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| Martin Downs Animal Hospital |
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 Martin Downs Animal Hospital 1625 Martin Highway
Palm City, Fl 34990
772-288-3456
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A NOTE FROM THE DOCTORS MARTIN DOWNS ANIMAL HOSPITAL WELCOMES NEW ASSOCIATE
Drs. Karol and Robin Poderski welcome their new associate, Dr. Elizabeth Jolin to Martin Downs Animal Hospital. Dr. Jolin will join the medical team in mid to late June of this year, coming from the Gainesville, Florida area.
Dr. Jolin has worked in the small animal veterinary field since 2006. Her last position was with an AAHA accredited hospital which makes her quite familiar with the high standards of veterinary medicine practiced in an AAHA hospital such as ours. She will make a most welcome addition to our team.
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HOSPITAL UPDATES/ANNOUNCEMENTS
2010 HURRICANE SEASON IS HERE
June is the official start of Hurricane Season and Martin Downs Animal Hospital is prepared. Are you ready?!
We provide a safe hurricane proof shelter with 24-hour experienced care for your pets if a hurricane should threaten our area. Once a hurricane watch is in effect, contact us to reserve a space in our shelter. Please stop by and pick up a copy of our hurricane brochure which includes all the necessary information for your family's hurricane emergency plan.
SUMMER RESORT AND SPA RETREATS
Call today and book your pet's vacation today! Our spacious 2000 square feet resort and spa facility await your pet's arrival.
All our guests receive 5-star VIP treatment from boarding to bathing and grooming in a safe and friendly environment. Our veterinarians are always available to take care of all your pet's medical needs. We offer "Specials for Summer 2010" coupons in our Summer Boarding/Grooming/Bathing Brochure. Pick one up on your next visit to Martin Downs Animal Hospital.
Don't miss out on a place for your pet to stay while you're away!
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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
 Kristen, Head Receptionist, has been a member of the Martin Downs Animal Hospital's client services team for 5 1/2 years. Prior to joining us, she worked as a receptionist at an emergency hospital in New York. So she was used to a very fast pace atmosphere which she certainly is involved in at our hospital. She values the connections she makes each and every day with all of our clients and their pets. Kristen shows as much care and compassion to your pets as she does her own.
She currently resides with her two dogs, Little Girl-a 7 year old terrier mix and Budda, a 6 year old pitbull mix. They both had previously been shelter dogs until Kristen came along and gave them a loving and caring home. They are spoiled every day just like she spoils all of your pets when you come in to see us.
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BOARDER OF THE MONTH Kingston is a very handsome and lovable 10 year old pitbull. He stays in our exclusive luxury suites when he comes to our Vacation Retreat and Spa. He relaxes in his private sleeping room and enjoys his individual free time outside in our exercise area. He is spoiled when he visits us as he knows he will get a new toy and a special treat every time he comes to stay. Kingston loves to spend his vacations at Martin Downs Animal Hospital's Vacation Retreat and Spa.
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GROOMING CORNERMolly, a 3 1/2 year old Coton de Tulear, is a new visitor to our Luxury Spa Grooming facility. She visits us every three weeks to get her hair and nails done. She also enjoys a relaxing therapeutic hydrosurge bath which uses gentle aloe shampoo and conditioner to soften her coat. After enjoying a warm soothing dryer, she then gets her hair cut and shaped by our expert groomer, Cathy.
To keep Molly in such excellent condition and her coat free from matts and tangles, her owners know that regular visits to our Spa are necessary.
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FASCINATING FELINE FACTS
 Have you ever been puzzled by what your cat is trying to convey to you? In this and future newsletters we will identify and decipher many feline body cues and
vocalizations. Through a variety of signals, cats have developed a species-specific way of communicating to other cats and humans. Although body language may indicate a cat's mood, not all signs are emitted consciously for the purpose of communication.
HEAD BUTTING (BUNTING)-Head bunting or rubbing against another cat or human is a sign of deep affection. It is often accompanied by purring. Rubbing is one way of marking you-with pheromones secreted from glands in the cheek and forehead-as one of the family. In a multi-cat household or colony, it enables cats to have a familiar scent.
KNEADING-Kneading or rhythmically pressing the front paws against another feline or human harkens back to infancy when kittens performed this repetitive motion with their paws on either side of their mother's nipple to stimulate milk flow. Although kneading can be annoying and sometimes painful, it is a sign of deep affection and trust. Just remember to keep your cat's claws trimmed as short as possible. |
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PROGRESSIVE THERAPEUTICS
 ROYAL CANIN VETERINARY DIET
Providing proper, safe nutrition is a major commitment we owe to our pets every day. Royal Canin is not your average pet food company. Since the company began in 1967, they have been forerunners in health nutrition basing their foods on scientific research and development. Royal Canin was one of the first pet food manufacturers to become ISO-certified, a designation that means they meet international standards for their manufacturing process.
Royal Canin starts with the animal. Only once it is fully understand what an animal needs, then Royal Canin attempts to maximize the animal's health through nutrition. Royal Canin puts animals and their physiologic needs at the heart of their food processing, instead of focusing around market-driven notions. They provide prescriptive diets as well as maintenance diets for all breeds of dogs and cats. Martin Downs Animal Hospital is now carrying Royal Canin as a primary source of prescriptive and maintenance diets for your pet's nutritional needs.
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PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE
UNDERSTANDING THE KENNEL COUGH VACCINE
Kennel cough by definition is actually infectious tracheobronchitis. It can be caused by a few organisms but the most common is Bordetella Brochiseptica. This is what the vaccine is designed to protect your pet from. Kennel cough is characterized as a nonstop, very harsh cough that can last for three weeks. Most pets do not have a fever with it and continue to eat. However, Bordetella can lead to pneumonia especially in the young or compromised patient. It is a bacteria that is highly contagious. Certain risk factors would be pet stores, shelters, kennels, grooming shops and dog shows.
Vaccination is the pet's defense against kennel cough. Two types of vaccines are available; intranasal and injectable. The intranasal vaccine can be given to puppies as young as three weeks and the injectable may be given once a puppy is four months old. The intranasal vaccine gives immunity locally in the nasal passages which is where the bacteria initially enters the body. The injectable vaccine creates antibodies that circulate through the whole body. Since these vaccines are bacterial vaccines and not viral vaccines, the duration of immunity is much less. Most research shows that immunity does not actually reach a full year. Typically the immunization wears off starting at about nine months. Most facilities, including Martin Downs Animal Hospital, require the immunization every six months. A nine month protocol is simply more difficult to follow and one never knows if a pet's immunity is wearing off sooner.
At Martin Downs Animal Hospital, the bordetella vaccine is required every six months for any pet coming in for boarding, grooming or medical services. It has been shown that immunity is greater if the pet has both types of vaccines; for that reason we alternate the intranasal and injectable every six months. For patients whose risk is extremely low, who don't board or need grooming services, the vaccine can be given annually.
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CASE OF THE MONTH
 For the month of June, we would like to share a dermatology success case with you.Buddy is now a 6 year old male English Cocker Spaniel who will melt your heart with his eyes. Buddy originally presented one year ago with multiple problems. His history was sorted as he was in shelters and various homes before he landed with his current owner. Buddy's luck changed at that point because he found someone who truly cared.
Buddy suffered from a host of skin issues. Just to name a few were: chronic atopy (inhalent allergies), food allergies, sarcoptic and demodectic mange, hypothyroidism and severe bacterial infections including the dread MRSP (methicillin resistant staph). Buddy was miserable. He could not stop itching; he would tear his skin apart. It took nearly 5 months for definitive progress to be made. Many forms of medications had to be employed. Part of his regime included but was not limited to: Revolution, Convenia, Gentamycin, Ivermectin, Hydroxyzine, Soloxine and Welactin. In addition to convincing Buddy to take his medication, the owner also had to do twice weekly shampooing and feed a hypoallergenic diet. They were both troopers through the whole process. A year later, Buddy is doing fabulous! His medication schedule has been reduced to just three supplements with his weekly bath. He even has enough hair growth to require regular grooming now!
This case demonstrates how we as veterinarians need the partnership of the pet owner to reach success. Dermatology is one of the most frustrating fields of medicine. Buddy would not have improved if it were not for the tender loving care and dedication he received from his "adoptive" mom. I prescribed many therapies that required true involvement from the owner (not to mention several return trips to our office). If all of those therapies had sat on the shelf, Buddy would not be the happy, comfortable dog he is today.
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