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As many of you know, "Charlie" lives with us here at the Martin Downs Animal Hospital. He is a great attraction and will talk and interact with you. Don't forget to come by and visit with "Charlie" the next time you're in the hospital. He may even dance for you!
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EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
PET EMERGENCY OF
MARTIN COUNTY 772-781-3302
ASPCA ANIMAL POISON CONTROL CENTER
888-426-4435
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A NOTE FROM THE DOCTORS
Dr. Robin will be attending the Florida Veterinary Medical Association's 2010 Annual Conference in Tampa 4/9-4/11/10. This conference is an annual event which provides veterinarians and their staff continuing educational information, new products and services available for the veterinary field and also hands-on training.
Madison Flint with Dr. Robin Waters-Poderski
SENIOR INTERN FROM CLARK ADVANCED
LEARNING CENTER
Madison Flint, senior at Clark Advanced
Learning Center is currently being sponsored by Martin Downs Animal
Hospital as our senior intern. We have enjoyed working with her this
semester. She will complete her AA degree when she graduates this
spring from Clark and has been accepted in the Prevet program at FAU.
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HOSPITAL UPDATES/SPECIAL
ANNOUNCEMEN |
DR. HARPER HERE AT MDAH
Here are a few dates when Dr. Harper will be working here: Friday 4/2,
Saturday 4/3 and Saturday 4/10. Please make an appointment if you would like to see him. He will be returning in August to cover for Dr. Poderski and Dr. Waters while they are on vacation.
SPRING BREAK BOARDING
Spring Break is almost here! Have you made your pet's reservation to spend the week with us? There is still time to schedule boarding in our deluxe facility. Please call us to make sure your pet is comfortable while you're away.
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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
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Our Kennel Manager, Linda Knott, has been a part of the Martin Downs Animal Hospital Team for almost 6 years. She came to us through her daughter, Jennifer, who was leaving to attend college at the University of South Florida in Tampa. Jennifer now works for Florida Forensic Treatment Center and is getting married April 10. Jennifer just happened to notice our help wanted sign in the window and Linda decided since her son was already on his own, working for the Martin County Sheriff's Office and her husband worked overseas in Russia part of the year, she would stop in and apply for a job. She has been with us ever since caring for and pampering all the pets who come here for boarding.
Having two dogs of her own, Koko and Oreo, Linda knows all about catering to the needs of your pets. She gives all of them lots of love and attention as if they were her own. She guarantees their comfort and safety during their stay whether its short or long. Linda is one reason Martin Downs Animal Hospital is a home away from home for all our boarding pets.
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BOARDER OF THE MONTH
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Our boarder of the month is truly a pampered pooch! Pierre, an 8 year old toy poodle is a frequent visitor to our hospital. He brings his own bed, outfits to wear and, of course, his stroller. He likes to stay in our small suite boarding area. He and his fellow boarders like to play outside in our private play area where they can enjoy the outdoors and visit with each other.
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GROOMING CORNER
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 BEFORE
Our Grooming Corner Pet of the Month is a 4 year old miniature poodle named "Puff". Puff is new to our hospital and also took advantage of our boarding accommodations and grooming department. As you can see, Puff needed a new haircut and cleanup when he arrived. After receiving the Spa treatment, he looks like a new man! Elke, our assistant groomer, did an excellent job with Puff's makeover. AFTER
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FELINE FACTS
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SUMMER TRAVEL WITH OUR FELINE FRIENDS
With summer just around the corner, it's time to start planning your vacation. Here are some valuable tips if your cat will be traveling with you.
1. Get your cat used to their carrier ahead of time by leaving it out in your home with the door open. Place a towel inside and toss in an occasional treat to make it more inviting.
2. Plan ahead. Policies for in-cabin pet travel vary among commercial airlines. When making a flight reservation that includes booking your cat, ask the agent to identify all pet health documentation you need before travel.
3. Make sure your pet's carrier is airline approved. Remember the carrier will count as one of your two permitted carry-on items.
4. Airport security requires you remove your cat from its carrier and hold them in your arms as you walk through the metal detector. Prevent your cat from escaping by fitting them with an H-style harness. When asked to remove them from their carrier, first attach a leash to their harness.
5. Bring bottled water to keep your cat hydrated. Also, pack a spill-proof bowl.
6. Place a thick layer of paper towels on the floor of the carrier to absorb urine and bring a package of sanitizing wipes to clean up if necessary.
7. Make sure that your carrier is completely sealed. Use zipper guards to prevent your cat from using his nose or paw to open the zipper and escape.
8. Be sure to pack a spare leash, collar with identification tags attached and harness. Also remember to have any medications in properly labeled child-proof medicine bottles.
**Make sure your cat is microchipped in case they get separated from you.
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PROGRESSIVE THERAPEUTICS |
CONVENIA
Convenia is a professionally administered injectable cephalosporin antibiotic that provides up to 14 days of treatment for many common skin infections in dogs and cats. It is commonly used to treat secondary superficial pyoderma, abscesses and wounds in dogs and abscesses and wounds in cats. It is the first antibiotic that provides an assured course of treatment by providing up to 14 days of treatment in a single injection. Convenia eliminates missed doses associated with daily oral antibiotics, not to mention the difficulty some owners can have medicating their pets.
Convenia delivers the safety you expect from a cephalosporin. More than 4 million doses of Convenia have been administered worldwide since 2006. Convenia does not undergo liver metabolism and the majority of a dose is excreted unchanged in urine. This also makes it a good antibiotic for kidney and bladder infections. Efficacy is proven to be statistically equal to a veterinary labeled, multi day course of oral cephalosporin in treating dogs and cats.
1) A single injection of CONVENIA effectively provides up to 14 days of treatment.
2) Occasionally, a repeat dose may be needed for dogs to ensure complete clinical resolution.
3) Minimum age for CONVENIA use: 4 months.
Note: Convenia is not for use in dogs or cats with a history of allergic reactions to penicillins or cephalosporins. Similar to other cephalosporins, side effects for both dogs and cats include vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite/anorexia and lethargy. The safety of Convenia has not been determined in lactating or breeding animals.
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PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
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As warmer weather is
fast approaching we would like to educate you on some pesky little critters
that love the warmth...fleas!
Fleas are a problem for
your pet and your home. One adult flea can lay up to 2,000 eggs in her
lifetime. Also, the fleas you see on your pets are just the tip of the iceberg.
As shown below adult fleas are only 5% of your problem, and that's just what
you can see. Pupae, Larva and Eggs make up 95% of the flea population and are
the hardest to treat and control. They like to reside in carpets, furniture,
bedding and cracks of floors or walls.
Many pets pick up fleas
outside in your backyard, on walks, in the woods, from other infested animals
and even in your home. This is why it is so important to kill fleas as quickly
as possible. Not only are fleas a nuisance they can also cause some medical
problems as well. They can cause severe discomfort such as scratching, chewing,
biting and restlessness. They are also the source of Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD) and tapeworm infections. In
the most severe cases they can even cause anemia.
Thankfully, we can
prevent this flea problem with some simple products you can purchase from
our hospital. There is the very popular topical
solution, Frontline, which is applied between the shoulder blades and is
distributed throughout the body to the sebaceous (oil) glands. **Frontline also
prevents ticks. There is a newer chewable tablet called Comfortis that is
convenient to give and beef flavored. It starts killing fleas within an hour
and lasts for a month. **Comfortis is for dogs only. Lastly, there is
Revolution. Revolution is an all inclusive product that prevents fleas, ticks,
heartworms and sarcoptic mites. This is also applied topically, however unlike
Frontline, it is absorbed systemically. You can purchase all of these products
at Martin Downs Animal Hospital.
**Please use caution
when buying products from online pharmacies and in stores. Online prescriptions and products are not always what they seem to be and are often times from overseas. Products purchased from online pharmacies are not guaranteed by the manufacturer as these companies do not sell to online pharmacies. Even if you have a prescription from a veterinarian, you still run the risk of purchasing a prescription or product that could be harmful to your pet. Manufacturers will stand behind their products if purchased legitimately from a licensed veterinarian. Also, products such as
Hartz and BioSpot that are found in stores like Wal-Mart can be toxic to
dogs and cats and should not be used.
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| COMMON LIFE THREATENING HAZARDS
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CASE OF THE MONTH
"Chase" is an 8 yr old dog weighing 70 lbs with a history of
eating objects not intended for consumption. When he came, he was new to us and
he was not doing well. He was lethargic,
had poor appetite and vomited for a few days.
Digital x-ray of abdomen confirmed a foreign body in abdomen. An emergency surgery was performed and 4
socks plus utility glove was retrieved.
Since then "Chase" was diagnosed with Addison and IBD
diseases. He undergoes the treatments and we wish him all the best. He is truly
unbelievably lovable.
 
Note: A finding of a Foreign Body in
Gastro-Intestinal tract in a dog or a cat is common. Any questionable symptom or behavior like:
not eating, vomiting, distention of abdomen, restlessness, etc, should be
checked by a doctor promptly. The time is
of essence. The delay of treatment can
result in serious complications.
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