (Kennel Cough)

We have been seeing an increase amount of cases with bordetella( kennel cough).
You might think your dog has something stuck in his throat. The cough associated with acute infectious tracheobronchitis, (ITB) or kennel cough, is a high-pitched, honk-like cough, sometimes followed by retching.

Kennel cough is a highly contagious inflammation of the trachea (windpipe) and bronchial tree caused by a contagious virus (adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, canine distemper virus) or bacterium (Bordetella bronchiseptica). The disease is associated most often with dogs housed in a high-density population or boarding kennel or dogs that play in dog parks.  The infectious agents can be transmitted through the air or by contact with contaminated surfaces. Puppies and younger dogs are at greatest risk, but even old dogs can acquire kennel cough.

The incubation period from the time the dog first contracts the infection to the time that symptoms develop is typically between 3 to 10 days, and the symptoms can last for days to weeks.
Kennel cough causes a variety of symptoms that can vary in severity.

  • Signs of upper respiratory problems such as conjunctivitis (irritated eyes), rhinitis (runny nose) or sneezing may be observed.

  • Cough. The classic symptoms are bouts of a loud, honking cough that worsen with activity or excitement and can persist for minutes. The dog will often act as if something is stuck in the throat and retch or vomit up fluid after coughing. If secondary pneumonia develops, the dog often shows signs of illness such as loss of appetite, depression, or fever.

  • Loss of appetite

  • Depression

  • Fever

  • Difficult breathing

    Any of these signs should prompt a visit to see your veterinarian in order to be certain pneumonia has not set in.

  • To prevent the spread of kennel cough, keep your dog away from other dogs for at least two weeks after recovery. In addition, do the following:

  • Limit exercise and enforce periods of rest; don't exercise or play with your dog. Activity often initiates periods of loud, uncomfortable coughing.

  • Encourage adequate fluid intake to maintain hydration. Provide soft food if dry food irritates the throat.

  • If your dog normally wears a restraint collar, remove it or replace it with a harness to decrease airway irritation.

  • Avoid environmental stresses including house dust, vapors, chemical fumes and tobacco smoke.

  • To mobilize secretions and reduce coughing, provide humidified air (e.g. a vaporizer in the dog's room or in a steamy bathroom for one or two hours).

    PROTECT!


  • Advantages of Nasal Vaccination

    There are several advantages to intranasal vaccination of bordetella. Some studies have shown that the nasal method of administration may result in quicker protection. The intranasal vaccine also is intended to protect the animal at the source of the infection, the upper airways.
    Another advantage is that there is not an injection. This is particularly positive for those dogs that are very sensitive and find injection painful.

    Tuesday, January 4, 2011

    Happy New Year! Welcome 2011!

         Well hope we all survived the "holidays"! A new year is upon us and with that comes some exciting news soon to be released regarding our brand new facility that is in the works.

         We recently received a new product that is unlike any other on the market. It's called "Healthy Mouth". If your pet has gingivitis problems, then this is a great product to get. It products comes in pouches that are added to the drinking water. The company claims that is can reduce gingivits by up to 70%! It is available for cats and for dogs. Call us today for more information.

         Something else that is new around the hospital is a new analyzer for in house progesterone testing. Thsi is for breeders that are using it for timing on breedings, normally we would have to wait 24 hours for results. our new instrument  now can offer results in 1/2 hour! NO more waiting!

    Remember, National Dental Health Month is approaching. Call our office for more details on how you can help your pets mouth and save some money all at the same time!