NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2004
DORIS DAY ANIMAL LEAGUE SPAY DAY CELEBRATED!
The Doris Day Animal League is a national organization whose mission is to educate the public about the importance of spaying and neutering pets. In the United States 10,000 humans are born every day and 70,000 puppies and kittens are born. We euthanize 8-10 million puppies and kittens, dogs and cats every year at Humane Societies across this nation. This does not count the millions that are abandoned or dumped and die of disease or starvation. We have to stop the overproduction of dogs and cats so we can stop the sad statistics of our nation. Spaying and neutering pets is an important part of responsible pet ownership.
On February 28th the New Hope Animal Hospital staff participated in the Doris Day Animal League’s Ninth Annual Spay Day by spaying and neutering 36 pets of low-income families at no charge. The staff donated their time and energy on a Saturday to make a difference in the life and future of these pets. We were proud to be able to help these families and our community. Every litter does count!
NEW HOPE NEWS
STAFF TRAINS TO BECOME
VETERINARY NUTRITIONAL ADVOCATE
In the month of February twenty of our staff members completed the training and testing necessary to become Hill’s Veterinary Nutritional Advocates. This three-part educational program is designed to improve our knowledge and confidence in the proper care and nutrition of your pet. We are proud of Tommie, Janet, Regina, Ashley G., Angie, Shannon, Sonya, Kim, Jennifer, Carolina, Jaime C., Jamie M., Michelle, Nancy G., Ashley W., Dani B., Erin W., Andrea, Deidra, Brent, Dr. Hayden, Dr. Brown and Dr. Nancy.
DOCTORS ATTEND SEMINARS
Our doctors have been busy with continuing education! In January Dr. Nancy Belknap attended the North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando, Florida. In February Dr. Pat Hayden attended the Western States Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. These five day conferences are the two largest in the United States. Each provides lectures and labs by specialists in every field regarding the latest in treatments and techniques. Also in February Dr. Caran Stouffer attended a seminar on orthopedic surgery presented by the American Orthopedic Society in Key West. This was a more specialized focus on the newest techniques in orthopedic surgery conducted by the leaders in our profession.
Using the varied training and education our doctors received at these meetings, we know we are able to continue to offer your best friend the latest in treatments and diagnostics! Our team approach and sharing of ideas and knowledge helps us provide you and your best friend with the kind of care you deserve.
Pet owners aren’t all that creative when it comes to a pet name. In fact, the number one male pet name according to the Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) database is Max. The name ranks tops for dogs, cats and birds. Dr. Aline McCarthy, director of veterinary services at VPI, says, “Unlike human children’s names, which can become popular choices based on famous actors or athletes at the time, pet names appear to be fairly consistent.”
The top 10 pet names based on VPI’s 360,000 policyholders include:
1. Max
2. Bailey
3. Buddy
4. Molly
5. Maggie
6. Jake
7. Lucy
8. Daisy
9. Rocky
10. Sadie
AKC Top Ten Breeds
Each year in January the American Kennel Club announces its statistics for numbers registered. For a complete list visit www.akc.org. In 2003 the top ten breeds by numbers registered were:
1. Labrador Retriever
2. Golden Retriever
3. Beagle
4. German Shepherd Dog
5. Dachshund
6. Yorkshire Terrier
7. Boxer
8. Poodle
9. Shih Tzu
10. Chihuahua
Hopefully we will never need the information provided below, but preparation and education are important parts of survival during a disaster. Think about what you will need to protect and provide for your pet in case something does occur.
DISASTER PLANNING
-Excerpted from brochure written by
Area G Veterinary Disaster Team (South Bay of Los Angeles)
BEFORE A DISASTER, YOUR PET WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING IN THEIR DISASTER KIT:
1. Food for seven days. This must be rotated in to use to insure freshness.
2. Water for seven days. For dogs, this is one gallon per day for a forty-pound dog and one quart per day per cat.
3. Medications your pet regularly takes. Please mark on your calendar a day to remind you to cycle it into use before it expires. Call your veterinarian to provide you with new medications with a later expiration date.
4. Leashes for BOTH dogs and cats. Carriers for small dogs and cats should be stored in an easily accessible area.
5. All pets should have identification tags attached to a collar that they always wear. It should have your name, address, phone number, your pet’s name and an OUT OF STATE PHONE NUMBER (of a friend or relative that can be contacted in a time or disaster). If your pet is on daily medication, this medication should also be on the identification tag.
6. Keep your vaccinations current (within the last year) and keep a copy of the vaccination dates in your disaster kit.
7. Identify friends, relatives, kennels and veterinary clinics that your pets can stay with if there is a disaster.
8. Have plastic bags and scoopers to pick up and store pet waste.
9. Store extra collars, leashes, and heavy food bowls in your kit.
10. The following first aid supplies will be needed: gauze rolls for bandaging and making muzzles, towels, blankets, and a manual can opener.
11. Current photographs of all your pets.
DURING A DISASTER:
Ø Stay calm.
Ø Take shelter.
AFTER A DISASTER:
1. Evaluate your pet’s injuries. Remember your pet may be in pain. You must prevent injury to yourself so you can help your pet. Muzzle your dog using gauze rolls from your disaster kit. Place a towel over your cat to handle it. Remember that even the most gentle pet will respond defensively when frightened or in pain.
2. Apply direct pressure to any areas that are bleeding. Often your pet will not show evidence of injury. Have your pet examined as soon as possible by your veterinarian.
IF YOUR PET IS LOST:
1. Fill out a lost pet report and take current photographs to all the shelters and emergency clinics within a 30-mile radius.
2. Do not rely on phone calls to the shelter to locate your pet. Go to each shelter in person to look at every pet.
3. Provide descriptions and current photographs to local veterinarians, newspapers and anywhere else you can post a lost ad.
4. Do not stop looking for your pets. They are counting on you to find them.
5. Use caution when handling stray animals. Notify your animal control agency if an animal acts as though it might injure you
6. Turn over all strays to the animal shelter so their worried owners can find them. Keep all strays away from the pets in your family. Do not allow strays to share any areas your own pets are kept as they can have contagious diseases and parasites that remain in the soil for years.
WATCH
WHAT THEY EAT SO THEY DON’T GET A POOCH
The National Academy of Sciences’ report on dog and cat nutrition offers tips on how to keep Fido or Fluffy in tip-top shape.
Ø Active dogs that weigh 35 pounds should consume about 1,000 kilocalories (units typically found on pet-food labels) per day.
Ø Cats that weigh 10 pounds should eat about 275 kilocalories.
Ø Dogs descended form omnivores and can thrive on both meat- and vegetable-based diets.
Ø Cats are descended from carnivores and do not do well on a vegetarian diet.
Ø Both dogs and cats need fresh water everyday, but cats need less.
NEW PRODUCTS AT NEW HOPE!
Atopica® by Novartis
Atopica® by Novartis is the latest new treatment for atopic (inhaled) allergies in dogs. The veterinary dermatologists at the meetings our doctors attended recently (see New Hope News) were very enthusiastic and positive about the results on their patients. Intradermal skin testing and desensitization is still the optimum treatment for canine allergies, but 20-25% of dogs do not respond to immunotherapy. Antihistamines are often ineffective, and the side effects of cortisone are often unacceptable. So having a new choice in this relentless skin disease is great news!
E.R.D.® Test Available
New Hope Animal Hospital is pleased to now offer the Early Renal Detection Test® by Heska in-hospital. This test detects microscopic levels of albumen in urine and serves as an early detector of disease, most often renal disease. This is an excellent screening test for older pets. Since pets age more quickly than humans, body changes occur more quickly as well. Kidney disease is a leading cause of death in our pets. Early detection of renal disease can give us more time to treat and protect your pet’s kidneys. We recommend senior blood and urine screening for all dogs and cats as they age. We want you and your pet to have a long love affair!
