Cookouts are in full swing! We want to remind you that barbeque and picnic foods should not be fed to pets. Please bring plenty of food and treats for your pets so that they can join in on the fun and food.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Dear Cat Lover
Dear Cat Lover,
Cats are fascinating creatures because of their intelligence, sophistication, and sense of mystery. We enjoy the company of a cat because of their beauty and lovable nature. People who have not had the privilege of being owned by a cat are missing out on the many ways that a cat can enrich our lives, a soothing, rhythmic purr in the ear, a playful pat on the pant leg, an agile, entertaining adventure.
There are 82 million pet cats in the United States compared to 72 million dogs, making cats the most popular pet in the country! Yet studies show a continual decrease in veterinary preventive examinations and veterinary care visits for our feline companions. What’s more, cats are living longer than they did 20 years ago. That’s why putting off veterinary visits can put your cat’s health at risk.
Cats are masters at hiding illness. Your cat needs regular vaccinations and exams to stay healthy and live a long, happy life. Your cat could be giving you subtle signs of sickness, letting you know that it’s time to visit your veterinarian. We recommend semi-annual wellness visits and examinations any time you suspect that your pet may be showing signs of illness. Visit www.healthycatsforlife.com for a detailed list of subtle signs of illness, which include inappropriate elimination behavior or litter box use, changes in food and water consumption, changes in sleeping habits, or even bad breath.
We understand that getting your cat to Great Bridge Veterinary Hospital can be challenging sometimes, but it’s worth it to both you and your beloved feline companion. Here are a few tips to make it easier for both of you:
· Help your cat be more comfortable in the car by using a pet carrier and taking frequent short rides to places other than the veterinary office. This will help to acclimate your pet to both the carrier and the car.
· It should be easy to get your pet in and out of your carrier. This will lessen the stress to both you and your pet. Top-loading carriers work best.
· Cats are extremely sensitive to smell, so take your cat carrier out of storage several days prior to taking a trip. Place a familiar blanket inside the carrier along with the cat's favorite toys.
· Cats travel best on an empty stomach. Do not feed your cat for several hours before traveling.
· Place a towel or blanket over the carrier when driving. Limiting the cat’s vision of moving objects during travel will help to reduce car sickness.
For more information about how you can help your feline companion stay healthy and live a long, happy life, call our office at (757) 547-1600 or visit our website at www.greatbridgevet.com. Additionally, visit www.catalystcouncil.org and www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc for more educational information and videos.
Sincerely,
Your Doctors and Veterinary Care Team
At Great Bridge Veterinary Hospital
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
UNO-Cat Highlight
UNO is a five year old domestic short haired cat. She is owned by Heather, Pet Bather.She has been spayed and stays indoors. She loves staring out the window as if the outside were a fishbowl.
As soon as Uno was adopted, she was tested for feline leukemia and aids. Because Uno was found outside in a barn with other cats, her risk for having contracted these infectious diseases was high. Luckily, the test is fast and within 15 minutes the results showed she had not contracted either of the diseases. She has lived with her family as an exclusively indoor cat for about 4 years and is very happy. These feline diseases are not transmitted the same way that the human versions are transmitted and are not contagious to humans.
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is one of the most important infectious viruses of cats. It was first discovered in cats with a form of leukemia, hence its name. FeLV is the cause of a variety of diseases, not just leukemia. Like all viruses, FeLV is a minute micro-organism consisting of nucleic acid and a few proteins and glycoproteins in a simple structure. Viruses can only replicate themselves inside living cells. FeLV is specific to members of the cat family and does not pose a risk to other animals or people.
FeLV infection is found worldwide. In general, around 1-2% of the cat population is persistently infected with this virus, and many more are exposed. The proportion of cats infected differs according to the geographical location, environment and the life-style of the cat. Infection is more common in colonies of cats where there is close contact between individuals.
Direct contact between cats is the most frequent method of FeLV infection. The virus is fragile and cannot survive longer than a few hours in the environment outside of the cat. A cat with FeLV sheds a large quantity of the virus in its saliva as well as in other bodily fluids such as urine and feces. However, FeLV is not a highly contagious virus, and transmission generally requires a prolonged period of close contact between infected and susceptible cats. Close contact activities include mating, mutual grooming, and sharing of litter trays and food bowls. Cat bites by an infected cat can readily transmit infection.
There is currently no specific treatment for FeLV-infected cats. There is no treatment to eliminate the virus from the body. PREVENTION is the best method! Vaccines are available to protect cats against FeLV infection. Their use is highly recommended for any cat that goes outside at any time and therefore could have contact with FeLV- infected cats. As with other vaccines, an initial course of two injections is required, and regular boosters are necessary to maintain immunity. Your veterinarian will discuss the most appropriate options for your cat with you. All cats should be tested for FeLV prior to vaccination.
Although vaccination is very helpful in preventing infection with FeLV and thus controlling FeLV-related disease, no vaccine is 100% protective. Where possible do not allow your cat, particularly if a kitten, to come into close contact with known FeLV-infected cats or cats without a known history of proper vaccinations.
Visit American Animal Hospital Association for more information about Feline Leukemia.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Preventing Ticks on Your Pets
Dogs are very susceptible to tick bites and tickborne diseases. Vaccines are not available for all the tickborne diseases that dogs can get, and they don’t keep the dogs from bringing ticks into your home. For these reasons, it’s important to use a tick preventive product on your dog.
Tick bites on dogs may be hard to detect. Signs of tickborne disease may not appear for 7-21 days or longer after a tick bite, so watch your dog closely for changes in behavior or appetite if you suspect that your pet has been bitten by a tick.
To reduce the chances that a tick will transmit disease to you or your pets:
Note: Cats are extremely sensitive to a variety of chemicals. Do not apply any insect acaricides or repellents to your cats without first consulting your veterinarian!
Tick bites on dogs may be hard to detect. Signs of tickborne disease may not appear for 7-21 days or longer after a tick bite, so watch your dog closely for changes in behavior or appetite if you suspect that your pet has been bitten by a tick.
To reduce the chances that a tick will transmit disease to you or your pets:
- Check your pets for ticks daily, especially after they spend time outdoors.
- If you find a tick on your dog, remove it right away.
- Ask your veterinarian to conduct a tick check at each exam.
- Talk to your veterinarian about tickborne diseases in your area.
- Reduce tick habitat in your yard.
- Talk with your veterinarian about using tick preventives on your pet.
Note: Cats are extremely sensitive to a variety of chemicals. Do not apply any insect acaricides or repellents to your cats without first consulting your veterinarian!
Kill Ticks on Dogs
A pesticide product that kills ticks is known as an acaricide. Acaricides that can be used on dogs include dusts, impregnated collars, sprays, or topical treatments. Some acaricides kill the tick on contact. Others may be absorbed into the bloodstream of a dog and kill ticks that attach and feed.Pros:
- Helps to reduce the number of ticks in the environment
- Prevents tickborne disease
Cons:
- Tick bites can cause a painful wound and may become infected.
- When bitten, a dog may become infected with a number of diseases. This depends on the type of tick, which diseases it is carrying (if any), and how quickly a product kills the feeding tick.
Examples of topically applied products (active ingredients):
- Fipronil
- Pyrethroids (permethrin, etc.)
- Amitraz
Repel Ticks on Dogs
A repellent product may prevent the tick from coming into contact with an animal at all or have anti-feeding effects once the tick comes into contact with the chemical, thus preventing a bite.Pros:
- Prevents bite wounds and possible resulting infections
- Prevents tickborne disease
Cons:
- Will not reduce the number of ticks in the environment (doesn't kill ticks)
Examples of topically applied products (active ingredients):
- Pyrethroids (permethrin, etc.)
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
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