First Street Veterinary Hospital

Wow can you believe it is almost Thanksgiving already! We are quickly filling up for Holiday boarding. So if you have plans away from home that don’t include your pets call soon for reservations. For dogs we have 6 indoor 4′x6′ runs and several large cages. We have lots of soft blankets and dog beds as well so Fido can be comfy and cozy. Our dogs are walked outdoors three times daily (more if needed) and we feed science diet dog food.

For cats we have many cages both large and small–so Fluffy can be comfortable whether he is outgoing or nervous. Our cats are kept upstairs away from the noise of the dogs. We have many cat toys available for hours of enjoyment. Litter boxes are changed twice daily and again we feed science diet cat food.

For boarding animals we require that vaccines are current and will need proof of that from a licensed vet. We can give medications as needed and perform other medical treatments as required as well. And should the weather turn for the worse–Don’t worry–I have a 4 wheel drive and I’m not afraid to use it! So don’t worry–your pets will be taken care of no matter what! My husband and I made many trips in last year even with 4 feet of snow!

One of the things I hear most often is declining a treatment or procedure because an animal is “too old”. There is no such thing! All animals age differently just as people do.  My father at 76 is still able to out-hike me! The same is true of our animals. And there are definitely things we can do to help slow the progression of aging. One of the most important is yearly blood work. Pets still retain a vast ability to hide symptoms. Therefore once a symptom is noticeable there is already damage done. Often blood work can reveal early changes and treatments can be done to correct or change the outcome.

Another important aspect of continued health in old age is dental care. Our teeth are actually very important to other body systems. An infected mouth can lead to heart disease, kidney and liver disease, and pancreatic problems. It is also important to remember that animals will generally not show any pain related to periodontal disease. They will continue to eat regardless. But based on human studies, periodontal disease is painful. Chronic pain can cause changes in the hormone levels and can lead to various problems. Regular dental care is extremely important to long life for our pets!

Diet is another factor that is important for our geriatric pets. Just as our nutritional needs change as we age, so do our pets. And every pet is an individual so diet choices need to be made based on each individual’s health needs. There are specific diets made for many health problems. Calorie needs will change as a patient ages or with different disease processes as well.

Arthritis is a condition that happens to almost every being as it ages. It’s just a fact of life that cartilage and bones start to wear out over time and become painful. Small animals like cats may not show the symptoms as obviously. One study of x-rays taken of cats for various reasons showed that over 92% of cats over age 10 had obvious signs visible on the x-ray. Larger dogs will often show very obvious signs of arthritis. Fortunately we have a wide variety of ways to help with arthritis. These can include nutritional, holistic (such as acupuncture), medical, and surgical. Often we use a combination of nutritional aids and medicines to get the best outcome with the least side effects.

So in closing please remember that the geriatric years can be some of the most rewarding. With new information our pets are living longer and healthier lives. If you have the privilege of living with a senior dog or cat feel free to contact me for more information to make the senior years happy ones.

Summer brings new challenges to your pet’s lives. They depend on you for all their needs.

Here are some helpful reminders for a safe, happy and healthy summer for your pets:

Traveling in Cars -

• Short Trips- A vented car in the shade on a sunny day of even 78 can warm up to 90 degrees very quickly. A car left in direct sunlight on the same day can reach in excess of 140 degrees in minutes! Animals can succumb to heatstroke in as little as 15 minutes.  Dogs can’t cool off like we can. Remember they are wearing fur coats at all times. Plus their skin doesn’t sweat. They cool off by panting—but this also dehydrates them quickly. Long-haired or short-faced breeds are much more prone to heat stroke.

• Long Trips- If your pet is not used to car travel it can be a very anxious trip. You need to consider how you will take care of the animal during all parts of the trip. If it is hot out will you be stopping for lunch? Leaving the pet in the car even for a short lunch can cause problems. How about potty breaks? Does the car have air conditioning? Where will you be spending the night? There are many pet-friendly hotels available now but these need to be determined before setting off. Also some state and national parks do not allow pets, even if they stay in the car.

At Home -

• Water should be available both inside and out at all times. And make sure to change the outdoor water regularly in case of bugs, leaves, and dirt that may get in it.
• Many common plants can be toxic to pets—for good information check out this website for types: http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/index.html
• Slug bait is very common this time of year and can be dangerous for our pets. Slug and snail bait is commonly shaped in pellets and flavored with molasses. A very small amount of bait is needed for toxicity. There are pet-safe alternatives.
• For indoor only cats, summer can be a time for escape. Often we accidently leave windows or doors open and the cat will start to explore. Be aware of this especially during holidays or when there is a gathering of people. Another good reason for a HomeAgain type microchip identification implant.

Exercise -

• Summer is a great time to get out and exercise. But we have to be cautious on how exercise is approached. Short faced breeds such as pugs, bulldogs, and Pekinese have a lot harder time with exercise if they are not properly conditioned. Also overweight and long-haired breeds cannot tolerate exercise as well as others. It is always best to exercise in the cooler parts of the day. Remember to bring water for your dogs on hikes. Also if hiking in rough areas, dog booties can really save a dog’s feet from injury.  They do hike barefoot after all.
• Swimming can be a wonderful exercise for many dogs. But there are some precautions to take. First—not all dogs enjoy swimming. So if your dog is a non-swimmer don’t force the issue. Second—even though dogs can be very good swimmers they can still get into trouble, especially in a fast moving river or past the shallows in a lake. A pet floatation device is a good idea for many swimming dogs.
• Third—if your dog is swimming in a pool, make sure they know how to get out when they are done.

Holidays-

• Holidays can be very stressful for our pets. Often times there are many extra people around, open doors, and fireworks. Consider how your pet reacts to these stresses and plan for them before they arrive. Generally a quiet room or crate is the best area during high activity times. If your dog is overly sensitive to fireworks there are medications your veterinarian can prescribe to take the edge off.
• Barbecues can entice even the best behaved dog. Unfortunately, getting a lot of different foods can cause gastric upset and even pancreas issues. Making sure to keep the human food for the humans can avoid tummy upset for our four legged friends.

U.S. and Canada to Increase Scrutiny of Flea and Tick Pet Products

Release date: 04/16/2009

Contact Information: (News media only) Dale Kemery, 202-564-7839/4355 / kemery.dale@epa.gov (Other inquiries: Doug Parsons, 202-564-0341 / parsons.douglas@epa.gov

(Washington, DC – April 16, 2009) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is intensifying its evaluation of spot-on pesticide products for flea and tick control for pets due to recent increases in the number of reported incidents. Adverse reactions reported range from mild effects such as skin irritation to more serious effects such as seizures and, in some cases, the death of pets.

Flea and tick products can be appropriate treatments for protecting your pets and your family’s health because fleas and ticks can transmit disease. While many people use the products with no harm to their pets, EPA recommends that pet owners take precautions when using these products. People should carefully follow label directions and monitor their pets for any signs of an adverse reaction after application, particularly when using these products for the first time. Pet owners may also want to consult a veterinarian about the responsible and effective use of flea and tick products.

Incidents with flea and tick products can involve the use of spot-on treatments, sprays, collars and shampoos. However, the majority of the incidents reported to EPA are related to flea and tick treatments with EPA-registered spot-on products. Spot-on products are generally sold in tubes or vials and are applied to one or more localized areas on the body of the pet, such as in between the shoulders or in a stripe along the back. This advisory pertains only to EPA-registered spot-on flea and tick products; these products have an EPA registration number on the label.

Health Canada has identified similar concerns about the use of spot-on flea and tick products. Health Canada and EPA will meet shortly with spot-on product manufacturers to address the issue, including whether further restrictions are necessary to protect the health of pets.

EPA recommends that veterinarians use the National Pesticide Information Center’s Veterinary Pesticide Adverse Effects Reporting portal to report incidents: http://npic.orst.edu/vet

More information on pet products and safety tips: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/pets.htm

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

The weather really got us, just like many of you too.
We still have to be at the clinic at least twice a day to walk, feed, love, care for and medicate our boarding pets.  The weather hit right at our busiest time of the year.
There were two days where we were the only vet hospital open in town.
We wanted to let people know we were open, so we even put up a “weather alert” on pdxinfo.net.  That’s the site that all the news channels use for their “news flash” tickers along the bottom of their telecasts of “Arctic Blast 08!”
My husband Brian and I would make the trek in twice a day on the weekends.  The day everything started to melt a little we even encountered a fallen tree in Wilderness Park on our way in…good thing my Boy Scout husband decided carrying a chain saw with us that day would be a good idea!  Quick work of a tree and we were on our way.
Speaking of chain saws, we finally did some pruning to our overgrown pear and apple tree in our courtyard.  Maybe this year we won’t get any cold snap in the spring and have really tasty fruit to share…btw you’re always welcome to come by and pluck a fruit off and enjoy.

We would like to announce the beginning of our curbside service. Is it rotten weather, kids sleeping in the car, elderly and hard to get around?? If you need to pick up food or medications, drop off lab samples, or drop off your pet—just call us when you arrive and we will come out to the car. 503-697-5600.

You can give the receptionist credit card info over the phone or if dropping off a pet you can give all the history via phone. Then our staff will be out with your products or to pick up your pet. We hope this will help in many situations.

We carry Hills, Royal Canin, Purina, and Iams foods—however we carry a limited selection of types. We can order any foods from these companies given enough time. There is generally a 50# weight minimum of each type (except Hills) to avoid a shipping fee.
Generally Hills is ordered on Tuesday morning for Wednesday delivery and the others are ordered on Wednesday morning for Thursday delivery. We almost always order Hills on a weekly basis but often go 2-4 weeks for the other foods. If you need any of these foods please keep the order and delivery dates in mind and leave enough time so as not to run out.

There are lots of pets up for adoption right now and spring time is when lots of puppies and kittens are born, so I thought I could help with new names.
Naming a new pet can be easy but sometimes it’s hard!!  For example, naming my cat Oreo Cookie was pretty easy because he’s black and white and so are Oreo cookies. A lot of people name black and white pets, Oreo.

If you want a unique name for your pet, think of how soft your pet is or think of how sweet it’s personality is. Like if you had a dog who loves you and will never go any where without you, you could name it something like Angel or Sweetie or if you had a Dalmatian and you really want to name it Sparky but you want your Dalmatian to have a unique name, you could name it Chispa because Chispa means Sparky in Spanish.
If you can’t figure out a name look at this list of names I made up:
Skipper, Angel, Sweetie, Chispa, Princess, Midnight, Licorice, Cutie, Sugar pup, Lacey, Crystal, Champ, Ginger, Scooter, Spice, Buddy, Java Bean, Twinkle, Kit Kat, Pumpkin, Clover,  Pepper, Snow White, Fluffy, Pine, Statue, Squirt, Snowball, Leopard, or Leprechaun. These are all the names I can think of right now.
Bye!