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Newsletter OCTOBER 2009 |
Vol 1, Issue 1 |
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| Greetings! |
The veterinarians and staff at Alta Vista Veterinary Hospital are pleased to provide you with our "Online Newsletter." This fun and fact-filled information will keep you upate on a regular basis.
Included in our Newsletter will be articles pertaining to pet care, information on our hospital, as well as news on the latest trends and discoveries in veterinary medicine.
Please enjoy the newsletter!
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DENTAL CLEANING |
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To properly evaluate and clean your pet's teeth, general anesthesia is necessary. If teeth cleaning is  done without anesthesia, it is usually done outside a veterinary hospital by non-professional individuals. Only veterinarians can administer anesthesia or sedation to pets. This enables your pet's teeth to be properly cared for.
Anesthesia or deep sedation is necessary for a thorough oral examination and dental cleaning.
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Dental tartar is firmly attached to the surface of teeth and needs to be removed.
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Scaling by ultrasonic scalers and sharp hand instruments are necessary in order to remove the dental tartar.
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Any sudden movement can cause injury to the animal or individual performing the procedure.
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Dental scaling is performed above and below the gum line. Scaling the teeth above the gum line usually does not cause discomfort; however, scaling below the gum line (or under the gums) can cause discomfort. The area below the gum line, or subgingival space, is the most important area to clean as periodontal disease begins here.
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Humans cooperate during dental procedures; however, without anesthesia or deep sedation, dogs and cats do not.
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Scaling above the gum line offers nothing but cosmetic results. Scaling must be done below the gum line.
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| Save 10% |
Schedule your pet a dental cleaning during the moth of October and save 10%.
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| Offer Expires: October 31, 2009 | |
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CANINE FLU VACCINE CLINIC
When?
Sundays in October from 2p-6pm.
Do I need an Appointment?
This is a walk-in clinic so no appointments are scheduled and there will be no office visit charge. However, the clinic will only administer vaccinations and not treat other issues with your dog.
What is the cost?
The vaccine will cost $20 per injection or $38 for both boosters (if paid in full on initial visit) with no office visit charge.
If you have any questions about Canine Influenza, the Canine Influenza Vaccination, the Canine Flu Vaccine Clinic, or directions please call and speak to one of our Healthcare Team members or visit our website at www.altavistavet.com
4706 N. 7th Ave
Phoenix, Arizona 85013
Ph: 602-277-1464
Fax: 602-241-1548
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Canine Influenza |
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 We would like to inform you about a Canine Healthcare Alert and some proactive steps you can take to protect your canine companions from Canine Flu!
What is canine influenza (dog flu)?
Dog flu is a contagious respiratory disease in dogs caused by a specific Type A influenza virus referred to as a "canine influenza virus." This is a disease of dogs, not of humans.
Where did it originate?
It first presented itself in Florida in greyhounds in 2004 and has now been found in 30 states and the District of Columbia.
Who is at risk?
One hundred percent of dogs are susceptible and eighty percent of infected dogs will show signs of infection. In about twenty percent of these cases, more severe signs will occur and up to eight percent of clinically ill dogs may die from complications like high fever and pneumonia.
What are the signs?
The signs of Canine Influenza are similar to kennel cough and can therefore be easily dismissed by a pet's owner. These include coughing, sneezing, fever, nasal discharge and ocular (eye) discharge. Even dogs that do not show symptoms can still spread the virus. Unfortunately, by the time dogs would show signs of infection, they have unknowingly already been spreading the disease for 7-10 days.
What do I do if My Dog seems sick?
Please be vigilant and if you notice that your dog is coughing, sneezing, running a fever, has a nasal discharge and ocular (eye) discharge, then immediately isolate your dog from other dogs and call us at 602-277-1464 and arrange to have your dog examined by one of our veterinarians.
The Canine Flu Vaccine
The best way to protect your dogs from Canine Influenza is to maintain healthy pets, in order to strengthen their immune systems, and to immunize them with the Canine Influenza Vaccine.
The vaccine has been proven safe and well tolerated in over 700 dogs. The vaccine is initially a series of two injections given 2-4 weeks apart and then annually.
We recommend the vaccine for dogs that socialize with other dogs in places such as veterinary clinics, boarding facilities, pet stores, daycares, dog parks and obedience classes. Your dog should be at least 6-8 weeks old and have no history of vaccine reactions in the past.
One of the most disturbing things about Canine Flu is that animals that are in the contagious stage and shedding the virus, show no symptoms. Infected dogs may not show signs until after they are finished shedding the virus to other dogs. Infectious dogs may look perfectly normal, and act perfectly normal, while spreading the disease to other dogs. For that reason, vaccination is really the only practical way of preventing severe disease.
Additional Resources:
www.usatoday.com
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound in cure.
Investing in proactive preventative healthcare for our pets, improves their quality of life, increases their longevity, and decreases long-term and unexpected healthcare costs.
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| BEWARE OF CHOCOLATE TOXICITY TO DOGS |
As Halloween approaches there will certainly be lots of chocolate eaten in households across Arizona. Chocolate is enjoyed at many holidays, including Halloween. However, chocolate is toxic to dogs! Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine, which dogs do not metabolize well. This chemical is related to and works very much like caffeine, but with intensified effects in dogs. The clinical signs of chocolate toxicity in dogs can be as mild as vomiting and diarrhea or progress to more serious signs such as hyperactivity, rapid heart rate, seizures and even death. The important message is: Keep all chocolate and cocoa products out of reach of dogs! The table below shows some general guidelines for chocolate toxicity.
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Number of OUNCES of CHOCOLATE a Pet Would Need to Ingest for TOXICITY
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Weight of Pet
in Pounds |
5 |
10 |
15 |
20 |
25 |
30 |
40 |
50 |
60 |
70 |
80 |
90 |
100 |
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Milk Chocolate
(ounces) |
2 |
4 |
6 |
8.2 |
10.2 |
12.3 |
16.4 |
20.5 |
24.5 |
28.6 |
32.7 |
36.8 |
41 |
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Dark Chocolate
(ounces) |
0.7 |
1.4 |
2.1 |
2.8 |
3.5 |
4.2 |
5.5 |
6.9 |
8.3 |
9.7 |
11 |
12.5 |
13.8 |
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Baking Chocolate
(ounces) |
0.23 |
0.5 |
0.7 |
0.9 |
1.2 |
1.4 |
1.9 |
2.3 |
2.8 |
3.2 |
3.7 |
4.1 |
4.6 | Bottom line: Keep chocolate away from dogs and HAVE A HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
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| FACTS ON MICROCHIPS |
More than 10 million pets get lost each year.
One third of all pets, including 'indoor-only' cats and dogs, will become lost during their lifetime.
90% won't return home without effective identification.
Unfortunately, getting lost is the number 1 cause of pet death.
A microchip can ensure a pet's protection and safety if ever lost and then found.
Administering a microchip is the same as giving vaccinations.
It is fast, easy and safe. Actual size of chip. ------
At our hospital we strongly believe in microchips as a Standard of Care for all our cat and dog patients.
We can microchip your pet today during a regular visit.
We recommend this life saving procedure and service.
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Please remember we have extended hours and are here 7 days a week!
We pride ourselves on providing excellent customer service.
If you have any questions,concerns, or comments
we would love to hear from you!
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RECEIVE $5.00 OFF YOUR PET'S FIRST GROOM WITH THIS COUPON.
PLEASE CALL 602-265-3198 TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.
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| Offer Expires: December 31, 2009 |
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