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Winter Pet Care Tips Housing: Be sure to provide proper shelter for all your pets. If yours is an indoor pet, his bed or crate should be kept in a warm, draft-free area, preferably elevated slightly off the floor. If your pet is kept ourdoors, provide a warm insulated pet house or shelter. The house should also be elevated enough so that moisture cannot accumulate inside. If possible, provide a door to keep out the winter winds. Frostbite: Remove ice and snow from your pet's paws and coat at once. Frostbitten skin may turn reddish, white, or gray, and it may be scaly or sloughing. If you suspect frostbite, take your pet to a warm place immediately. Apply warm, moist towels to the areas and change them frequently. Continue until the affected areas become flushed. Contact your veterinarian immediately. Antifreeze: Even a small amount of antifreeze can be fatal. Precautions are necessary with all antifreeze products on the market. Read labels and warnings carefully. Thoroughly clean up spills at once. Water: Always have fresh, clean water available for your pets. If your pet is kept outdoors, be sure to check his water frequently since it may freeze. Napping cats: Cats sometimes climb onto vehicle engines for warmth. Before starting your vehicle, knock on the hood and honk the horn. Even if your own cat does not have access to your vehicle, a neighbor's cat might have taken shelter there. __________________________________________________ Testing your pet before anesthesia can identify hidden health problems. When you place your pet in the hands of Idexx Laboratories, you trust them to provide the best possible medical care. That is why we may recommend certain tests when your pet is having a medical problem or is scheduled for anesthesia. Regardless of age, physical examination and medical history of your pet, we recommend diagnostic testing to identify health problems and begin treatment as early as possible. These tests are especially helpful when your pet just isn't feeling right and symptoms are hard to define. If your pet is going to be placed under anesthesia, we strongly recommend pre-anesthetic testing. Anesthesia is extremely safe for healthy pets. But, if your pet is not healthy (and sometimes it's hard to tell without testing), complications can occur both during and after the anesthetic procedure. We can minimize potential risk when we know the health status of your pet before administering anesthesia. You deserve peace of mind. Testing can significantly reduce medical risk and ensure your pet's health and safety. Pets can't tell us when they don't feel well. A healthy-appearing pet may be hiding symptoms of a disease or ailment. for example, a pet can lose up to 75% of kidney function before showing any signs of illness. Testing helps us evaluate the health of your pet's liver and kidneys, so we can avoid problems related to anesthesia. Testing can reduce risks. If results of the pre-anesthetic are within normal ranges, we can proceed with confidence, knowing the anesthetic risk is minimized. On the other hand, if results are not within the normal ranges, we alter the anesthetic procedure to safeguard your pet's health. Testing can help protect your pet's future health. These tests provide baseline levels for your pet and become part of his or her medical chart for future reference. Learning About Laser Surgery Your pet's health is as important to us as it is to you. We are pleased to offer laser surgery as an exciting new option for safe, comfortable treatment. In many procedures, the laser can replace the scalpel and provide a better alternative to traditional surgery. What is a Laser? A laser is a device that generates an intense beam of light at a specific wavelength. How Does a Laser Work? The way a particular laser works is determined by the specific wavelength of light that it produces. For example, the most commonly used surgical laser is a CO2 laser which produces an invisible beam of light that vaporizes the water normally found in the skin and other soft tissue. Because your veterinarian can precisely control the laser, only a thin layer of tissue is removed, leaving the surrounding areas unaffected. Why Laser Surgery? Less Pain - Laser energy seals nerve endings as it moves through tissue. Your pet feels less pain post-operatively. Less Bleeding - The laser seals small blood vessels during surgery which allows your doctor to perform surgeries with extraordinary precision. This also speeds some procedures reducing the need for anesthesia. Less Swelling - Laser energy does not crush, tear or bruise because only a beam of intense light contacts the tissue. What Does This Mean for my Pet? Reduced risk of infection - The laser sterilizes as it removes diseased tissue, killing bacteria that cause infection. Precision - The laser can remove unhealthy tissue while minimizing adverse affects to healthy surrounding tissue. Quick return to normal activities - Recovery is rapid and there is less post-operative discomfort. Are Lasers New? Lasers have been successfully used on humans for over 30 years. This human experience is proving to be beneficial for pets and their owners. We are pleased to be among the first veterinary practices to offer laser surgery specifically for pets. What Types of Procedures Can a Laser Perform? A laser is ideal for a wide variety of surgical procedures for dogs, cats, birds and other pets. Laser surgery can correct many common conditions such as cysts, tumors, warts and infections that may occur around the eyes, ears, in the mouth, and anywhere on the skin. Specialized internal procedures are also possible. For more information, talk with your veterinarian and please visit www.petlasers.com. Help Prevent the Heartbreak of Lost Pets - HomeAgain Microchip Identification Enduring the disappearance of your dog or cat is one of life's painful mysteries. Wouldn't it be reassuring if your pet could be permanently identified for life, even without a collar? Now it's possible - with the HomeAgain Microchip Identification System from Schering-Plough Animal Health. Available from Mid-Cape Animal Hospital, the HomeAgain pet retrieval system involves injecting a small microchip - about the size of a grain of rice - under the skin between the shoulder blades of a dog or cat, in much the same way a vaccine is administered. Each chip has a unique 10 digit code that must be registered with the American Kennel Club's (AKC) Companion Animal Recovery program by completing an enrollment form. When a lost pet arrives at the shelter, a special hand-held scanner - similar to the scanners used in supermarkets - is passed over the animal's shoulder blades. The scanner can read the identification code of the microchip below the skin surface. The shelter can then notify Companion Animal Recovery, which immediately contacts the pet's owner or, if necessary, a veterinarian, relative or other people previously designated by the owner. Thousands of veterinarians' offices, animal shelters and animal control agencies use the scanners routinely. ________________________________________________________________ Tag Your Cat! Nationally, only 2.1% of lost cats are reunited with their owners. To improve these heart-breaking statistics, and to save feline lives, the Cape Cod Tag Your Cat Campaign is offering cat owners free collars and ID tags. If your cat is ever lost, it has a much greater chance of being reunited with you if it is wearing proper identification. For your free tag or more information, visit us at our clinic or contact the International Fund for Animal Welfare at 508-744-2000. Tufts University Pet Loss Support Hotline 508-839-7966 24-Hour Voice Mail For latest information on hours and services, please visit the Web site at www.tufts.edu/vet/petinfo/petloss.html. |