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Greetings!
Ranger hopes everyone didn't eat too much at Thanksgiving. He hopes everyone will have a lovely Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Our Holiday hours:
Dec 24 - close at noon Dec 25 - closed Dec 31 - close at noon Jan 1 - closed If you have an emergency during these times, please call the Animal Emergency Clinic in Champaign at 217-359-1977.
Click on "Like" to be a friend. We are starting a Question of the Week contest. You can win a prize or your pet's photo featured on our Facebook page if you have the best answer.
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. Sincerely,
The Okaw Vet Clinic Staff |
Picking out Your Best Friend
Often near the holidays, many people consider adding a pet to their home. This pet may be a present, or perhaps a time of year that has significance for adding to the family. Whatever the reason is for adding a pet to your family, selecting a pet is an important step that should not be rushed. There are many considerations in adding a pet, and all family members' ability to care for this pet should be considered.
Unfortunately most people do not know much about what pet would really fit their home and lifestyle. They may decide on a dog or cat based on one or 2 desirable features such as soft fur to touch or a living being who is so happy to see you coming home that loads of affection are guaranteed. Other factors such as time to train, time to clean the litter box, total cost of care, feeding, boarding or grooming of the pet are unknown and not anticipated. Our shelters are filled with 6 month old and older dogs and cats due to new owner's frustrations with these factors in pet ownership. Planning ahead before you get a pet can save a lot of potential problems.
First of all, take a realistic look at the amount of time you have to feed, exercise, groom, and toilet a pet. For dog lovers, even with a fenced in yard, you may have to go out in rain and snow to encourage your dog to potty. Basically dogs need at least 2 leash walks a day off the property for 15 minutes for exercise and mental stimulation. Puppies need to play for at least an hour a day, 5 minutes of basic training daily and adhering to routine for feeding, play, and training. If your schedule is not routine, a dog would not be a good fit. Consider an alternate pet such as a cat or a bird.
Cats are less regimented to a schedule, but still need daily care.Litter boxes have to be scooped out daily to keep the cat happy about using the box. Cats do need play bouts of 5 - 10 minutes of play with the owner to prevent mischief, and maintain a healthy weight. You will need to provide places for your cat to perch at various heights and a place for them to look out the window. Cats do need to claw to mark their territory. If you do not want to declaw the cat, you will have to provide multiple scratching posts and other places to claw.
Birds are less demanding for their care, but do require special diets. Cages need to be cleaned regularly, they do need to be handled and have their beaks and claws maintained. Some of the larger birds tend to be noisy and may purposely scatter their food out of the cage. Some people are more allergic to bird's feathers than cats or dog dander.
Small mammals such as guinea pigs, rabbits and hamsters are easy to care for, do not take up as much space and do not require as much veterinary care. They do need to have cages cleaned at least once a week, possibly more and there is an initial cost to getting the cages and wheels etc. The small mammals do not live as long as dogs or cats, yet we are seeing some live over 4 years now.
Having a pet is a commitment for the life of the pet. Consider contacting your local veterinarian when considering adopting or purchasing a pet. Many veterinary practices such as ours offer pet selection counseling. Families benefit from getting guidance on a lifelong commitment, and the practice has taken a step in preventing the usual frustrations and problems poor matching can bring.
You can find out more about pet selection services by calling our clinic or going to the website and follow some of the links to other online resources. |
Save Money and Time with Preventative Health Care for your Pets
 Health care for pets is important and does carry a cost. There are vaccinations, various tests, medications, and examinations that are needed to maintain your pet's health and prevent problems. Some care, such as rabies vaccination is required by law to protect the human and animal's health. Not all care is required by law, but is a part of responsible pet ownership.
There are ways to help budget the cost of care for your pet. No one is made of money, and your veterinary staff wants to help how they can. First of all, talk to your veterinarian about what you can afford. There are risks and costs of omitting care so find that out before you keep putting off that appointment. Veterinarians and their staff are well prepared to discuss costs. The staff is not likely to recommend omitting care, but may offer realistic solutions. Heartworm products may be sold by the month rather than 6 months at a time or vaccination appointments can be divided over time. Pet insurance is available and may be an option for some. Some clinics offer pre payment, like a gift card, for care under your pet's account. This could be a very meaningful and appreciated Christmas gift for someone.
There are credit companies now that offer a health credit card. Veterinarians as well as Dentists, Doctors and other health providers participate in Care Credit. This company will approve you for a line of credit that can be used at any of these providers that participate to help spread out the cost of care. Care Credit offers zero interest charges and billing charges for the first 6 months of the payment plan. This can be a great way to manage your monthly budgeting for pet and personal care where insurance is not helping you out. You can look up what providers in your area participate by going to www.carecredit.com, or ask if your clinic participates. Our clinic offers this as a payment option for our clients.
Waiting to have your pet examined can result in a higher care costs. Even if some tests have to be postponed, the physical exam can be the most cost effective way to stay on top of problems. Follow your veterinarian's advice to keep your pet healthy.
Often in stressful times such as recessions our pets are our biggest help. They love us unconditionally when we are laid off, have hours cut, investments plunge, or just everything seems so bleak. They just ask for kindness, a warm place to live and a little attention to keep them well. For what they give us back they are worth taking of. Please keep pets healthy and a part of your life. |
Keeping your Pet Happy during Cold Weather
It's that time of year again. Time to get out the sweaters, coats and scarves. Time to take a few extra steps to keep your pet comfortable during the cold weather.
Older pets need a little extra TLC during the cooler months. Joints are stiffer and sore from arthritis. Arthritis is often worse in the winter, just as it is in people. You can do a few things to help your pet feel better. 1) Use a heated pet bed to help ease stiff joints. Thick beds also help soothe sore joints. 2) Use stairs to help your pet reach the couch and bed. Jumping up and down off furniture puts extra pressure on sore joints. Use a short sided litter box to help older cats' joints. Buy a plastic container and cut one side low, about 1 and 1/2 inches tall. 3) Feed your pet a senior food. Special diets are also available from your veterinarian that will help keep your pet's joints healthy. 4) Ask your veterinarian about joint supplements or medications to relieve inflammation and pain. Supplements containing Glucosamine and Condrointin, such as Dasuquin, help keep joints healthy. Pain relief medications designed to be safe for your pet are available from your veterinarian. Previcox, Metacam and Rimadyl relieve inflammation and pain.
Pets who live outside also need a little extra to keep them warm and comfy. Here are a few ideas to help keep your pet warm. 1) Give your pet lots of extra bedding to snuggle in. 2) Give your pet fresh water in a heated bowl. 3) Feed your pet more food. During the cold months, outdoor pets need more food to help keep themselves warm. 4) During very cold weather, consider bringing your pet into the house or garage.
Exercising and going for walks can also be a bit more challenging during the colder months. Here are some tips to help. 1) Take short walks in the afternoons. 2) Walk in areas where there is little wind, such as a wooded area. 3) Put sweaters or coats on smaller dogs. 4) Clean snow and ice from your pet's paws a few times during your walk.
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Here are a few tips to help keep your pet safe during the Holidays.
1. No tinsel - Pets can eat tinsel and get sick. The tinsel can wrap around their intestine as it passes through the digestive tract. Blood can not reach this area of the intestine and it will start to die.
2. Cords - Keep electric cords out of your pet's reach. If your pet starts to chew on the cord, put something that tastes bad on the cord. A bitter tasting product called Bitter Safe can be purchased at our office. You can also use hot pepper juice or Tabasco sauce on the cord.
3. Ornaments - Hang ornaments out of your pet's reach and use ribbons tied in a loop rather than wire hangers.
4. Cat in the tree - Keep your cat out of the tree by spraying the branches with an antiperspirant containing alum.
5. No tree water - Pets can become sick by drinking the tree water. Fertilizer and pesticide residues may be in the water. Bacteria also can live in this water.
6. Candles - Keep candles out of your pet's reach. Pets can be burned or knock candles over.
7. No candy - Pets can get sick eating chocolate and other sweets. Sugar free candy contains Xylitol, which will make your pet sick.
8. No People food - Resist the temptation to share your thanksgiving dinner with your pet. Dogs and cats can have vomiting and diarrhea from eating people food. They can also get pancreatitis from eating people food.
9. No nuts - Walnuts, acorns and other nuts are falling off the trees. Pets are tempted to eat the nuts. The shells and nuts can upset your pet's stomach. The shells and nuts can also scrape your pet's intestines and possibly get stuck in your pet's intestines.
10. No bones - Bones can get splinter and get stuck in your pet's intestines. Bones can also puncture the intestines. |
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What are Whipworms? Whipworms are a type of worm that lives in the intestines of animals. Trichuris vulpis is the scientific name of the worm that can live in your dog. This worm rarely infects cats. The worms are a tan color and have a long whip like tail. They can grow up to 4 inches long. These worms survive by absorbing nutrients from the food your pet eats.
How do I know if my pet has Whipworms? Bring in a fresh poop sample to our office. We add a solution to a sample of the poop. The solution causes the eggs to float to the top of the container and attach to a small piece of glass. We will look at the glass under a microscope and look for the worm eggs. You will rarely see an adult worm in your pet's poop. Some signs that your pet has worms are a lack of weight gain or growth, diarrhea with or without blood, or weight loss.
How did my pet get Whipworms? Your pet likely ate some poop that was infected with Whipworm eggs. Your pet doesn't have to eat a large amount of poop to get worms. For example, a stray dog who has Whipworms has been hanging around your neighborhood and has pooped in your yard. The poop contains worm eggs. The eggs start to mature and baby worms, or larva, grow insid the egg. Then your dog Ginger goes outside and steps in the poop. She licks her foot clean. As she licks her foot, she eats some of the worm eggs. The eggs open in Fluffy's stomach and the larva travel to her large intestine. The larva attach to a pocket in the large intestine called the cecum. The worms start to reproduce.
Can I get Whipworms? No. People can not get Whipworms from their pets.
How do you treat Whipworms? Treating Whipworms is easy. We will give you pet medication, such as Panacur or Drontal, to kill the worms. Your pet will need multiple treatments of the medication to get rid of the worms. If Whipworms are not treated, they will continue to multiply in your pet's intestine. Your pet's intestines can get blocked by the clumps of worms. Your pet won't be able to absorb all the nutrients from his or her food.
How do I prevent my pet from getting Whipworms? Keep your pet on year round Heartworm prevention. Revolution and Interceptor protect your pet from Whipworms. Pick up your dog's poop each time he or she goes out.
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Pet Memorial Tree We will have a Pet Memorial Tree at our office again this year. The tree will be decorated with photo ornaments of pets who have passed away. We will have a Memorial Service as well. Anyone who lost a pet is welcome to attend the service. You may speak at the service, if you wish. The service will be on Monday Jan 3 at 7 pm. If you would like your pet to be featured on the tree, please send or bring a COPY of a photo of your pet. The photo WILL BE CUT to make the ornament. You will be able to pick up the ornament in January. There is no cost to have your pet's photo on the tree. Your pet does not have to have passed away this year to be featured on the tree. Photos can be dropped off during our normal business hours. Photos can be mailed to us at 140 W. Sale, Tuscola, IL 61953. Photos can be emailed at okawvetstaff@mchsi.com. |
Bring your pets and children for pictures with Santa. Pictures are $5 each.
Date: Saturday Dec 4th
Time: 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Location: Jarman Center's Summer Camp room in Tuscola. The room is located in the Northwest corner of the building. Enter through the door with blue awning on it, just off Parke Street.
Purchase tickets to win a Dog or Cat gift basket. The Dog Basket contains: blanket, food, treats, toys and more. The Cat Basket contains: crate, food, treats, toys and more. Each basket is worth over $75. Tickets are $1 for 1 ticket or $5 for 6 tickets. Tickets can be purchased at our clinic or during Santa Paws.
All money raised goes to Hands 4 Paws. Visit their website for more information. |
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. Please 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.
140 W. Sale St.
Tuscola, Illinois 61953
Okaw Veterinary Clinic
217-253-3221
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Pet U Classes
The U of I and the CARE Center are presenting a series of pet classes. The classes will be held at the U of I Small Animal Clinic in Champaign from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Visit the Pet U website for more information about classes and how you can register.
The Basics of the Pet Food Label
Have you ever had difficulty interpreting or comparing pet food labels? This session will provide a brief overview of the pet food label, including a list of items that are required on all labels and those that are optional. Information on items such as guaranteed analysis, ingredient definitions, feeding guidelines, and nutritional adequacy verification will be provided.
This class will be held on Dec 13. The class fee is $8 if you register before Dec 1. If you register after that date, the fee is $13.
Exercising With Your Pet
Thinking of starting the new year off right by getting both yourself and Fido on a new exercise regimen? In this session you will learn about some of the factors to consider before lacing up your sneakers and clipping on that leash-both for yourself and Fido.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
This class will be held on Jan 10. The class fee is $8 if you register before Dec 29. If you register after that date, the fee is $13. |
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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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