First Street Veterinary Hospital

Congratulations to Michael and Diane Sarver. They have won a $100 credit to their veterinary account for referring Hans Lundin and his dog Senna.

Do you want to win also? All you have to do is refer your friends, family and acquaintances to us. When they come in and mention your name, you are entered into a raffle to win $100.

And something new we are instituting–you automatically get a $20 credit placed on your account, and still get the chance to win an additional $100.

So make sure anyone you refer knows your name and lets us know!

Just wanted to let everyone know current clinic plans for February. I will be going to Las Vegas for the Western Veterinary Conference Feb. 14-18. This is one of the largest conferences on the west coast and I am looking forward to learning lots of new things. I always come back from conferences energized and more excited than ever for veterinary medicine. During the time I am gone there will not be a doctor on premises. Launie or Suzanne will be here to answer phones, schedule appointments, and fill prescriptions or sell food. They will also be able to direct you to another clinic if you have an urgent problem. While I am out of town I trust the care of my patients to the wonderful doctors at Full Circle Veterinary Clinic here in Lake Oswego. I have known Dr. Frey for many years and trust her to care for my patients as I would. I will also be within cell phone range if anyone needs to get a hold of me. I won’t be able to answer the phone immediately but will be returning phone calls within a few hours in most instances.

Also in February is our much anticipated Dental Month. Receive 15% off all dental services now through the end of February. This is a great time to get Fido or Fluffy’s teeth cleaned and any dental treatments taken care of. Remember dental disease is the top disease process I see in most animals. Call now to schedule as we most likely will begin to fill up soon.

Julie Kruse DVM

Pets are often the forgotten family member when it comes to exercise and diet. It’s important that these pets maintain a healthy weight and get proper exercise.

Overweight and out of shape pets are more prone to heart disease, arthritis, pancreatitis, ligament and tendon difficulties, breathing problems, diabetes and occasionally skin conditions from not being able to groom themselves properly. Nobody wants to hear the news that their pet has a serious condition that was preventable. Prevention is always the best medicine.

One long term study showed that pets at their ideal body weight lived 15 percent longer, an average of 2 years!

So we’re sponsoring a program for spring/summer weight management. Actually, we’re going to turn it into a contest!

The contest is two fold. First, weights will be taken and a plan for diet will be arranged with Dr. Julie. A contract with the owner will be signed, pledging not to give treats and come in for regular weigh-ins. Second, the clinic will sponsor a daily walk and talk, providing a meeting place for owners to socialize and share stories while supporting each other to get some needed exercise.

There will be prizes for 1st Place and two runners up in both a dog and cat division. Weight loss will be determined as a percentage of total body weight, so all breeds have an equal chance at winning. A mix of prizes from local companies, Bark Busters®, Invisible Fence®, Lake Oswego Dog Shoppe groomers and others will combine for gift baskets totaling upwards of $500 in the prize pool.

Contest Details:
First Street Veterinary Hospital
545 First Street
Lake Oswego, OR 97034
503-697-5600
www.firststreetvet.com
Free Registration Begins April 15th
First Weigh-in Friday April, 24th and Saturday April, 25th
Daily Walk and Talk, Noon at the Clinic
Final Weigh-out Friday August, 28th

Answer:

For most dogs:

• DAP (distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus) every 3 years after the first year.
• Rabies every 3 years after the first year.
• Bordetella every 6 months to a year if around any other dogs.
• Other vaccines discussed and recommended based on pets lifestyle.

For most cats:

• FVRCP (rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia) every 3 years after the first year.
• Rabies every year.
• Felv (leukemia virus) every year if the cat goes outdoors.

Isn’t it amazing how fast this year has gone. Here it is almost Halloween. All Hallow’s Eve can be a fun and exciting holiday for adults and children but is one of the most unsafe for our pets. People dressing up in strange clothes and coming to the door can cause stress to many dogs. Make sure your dogs are in a safe area inside the house during trick or treating. Even fenced yards can’t hold some dogs if they get stressed enough. A crate in a quiet room is a perfect spot for your canine friend during the haunting hours.

And as we get closer to Christmas all those shiny ornaments and tinsel can wreak havoc if a dog or cat decides to chew on them and ingest them.

Being aware of these potential dangers is important in keeping our four-legged family members healthy and happy.