Doctor's Blog - September
Coping with the grief from the loss of your pet can be very difficult for you and your family. Our pets are members of our family, after all. Although their years with us may be relatively short, our pets become a significant part of our lives, and the death of the dearly beloved is tragic indeed.
All of us grieve in our own individual way, but you may choose to honor and cherish the memory of your pet by having him memorialized.
There are many ways to memorialize your deceased pet. You may choose to bury your pet in
your back yard or in a pet cemetery and hold a small funeral or memorial service with your family. You may frame your favorite photograph of your pet, or you may have a professional artist
draw or paint a portrait of your favorite photograph. Here at Quail Pointe, we offer two ways to
memorialize your pet: ClayPaws and memorial ash boxes.
ClayPaws are a way to make a lasting keepsake of your pet’s paw print. The process begins with the embedding of your pet’s paw print in a piece of clay. Once the paw print is made, the clay may be modified to your discretion. You may have words or numbers carved in the clay. Charms may also be placed in the clay. The clay is then baked to harden. Other decorations, like ribbons and display easels, may then be added to the ClayPaw.
If you elect to cremate your pet, you may purchase an urn or memorial box in which
to keep your pet’s ashes. If you choose to have your pet cremated at our on-site crematorium, you are given the opportunity of purchasing a personalized memorial box. Any message, within a certain number of characters, can be engraved on the lid of the box. Small pictures may also be engraved on
box.
If you have questions or concerns about ClayPaws, our memorial boxes, or other
ways to memorialize your pet, please give us a call. It may also be wise to visit
VeterinaryWisdomforPetParents.com, an exceptional website which offers helpful
information about the decisions you must make before and after the death of your pet. The death of a little loved one is a heartrending event, but you don’t have to suffer it alone.
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Dr. Ford’s Blog- November
Winter is quickly approaching, and before it’s fully upon us I would like to warn and inform you of one of the season’s greatest dangers to your pet: antifreeze poisoning. Although antifreeze poisoning occurs even in warm temperatures, the incidence and risk increases dramatically in the late fall and early winter when automotive cooling systems are flushed and refilled. Every year, an estimated 90,000 domestic pets die by antifreeze poisoning. The number of wild animals that die by these means can hardly be predicted.
The lethal ingredient in antifreeze is ethylene glycol. Dogs and cats alike are drawn to the substance because of its naturally sweet flavor. Some pets may even seek it out. When ethylene glycol is ingested, it is rapidly absorbed and metabolized. The pet may act drunk and tipsy while the antifreeze enters the livers and kidneys. Once the antifreeze is completely metabolized between six and ten hours after consumption, the pet appears to return to normal. At this point, however, and depending on the amount ingested, the damage to the liver and kidneys is irreversible. Ethylene glycol causes the liver to acidify the body’s blood, which destroys renal cells in the kidneys, eliminating their ability to cleanse the body of waste. No treatment exists for this damage to the kidneys. Throughout the next few days, the pet’s condition will slowly deteriorate and death is all but imminent.
Because of the quickness with which ethylene glycol works in an animal’s body, and because of the way the pet appears to return to health after a few hours of ingestion, it is imperative to catch symptoms early. If you suspect your dog or cat of consuming antifreeze, watch for the drunken behavior. The pet will be dizzy and may refuse to walk and may also act depressed. If these symptoms are present, don’t hesitate to alert your veterinarian. Treatment options are available at that point, depending on the amount consumed. If you wait until that period when the pet appears to return to normal, it is too late.
To reduce the risk of your pet being poisoned by antifreeze, all you need to do is be smart. If you flush your car’s coolant system yourself, dispose of the old fluid properly. Don’t let it sit in a place easily accessed by animals. Also be wary of leaks from your car. Any amount of ethylene glycol consumed, no matter how small, can be very dangerous and potentially lethal. The lives of possibly 90,000 pets can be saved every year simply by the use common sense. |
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Dr. Ford’s Blog – September
Coping with the grief from the loss of your pet can be very difficult for you and your family. Our pets are members of our family, after all. Although their years with us may be relatively short, our pets become a significant part of our lives, and the death of the dearly beloved is tragic indeed. All of us grieve in our own individual way, but you may choose to honor and cherish the memory of your pet by having him memorialized.
There are many ways to memorialize your deceased pet. You may choose to bury your pet in your back yard or in a pet cemetery and hold a small funeral or memorial service with your family. You may frame your favorite photograph of your pet, or you may have a professional artist draw or paint a portrait of your favorite photograph. Here at Quail Pointe, we offer two ways to memorialize your pet: ClayPaws and memorial ash boxes.
ClayPaws is a way to make a lasting keepsake of your pet’s paw print. The process begins with the embedding of your pet’s paw print in a piece of clay. Once the paw print is made, the clay may be modified to your discretion. You may have words or numbers carved in the clay. Charms may also be placed in the clay. The clay is then baked to harden. Other decorations, like ribbons and display easels, may then be added to the ClayPaw.
If you elect to cremate your pet, you may purchase an urn or memorial box in which to keep your pet’s ashes. If you choose to have your pet cremated at our on-site crematorium, you are given the opportunity of purchasing a personalized memorial box. Any message, within a certain number of characters, can be engraved on the lid of the box. Small pictures may also be engraved on box.
If you have questions or concerns about ClayPaws, our memorial boxes, or other ways to memorialize your pet, please give us a call. It may also be wise to visit VeterinaryWisdomforPetParents.com, an exceptional website which offers helpful information about the decisions you must make before and after the death of your pet. The death of a little loved one is a heartrending event, but you don’t have to suffer it alone. |
Dr. Ford’s Blog – August
When consulting with clients about their pets, I am frequently asked about summer safety tips. Summer is a potentially dangerous time of year for your furry little loved ones; higher temperatures bring harmful pests, heat strokes and dehydration are all too common, and frightening firework displays have the potential to cause your pet to run away. I have comprised a list of items and activities I feel are most perilous with suggestions on how you can protect your feline and canine counterparts this summer.
Heat stroke and dehydration are very major health implications for pets, especially dogs. Walk your dog in the early morning or late evening when it’s most cool out. Even then, be sure to take along fresh water and stop in shady areas often to give your dog a panting break. If your dog must be left outside during the day, be absolutely sure to leave an ample supply of fresh water. Be wary of heat stroke symptoms, such as excessive panting, excessive drooling, weakness, lethargy, labored breathing, and even seizures. If your dog exhibits these symptoms, cool him down with cold water and towels, ice packs, small bowls of water, and by feeding ice chips.
Barbeques and parties abound this time of year, but you must celebrate with prudence. Many party-favorite foods are extremely harmful for dogs and cats. Substances like caffeine, chocolate, and alcohol, as well as fruits and vegetables, like grapes and onions, are highly toxic for cats and dogs. If you stock these items at your summer gathering, be mindful to keep them from the reach of your dog or cat. Human foods that are safe for cats and dogs include apples, peas, green beans, some popcorns, blueberries, and carrots.
As mentioned above, high temperatures in the summer bring harmful pests. Mosquitoes thrive in the warms summer months and bring with them harmful viruses. Many people use children’s mosquito repellant on their dogs or cats, but in fact, DEET is extremely toxic for animals. However, many pet stores sell pet-friendly insect repellants.
A vast majority of lost pet cases are reported on or near Independence Day. Fireworks displays are unpleasant and very frightening for dogs and cats and you should resist the urge to take your pet to them. It is best to leave your pets inside at home in a sheltered, quiet area. It may also be wise to leave a television or radio on at a normal volume to keep your pet company and to drown out the noise of the fireworks.
If the right precautions are taken, summer can be an enjoyable time of year for you and your pets. Please feel free to contact us with any questions concerning these or more summer safety tips. |
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Dr. Ford’s Blog – July
Last month we featured an article on our website about traveling with your pet, and in that article we briefly discussed microchips. In my blog this month, I would like to further address and inform you about what microchips are and why it is so important to microchip your pet.
The number one cause of pet death is getting lost. Over 10 million pets are lost every year and, without any form of ID, 17 percent of dogs and just two percent of cats ever return to their rightful home. Most of the rest - roughly three- to four-million - are euthanized.
The most effective way to prevent your dog or cat from becoming one of the aforementioned statistics is to have it tagged with a microchip.
A microchip is a small computer chip that is implanted just under the loose skin between the shoulder blades via a hypodermic needle. The process is simple and absolutely painless; most animals don’t react at all to the implant. Microchips are also anti-migratory; once the chip is in place, a layer of connective tissue forms around it and prevents it from moving through the body. What’s more, no long-term health implications due to the presence of the chip have ever been manifest. Programmed into the microchip is an identification number specific to your pet. This tiny computer chip, with its unique code, could save your pet’s life.
The brand of microchip we use at Quail Point Veterinary Hospital is HomeAgain. The HomeAgain recovery network is exclusively designed to further ensure the chance of reuniting you with your lost pet. If your pet becomes lost, you may call HomeAgain and report the lost pet. Recovery specialists will take down vital information and immediately issue a Lost Pet Alert, which is sent to local HomeAgain PetRescuers as well as local veterinary clinics and shelters. You will then be given the opportunity to print detailed and specific “Lost Pet” posters from the HomeAgain website. You will be provided with a list of local shelters and veterinary clinics to which you may take the “Lost Pet” posters. HomeAgain boasts an astonishing 500,000 lost pets returned home every year with the help of their recovery network.
Including the exceptional recovery network, HomeAgain membership comes with unheralded and exclusive benefits. One such benefit is the 24/7 Emergency Medical Care program. We have provided HomeAgain with our precise medical policies and procedures for a number of emergencies, as well as a list of our preferred emergency veterinary clinics. If, in the event of an emergency, we are closed or you are unable to reach us, you may call the HomeAgain 24/7 Emergency Medical phone number. You will be advised on what specific actions to take and, if necessary, will be directed to our preferred emergency clinic.
Another perk of HomeAgain membership is Lost Pet Medical Insurance. The insurance, with a $50 deductible, covers up to $3,000 for medical bills for any injuries your dog or cat incurs while lost, including medications prescribed by a veterinarian; diagnostic procedures, including X-rays and lab tests; surgical procedures necessary to treat injuries suffered while lost; dental services; and overnight hospital stays. Coverage is not automatic but is a great offer to consider.
Finally, HomeAgain membership provides Travel Assistance for Found Pets. If a lost pet is found 500 miles or more away from home, HomeAgain will pay up to $500 to fly the pet home to be reunited with its family. There is no deductible to pay for this benefit; it is automatically included with your HomeAgain membership.
In summary, HomeAgain Membership provides an Advanced Anti-Migration Microchip; the outstanding Lost Pet Recovery Network; the availability of Rapid Lost Pet Alerts; Personalized “Lost Pet” Posters; on-staff 24/7 Lost Pet Specialists; the completely cost-free 24/7 Emergency Medical Hotline; Travel Assistance for Found Pets; and lastly, Lost Pet Medical Insurance. All-in-all, a HomeAgain microchip and membership is an extraordinary deal.
It is especially important to microchip right now, as the number of lost dogs and cats increases drastically in the summer months due to loud and frightful firework displays. Thus, throughout the month of July, we are offering a 10%-off special on microchips. Please feel free to call or drop by for more informatio |
Dr. Ford’s Blog – May
Mother’s Day is a joyous holiday; it is a time to show gratitude towards the mothers in our individual lives and to celebrate and honor motherhood in general. In the veterinary industry, however, motherhood is not so celebrated. I would like to share in this month’s blog, this the month of Mother’s Day, the importance of spaying your dog or cat.
Cat and dog overpopulation is a major problem in America today. Determining the exact number of homeless cats and dogs is very difficult, but it is estimated that an astonishing 70 million stray cats alone run wild in the US. That number increases every year. A fertile cat can produce three to four litters a year, with four to six kittens per litter. A fertile dog produces two litters a year, with four to five puppies per litter. Many of these puppies and kittens will end up in shelters nationwide. Roughly five- to seven-million dogs and cats enter shelters annually, and of those, 60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats are euthanized - about one every eight seconds. A large portion of animals that enter shelters are not just the offspring of stray dogs and cats; they are the offspring of unfixed family pets as well. The fight to control overpopulation starts with spaying your female cat or dog.
Not spaying your cat or dog has major health implications as well. Pyometra is a very harmful and often fatal condition that affects fertile female cats and dogs. During every heat cycle, which occurs about twice a year in female dogs and almost constantly in female cats, the can become infected and fill with pus. The infection can sometimes become severe enough to require a dangerous and costly surgery during which the infected uterus is removed. The risk of breast cancer is drastically higher for intact female dogs than the risk for spayed females. Female cats are also more susceptible to AIDS and leukemia viruses when they have sexual contact with an infected male. If a female cat contracts AIDS or leukemia, which are both untreatable diseases, and becomes pregnant, a third of its kittens will be born with it as well and will have to be euthanized if taken in by a shelter.
Many pet owners believe they don’t have to spay their female cat or dog because they have no intention of letting it out of the house or yard. I frequently receive questions from clients like, “If I don’t spay my cat (or dog), it will be fine as long as I don’t let it outside, right?” Wrong. Spaying your female cat or dog will greatly reduce possible health risks as well as help control the homeless pet population if your little loved one possibly escapes. |
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