| April is our "Healthy Mouth" Month | 
With temperatures soon to be reaching 60 degrees, it looks like spring has officially arrived. We have seen the robins and a fly so we know that the fleas and ticks cannot be far behind. Hope you have survived the winter with a minimum of snow-related maladies. We're looking forward to those crocuses pushing up through the soil and getting back on the road to walk with our furry friends. April is our "Healthy Mouth" month. Purina is offering a $50 rebate after a dental procedure, for clients who purchase any size bag of their DH (dental health) cat or dog food. Call the clinic for details 339-0700. Now that the weather is improving, many of you will have the urge to get outside and enjoy a hike with your dog. A long winter of inactivity might mean that your dog will need some time to get back to last summer's level of fitness. See tips from the Appalachian Mountain Club below before heading out on the trails with your dog. Happy trails!
Great Brook Animal Care
207-339-0700
Save on diagnostic blood tests.
Coupon for $10 Off
Felines: "Feline Triple" detects antibodies against these infectious agents, two are viruses, Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). These two diseases are untreatable, often fatal viral infections. The third disease of this triple test is Feline Heartworm. The mosquito is the vector or carrier of this infection. Save $10 on this test. Canines: "The 4Dx" detects antibodies to the following mosquito and tick borne infectious agents: Heartworm, Lyme disease, Erlichiosis, Anaplasma. Save $10 on this test. |
| Ask the Vet: |
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Dr. B and Tug
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Dear Dr. B, Our neighbor found a mother cat and three kittens under her front deck. We are now the proud parents of one of them! When should we first visit the doctor with our new little one and what shots does she (or he, not sure) need? Sincerely, Proud Parents Dear Parents, Congratulations! Kittens are just so cute and entertaining.You can look forward to up to 20+ years of love from your baby. Felines, often considered to be "easier" pets than dogs, hide disease better than their canine counterparts. I recommend bringing your kitten in for her first visit at 8 weeks of age; earlier, if you see any signs of sneezing/coughing, or lack of appetite.Since you don't know where your kitten and its mother came from, the most important thing you can do for her and yourself is to ask for the simple blood test called the Feline Triple. It will detect the possible infection in cats of the following diseases: Feline Leukemia, Feline HIV and Heartworm.Be sure she/he gets a thorough exam and check for parasites as most new kittens and puppies carry them. The recommended kitten vaccines for feline distemper, rabies, and upper respiratory complex will be discussed at that visit too. Enjoy this exiting and funny time with your new kitten.Thank you for providing a good home for her or him! BTW, when you lift your kitten's tail and take a look at the anatomy, if you see a pattern that resembles a colon (:) that indicates a him, and a semicolon (;) is a her. 'Til Next Time :) Dr. B |
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Get Fit With Fido, But Be Careful!
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Your dog needs to stay hydrated too.
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The signs of spring can motivate us to get outside and go for a hike with our dogs. Just remember that dogs--just like people--may be out of shape after a long winter of napping and you need to be cautious while they are getting back in shape too. Their enthusiasm can sometimes mask the fact that they are actually in a lot of pain and you wouldn't want to be caught far out on the trail with a lame dog, unable to return back to the house or the car. One of our employees was doing some research online about hiking with dogs and came across this excellent article by Rob Burbank on the Appalachian Mountain Club's (AMC) website. He is the Public Affairs Director for the AMC and offered some great advice on preparing for a hike on the trails with your dog. From conditioning your dog to trail etiquette, the article covers everything you need to know for a safe, enjoyable outing this spring and summer with your dog. You may want to ask your vet these questions before heading out: - Is my dog physically capable of hiking?
- How fit should my dog be before attempting a hike?
- Does he have any limitations I should know about?
- Can my dog carry his pack safely?
- How much weight can my dog safely carry?
- Is my dog allergic to insect bites?
- Should I take any of his medications with me?
- What other advice would you offer?
Read the complete AMC online article here. Here are a few other recommendations from Dr. Holbrook before hitting the trail: - Find out your dog's normal temperature, respiration and soundness level so you have a baseline for comparison if you think he's not doing well out on the trail.
- Are you heading out on a public trail or camping area where you may come into contact with other dogs and people? Make sure your dog is up-to-date on all his vaccines and tick prevention treatments.
- Not sure if your dog can handle long hikes? Consider a wellness exam so your vet can assess if he's healthy enough to start a conditioning program.
Have fun on the trails!
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| In the News |
Find out the latest news at Great Brook Animal Care on our new Facebook page. See photos of our adoption success stories, posts by clients and updates on our 90 Day Slim Down for Pets program. You can also see Dr. Holbrook's page where he checks in from time to time sharing his thoughts on being a Vet.
"Dunkin" Slims Down!
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"Dunkin" lost 3 lbs.
in the Slim Down Challenge
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Meet "Dunkin" our latest success story in the Pet Slim Down Challenge. He has lost 3 lbs. and while it may not seem like much it is 15 percent of his body weight. That is the equivalent of an average person dropping 25 pounds! Dunkin's mom is so happy with Purina's Overweight Management or "OM" diet that she wants to feed it to him forever. We are cool with that. Way to go Dunk!! You can see photos of other pets in the Slim Down Challenge on our Facebook page.
New Chewable Products For Dogs in the War Against Fleas
Comfortis®, chewable beef flavored tablet, great for dogs that swim in the summer Trifexis TM, chewable beef flavored tablet, kills three different kinds of parasites, great for dogs that swim in the summer Available at our online pharmacy, or call us for details. 207-339-0700
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| Did you know? Prevention Beats Treatment |
PREVENTION Before Beats TREATMENT After Monthly doses of Triheart® and Vectra® for Dogs and Frontline® or Advantage® Multi for Cats will help to prevent infection in your furry family members. TriHeart: 24 cents/day protects against heartworm in dogs Vectra: 58 cents/day flea and tick prevention for dogs Frontline: 57 cents/day cat flea/tick prevention Advantage: 55 cents/day cat flea/tick prevention For less than the cost of a cup of coffee ($1.92) per day, you can protect your pet and your family! A little change can go a long way when it comes to prevention vs. treatment! |
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Flea Reminders
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We've covered it before, but it's such a common problem and with the warmer weather upon us we wanted to remind you of the key points of flea control:
- Use a topical flea control product like Vectra3D® (Dogs), FRONTLINE®Plus (Cats) or Advantage® (both) on the skin (at the base of the neck).
- Follow your Dr.'s recommendation for once a month flea treatment for life, you will win the battle against the fleas!
- Comfortis® is for dogs who love to swim all summer.
Questions? Call the clinic at 207-339-0700.
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| Adoption Update |
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Abandoned by its mother, this kitten
was adopted earlier this month.
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This adorable kitten was in the clinic recently. It had been abandoned by its mother at just one week of age. We were able to feed it, warm it up and we are happy to report that she has been adopted by a very nice family. We wish her all the best in her new home! If you are interested in adopting a pet, please visit our Facebook page. Occasionally, we learn of pets that become available for adoption and we post photos and information about the pet there. |
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Great Brook
Animal Care
Mission Statement
| To provide exceptional service and consultation to our clients so that they may be informed and empowered animal caregivers who are able to nurture their animal family members throughout their lives. At Great Brook
Animal Care we provide
Total Life Care with
Tender Loving Care.
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Spring Training
for Your Dog!
"A dog's joy can lift your spirits, his sense of wonder about the outdoors can be contagious, and his superior senses of smell and hearing can clue you in to things you might have missed if you were out on your own...a well-conditioned, well-trained and well-equipped dog can be the best trail buddy you'll ever have." --Rob Burbank Appalachian Mountain Club
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Community News
Great Brook Animal Care recently participated in a Feline Spay/Neuter Clinic run by the Animal Welfare Society (AWS), Kennebunk, Maine. In February over 400 cats were spayed or neutered at several veterinary hospitals in York County.
Learn more about the AWS spay/neuter program.
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Did you know? Nearly 25 percent of the calls into the ASPCA poison control number concerned human medications accidentally ingested by pets. The most common culprits include over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen. 
Did you know? Easter lillies can be extremely toxic to cats? They can cause life-threatening kidney failure in cats, while sago palms can cause liver failure in dogs and cats. Keep house plants and bouquets away from your pets. 
Did you know?
Spring bulbs can be very toxic to pets, causing mild to possibly more serious gastrointestinal distress.
Did you know?
Sea otters have purple bones? Ingesting purple sea urchins stains their bones this color.
Source: ASPCA Spring 2011 Newsletter
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Puppies and More!
Training Classes
Contact us about upcoming puppy training classes.
Canine Adventures
website
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