Masthead.72dpi  

The Pet Health Newsletter of Arroyo Veterinary Hospital                   April 2011  
 April is
Heartworm
Awareness Month


This is a great time to get your dog or cat tested for heartworm and on prevention.

We're offering Canine Heartworm tests at 50% off regular price (with exam) during April.
   

Have you considered Acupuncture?

Acupuncture can relieve the symptoms and lessen the discomfort of many canine health problems.  

   

DS Acupuncture  

Dr. Deanna Schwab

  

Click Here

for a list of problems that can be treated with acupuncture.

Join the

Arroyo  

Smile Club!


If your dog or cat has had a dental cleaning in the past 12 months send us a picture and we'll post him or her on our Smile Club board in our lobby.
Smile Club

Just email a jpeg photo to
info@avhsonoma.com
and mention the Smile Club.
We will
match PetMed's prices
on
Flea,
Tick & Heartworm
prevention products!  

 NO REASON

TO GO

ELSEWHERE!

 ________________

  
Click Here
for Special offers on  
Advantix®
Frontline® 

Revolution®

Sentinel®
Trifexis®
& Heartgard®  

 Team in Training Needs You!
Our Practice Manger, Rich Lee and his daughter Abbey will be competing in a the Avia Wildflower Triathlon April 30 - May 1 and they need your support to help those with Leukemia and Lymphoma.
Team in Training
Go to their web page and donate now!
RL
Rich
    or    Abbey   

 
CareCredit®

A third party financing option. A dedicated credit card for pet care.
It only takes a few minutes to apply by phone or online or we can do that for you while you're here at the hospital.
For more info go to:
www.carecredit.com
 

Thanks!

For referring your friends to us. Did you know that we give you a $10 credit on your account when you send us a new client?
Quick Links
avhsonoma.com
The Arroyo Veterinary
Hospital web site

.  .  .

Healthy Pet
The American Animal Hospital Association's Web site for pet owners

.  .  .

heartwormsociety.org
Heartworm prevention

.  .  .
   

www.petdental.com
Web site focused on pet dental health.  

.  .  .  

veterinarypartner.com
Reliable, up-to-date animal health information from the Veterinary Information Network.

  .  .  .

72hours.org
Are you prepared? In a major disaster it might be several days before vital services are restored.  

PetPrints Wave

Spring rains = Mosquitoes = Heartworm! . . . 


     . . . With the recent heavy rains and the warmer weather we need to remember that mosquitos are flying again.   This means your pets are at an increased risk for exposure to Heartworm.
     We are clearly in an area where pets are at risk for heartworm.
     According to the American Heartworm Society:
1. Heartworm disease, which is spread by mosquitoes, is debilitating, and may even prove fatal.
2. All dogs and cats are at risk regardless of whether they are considered indoor or outdoor pets.
3. Treatm
Canine Heartworm videoent for heartworm disease is expensive, traumatic and risky, and its outcome is unpredictable.
4. Prevention
is the best treatment - and it's easy, convenient and affordable.
    Your dog
 and cat should be on a year round Heartworm preventative. Ask us about Heartworm prevention and the risks associated with this potentially fatal diseasFeline Heartworm videoe.
     We strongly recommend that your dog or cat be tested annually for heartworm
 disease - EVEN IF THEY ARE ON YEAR ROUND PREVENTION. A heartworm test is fairly inexpensive. Treatment for Heartworm disease is not. This month we are offering a 50% discount on Canine Heartworm tests.
     Watch these videos to learn more or click here to read more about where heartworm is found, the heartworm life cycle, symptoms, prevention and treatment.

 
PetPrints Wave
Team Profile . . .

     . . . Meet Client Service Representative, Stephanie Briggs.

Stephanie came to Arroyo in August of 2009 and has quickly Stephaniebecome a "regular".   

     "I get to work with an amazing group of people and to help pets in need as well as their owners. Every day brings a new challenge and an opportunity to learn."

     Stephanie is currently pursuing a degree in business and would ultimately like to pursue a career in the veterinary field.  

     She lives in Sonoma with her dog, "Lola" and her cat, "George".

 

PetPrints Wave
Hazards of Spring ... 

       . . . Spring is finally here!  The warmer weather can bring some unexpected dangers for our pets.  Here are some recommendations Suzieto keep them safe this season. 

· Walking your dog should be done to avoid the peak temperatures of the afternoon.  Morning and evenings are the best times to be outdoors.

· Fresh water and shade needs to be available at all times.-Be sure not to leave your animals in vehicles unattended.

· Green grass can be appealing for our dogs and cats to eat but sometimes can get suck in their throats causing uncomfortable coughing and gagging.

· Fields should  be mowed before grasses can mature into foxtails.

Don't let your dog enter areas once foxtails are present.  They can become lodged in ears, toes, noses and eyes causing serious problems.

· Tall grass can also mask hidden dangers such as mushrooms and moldy walnuts that can be toxic.  Removing these items from your yard is advisable if possible.

· Snail bait is also toxic if ingested.  Be sure to use cat and dog safe brands if your pets have access to the garden area.

· Be aware that bee and wasp stings may cause some animals severe allergic reactions.

· Keep your dog on leash when entering known rattle snake areas. 

 

Wishing you all a happy and safe spring!   

Dr. Suzie Johnson 


PetPrints Wave
Spring Rummage Sale . . .

     . . . We're having another rummage sale this Spring - on Saturday, April 9, from 9 am - 12 Noon. This sale will benefit the Leukemia Lymphoma Society Team in Training to help those with blood cancers including Leukemia, Lymphoma, Hodgkin's Lymphoma and myeloma.  

Team in Training    Donated items gladly accepted (except for large items) at the hospital.  

      Dr. Stallling's husband Rich and daughter Abbey are in training to compete in a Triathlon at the end of April and this rummage sale will help them meet their goal of raising $9,000 which will go directly to the LLS.  

     You can also go directly to their fundraising page by clicking on their names above. 


PetPrints Wave
Cat Rules to Live By . . . 

       . . . Last month we offered some simple rules for dogs. This Alliemonths the felines get equal time.

 

Rules of Etiquette for Inexperienced Cats

· If you have to throw up, get into a chair quickly. If you cannot manage this in time, get to an Oriental rug. Shag is good!

· Determine quickly which guest hates cats. Sit on that lap during the evening. He won't dare push you off and will even call you "nice kitty." If you can arrange to have cat food on your breath, so much the better.

· For sitting on laps or rubbing against trouser legs, select colors which contrast with your own.

· Always accompany guests to the bathroom. It is not necessary to do anything. Just sit and stare.

· For guests who say, "I love kitties," be ready with aloof disdain, claws applied to stockings or a quick nip on the ankles.

· Do not allow closed doors in any room. To get one open, stand on hind legs and hammer with forepaws. Once the door is opened for you, it is not necessary to use it. You can change your mind. When you have ordered an outside door opened, stand half in and half out and think about several things. This is particularly important during very cold weather or mosquito season.

· If one person is busy and the other is idle, sit with the busy one. For book readers, get in close under the chin, unless you can lie across the book itself.

· For ladies knitting, curl quietly into lap and pretend to dose. Then reach out and slap knitting needles sharply. This is what she calls a dropped stitch. She will try to distract you. Ignore it.

· For people doing homework, sit on the paper being worked on. After being removed for the second time, push anything movable off the table -- pens, pencils, stamps -- one at a time.

· Get enough sleep during the daytime so that you are fresh for playing at night between 2 & 4 a.m.

 

From monster-island.org