How to be a Cool Cat on a Dog Day

Summer is in full swing nationwide, and we’re seeing a lot of days with soaring temperatures. In order to help your cat beat the heat, CATalyst Council, a national initiative comprised of animal health and welfare organizations working on behalf of cats, has the following suggestions for keeping your cat cool when temperatures rise:

1. Ensure your cat has access to fresh, cool water. “All animals need plenty of water to stay hydrated, especially when it is hot,” says Dr. Jane Brunt, executive director of CATalyst Council “Dehydration can occur very quickly and can be dangerous, leading to other complications. You may want to put out additional water bowls for your cat so that it’s easy for them to access in various parts of the house.”

2. Proper grooming is important. Brushing your cat can help reduce matting, which traps heat near the body and keeps the cat warmer than it would be otherwise. Grooming is also calming for many cats. If you have long haired cats, you may want to consider getting them a new “summer do,” and having their coats clipped shorter to help keep them cool.

3. Think twice before leaving your cat in your car. A study from Stanford University found that 80 percent of temperature rise in cars occurs within the first 30 minutes of leaving the car, and that even in cooler temperatures cars can quickly become very hot. For instance, at a 72 degree outdoor temperature, the interior of the car could become as hot as 117 degrees. The study also found that cracking the windows did very little to slow the temperature increase within the car. So, if you need to bring your cat with you while you are out and about, think twice before you leave it unattended in your car for even a brief period of time.

4. Keep your cat indoors. While cats have been described as desert animals, they don’t require the heat of hot summer months. By staying inside, not only will your cat enjoy an extended nap on the sofa, it will also enjoy having a safe environment while still enjoying the sunbeams. Keeping cats indoors also keeps them safe from predators, cars, parasites --which tend to be worse during warmer months-- and other dangers. “If you suspect that your cat is suffering from a heat-related illness, take it to your veterinarian immediately,” adds Dr. Brunt. Signs your cat may be overheated include panting, confusion, glazed eyes, agitation, vomiting or drooling, or staggering. Any of these signs should be treated as an emergency situation, and you go to your veterinarian immediately.

 Source: http://www.catalystcouncil.org/newsroom/?ID=155

Dog Safety Tips for Memorial Day

Like many Americans, you may be planning a festive Memorial Day, complete with barbecue and fireworks. It’s important to remember, fireworks and dogs don't mix.

Unlike people, dogs won’t associate the noise, flashes, and burning smell of pyrotechnics with a celebration. Fireworks will often cause panic and anxiety in dogs. It’s important to remember that dogs panic at the sound of fireworks and flee into the night, often winding up lost, injured, or killed. 

Here are some pet safety tips to help keep your pet safe during this Memorial Day. 

1.    Keep your pet indoors at all times, if possible.

2.    Use Pet Friendly Repellent.

3.    Don’t give your pet table food.

Source: http://tiny.cc/4x14ex

Memorial Day!

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! We will be closing at noon on Saturday. Please remember that we will be closed this Sunday and Monday for the holiday.

February is Pet Dental Health Month

February is National Pet Dental Month. All dental cleanings will be discounted by $25 and nail trims are complimentary while your pet is under anesthesia. Call us to schedule at 210-684-2273.

6 Most Common Cat Health Problems

Cats are good at self-maintenance, but even your fastidious feline can't prevent some of the more common cat diseases and health issues. To help you care for kitty, here's a brief overview of six of the most common cat health problems.

Common Cat Health Problem: Vomiting

Vomiting is a very common cat health problem, with causes ranging from eating something poisonous or inedible (like string), to infection, urinary tract disease, or diabetes.
Symptoms are usually obvious, and include drooling and abdominal heaving. Vomiting can quickly leave your cat dehydrated, so if kitty continues vomiting or acts ill, call your vet right away. And, because it's hard for a pet owner to tell the difference between vomiting and regurgitation, collect a sample of your cat's vomit and take it with you to the vet.

Common Cat Health Problem: Feline Lower Urinary Tract Diseases (FLUTD)

About 10% of cats brought to the vet have feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), which is actually a group of feline diseases with multiple causes.
Female and male cats can get FLUTD, and it often occurs in cats that are overweight, unfit, or who eat dry food. Stress, a multi-cat household, and sudden changes can all raise a cat's risk of FLUTD, and treatment depends on the type of FLUTD your cat has. FLUTD symptoms include:

• Straining to urinate
• Bloody urine
• Urinating in unusual places
• Crying when urinating
• Licking around the urinary area (often because of pain)
• Depression
• Dehydration
• Lack of appetite
• Vomiting

It's always an emergency if your cat can't urinate. Call your vet immediately if you suspect your cat has a urinary tract problem.

Common Cat Health Problem: Fleas

Fleas are a very common external feline health problem, but one you can treat easily. Signs your cat has fleas include:

• Flea dirt on their skin (they look like tiny black dots)
• Constant scratching
• Frequent licking
• Red or irritated skin
• Hair loss
• Skin infections or hot spots

Fleas can live for more than a year, and your cat risks anemia if the problem becomes serious, so be sure to treat your cat's flea problem and prevent future infestations.
Talk to your vet about which flea control would be best for your cat. Treatments include oral medication, powders, foams, and topical medication.

Common Cat Health Problem: Tapeworms

One of the most common feline health problems inside your cat, tapeworms live in kitty's small intestine, sometimes growing as long as two feet.
Symptoms of a tapeworm infection can be subtle, but may include vomiting and weight loss. The easiest way to tell if your cat has tapeworms is to look at its feces and around its anus. If you see small white worms, or what look like grains of rice or sesame seeds, your cat likely has tapeworms.
Treatment options include injection or oral medication, but because cats almost always get tapeworms as a result of swallowing a flea, be sure to handle any flea problems your cat has before tackling tapeworms.

Common Cat Health Problem: Diarrhea

Many things can cause diarrhea in cats, including hairballs, spoiled food, allergies, infection, liver disease, cancer, and more.
Symptoms of diarrhea are loose, watery, or liquid stool. Depending on its cause, diarrhea can last for a day, a week, or even months.
If your cat has diarrhea, offer kitty plenty of fresh, clean water to prevent dehydration, then remove kitty's food for no more than 12-24 hours. Take your cat to the vet if he or she still has diarrhea after a day, or immediately if you notice vomiting, dark, or bloody stools, fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, or if you cat is straining to defecate.

Common Cat Health Problem: Eye Problems

Eye problems in cats can be caused by a number of things, including conjunctivitis, cataracts, glaucoma, trauma, viruses, inflammation, and retinal disease.
A few symptoms that may mean your cat has eye problems include watery eyes, tear-stained fur, cloudiness, red or white eyelid linings, gunk in the corners of the eye, squinting, pawing at the eye, or a visible third eyelid.
Unless you know what's causing your cat's eye problems, there isn't much you can do other than wipe away any gunk with a damp cotton ball. After that, call your vet.

 

 

 

SOURCES: American Veterinary Medical Association: "External Parasites," "What is Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease?"

Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County: "About FLUTD.

"Veterinary Partner: "Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)." "Vomiting and Diarrhea."

Suevet.com: "Cat Vomiting."

ASPCA: “Fleas," “Worms," “Diarrhea," “Top Tips for Keeping Kitty's Eyes Healthy.”

©2011 WebMD, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Source: WebMD.comhttp://pets.webmd.com/cats/6-most-common-cat-health-problems

Tinsel Safety

Many people decorate with tinsel during the holiday season, but it’s important to note that tinsel can be very dangerous for our pets! If pieces of tinsel are swallowed, their sharp edges can cut or get tangled and cause internal damage. Be sure to keep all of these dangers out of your home whenever possible.

Holiday Foods

During the holiday season, it’s important to make sure your pet is safe. Many of the foods we eat for the holidays are dangerous for our pets and could injure them or make them sick. Sugary treats, turkey, and especially turkey bones are things our pets should avoid. Keep an eye on your pet this holiday!

Pet Obesity

Is your pet overweight? Remember some of the main causes of pet obesity are the consumption of human food and inactivity. Be sure to keep all human food out of the reach of your pet and when possible, keep your young pets from knowing about human food at all! Keeping your pet from becoming a beggar can be essential to helping them remain at a healthy weight. And don’t forget to give your pet plenty of exercise to keep their bones and joints healthy, and to keep them lean.

Visit us online at www.apcnw.com! 

Fall Football Gatherings & Pets

Are you going to a football game or tailgate party this fall? We encourage you to keep your pet safe during these kinds of events. Portable grills can be extremely dangerous because they can be knocked over by rambunctious children and pets, and can burn them. Also, many of the junk foods that we eat when we’re at games and tailgate parties can be dangerous for our pets to eat. Keep your pet safe this season.
 

Visit us at www.apcnw.com for more information about Affordable Pet Care N.W. 

Pets & the Dangers of Chocolates

We have all heard “Don’t give your dog chocolate-it could kill him”.

Chocolate contains a xanthine compound, theobromine, which is toxic in sufficient quantities. Caffeine is another xanthine compound. Xanthines affect primarily the central nervous system, the cardiovascular system, and peripheral nerves. There is a diuretic effect as well. Clinical signs include hyperexcitability, hyperirritability, increased heart rate, restlessness, increased urination, muscle tremors, seizures, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Fortunately, it takes a fairly large amount of theobromine (100-150 mg/kg) to cause a toxic reaction. On average, milk chocolate contains 44 mg of theobromine per ounce. Semisweet chocolate contains 150 mg/oz. Baker’s chocolate contains 390mg/oz.

There is no specific antidote for theobromine toxicity. Medical treatment is supportive. Inducing vomiting can help if the ingestion is known and has occurred within one to two hours. Administration of activated charcoal may inhibit absorption of the toxin from the digestive tract. It may be necessary to use medications to control the effects of the poisoning, especially seizure control medications, oxygen therapy, IV fluids, and medications to control the effects on the heart. Xanthines may be reabsorbed from the bladder, so urinary catheterization is recommended in order to prevent this.

If your pet consumes chocolate, call Affordable Pet Care N.W. right away. 

You will be asked 1) what kind of chocolate was ingested, 2) the amount ingested, 3) how much the animal weighs, and 4) when the chocolate was ingested.

Visit www.apcnw.com for more information about Affordable Pet Care N.W.!

Happy Birthday wishes to Dr. Jim Jensen! The team at Affordable Pet Care N.W. is grateful to have Dr. Jensen providing excellent veterinary care to the pets in our community! Thank you for all that you do for our team and we hope you have a PAWSitively PURRfect birthday today!

Visit us online at www.apcnw.com for more details about Affordable Pet Care N.W.

Pets & Pool Safety

Swimming is one of the most fun activities for a hot summer day, for people and pets! Just keep in mind that your pets need supervision just like your children. When you can’t be outside with them, keep your pool gates closed and locked to prevent unwanted swimmers from entering the area. Help keep your children and pets, and those who live in your neighborhood, safe!

Visit us online at www.apcnw.com! 

Pet Age Chart

Having trouble calculating your pet's age? We hope this Age Chart will help!

Today is Take Your Cat to the Vet Day

Did you know that your cat should be in to see us once a year all their life, and sometimes twice a year when they’re over seven years of age? Today is National “Take Your Cat to the Vet” Day—if your cat is due for a visit, call and schedule one today. Regular visits can help your cat live longer, because we can identify and treat problems sooner.

Visit us online at www.apcnw.com today! 

CHECKLIST FOR A SUCCESSFUL SENIOR CARE PROGRAM

1	Establish the Senior Care Team
	TASK OR ASSIGNMENT:	Assigned to Team Member	Completion Date
	Determine roles & responsibilities of each member:	_________________________	_______________
	o     Veterinarian	_________________________	_______________
	o     Practice Manager	_________________________	_______________
	o     Technician	_________________________	_______________
	o     Receptionist	_________________________	_______________
2	Set Senior Care Protocols
	TASK OR ASSIGNMENT:	Assigned to Team Member	Completion Date
	Set age for recruitment into program	_________________________	_______________
	Create separate canine and feline protocols (refer to AAHA Senior Care Guidelines), including: twice-a-year wellness exams, complete medical history, physical examination, laboratory work
		_________________________	_______________
3	Complete an Audit of Current Performance
	TASK OR ASSIGNMENT:	Assigned to Team Member	Completion Date
	Establish current compliance	_________________________	_______________
	o     Dog
	o     Cat
	Conduct the audit to establish baselines for future comparisons (For assistance in conducting an audit, speak with your Pfizer Account Executive.)	_________________________	_______________
	o     Identify compliance misses	_________________________	_______________
	o     Identify areas for improvement	_________________________	_______________
	o     Identify possibilities for increased revenue	_________________________	_______________
4	Create the Senior Care Program
	TASK OR ASSIGNMENT:	Assigned to Team Member	Completion Date
	Name your program	_________________________	_______________
	Establish goals for client participation:	_________________________	_______________
	o     Recommend to ___ clients
	o     Enroll ___ clients in program
	Determine the plan’s cost to clients	_________________________	_______________
	Create new computer codes for program, if necessary	_________________________	_______________
	Customize client communication tools
	o     Recruitment Letter and/or Recruitment Postcard	_________________________	_______________

	Create the Senior Care Program (continued)
	TASK OR ASSIGNMENT:	Assigned to Team Member	Completion Date
	o     Senior Care Folder with Label, for client to take home with the following materials:	_________________________	_______________
	o      Age Chart for Pets	_________________________	_______________
	o      Symptom Checklists (canine and feline)	_________________________	_______________
	o      Senior Care Health Report Card (canine and feline)	_________________________	_______________
	o      Handouts (for client folder) on variety of feline and canine topics: ·    When is My Dog or Cat Considered a “Senior”? ·    Aging or Illness? Signs of Age-Related Disease in Senior Dogs and Cats ·    The Senior Care Wellness Exam ·    Common Conditions in Senior Dogs and Cats	_________________________	_______________
	o     Reminder postcards for six-month Senior Care Exams	_________________________	_______________
	o     Senior Care Posters for reception area	_________________________	_______________
	o     Add Senior Care information to your website	_________________________	_______________
5	Consider Staff Training
	TASK OR ASSIGNMENT:	Assigned to Team Member	Completion Date
	Provide staff seminars on:
	o     Client Compliance	_________________________	_______________
	o     Overall Senior Care	_________________________	_______________
	o     Osteoarthritis	_________________________	_______________
	o     Dentistry	_________________________	_______________
	o     Nutrition/Obesity	_________________________	_______________
	o     Behavior/Cognitive Dysfunction	_________________________	_______________
	o     Blood Analysis	_________________________	_______________
	o     How to talk with clients about health care needs of senior pets	_________________________	_______________
	Create a staff resource binder	_________________________	_______________
6	Track and Measure Participation
	TASK OR ASSIGNMENT:	Assigned to Team Member	Completion Date
	Track number/percentage of eligible patients enrolled in program	_________________________	_______________
	Track client compliance with Senior Care recommendations	_________________________	_______________
	Begin to compile data on program’s impact on patient longevity	_________________________	_______________
	Track program’s impact on practice revenues	_________________________	_______________
	Reward team members as goals are met	_________________________	_______________

Pet Travel Safety

Going on an end of summer vacation with your dog? Don’t forget to be prepared to have him or her with you so that they can enjoy the trip too! Remember to pack as much food as your dog will need for the trip, and bring a jug of water with you on the road so they can have a drink if they get thirsty. Keep in mind that more than a few laps of water can be too much for a dog when you have many hours of travel ahead because it can cause a need to use the bathroom or nausea.

Visit us online at www.apcnw.com today! 

Saturday is National Homeless Animal Day

Have you ever purchased a pet from a shelter? Tomorrow is National Homeless Animal Day, to raise awareness about the many animals that have not yet found their forever homes. We encourage families who are looking to expand to consider checking local shelters…you never know, the pet of your dreams may be sitting there now waiting for you!

Visit our website at www.apcnw.com for more details about Affordable Pet Care N.W.! 

Pets & Hot Pavement

Have you ever thought about the way you hated walking on hot asphalt when you were a kid? As adults, we don’t spend as much time outside barefoot, so it’s easy to forget. We want to remind you that your pet goes outside barefoot every day and can experience this pain. It’s important to limit their time on black asphalt during walks, and when possible, take walks before it’s reached the hot part of the day. 

Pets & Truck Beds

You may sometimes see dogs riding in the beds of pick-up trucks, and it may look like they’re having fun, but it’s extremely dangerous. As pet owners, it’s our job to set boundaries for our pets to ensure their safety. We advise all pet owners to NEVER allow their pet to ride in the back of a pick of truck, as the result could be seriously injury or even death. Be safe! Let your pet ride in the cab with you. 

 Visit our website at www.apcnw.com! 

Pets & Camping

Are you taking your dog with you on a family camping trip this summer? Don’t forget to be prepared for pet care! It’s important that your pet is up-to-date on parasite prevention and has plenty of food and fresh, filtered or sanitized water to drink at the campground. Also, be prepared for safety by ensuring that your campground of choice allows dogs to visit, and that your dog has a place to sleep, preferably inside the tent where they won’t be bitten by insects or pestered by wild animals! Be safe, and the trip will be that much more fun!

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT www.apcnw.com