TRIBECA PET SERVICES NEWSLETTER
DECEMBER 1, 2O1O

  
    

snow pic

 

 

 

 

 

 

GETTING READY FOR ANOTHER HOLIDAY SEASON AND MORE SNOW TO PLAY IN!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 snow pp



PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK  TO SEE CHRISTMAS PICS FROM 2009 AT THE FARM!

In This Issue
HOLIDAY PET SAFETY
ASK THE VET
TPS FAMILY
DEAR CLIENTS,

WHAT A WONDERFUL TIME OF YEAR ! WE JUST CELEBRATED THANKSGIVING WITH OUR 2 LEGGED AND 4 LEGGED FAMILY AND GUESTS.  WE ARE NOW LOOKING FORWARD TO CHRISTMAS AND HOPEFULLY LOTS OF SNOW TO PLAY IN!
IN THIS NEWSLETTER YOU WILL FIND ARTICLES ABOUT PET SAFETY DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON,A NUTRITION ARTICLE BY DR. LUCY O'BYRNE AND WHATS IN THE WORKS FOR TPS.
WE HOPE YOU ENJOY IT!
 
MAX SNOW  
KEEPING YOUR COMPANION ANIMAL SAFE AND WARM DURING THE HOLIDAYS .
 
1. NEVER LET YOUR PETS OFF THE LEASH IN SNOW OR ICE, ESPECIALLY   DURING A SNOWSTORM. SNOW CAN OBSCURE FAMILIAR SCENTS AND CANINES CAN BECOME LOST.
 
2. KEEP PETS AWAY FROM ANTIFREEZE SOLUTIONS, AND PROMPTLY CLEAN UP ANTIFREEZE SPILLS. ANTIFREEZE IS ATTRACTIVE TO PETS BUT IS DEADLY,EVEN IN SMALL AMOUNTS.
 
3. SHORT COATED DOGS(GREYHOUNDS,DOBERMAN,BOXERS AND BOSTON  TERRIERS) SHOULD NOT GO OUTSIDE WITHOUT A COAT OR SWEATER IN VERY COLD WEATHER, EXCEPT TO RELIEVE THEMSELVES. SMALL DOGS WITH SHORT COATS(CHIHUHUAS,MINIATURE PINSCHERS AND MINIATURE DACHSHUNDS
 ) ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO COLD AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TOLERATE ANY OUTDOOR EXERCISE IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER.
MANY DOGS ALSO NEED BOOTS IN COLD WEATHER, REGARDLESS OF COAT LENGTH. I SUGGEST THIS BECAUSE OF THE CHEMICALS THAT ARE USED IN THE MELTING SALTS THAT ARE USED IN THE CITY. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THIS MAY CAUSE A BURNING SENSATION TO THEIR PAWS IF THE SALT IS NOT CHEMICAL FREE=PET FRIENDLY.
 
4. WHEN PETS ARE STRESSED BY HOLIDAY ACTIVITY OR DURING TRAVEL,THEY MAY REQUIRE MORE WATER.DOGS TYPICALLY PANT MORE WHEN THEY ARE STRESSED. KEEP FRESH WATER AVAILABLE TO DRINK.
 
5. DO NOT LET GUESTS FEED YOU PET HUMAN FOOD . THERE ARE MANY HOLIDAY FOODS,INCLUDING FATTY MEATS,GRAVIES,POULTRY SKIN,BONES,CHOCOLATE AND ALCOHOL THAT CAN CAUSE ILLNESSES FROM VOMITING AND DIARRHEA TO HIGHLY SERIOUS PANCREATITIS AND OTHER TOXIC REACTIONS. IN ADDITION,CANDY WRAPPERS,ALUMINUM FOIL PIECES AND RIBBONS CAN CHOKE PETS.

MATT AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS A SAFE,WARM AND HAPPY HOLIDAY
 
 DOXON SNOW

 ASK THE VET: INTRODUCING DR. LUCY OBYRNE
 
 LUCY

Dr. Lucy O'Byrne began her veterinary career as an assistant for her local veterinary hospital while she was a high school student in New Jersey. In college, she graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University with a Bachelor's Degree in biochemistry. Dr. O'Byrne also received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, she was awarded an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at NYC's Animal Medical Center.

Dr. O'Byrne has special interests in dentistry, dermatology, endocrinology, and general surgery. In 2007 Dr. O'Byrne attended an in-depth workshop in veterinary dentistry at the Animal Dental Training Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. O'Byrne is a USDA accredited veterinarian. Dr. O'Byrne enjoys living in NYC with her husband and her loving English Springer Spaniel Aloha.




 WHAT SHOULD I FEED MY PETS?

This is a question that we get asked everyday as veterinarians. The variety of pet food options available to owners can be overwhelming. There is no one diet out there that is perfect for all pets.
All pet food for sale in the USA needs to comply with the standards established by the Association of American Food Control Officers (AAFCO). All new pet food diets must be evaluated by either feeding trials or nutrient formulation. For feeding trials a small group of animals are fed the diet exclusively for 6 months. During the trial the animals are monitored closely for any signs of illness or nutrient deficiency. As long as the majority of animals are considered healthy at the end of the trial, the diet is approved and considered "complete and balanced". Alternatively the pet food manufacturer must supply the complete recipe for the new diet to prove that is complies with the established AAFCO nutrient profiles. All pet food labels must contain an AAFCO statement stating which process was used.
Which system of food testing is better? Both systems are trying to produce a healthy food product. I personally recommend diets that have been feeding trial tested. As we know from nutritionists both human and veterinary, there is always a question of "bioavailability". Just because a nutrient is present in the diet does not mean it is going to be absorbed by the body. Most pet foods are formulated by the manufacturer based on the AAFCO nutrient profiles, the feeding trial is the best test we have (so far) that shows that the nutrients are actually being processed and absorbed.
Which diet is right for your pet? You may have to try a few to find the right one. It may partially depend on your pet's taste preference. Some diets may be richer than others and could cause upset stomach or loose stool is some pets. Any time you are changing food always make a gradual transition over several days to allow your pets stomach time to adjust to the new diet.

How much to feed your pet? Every pet food and every pet are different. Some dry foods are 300 calories/cup others may be up to 500 calories/cup. On most pet food labels there is a chart of feeding guidelines for different sized pets. However each pet is an individual and may have a different metabolism rate. If your pet is having trouble losing or gaining weight, speak with your veterinarian about how many calories your pet should be fed per day to determine how much you should be feeding.

For pets with specific health conditions all of our hospitals carry a variety of prescription diets. We have diets that are formulated for pets with kidney disease, liver disease, arthritis, food allergies, etc. If you want to cook for your pet we can also help you formulate a balanced diet at home. We have had success using the Balance-It program that gives you a simple recipe to prepare plus a vitamin supplement to make sure it is complete nutrition. We can also consult with a board certified nutritionist to develop home cooked options for pets with multiple health conditions.

TPS FAMILY
jenna and chunkIsabella
Chunk sneaking in a quick kiss to Jenna                            Isabella the next top Vet!

 

 

matt and maxMatt working on some physical therapy with Max after his knee surgery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matt is happy to announce that he will be going to the NorthEast Regional Dog Trainer Academy starting in January. His instructors will be Jorge Melara and Bobbie Bhambree of DivineK-9, www.divinek-9.com

Matt is hoping to gain more knowledge and insight about our canine companions.

 


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