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| Greetings!
Congratulations to all the Graduates! Ranger wishes you all the best luck!
We have an announcement. We are accepting CareCredit as a form of payment. If you would like to know more about CareCredit, please call us or visit their website.
Let us know what you would like to see in future newsletters. We would love to answer your pet questions! Our email address is okawvetstaff@mchsi.com. Our phone number is 253-3221.
The Okaw Vet Clinic Staff |
Prevent Bites - Two Simple Questions Everyone Should Ask
One of the most common reasons dogs and cats bite people is that they are afraid.The pet is trying to tell us to stay away but we humans keep pursuing them leaving the pet to use its best weapon the teeth. We humans often miss how the dog or cat is telling us to stay away, so we continue to try to pet them, or pick them up resulting in bites. There are ways to prevent these awful episodes and keep everyone safe.
First of all, all adults and children need to ask a pet owner 2 questions before petting a pet at all.
First question: Does he like to be petted?Not all pets like to be petted!Some may be generally timid, have had surgery or an ear infection or skin problem making it possibly painful to be petted. Ask first.
Second question: May I pet your pet? Even nice, affectionate pets may be scared that moment, a bit unsure, nervous, in pain from illness or the owner may be concerned about the person petting their pet as in a small child so always ask first.
Pet owners, get to know how your pet looks when they are first becoming afraid, unsure of a situation or timid. Often times we miss how a dog's tail goes a little down, or a cat's ears turn to the back which says "I don't know about this. Give me more space". What happens is humans come closer reaching out to touch without asking and the dog or cat is left to their last resort of saying "stay away" by biting. If you have a feeling your pet is getting scared, tell people to not pet your pet.You are not being mean or rude - you are being a responsible pet owner.
Members of the Animal Behavior Network can view the dog and cat body language presentations online. You can find out how to become a member of the Animal Behavior Network through our website. There are subtle changes in a dog's tail carriage and facial expressions that show fear, and cats can show signs that are hard for us to understand. Resources such as ABN are really helpful for pet owners to keep their pets behaving their best.
Supervise your children. Many people underestimate how much dogs and cats don't really like toddlers and young children's high activity and unpredictable ways. Children need to be taught how to be safe around pets by asking these 2 questions. You are not being a mean parent or grandparent to say no, you can't pet that animal. You are being a responsible guardian and safeguarding that child.
When you can pet an animal, avoid going over the top of the head. This area is near the eyes, and ears which are more sensitive than the shoulder or back of a pet.The best way to pet an animal is along the shoulders and upper back in the direction of the fur. Letting a dog or cat sniff you first is also a good idea so they get an idea of who you are, and the owner can see how they feel about your smells.
If a dog is loose and comes towards you the best way to stay safe is to become a rock or a tree. Stand absolutely still with your hands at your sides, and do not look the dog in the eye. When you are sitting on the ground, roll into a ball covering your ears and face. Staying absolutely quiet is very boring and uninteresting to the dog so they are likely to leave you alone. If you run, you will be chased and very likely jumped on and bitten. Yelling or throwing something at the dog may make some dogs charge you and cause a lot of harm. When the dog is away, tell someone who can call animal control about the loose dogs. Even dogs you know act very differently off leash compared to on leash.
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Animal Pheromones - Weird Science or What?
Pheromones are biologically active chemicals. These chemicals are typically produced naturally by one living organism to affect another organism, usually of the same species. In simple terms, this is where a mother dog makes a chemical in the skin near her breast. When the puppies absorb this chemical as they start to nurse the puppies relax and calm so they get more milk. This pheromone acts on the brain of the puppy to calm them (that is what biologically active means). There are lots of types of pheromones in nature for all the different species. Yes we people produce pheromones and there is more and more research being done on this. In the animal care world, there are different products available now that are pheromone based to help with behavior. There are some that are synthetic (meaning lab created) pheromones that copy the natural product made and some are plant origin products.There is a difference in how effective the synthetic pheromones act and the plant based products. Feliway and DAP are 2 synthetic pheromone products. They both work to calm cats ( Feliway) or dogs ( DAP) specifically. There is also a synthetic horse pheromone product made by CEVA. They work directly on the animal's receptors in their brain to calm them. These are species specific and have a benefit. The amount that these products will help depends on the amount of fear/anxiety that is going on.They are not sedatives, can be used with any other medication and must be used as directed for the best results. When these products do not seem to help, it is usually due to the level of fear being so high that some is reduced but not eliminated. Often using these products with other medications reduces the doses of other medications. There are other collars, tags and sprays that use Lavender, chamomile or Rosemary in the product and are called pheromone products. Please do not confuse these with the true animal pheromones.There may be a calming effect from these products but it is much less consistent than the animal pheromones. So some pet owners have tried these products and have been disappointed in the results. If you have tried a pheromone collar for thunderstorm phobia you got from the pet store, it is not the animal collar. Currently the DAP collars are only available through veterinarians. The lavender collars will not work as well since the animal does not have the receptors in the brain for the lavender product. If the plant based products are working for your pet - great! It is very likely there is some kind of calming effect. How it works, and how reliable it is for animals is not yet known. All of these pheromone products last for a specific time. Some may last a few hours (as in the sprays), some products last up to a month (collars and diffusers). It is helpful to mark your calendar to remind you to renew the products. Pheromones have been around for a long time. Science is beginning to understand how they work, how to make them and produce them in a useful form. It is combining the art and science of medicine which is helpful for our animals as well as ourselves. To find out about these products and how to use them, visit our website at www.okawvetclinic.com and click on the behavioral services. |
Adding an additional cat to your home can be easy or hard depending on the cats involved, the size of the home, and how you go about it all. This is a guide to helping 2 cats meet.If the 2 cats are fighting with each other, or one of the cats is known to be aggressive, have the cats examined before trying to get them together. Chronic pain and fear is a big reason for cats to fight even when all their environmental needs are met. Medication can help these cats.
Set up the new cat in one room with all food, litter, and perches to lay on.Keep the door closed. If you don't have a door use two baby gates stacked. The established cat gets the rest of the house without changing where their food, litter,etc are. After a day take a separate hand towel to rub the established cat's body down. Use this towel to rub on the new cat in the closed off room. Take a different towel to rub the new cat down. Now rub the established cat with this towel in the house. This transferring of scent is how cats say "hello" to each other. You are helping them say "hello" by the towel rubbing.Do this daily.
If both cats are eating ok, they should be pawing at each other under the door, or meowing at each other. This is what you want.IF they are both avoiding investigating each other, get Feliway Spray (available through us) and spray the door area, around the home and the room the new cat is in. Spray daily. This product helps the cats to feel like the home is already marked by their scent and calms them both down.
If the cats are approaching the door to check each other out, now put their food bowls near the door.
Move the food bowls closer to the door daily until both cats are directly opposite through the door. At this point open the door a few inches so the cats can see each other but have the barrier if they are overwhelmed. If all ok, keep the door open and allow them to investigate.
All cats must have their own food dishes, beds, perches at various heights, and litter boxes to get along well.Some cats can do some sharing but that sharing is the most reason cats fight.If these tips do not help your cats get along, please contact us for a consult.There are various reasons why cats fight or one is an aggressor. There is also medication that can help two seemingly incompatible cats.
If you have tried this and are still having problems, please give us a call. We can set up a behavior consult to help your cats. |
Introducing Two Dogs
Bringing 2 dogs or even a 3rd one into home can be easy or raise some fur. The best way to help all the dogs get along is to establish the order of rank in the home. It is actually best for the humans in the home to determine the #1, 2 and on down the line order of the dogs.
The way to determine the rank is by size, age and length of time in the home. If you have some dogs that are close in these descriptions then do the best you can. If you are having some troubles contact us for a consult to comb through all the dog issues.So, the newest dog is the lowest ranking dog.You still love them all equally and treatment has to be equal just in order.
So this means the #1 dog is fed, petted, walked, get's in its own bed and given toys first, then followed in order by the next dog or more.It is extremely important that all humans in the home keep up this order with the dogs. When #2 gets something first, that really upsets #1 and we get fighting.Dogs want order. The humans have to be the absolute top commander and this is shown to the dogs by the humans controlling all the things the dogs want. NO punishment, harsh orders or force here.The dogs are fed meals that last 20 minutes tops.The human controls the food put in the dish, how long the dish stays down, and when. Dogs are walked on leash - the human is in charge of where you go when and for how long. Owners do this praising both dogs for heeling well, waiting at the door, and not getting into each other's food bowls. Praise the dogs as they play with their toys well. If they are fighting over toys take them all away until they are behaving better.
Dogs need to have their own beds, leashes, food bowls and toys.Sharing means competition or possibly losing what they need increasing anxiety in many dogs.
Often times chronic pain from arthritis, infected teeth and ears, or skin is a culprit for irritable behavior.
If your dogs are fighting, call for a behavior consult. |
Many of us are starting to plan summer vacation. Including our pets on these trips makes it more fun for the us and our pets. When planning a trip with your pet, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Does your pet like to travel? Take your pet on a short trip to see how he or she acts. Some dogs and cats get very upset when they are in an unfamiliar place. If your pet does okay on the short trip, they will probably be ok on a longer trip. If your pet is nervous, paces, pants or shows other signs of stress, taking a long trip would be too stressful for your pet. You can work with your pet to help him or her to be more comfortable on trips. We can help your dog by using behavior therapy, pheromone use and calming medication.
Does your pet vomit in the car? Dogs and cats can get car sick. There are a few things you can do to help your pet. Cerenia is a new motion sickness pill available for dogs. You can give it to your dog once a day to help prevent motion sickness. Provide air movement (window open or vent pointed toward pet) to help keep your pet comfortable.
Do I need a crate? Crates are much safer than letting your dog run around in the car. Crates keep your dog from jumping around and getting into trouble. Crates provide protection, in case of an accident. Cats should always ride in a carrier.
What does my pet need? Always have your pet wear a collar or harness with identification tags. Cat harnesses are available for cat owners. Check out some of the cat harnesses at Lupine and Premier. Consider microchipping your pet if you spend lots of time travelling. Microchips are about the size of a grain of rice and are placed between the shoulders. A shelter or veterinary clinic can scan your pet when he or she has been found and can find your contact information by calling the microchip company. The only information stored on the chip is an identification number for that pet.
Parking and leaving your pet in the car? Your pet can overheat in a very short amount of time. Older, ill and short nosed breeds of dogs and cats can overheat quicker. According to the Humane Society of the United States, on an 85 degree day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within ten minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. This can happen even with a window partially open and the vehicle parked in shade. Since pets are not able to cool off the way people do, being trapped in a hot car can lead to heatstroke and even death.
What to pack for your dog or cat? Bottled water, food, can opener if you have canned food, food and water dishes, bed, medicines, your veterinarian's phone number, toys, treats, leash. For cats, also bring litter, litter box and scoop.
Staying in a hotel? More hotels are willing to accept a dog or cat in the hotel room. You can do a search on the internet for pet friendly hotels. Always call ahead to double check if they will allow your pet. You may need to pay a pet deposit.
Traveling across state lines? Bring your dog or cat's rabies certificate. Some state require you povide this information. |
Chronic Ear Infections Seminar
Pets can suffer from chronic ear infections, which cause chronic pain and scarred ears. Learn some of the common causes and the importance of identifying the cause and selecting an appropriate treatment. We will demonstrate how to clean your pet's ears.
The seminar will be held at our clinic on Saturday June 12th at 8:30 am. If you have questions, please email okawvetstaff@mchsi.com or call 217-253-3221.
The seminar is free and open to all to attend. Bring a friend! Please leave your pet at home.
Dr. Foote will be presenting a series of Pet Wellness Seminars this year. Look for the next one in July. |
Thunderstorm and Fireworks Phobia Seminar
Does your pet:
- Become nervous and/or pant?
- Try to hide or run from loud noises?
- Shake badly and/or drool?
- Keep you up all night?
- Insist on being in your lap during or before storms and fireworks?
Learn about these noise phobias and how you can help your dog or cat. Join Dr. Foote at Prairieland Feeds in Savoy on Sunday June 13th from 2 - 3 pm.
The seminar is free and open to all to attend. Bring a friend! Please leave your pet at home. Please RSVP by June 12th by emailing okawvetstaff@mchsi.com or calling 217-352-2232. |
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About Okaw Veterinary Clinic
Thank you for reading our newsletter. We strive to make our pet parents informed about pet healthcare. If you have any concerns or questions, please let us know.
140 W. Sale St.
Tuscola, Illinois 61953
Okaw Veterinary Clinic
217-253-3221
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Did your Dog get Sprayed by a Skunk?
Use this recipe to bathe your dog. If your dog's breath smells bad too, try yogurt. Your dog can eat 1/4 to 1/2 cup of plain yogurt, NOT fat free, twice a day.
2 Quarts Hydrogen peroxide
1 Cup Baking soda
1 Tablespoon Dawn dish soap (other soaps do not work as well)
Mix the ingredients together and wash your dog. Leave mixture on for 5 minutes, then rinse off. You can repeat if needed.
*Peroxide may damage carpet, towels and other materials. |
Pet Memorial Day is June 13th
Celebrate Pet Memorial day by remembering your pets who have passed away. Here are some ideas:
Light a candle and think about your pet or look through photos of your pet.
Make a scrapbook of your pet's photos.
Email us a photo and a short note about your pet and we will post it on our memorial webpage.
Purchase a stone or other memorial. Memorial items can be found at Paws & Remember and 4 Paws Forever.
If you or anyone you know is having a difficult time with the loss of their pet, there is help. Call the CARE Pet Loss Helpline at (877)394-2273. |
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Remind My Pet
Sign up for this free service to get reminders of when your pet is due for their heartworm, flea or other medication. You can have the reminder sent as an email or text message.
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