SPRING 2003 NEWSLETTER

NEW HOPE ANIMAL HOSPITAL NEWSLETTER

SPRING 2003

 

Most people refer to this time of year as Spring, but to me it is kitten season. Since cats breed seasonally it is the time of year that many litters are born. We all love kittens with their playful nature and innocent sleep, but unfortunately many of those born will face death too soon in their life. There is a massive overpopulation problem and each litter does count. One female cat and all of her offspring if unneutered will produce 420,000 cats in seven short years. Each year in the United States 8-10 million dogs, cats, puppies and kittens are euthanized at Humane Societies just because there aren’t enough good homes for them all. The way to stop the destruction is to stop the production! Remember these statistics! Please spay and neuter your pets and encourage your friends and neighbors to as well. 

                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

SEASONAL SUBJECTS

 

Allergies affect even our dog and cat friends! An allergy is your immune system reacting abnormally to a common, everyday thing. It can be a mold, pollen, insect, food, dust or even something you contact (touch). In humans, allergies are expressed by sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose and congestion. In dogs and cats allergies are usually expressed as skin problems. Dogs and cats with allergies itch, lick, scratch and rub. Where they are affected (rump, face, feet) can often give us clues as to what your pet is allergic to, but just knowing what they are allergic to does not cure them. The most common allergen (what causes the allergic reaction) in pets is fleas! And food allergies can be expressed as recurrent ear infections! With allergies we talk more of control than cure. There are many options for allergy control, and finding what works best for your pet will often take time and communication between you and the veterinarian.  

                                                                                                                 

 

EVENTS

CAREER SHADOWERS

On April 4th New Hope Animal Hospital sponsored 5 Junior High students from Oakdale Junior High in Rogers. On April 22-23 New Hope Animal Hospital will sponsor three students from Washington Junior High in Bentonville. These are students who are interested in a career in animals. It is a chance for them to experience the work day of our doctors and staff. We enjoy the enthusiasm and interest these students have and are happy to help our school system and students. 

RABIES CLINICS APRIL 12TH

Once again the Benton County Health Department has provided our county with a rabies awareness week from April 7th to the 12th. To aid our county in its effort to decrease the number of rabies cases, we will be providing rabies vaccinations at the Avoca Fire Department from 1-2 p.m. and at the Garfield Elementary School from 2:15-3 p.m. on April 12th. The county sets the rabies vaccination price at $7.00. Other vaccines will be available and discounted. The down side to rural rabies clinics is that a complete physical examination is not done on each pet we vaccinate. The upside is that many dogs and cats receive rabies vaccines that would never otherwise. 
 

OPEN HOUSE MAY 18TH

Our Open House has been set for Sunday, May 18th , from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. We will be opening our doors to everyone to tour our facility! Each area will have an educational theme and there will be door prizes and refreshments! Plan on stopping by to see what we have to offer!  

RELAY FOR LIFE JUNE 13-14TH

The American Cancer Society Relay for Life has been set for June 13th and 14th. It is the signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society and this year New Hope Animal Hospital and New Hope Boarding and Grooming are joining forces to form a team for this event. One of our main fundraisers will be homemade dog biscuits available for purchase at both facilities. Our staff and clients are making these yummy treats and all proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society. Please stop by and get some homemade dog treats and support the fight against cancer. On the night of the event we will have a petting zoo with miniature horses, goats, dogs, cats and who knows what else at the high school football field (just off Olrich). And members of our team will walk around the football field from 7 p.m to 7 a.m. Join us for this event on Friday June 13th and join the fight against cancer!   

 

                                                                                                                                               

 

NEW PRODUCTS 

ADVANTIX: Advantix is approved for use in dogs ONLY. It is a topical (on the skin) monthly product that kills and repels fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. With West Nile Virus being reported in several dogs (although it is still considered rare), this product has a place on the market. Dogs using Advantix should stay on a heartworm preventative since Advantix is not 100% effective against mosquitoes and heartworm preventatives also prevent intestinal worms not spread by mosquitoes. It is made by the same reliable company (Novartis) that makes Advantage. It is a combination of Advantage and a permethrin for ticks.  

GENESIS: This product has been the hot topic at dermatology meetings. It is made by Virbac and is a topical steroid (triamcinolone) for use with hot spots and allergies. Dermatologists have stated it is very effective, and topical steroid treatment is much safer than steroid tablets and/or shots. We now have it in stock and are anxious to see it help! 

                                                                                                                                               

 

NIGHTTIME NEWS

 

Ø      Sixty percent of pet owners sleep with their pet- dogs or cats or both.

Ø      Fifty-seven percent of dogs allowed to sleep in the bedroom slept on the bed.

Ø      Although 53 percent of pet owners recognized their pets to some degree disrupted their sleep each night, only 1 percent felt  their pets disrupted their sleep for more than 20 minutes per night on average.

Ø      Of the pets, 21 percent of the dogs snored and 7 percent of the cats snored.

 

From a study be John Shepherd, MD, medical director of the Mayo Clinic Sleep Disorders Center 

 

                                                                                                                                               

 

GUINEA PIGS NEED C 

Guinea pigs often suffer from vitamin C deficiencies and it is one of the most preventable disorders. Guinea pigs and primates are unable to synthesize their own vitamin C and it therefore must be supplemented. Recommendations are for each guinea pig to receive 10-50 mg per day. Vitamin C is not stable and can be inactive within an hour of being added to water, so it should not be added to the drinking water. Liquid Vitamin C or chewable tablets must be given directly to the guinea pig. Also food items high in vitamin C can be offered, including citrus fruits (although most guinea pigs turn their nose up to these!), tomatoes, red or yellow peppers, kale, parsley, beets, and broccoli. Commercial guinea pig food usually contains added vitamin C, but the instability of vitamin C within three months after milling makes this an unsuitable source. Commercial rabbit food does not and should not be fed to guinea pigs.

 

                                                                                                                                               

  

CHOCOLATE TOXICITY 

The toxic ingredient in chocolate is theobromine, which is very similar to caffeine. The side effects of overdose are what you might expect from drinking too much coffee: nervousness, hyperactivity, restless behavior, fast heart rate and, if severe enough, seizures. In small amounts, chocolate ingestion may cause gastric upset with vomiting and/or diarrhea. Only when a toxic dose of theobromine is ingested do more serious signs develop. 

The amount of theobromine in milk chocolate is 44 milligrams per ounce (mg/oz). The amount in semisweet chocolate is 150 mg/oz and baking chocolate contains 390 mg/oz. Signs of toxicity may be seen in dogs ingesting as little as 50 mg per pound of body weight. For a 35 pound dog to reach that dose of milk chocolate it would have to eat 40 ounces (over 2 pounds). However the same level of toxicity is present in only 12 ounces of semisweet chocolate or 5 ounces of baking chocolate.    

                                                                                                                                               

 

NEW HOPE ANIMAL HOSPITAL SIGNS TOP DRAFT!

 

Starting June 2nd, Lynn Life, RN, DVM, will be joining our staff. Dr. Life is a 2003 graduate of Louisiana State University College of Veterinary Medicine where she was a top student. She was a preceptor for a month at our hospital in February where her excellent clinical skills and devotion to quality veterinary care became evident. Her background as a nurse is a valuable asset. We look forward to her current knowledge and enthusiasm. Please come in anytime to meet her!