Hints & Tips: Summer 2008



Sleepy Hollow Feline Bed and Breakfast Logo

home.jpg
doornullapp.gif
doornullapp.gif
more-hints-and-tips.gif
PET TAG.JPG



 



Hints & Tips: Summer 2008

Back to Groton Veterinary Hospital home page

 
Cat Boarding

 SUMMER 2008

                     GROTON VETERINARY SHOPPING ALERT 
   
   Referrals are appreciated and another way to help your bottom line - for each referral that makes an appointment with us you will receive $15.00 off your next visit.
     Also check out our websites  www.grotonvet.com and  www.grotonvet.myvetonline.com for monthly hints/tips and all kinds of veterinary information.


                                     **AUGUST TIP OF THE MONTH**       

                                           THOSE MEAN STREETS - "YOUCH"!
 
Asphalt on a hot day not only burns the bottom of your feet, it can also burn the pads of your pet's feet! This may result in pain and damage to his or her paws. Pickup truck beds are another hazard to be considered. They become extremely hot and can burn a pet's feet very quickly. Paw protectors are available at local pet retail and online stores. Be sure to examine your pet's paws frequently to make sure they are not cracked or lacerated.


                                

 FELINE
"The Cat Scratch Disease Bacteria"

     Approximately 20% of healthy cats in the US are infected carriers of Bartonella Bacteria. Healthy cats can carry 5 members of the Bartonella bacteria in their blood, which are transmitted between cats by fleas and ticks. The bacteria can spread to people via cat scratches and bites, contact with fur and probably although rarely by infected fleas and ticks. Although most infected people do not become ill, Bartonella transmitted from cats can cause 22 human diseases.
     Most infected cats remain infected for years sometimes life with or without showing any symptoms. There is now a simple blood test you can do to screen your cat for the Bartonella bacteria. If your cat does test positive for the Bartonella bacteria your veterinarian will put them on a course of antibiotics. After the antibiotic therapy is completed your cat will be retested. Antibiotic therapy can rid these bacterias from your cat and make them a safe pet once again.

                                                  Cat_Scratch_Fever_2.jpg  

 

 


2-puppies.jpg   The "Pick" of the Litter       kittens.jpg

     Searching for a new puppy or kitten can be a daunting task. The choices may seem endless with Pet stores, Breeders, newspapers, shelters and on-line advertising. However, doing just a little bit of research in the beginning can pay off immensely in the long term when you end up with a healthy, easy going and well socialized pet.
     The ideal situation is to find a reputable breeder who will let you meet the parents of the litter and will know the health and personality history of both parents. The breeder should then let you observe the whole litter interacting. The youngster that is consistently the first to investigate new things, seems to have no fear and seems to push the others around in play and eating is the first youngster to avoid. This is the type of pet known as the "Alpha". This will be a dominate pet that will be aggressive in getting what it wants. This is the type of pet that has no problem starting fights and may growl or snap at family members who approach during meals. The next youngster to avoid is the one who hangs back in the corner or tries to hide behind the others and shies excessively at loud noises. This is the type of pet that is afraid of the world. This youngster may develop separation anxiety and can actually become fear aggressive. These are the youngsters to leave for the experienced dog and cat owners that have the time and energy to put into proper training and socialistic.
     For the average person or family that wants an easy going, healthy and well socialized pet, the ideal "Pick" of the litter is the individual that falls somewhere in the middle of the pack. This is the individual that may jump when surprised but does not run away trembling or immediately runs forward to investigate. This puppy or kitten should play nicely with the others and should look healthy. There should be no ribs showing and the eyes and nose should be clean and clear, with no sign of discharge. Ideally, the litter mates should stay together with their mother until 8 weeks of age. Most of the basic socialization skills are learned during this time.
     The Groton Veterinary Hospital does not recommend buying puppies, kittens or any kind of animal from Pet stores or on line services. It is difficult to know where these youngsters are coming from. In many cases these youngsters are being raised in inferior breeding facilities where cramped quarters and large numbers of animals can mean weakened immune systems and greater susecptability to disease and parasites. Again, the ideal "Pick" of the litter is best chosen by seeing the youngster in the environment it was raised in along with it's litter mates. 
     The staff at the Groton Veterinary Hospital is always happy to answer questions so please fell free to call or e-mail. 


raw%20meat.jpg    Canine and Feline Raw Dietsimages.jpg

Twenty-five commercial raw diets for dogs and cats were evaluated bacteriologically. Coliforms were present in all diets. Escherichia coli was identified in15 of the 25 diets (64%); however, E. coli was not detected. Salmonella spp. were detected in 5 of the 25 diets (20%); 1 each of beef, lamb, quail, chicken and ostrich based diets. Sporeforming bacteria were identified from 4 of the 25 (16%) samples on direct culture and 25 of the 25 (100%) samples using enrichment culture. Clostridium perfringens was identified in 5 of the 25 (20%) samples. A toxigenic strain of C. difficile was isolated from one turkey based food. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 1 of the 25 (4%) diets. Campylobacter spp. were not isolated from any of the diets.                                                           


                                                                     


If you ever have problems or questions, please contact us.

Groton Veterinary Hospital
171 Lowell Road
Groton, MA. 01450
Tel: 978-448-2722
Fax: 978-448-8194

Providing quality veterinary care,
while educating clients about keeping pets safe and healthy.

e-mail us

Hours of Operation
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday
8:30 a.m. to Noon 



Web site created by Design Connection




                        gorilla.jpg      THE HAZARDS OF "GORILLA GLUE"  

Apparently dogs like to eat "Gorilla Glue". "Gorilla Glue is a polyurethane glue, which means that as it cures, it foams," says Sophie Ragland, a company spokeswoman. The foam does not stick to the stomach lining but hardens into a loaf-like mass that must be surgically removed. Label instructions warn users to keep it out of reach of children and pets and notes that it "may cause gastrotintestinal blockage" if swallowed.

 


NEW VACCINATION PROTOCOL FOR GROTON VETERINARY HOSPITALS CATS AND DOGS

What is the immune system? Why is it important?         
The immune system plays a pivotal role in maintaining your pets health. One of the most important functions of this highly complex system of specialized cells and  molecules is to protect pets from disease and infection caused by foreign invaders -viruses, bacteria and a host of other microbes and parasites intent on assaulting the body and causing disease.
                             

 

What does vaccination accomplish?
Vaccines are given to prepare the body's immune system against invasion by particular disease causing organisms. Vaccines contain antigens which to the immune system "look" like the organism but don't, ideally, cause disease. When the vaccine is introduced by injection or some other means, the immune system responds by mounting a protective response. When your pet is subsequently exposed to the organism, the immune system is prepared and either prevents infection or reduces the severity of disease.
                                                                

Why do young animals require a series of vaccinations?
Young animals receive antibody from colostrum (the first milk the mother produces) that is ingested during the early hours after birth. Maternal antibody helps protect against infectious disease until the youngster's own immune system is more mature. Unfortunately, maternal antibody also interferes with the vaccines ability to stimulate the youngster's immune system. To counteract this problem, veterinarians often administer a series of vaccines, usually beginning when the youngster is around six to eight weeks of age, and then repeating vaccination at three to four week intervals until maternal antibody has waned, usually at around twelve to sixteen weeks of age. In most
cases (e.g., rabies vaccine) the initial vaccine is not given until maternal antibody has disappeared.
                                                    

Feline and Canine Vaccination
Over the past 50 years, vaccinations have helped extend our pets lives by several years. Over the past decade, we have learned all pets do not need all vaccines that are manufactured. Some vaccines last longer than we know, some vaccines can cause problems, and some pets life styles dictate what vaccine they need or should have.

For cats, we have been decreasing vaccine load for the past 4-5 years, as the research for cats and vaccines was dome first. Now, dogs have been explored, and we are attempting to do the same thing; vaccinate as necessary and less frequently, if possible.

Once a cat or dog is 3 years old, we start their new protocols. With all of the new changes we want to make sure our youngsters are totally protected before we start excluding fractions. There is always the possibility the researchers will change their minds, and we don't want to be caught in a confusing situation.

All cats and dogs have to follow the rabies law of each individual state. In MA after the initial 2 rabies vaccines given, 9-12 months apart, the vaccine is then given on a 3-year basis. All of the rest of the vaccine fractions are according to age and life style. For cats, the distemper (panleukopenia) fraction, lasts for several years and so we push that 5-7 years. The upper respiratory fractions are variable and we push 2 years. Leukemia vaccine is for cats that go outdoors or for cats living in a house with a leukemia positive cat. Dog distemper (parvo, hepatitis and one upper respiratory fraction) can be pushed 3 years depending on age. Lepto, lyme and bordetella need to be every year. Therefore, each year will be a different combination and if your pet needs more than 2-3 vaccinations at a time, we ask you to return in 2-3 weeks later so we do not overload the immune system.

                                           


 

 

     

 

 

 

 


Hours of Operation
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday
8:30 a.m. to Noon













Site Manager Sign In

Powered by
Yellow Pages
Yellow Pages