KINDNESS KORNER NEWSLETTER

Fall 1999                                                                                                                                                      Page 1

FROM THE DOCTOR

by Dr. Rose Eger

Animals have all of the same problems and diseases that people do. And just like us, dogs and cats occasionally need blood transfusions in emergency situations. Clyde, my hound dog, has always been our "universal" donor. He is now eight years old and has reached retirement age for such a noble purpose. The remainder of the staff's dogs are either too old or they are not universal donors. Purchasing whole blood is very expensive and it has a very short shelf life. Since we typically need blood only a couple times a year, the blood goes out of date before we can use it.

I would like to ask our clients with dogs which meet the qualifications for a donor, if they would consider having their dog tested to see if he/she has a universal blood type. To be a donor, the dog must be between 1-7 years of age, greater than 50 pounds, vaccinated annually, on heartworm prevention, spayed or neutered and available within one hour of a phone call to donate blood. If your dog meets these qualifications, then we would need to do a blood test to ensure that he/she has the universal blood type. The donation process is similar to that done in humans, except your pet will be sedated while giving blood to reduce the stress (and of course, he/she will have the area shaved - they have more hair than we do). Donations can not be done more than once monthly no matter how willing the donor because we do not want to cause your pet any discomfort or weakness. Since we only need transfusions a couple times a year, this should not be a problem.

The testing for qualified dogs is at our expense. To encourage owners to consider their pets for the program, if your dog donates blood, then the next annual exam, vaccinations and heartworm check will all be free.

FROM THE MANAGEMENT

By Mike Eger

If any of you have been around here lately, you are sure to have seen some changes that we are making. One of our biggest changes is that we have added another doctor to the staff. Dr. Klein is a 1998 graduate of Iowa State University and has been practicing in Tampa before joining our staff. I am sure she will be a great asset to our hospital. It will allow us to see more patients and at the same time give you more of our time.

Another change we have made is the addition to our building and parking lot. With two doctors, we need more room inside and the addition is the first phase of our building expansion plans. In the near future, we also plan to expand the waiting room and to convert the existing lab/pharmacy area into a third exam room. Also part of the addition will be dedicated for the purpose of treating feline hyperthyroidism using radioactive iodine. This requires a special permit and we will be one of only a handful of hospitals in Florida that offers this treatment.

Also, we now have our own web page at www.KindnessAnimalHosp.com. The web site introduces you to our staff and their pets, gives an overview of the services we provide and other interesting information. If you want some information on certain topics or have some question, you can E-mail us (KAHC@gate.net) and we will respond, typically within a couple of days.

Finally, I have asked the doctors if they would mind writing a special column in the newsletter. I have a subscription to Discover magazine and I love reading about all the scientific information

KINDNESS KORNER NEWSLETTER

Fall 1999                                                                                                                                                         Page 2

that the magazine covers. However, there is one section called Vital Signs that they have every month. This article is about medicine. It is written by doctors, who describe an interesting case they have had. The doctors relate the condition of their patients, their medical experience and the thought processes that they go through in treating the patient. It personalizes the treatment process and shows that medicine is not an exact science. It also shows how important it can be to use specialists and to draw on all the resources available to diagnose and treat some conditions. I always enjoy reading the column and I thought that we should be able to do something like that with the cases we see here. We will extract on the name of the article and call it Veterinary Vital Signs. The first one is written by Dr. Eger and describes a case that is near and dear to her and me because it was about our dog Bonnie.

TECHNICIAN’S TURF

by Lisa Johnson

I would like to start off this article and address another tough issue that we must all face in the future. The issue concerns what would happen to our animals in case of an unexpected illness or accident to us. It is an issue that, since we do not expect anything to happen to us, is not addressed often enough. Working with families and their pets is something we all at the hospital enjoy doing. We get to know your pets and your families each year we see them. So, when that time of year comes around and we don’t see you or your pet walk through that door, it makes us wonder if everything is all right. A lot can happen day to day. You read about accidents every day. If you stop for a minute and ask yourself this question: Are my animals going to be cared for in the event something happens to me? Who will provide for them?

They do need your care and love. I know most of you don’t want to see them go to the pound. Even though most of us have families, they might not be allowed to have a pet or may not be willing to take your pet. I have also looked into this for my own pets. As most of you know, I have two perfect dogs. I also asked myself the same question, what would happen to them if I was unable to care for them? I also would have to consider their sizes. They are two big dogs. So wow, what a problem this really turns out to be. I jumped on the Internet just to see if this was an issue that many families deal with. I found hundreds and hundreds of wills where families have included their pets. I was surprised just how many people do indeed think of their pets. I found a special cat house that you can will your cat there for the rest of the cats life. I found special rescue groups that help families place pets of deceased loved ones. I was just amazed to find all these places on the Internet that would help out. I found out just how important it is to include your pet in your wills.

It has opened my eyes and I want to ensure that my pets receive the care they need in case I am gone. (Which hopefully won’t be for a long time.) So I made the proper arrangements for my two monsters. (Boy was my mother thrilled when I told her that). Especially after explaining the treats and how spoiled they are. So after about an hour on the phone telling her about this issue and my concerns about my pets in the event something were to happen to me, she too made a decision regarding her pets. She decided that I was the perfect person to care for her 12 horses, 3 pot bellied pigs, 6 dogs, 7 cats, 4 goats and of course all the chickens. So as I hung up the phone, I wished my mother a very long life. I felt better now knowing my pets

KINDNESS KORNER NEWSLETTER

Fall 1999                                                                                                                                                       Page 3

would be just fine. So please take the time to make sure your pets are cared for. If you need any information on pets in wills from the computer, I would be glad to help you.

FRONT DESK FORUM

By Melanie Pierce & Gail Tracey

Can your dog share your vacation? Trips that include hiking, camping or visiting family may be enjoyable for all, but certain destinations, such as museums and amusement parks are no place for dogs. Even when your dog is allowed bunk space, there will be places where he can’t accompany you, for instance around a pool or in a restaurant. If your plans include all-day excursions, check out local boarding establishments in advance. Many places book reservations months ahead, especially during tourist season.

Be sure your dog wears a buckle collar with identification tags and travels with its own supplies. Include an extra leash, favorite toys and grooming tools. Tuck in your dog’s security blanket with its bowl and food. If you’re traveling outside your local area, its a good idea to use bottled water or to introduce a change in water or food gradually so your pet does not suffer intestinal upset. Pack your dog’s prescription medications, and talk to your vet about a first aid kit for minor cuts, rashes or bug bites.

Take a crate, your dog’s home away from home. If your dog does not normally use a crate, introduce the dog to it before the trip. A crate acts as a dog’s safety belt in a car and keeps the dog from jumping into your lap just as you’re passing an 18-wheeler on a mountain road. Motel personnel and property managers are more likely to accept a dog that will be created when you are not present. Crates provide insurance that pets won’t dash out the door when the maid steps in.

If you are flying to your destination, your dog must travel in a sturdy crate. Check with the airline reservation agent to make sure your crate is an approved model. A few airlines allow owners to carry on small crates for tiny dogs, as long as they fit under the seat. This privilege is usually limited to one dog per cabin, so make your reservations in advance. Most airlines require dogs to have a health certificate issued within 10 days of the flight and to be up to date on vaccinations. Most airlines protect the safety of your pet by limiting air travel to moderate temperatures. If you’re traveling during times when the thermometer might soar or dip dramatically, make alternate arrangements for your pet.

Keep your dog on leash for control and for its safety. When you meet others prevent your dog from jumping up to greet people. You might teach your dog to sit and offer its paw-always a winning gesture.

In some instances, no matter how much you’l miss your dog , it’s better for your pet to stay at home. Boarding is often the most practical answer, but be sure to inspect facilities beforehand. Find out what vaccinations they require and since vaccines do not take affect immediately, have your pet vaccinated ahead of time to ensure they are protected. Alternatives to boarding, such as pet-sitters or willing neighbors, may allow your pet to stay comfortably at home.

Taking your dog on vacation means extra work, so consider accommodations and planned activities carefully before you decide to take your pet with you.

KINDNESS KORNER NEWSLETTER

Fall 1999                                                                                                                                                   Page 4

HOSPITAL GENERALITIES

Just a few reminders on our general hospital operations.

Hours: 8:00am-5:30pm Monday - Friday

9:00am-1:00pm Saturday

Please make an appointment if you would like to see the doctor. The order in which we see clients is as follows:

1. Emergencies
1. Scheduled Appointments
2. Walk-ins

Surgeries: We perform surgeries and dentals on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings. We open at 7:30 AM for surgery drop-offs only on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

Pharmacy: To avoid delays in getting your prescriptions refilled, please call ahead and we will get it ready for you. We understand that your time is valuable and sometimes it is difficult for us to fill your prescriptions in a timely manner on a walk-in basis.

PRODUCT REVIEW

CATS THAT SPRAY

Some of you may have cats that have started to spray in your house marking their territory. We know this is a major problem and until now there was not much that could be done with any great degree of success. A product called FeliwayÒ has come on the market and it is a cat pheromone. You spray it on the areas that the cat has been spraying and it makes the cat think that it has already marked the area. It may take one to two weeks till you see progress but people who have tried it say that it does work.

FLEA & TICK CONTROL

Although not new, the number of these products on the market make it necessary to review what each does.

Programâ is a pill which is given once a month and it sterilizes (but does not kill) the fleas that bite your pet. This product is useful in keeping the flea population in your yard or house under control.

SentinelÒ -The makers of Programâ combined the heartworm medication Interceptorâ with Programâ so you have only one pill to give on a monthly basis. It is also a little cheaper than buying both separately.

Advantageâ is a liquid which is applied to one or more spots on the skin of your dog or cat once a month. This both kills and repels fleas and works well when there is a flea infestation or for flea allergic dogs and cats. We recommend that when using this product, bath your pet at most every two weeks with a mild soap free shampoo (the shampoo should say soap free or detergent free on the label) and apply the product monthly after a bath.

Frontlineâ comes in two forms, a spray and a spot on like Advantageâ . It is designed to kill both fleas and ticks and will not wash off with most shampoos. Our experience has shown that it does not spread over the body as well as Advantageâ but when it does spread, it does a good job in killing fleas and reducing the number of ticks.