tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59857554653097860492024-02-20T13:43:01.121-05:00Gentle Care Animal HospitalGentle Care Animal HospitalDr. Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16258450579145756612noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985755465309786049.post-34942071403893710972011-07-10T21:28:00.005-04:002011-07-12T20:03:37.560-04:00"Lucky" Strays That Have Found Their Way to Gentle Care<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over the past week Gentle Care Animal Hospital has had three strays come in thanks to Good Samaritans. One of those strays was lucky enough to be reunited with her owner due to her microchip. Unfortunately the other two were not and both had injuries. Here are their stories.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Tellie</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_QYLW9qVKlHyn3TnMEixDeyl5T-tA-ODJLV1oWNC6G4Ah0HZ3qVhI773HYMTxL30hoytIdm3NaSpF2I0F023Bx0IvLP8P9LNULT72B25zU_9IS0gTssWxfo-IQzpOJxARnTEOeDcz0eP5/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_QYLW9qVKlHyn3TnMEixDeyl5T-tA-ODJLV1oWNC6G4Ah0HZ3qVhI773HYMTxL30hoytIdm3NaSpF2I0F023Bx0IvLP8P9LNULT72B25zU_9IS0gTssWxfo-IQzpOJxARnTEOeDcz0eP5/s320/photo.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On Tuesday July 5 a Good Samaritan brought a young cat that she had seen get hit by a car. The Good Samaritan at first thought the cat had not made it until she saw him move. She then brought him into us surrendering him to the care of Gentle Care Animal Hospital. He did not have a microchip. Dr. Darren Holman and technicians Chelsea, Laura, and Sara quickly attended to his broken hind leg. Dr. Holman placed a splint for overnight. The following day he set the cat’s leg and put it in a cast. This little guy tugged at everyone’s heart strings. He has been fondly named Tellie by Lori. Tellie is doing very well and is sweet as pie. Despite his awful luck of being hit by a car, he has found great care. We are hoping to find him a forever home!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you or anyone you know is interested in Tellie, please contact us at Gentle Care Animal Hospital - 919-852-4386 or at <a href="mailto:info@petrepair.com">info@petrepair.com</a>.</span></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmj5YomqFoTM4AlPL7_xx1mPMkNp24pPtNH2b1PKbWASvM92Lj6GoDrsFp9LONvfd_7WdHoEG0En4_eNdnCcdgFBj3yiu6-2_fm9ohARv6QQId4qyt3Tk1esfNz_Ye9GiMNIGzobbsg7sW/s1600/DSCN9891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmj5YomqFoTM4AlPL7_xx1mPMkNp24pPtNH2b1PKbWASvM92Lj6GoDrsFp9LONvfd_7WdHoEG0En4_eNdnCcdgFBj3yiu6-2_fm9ohARv6QQId4qyt3Tk1esfNz_Ye9GiMNIGzobbsg7sW/s320/DSCN9891.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On Thursday July 7 a Good Samaritan, Joe, brought an injured German Shepherd into Gentle Care Animal Hospital. He had found her alongside the road. After a physical exam it was found that she had a broken left front leg. A microchip tracked her to an owner who surrendered her to Gentle Care Animal Hospital. Joe donated $500 for her care, but was unable to keep her. Through the hard work of Dr. Jennifer Parker and several technicians including Cheryl, Christine and Erin, a splint was placed on Casey’s leg. North Carolina State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital agreed to do surgery to repair her broken front leg using teaching funds. They donated a $2,500 surgery to help Casey! She went in for a consult and was immediately brought into surgery under the direction of Dr. Simon Roe on Friday, July 8. Dr. Toni Kwan and veterinary student Micah Woods also assisted in Casey’s surgery and care. On Saturday she was brought from NCSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital to Cheryl’s home where she will start her recovery. Cheryl reports that Casey is doing very well and has settled into her temporary home. She is showing her true personality and rolling over to enjoy belly rubs. Technician Erin will also help foster Casey during her recovery.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although Casey has been incredibly lucky to receive her surgery and hopefully some relief, she still has a long and costly recovery ahead of her. We are hoping to place her into a forever home once she is healed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If anyone is interested in adopting Casey or contributing financially to her care, please contact us at Gentle Care Animal Hospital – 919-852-4386 or <a href="mailto:info@petrepair.com">info@petrepair.com</a>. We will continue to update our page with pictures and updates on both Casey and Tellie!</span></div>Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777659501368650940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985755465309786049.post-38166390667551201572011-06-07T14:07:00.000-04:002011-06-07T14:07:10.012-04:00Leptospirosis is now Required for all dogs in the kennel, hospital or grooming facilityThis article has been taken directly from Gentle Care Animal Hospital's April Newsletter:<br />
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Recently it seems as if we are recommending a new vaccine for your dog. The leptospirosis or "lepto" vaccine is actually not a new vaccine and most dogs have already been vaccinated against it in a combination vaccine. In our ongoing commitment to stay on the cutting edge Gentle Care Animal Hospital has moved to a new vaccine schedule based on current research. It has been shown that the DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus) vaccine actually protects your pet for a full three years. The leptospirosis was part of a five way vaccine that would be given to your pet on a yearly basis. When the other four components of the vaccine were made into a three year vaccine the leptospirosis part was not included, because it does not protect that long.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienx48Ma2Q8UeLXPg11ZjKs3TEtMD8CJmqETeLjOLBI2XvOf1ezhh2FaoyfztR2B_uF9zp62XlAKWJ0I3D4ElYizGob7upBlz-S1JgUlC3r3x8P2MFT9pfrFTq-GgPBuTfst_o8TGUaXNt/s1600/boxer-dog-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienx48Ma2Q8UeLXPg11ZjKs3TEtMD8CJmqETeLjOLBI2XvOf1ezhh2FaoyfztR2B_uF9zp62XlAKWJ0I3D4ElYizGob7upBlz-S1JgUlC3r3x8P2MFT9pfrFTq-GgPBuTfst_o8TGUaXNt/s200/boxer-dog-1.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a></div><strong>Why doesn't the lepto vaccine protect your pet for three years?</strong> Distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus are all viruses, while leptospirosis is a bacteria. There is not a proven or licensed vaccine to protect against the leptospirosis bacteria for a full three years. The vaccine that Gentle Care Animal Hospital administers protects against four different strains of leptospirosis, whereas the combination DHLPP vaccine only protects against two strains. The vaccine that is administered offers better protection than the combination vaccine that was administered in the past. <br />
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<strong>What is leptospirosis and how can my dog get it?</strong> Leptospirosis is a bacteria that is found in the environment and spread by wildlife. It is quite literally everywhere. Your dog can get the bacteria simply by touching his/her nose to an area where a raccoon or other wildlife urinated. At one point it was believed that larger breed dogs living in a rural environment were more prone to leptospirosis. This theory has been proven wrong in recent years. All dogs regardless of size and living situation should be protected.<br />
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<strong>What are the symptoms of leptospirosis?</strong> Most dogs will be asymptomatic, or not show the signs of leptospirosis. The bacteria causes liver and kidney failure in dogs. The scariest part of the disease is that it is zoonotic. This means that people can be infected with leptospirosis from their pets.<br />
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<strong>What are the side effects of the vaccine?</strong> As with every vaccine there is a potential for side effects. These reactions range from soreness at the injection site to, although rare, anaphylactic reaction. As mentioned before most dogs have already received this vaccine and side effects are unlikely. In puppies and smaller dogs that have never received the leptospirosis vaccine before a premedication of benadryl will sometimes be given to help combat the potential for a reaction. The chances of a vaccine reaction have been over-hyped by literature. The vaccines have been reformulated to decrease instance of reactions. The chances of a reaction from the four-way vaccine that we administer are less than the vaccine that was previously used.<br />
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Leptospirosis is now a core vaccine at Gentle Care Animal Hospital. Any dog in the hospital for surgery or in the kennel for boarding, doggie daycare, or grooming will be required to be up to date on the leptospirosis vaccine. <br />
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If you have questions regarding the vaccine or would like to schedule an appointment, please call an informed team member at 919-852-4386.Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777659501368650940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985755465309786049.post-61339332463438297872011-05-31T13:57:00.000-04:002011-05-31T13:57:11.396-04:00Pet Portrait Special for Gentle Care Patients<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A client and friend of Gentle Care Animal Hospital, Suzie Wolf, has offered her photography at a special price for Gentle Care clients. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSUIbR3Il5iq0fCuSJKW2S5x37zbUL_Vj6rmF5bwrkf7HpasAZ7LuWiOXx-gmnxBVC1_8hk7LstmONsYaECSKvmnJ46w75RuS-UZW424DzYtmV2AFVu6BPp6NVoTLNLBXV31eNZfPS-IM/s1600/Suzie+promotion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSUIbR3Il5iq0fCuSJKW2S5x37zbUL_Vj6rmF5bwrkf7HpasAZ7LuWiOXx-gmnxBVC1_8hk7LstmONsYaECSKvmnJ46w75RuS-UZW424DzYtmV2AFVu6BPp6NVoTLNLBXV31eNZfPS-IM/s400/Suzie+promotion.jpg" t8="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For more information, please either call Suzie or refer to her website: </span><a href="http://www.suziewolfphotography.com/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">http://www.suziewolfphotography.com/</span></a></div>Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777659501368650940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985755465309786049.post-16349504497548632922011-03-20T20:54:00.000-04:002011-03-20T20:54:49.681-04:00Weekend Get Away With Your DogAs the weather warms up everyone is heading outdoors to enjoy the warmth and wonderful spring weather. Sometimes it is difficult to find a place where you can enjoy a relaxing weekend with your pets. Maybe you have a new dog or a dog that could use some training? We have the perfect solution for you! A longtime friend of Dr. Holman’s, Nan Wells, is owner and operator of Canine Connections Dog Training Vacation. Here is what Nan writes about this great vacation idea:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dTEWigm3ff1ds8OxuTjpdUZkOfBEMCSxOYA5ZVkEXWm6OyyOpTmuYmrbmtK5zrK_dOhBcDusyAavDbgU5rYyZTGllKf1JP6aF8U25fISIYNrZ3BU7Fg6o-4HmMhcmd7Q411pgfUtJJY4/s1600/Nan+blog+picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dTEWigm3ff1ds8OxuTjpdUZkOfBEMCSxOYA5ZVkEXWm6OyyOpTmuYmrbmtK5zrK_dOhBcDusyAavDbgU5rYyZTGllKf1JP6aF8U25fISIYNrZ3BU7Fg6o-4HmMhcmd7Q411pgfUtJJY4/s200/Nan+blog+picture.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Nestled in the mountains just outside of charming Brevard, North Carolina lies the ultimate dog and owner vacation. Stay in a guest house or lovely cabin on Black Knob, at altitudes of 3000 feet, with thousands of acres of forest surrounding you. Come to "the Land of Waterfalls" and relax in the beauty of the forest enjoying the slow pace of the Western North Carolina mountains. Bring your family and best friend for a week to explore this beautiful area with optional training sessions for you and your dog available. You are centrally located to all the great places in this area. Some of the many activities in the Brevard area are world-class trout fishing, hiking, rock climbing, rafting, river tubing, horseback riding, and mountain biking. The Western Mountains of North Carolina are known for their hospitality so come and join us in the mountains for the ultimate vacation experience with your best friend. <br />
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The gateway to the Pisgah National Forest with its 157,000 acres of forest and its hundreds of miles of hiking trails lies just below. At the top of the Forest road lies the Blue Ridge Parkway with high altitudes of over 6400 feet and some of the most beautiful sights on the entire parkway. On the other side of you is the DuPont State Forest with 10,000 acres of trails and stunning waterfalls. Within minutes lies the city of Asheville with its historic downtown and the Biltmore Estate. In the opposite direction are the quaint towns of Hendersonville and Lake Lure. Head south and the road takes you over to Caesar's Head State Park in South Carolina. Yet another way will lead you to Lake Toxaway and further on to the towns of Highlands and Cashiers.<br />
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Our goal is to make this your best vacation ever! During your vacation you can opt to receive customized training sessions with Nan Wells, APDT of Canine Connections Dog Training during your vacation stay with us or just enjoy our lovely pet friendly lodging. Dog training vacation is dedicated to helping you and your dog with your specific needs. Whether it be therapy work, Canine Good Citizen, formal obedience, problem solving we will tailor a plan to meet your needs or simply advice on what to do, where to go and places you might enjoy taking your dog with.<br />
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Dog beds are provided within the lodging and we have exercise pens and crates for your use when visiting should you need them. We also carry a good assortment of training supplies, treats and toys. And of course we are always available to watch your dog(s) while you enjoy some of the attractions where you might not wish to take them. Dogs are allowed most places here, even at most of the outdoor dining restaurants and if you spend a day at the Biltmore Estate they have now even added a kennel for your convenience during your tour of the home.<br />
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Nan Wells, APDT<br />
Canine Connections Dog Training<br />
Dog Training Vacations<br />
828-507-3020<br />
email: <a href="mailto:nw@dogtrainingvacation.com">nw@dogtrainingvacation.com</a><br />
<a href="http://www.dogtrainingvacation.com/">http://www.dogtrainingvacation.com/</a>Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777659501368650940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985755465309786049.post-37144038519410574232011-01-26T19:49:00.000-05:002011-01-26T19:49:04.936-05:00Dealing with Losing a Pet<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Nobody wants to go through it, but at some point in our lives it is inevitable. Pets are now a part of many families and are loved like a child. Many memories are created and when your pet passes it is a very emotional time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">As your pet ages or has an ailment, there are many decisions and veterinary visits to make. At Gentle Care Animal Hospital, we are here every step of the way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">No matter how old or sick your pet is, there are a few important things to remember when making the decision for humane euthanasia. You have many memories of your pet and he has been there for you during all the ups and downs. Now it is your turn to be there for him. Always keep in mind your pet's quality of life. Is he still able to do all of the things that he loves? Make sure that you are holding on to your pet for your pet and not for yourself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Although it is a very difficult decision to make it may be the best gift that you can give your pet. Once ready to make the decision to "put your pet to sleep", we can help you through the process. To prepare, I recommend that you spend the last day doing all of the things that your pet loves like taking a walk, going to the park, a long car ride, favorite treats, belly scratches and maybe some special food that he only got on special occasions. Make sure that you make the last memories good ones.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Call us to make an appointment. We are always able to accommodate you and your schedule. Think about what you would like to do with your pet's remains ahead of time. You can elect to take your pet home, communal cremation, or individual cremation. With communal cremation you will not get your pet's ashes returned. If you chose individual cremation, your pet's ashes will be returned to you within a couple of days. You can also get a clay foot print made. There are even some companies that can make that footprint into a necklace charm. It is a good way to always have your pet close to your heart.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">At the office a trained veterinary technician will place an intravenous catheter in your pet and this will help the process go smoother. Your pet will receive an injection of a combination sedative, muscle relaxer and pain reliever and simply fall asleep. It is painless and quick. Some pet parents do not want to be present for the final process and that is completely okay. It is up to you. </span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Now that you are home and grieving, what can you do to keep your pet's memory alive? Personally I created a slide show of pictures of my cat. It helped me remember how happy, loving and sweet he was and allowed me to create a life story for him. Although it did not make me miss him less it allowed me to move on and let him rest. Other people have created a collage of their pet or spread his/her ashes at their pet's favorite places. I believe that you can find the best way for you to remember your pet. You can take the clay footprint that you had made and create an ornament or wall hanging. It is okay and very natural to grieve because your pet was a huge part of your life and family. </span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Although you aren't thinking about it right away, the question may come as to when to get another pet. The thing to remember is that you will never replace your previous pet but can get another that will likely be very different and that you can create new memories with. Some people need months and even years to be able get a new pet. Others need a new pet right away. For me, it was less than two months after I had lost my cat Buzz. I was still sleeping with his picture at night when my cat Tye found me. I was working at a veterinary clinic in Pennsylvania when I walked in to find a cute little orange kitten staring at me. I instantly got a feeling that I would be taking him home. He was found outside a school, covered in fleas and very cold. I didn't think I was ready for him but I went home that night and thought about Buzz. The next morning when I went into work to take care of the kitten he licked and then head butted my chin. It was then that I knew I would be taking him home because Buzz did that to me every morning! Your sign or story will likely be very different from mine but a new pet will be there for you to love and spoil will find you even if you didn't think you were ready! </span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUKxnea-MHjrxltesS7uidqdA09ljbnPxLGaapzcCIhwNMiwI7qZHfAEsXXNt2XdZAyGAxsdT5XAxdVQ1hZpo5DiHJkpUq5s7jvqBpyVRiXVkPXkb-6o_cdWX37q35hU7TLaT0iEF3Lwg/s1600/pet_loss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUKxnea-MHjrxltesS7uidqdA09ljbnPxLGaapzcCIhwNMiwI7qZHfAEsXXNt2XdZAyGAxsdT5XAxdVQ1hZpo5DiHJkpUq5s7jvqBpyVRiXVkPXkb-6o_cdWX37q35hU7TLaT0iEF3Lwg/s320/pet_loss.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">For more information or to speak with a pet grief counselor please refer to North Carolina State Veterinary Teach Hopsital pet grief </span><a href="http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/vth/petloss_resources.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">website.</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> On this page you will find comforting books and other resources.</span></div>Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777659501368650940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985755465309786049.post-47694899081005235472011-01-07T12:06:00.001-05:002011-01-08T10:10:08.151-05:00Scruffy the Stray and his storyIt was a typically Tuesday at Gentle Care Animal Hospital until Scruffy came through the doors. A client of our's brought him in after he jumped into her car on Yates Mill Pond Road. We quickly checked for a microchip. Yes, he has one, but after calling the company it has not been registered. Poor little guy didn't have a collar or any tags. He was in need of surgery due to his eye being out of the socket. Lori, Erin and Julie all worked throughout the morning calling other veterinary hospitals in the area, creating fliers, and posting him on craigslist. Immediate medical attention was administered but we wanted to try and find his owners prior to performing invasive surgery. Despite our efforts, we were unable to track down his owner. Dr. Mallo decided that we needed to remove his eye to alleviate any pain that he was in. Sarah and Christine prepared him for surgery. Dr. Mallo worked through her lunch to help the little guy. By the end of the day on Tuesday Dr. Holman decided that our little guy needed a name. There were several ideas, but Scruffy seemed to stick.<br />
Scruffy has recovered very well from surgery. Sarah our groomer gave him a good bath and hair cut. We have continued to work hard to find his owner. We believe that he is at least 10 years of age. He definitely had a home because he is in good body condition and is sweet. He is a little bit anxious and we believe that is because he misses his family. If you know of anyone missing a neutered male, gray and white, 10 + year old Shih Tzu, please contact Gentle Care Animal Hospital at 919-852-4386.Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777659501368650940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985755465309786049.post-57038188103166707762010-10-13T08:55:00.000-04:002010-10-13T08:55:59.361-04:00Preparing Your Pet for an Emergency<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are You Prepared to Care for Your Pet in an Emergency?</span></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhUg2awO6haby6uT6UdMlMQ6H8t87e_mXsY9Pdn_6QrQEqQ48PNi936lJKh814m8bmTWM9zsrwjq0PZdLKSEiNSxqqYZ2WCSHxR5VoM9FMM74dRbWt9vopg74CxakwcA-5DoyCZKq0eFa/s1600/pet+disaster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhUg2awO6haby6uT6UdMlMQ6H8t87e_mXsY9Pdn_6QrQEqQ48PNi936lJKh814m8bmTWM9zsrwjq0PZdLKSEiNSxqqYZ2WCSHxR5VoM9FMM74dRbWt9vopg74CxakwcA-5DoyCZKq0eFa/s320/pet+disaster.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fire or flood, tornado or icy roads, gas leaks or power outages, unexpected or well-anticipated weather events, emergencies come in many forms and may last as little as an hour or for many months. Everyone needs to have a three day plan to care for themselves and everyone in their family in the event of an emergency situation. Disasters can leave individuals and neighborhoods cut off from outside help, which can severely restrict and overwhelm emergency resources and communications in the time surrounding the event. YOU become your own "first responder"!</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pets are important members of the family. They are dependent on us like children and it is our responsibility to care for them at all time. A little planning can reduce anxiety for all involved and help make a situation more manageable. The way you and your family survives an emergency depends a lot on the supplies and plans you have in place BEFORE the unexpected happens.</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plan ahead by preparing an emergency pet supply kit that includes pet food and water for three days, medications, vaccine records, leashes ID tags and other appropriate supplies to keep with your family's emergency supplies. Remember that different types of pets will have different needs for food, water, bedding and temperature. Be sure to have secure carriers for each pet you own. Create a list of places your pet(s) will be welcome if you need to leave your home including friends, family members, or "pet-friendly" hotels. Include locations locally as well as some along your area's evacuation route. After a disaster, it's important to watch and guard your animals closely. Their behavior may change, they may become disoriented and new safety hazards may exist. Pet owners can download a free brochure from the <em>Ready</em> website at: </span><a href="http://www.ready.gov/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.ready.gov</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, or request a copy by calling: 1-800-BE-READY, TTY: 1-800-462-7585.</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't have an emergency supply kit for your household? Spend a family night making one together by going to </span><a href="http://www.ready.gov/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.ready.gov</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and follow the steps listed to be prepared. You need to be able to care for yourself before you can help anyone else!</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prepared by Sonia Estroff, member of the Cary CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) and a valued client of Gentle Care Animal Hospital where she brings her dog Ginger.</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">**** CERT is a citizen volunteer group trained to take care of themselves, then others in their communities following a disaster. For more</span> information about CERT or to find a team in your area, visit: <a href="http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/">www.citizencorps.gov/cert/</a>.</div>Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777659501368650940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985755465309786049.post-67905246465658458372010-09-30T21:39:00.000-04:002010-09-30T21:39:52.656-04:00Free to Breathe 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BoIXZdcMBjboI7mXefDolD84QKV1qb3JYYp_vkywCdzOzcvPe5IUN5Ej0hlH7lhkXzC8kaei7ydAzIk7oni7m9bCVpKdVf5Sk1HeDw-gYWdO-mlLgsWf6l07LQnbwBzT1Ck66w60/s1600/nlcp-logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="85" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BoIXZdcMBjboI7mXefDolD84QKV1qb3JYYp_vkywCdzOzcvPe5IUN5Ej0hlH7lhkXzC8kaei7ydAzIk7oni7m9bCVpKdVf5Sk1HeDw-gYWdO-mlLgsWf6l07LQnbwBzT1Ck66w60/s320/nlcp-logo.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Gentle Care Animal Hospital will be running the Free to Breathe 2010 5K on November 6 in Raleigh, NC. Free to Breathe is a race that raises funds and awareness for lung cancer. Gentle Care got involved with this great cause to support a lung cancer survivor and long time client.</span> <br />
<div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We would love to have you support us and this great cause! You can either make a donation at the hospital or online.</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">To dontate online, follow these easy steps:</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">* Click on the website: </span><a href="http://www.freetobreathe.com/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">www.freetobreathe.com</span></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">* Choose Raleigh, NC as the location</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">* Click on "Donate" about half-way down the page</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">* Choose "Donate to Participant/Team"</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">* Enter team name "Gentle Care"</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Any donation is greatly appreciated. If you aren't able to donate, come to the race and offer our team members moral support while they run! Help Gentle Care raise awareness of lung cancer! Let's work together to find a cure!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></div>Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777659501368650940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985755465309786049.post-57548782411948333362010-09-06T15:06:00.012-04:002010-09-06T19:27:38.589-04:00Gentle Care Animal Hospital's Patient Becomes Therapy Pet<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1MtUx86_k_dC1V0o2YmWqYogcNQbBopDwre_Bu-SA-KmQOQkQSpezSLgw8GB3DJsEHDg71xLXJIR46-YU2cecqiVRr4Vh7T8wWayUgTyBW_TFMcM8GkWGUHTWov2-0_jYQAovsFI/s1600/Alfie+5.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 304px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 215px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513884724800449074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1MtUx86_k_dC1V0o2YmWqYogcNQbBopDwre_Bu-SA-KmQOQkQSpezSLgw8GB3DJsEHDg71xLXJIR46-YU2cecqiVRr4Vh7T8wWayUgTyBW_TFMcM8GkWGUHTWov2-0_jYQAovsFI/s320/Alfie+5.bmp" /></a> <strong>Alfie: Certified Therapy Pet</strong></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="left">Gentle Care Animal Hospital is proud of one of our patients "Alfie" and his recent accomplishments. He received his certification to be a therapy pet after training with his pet parent, Robin, for nearly one year!<br /></div><div align="left"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="left">Alfie and Robin trained through the Delta Society Pet Partners Program which is a non-profit volunteer organization with a testing site in Greenville, NC. Alfie is certified for both "Trained Animal Assisted Activities" and " Therapy". Through the "Trained Animal Assisted Activities", Alfie is able to visit Children's Hospitals, Assisted Living Facilities, Nursing Homes and children with reading disabilities. Through the "Therapy" program, he can help patients in occupational therapy with the permission from the facility.</div><br /><br /><div align="left">Although Alfie has been training for nearly a year there is no time limit for certification. His first step was standard obedience where he attended weekly classes and was trained at home. Once he mastered standard obedience he needed to be comfortable around distractions he may encounter in hospitals and nursing homes. Wheelchairs, medical equipment, loud noises, elevators, rough petting, crowds and interacting with other animals are all things that Alfie will continue to sit through. Lastly, Alfie was certified by Dr. Krahn that he was healthy enough to volunteer. Robin feels that Alfie's involvement with doggie daycare on a regular basis has helped with his training.</div><br /><br /><div align="left">Alfie is not the only one that had to go through rigorous training. Robin had a home study course that she took and had to pass a written test. Both of them went to the Greenville testing site as the final step in their certification.</div><br /><br /><div align="left">Alfie and Robin are excited to start volunteering and bringing joy into the lives of children and patients healing from various ailments. If you are interested in training your pet to volunteer please contact Robin with questions at: <a href="mailto:rbf706@bellsouth.net">rbf706@bellsouth.net</a>. You can also refer to Delta Society Pet Partners Program's website: <a href="http://www.deltasociety.org/">http://www.deltasociety.org/</a>.</div>Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777659501368650940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985755465309786049.post-33551692953251758412010-08-04T19:14:00.000-04:002010-08-04T21:40:27.460-04:00Iams Veterinary Diet Recall<span style="font-family:georgia;">We wanted to inform you that Iams Veterinary Formula dry foods have been recalled. Salmonella has been found inside the factory where their dry veterinary diets are made but not yet found inside or on the actual bags of food. There are NO confirmed cases, with any pets, of salmonella poisoning from this incident. Iams is not sure which, if any, of their foods have come into contact with the salmonella. They have decided it is best to voluntarily recall all foods, just as a precaution.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">None of Iams ProActive Formulas, canned foods, or treats are affected by this recall. For more information, please follow the link </span><a href="http://www.iams.com/iams/en_US/data_root/html/recall_message.html"><span style="font-family:georgia;">http://www.iams.com/iams/en_US/data_root/html/recall_message.html</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> , to Iams Official Press Release. </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Gentle Care Animal Hospital has contacted all clients that have purchased the veterinary diets within the last month. We are working hard to replace our Iams veterinary diets with another premium brand. Until we have it on our shelves we are writing prescriptions for a comparable diet. If your pet is on any Iams veterinary diet, please discontinue feeding it and return the remainder of the food, even if it is not in its original bag, for a full refund. </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">For further information, please either contact the Iams company directly: 1-877-340-8823, or an educated team member at Gentle Care Animal Hospital, 919-852-4386.</span>Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777659501368650940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985755465309786049.post-30694039552826168312010-05-29T09:49:00.010-04:002010-06-28T22:30:48.926-04:00Common Foods that are Toxic to Your Pets<span style="font-family:arial;">There are many foods commonly used in your household that you may not be aware are toxic to your pets. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">* <u>Raisins, grapes, and currants</u>: More toxic in uncooked forms found in trail mixes, cereals, and whole forms.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- They cause kidney failure. Signs are vomiting a few hours after ingestion, or increased thirst and urination, lethargy, and decreased appetite a few days later. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- If your pet may have eaten grapes, raisins, or currants, call your veterinarian immediately. Early treatment offers a good prognosis of recovery.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">* <u>Caffeine</u>: Found in coffee, coffee grounds, tea, tea bags and sodas. Pets are far more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than people are.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- Ingestion of a moderate amount can cause hyperactivity, increased heartrate, increased blood pressure, abnormal heart rate, restlessness, vomiting, tremors, seizures, and eventually death.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- Contact your veterinarian regardless of the amount of caffeine consumed. Prognosis is great when side effects are mild (mild restlessness and minimally elevated heartrate), but is very poor with advanced side effects (collapse and seizures).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">*<u>Chocolate and Cocoa</u>: The darker the chocolate the more toxic it is to your pet. White chocolate is not poisonous to your pets, but baker's cocoa, semi-sweet chocolate, and dark chocolate are. The degree of toxicity is determined by the amount of chocolate eaten compared to the size of your pet.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- In non-toxic doses, vomiting and diarrhea are side effects. In higher doses, tremors, seizures, elevated or abnormal heart rates, severe agitation, and collapse can result.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- Consult your veterinarian to determine the level of toxicity. You will need to know the number of ounces of chocolate that your pet consumed. Again, prognosis is dependant on the amount of chocolate consummed.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">*<u>Xylitol</u>: A common substitute for sugar, xylitol is found in sugar-free gums, sweetners, and baked goods. It can also be found in medications to help stop smoking. Breath mints and candies are other common foods that contain xylitol.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- As little as 1 piece of chewing gum can cause toxicity in a 10 pound cat or dog. Xylitol causes a life-threatening drop in blood sugar and can cause liver failure. As soon as 10-15 minutes after ingestion, your pet can become hypoglycemic (low blood sugar), lose coordination, and start vomiting. Quickly following are collapse and seizures.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- Immediate veterinary care is necessary for a good prognosis.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">* <u>Olives, onions, chives, and leeks</u>: Garlic was once thought as a home remedy against fleas, but has been found to be ineffective and actually poisonous to your pet. Some treats will have very small levels of garlic in them, which is not toxic to your pet. Allowing your pet to eat a pan of sauteed onions, garlic, chives, and leeks can be poisonous.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- Ingestion causes the breakdown of red blood cells and results in anemia. Cats and Japanese breeds (Shiba Inu, Akita) are more sensitive to the effects of olives, onions, chives, and leeks. Signs of ingestion include the smell on your pet's breath, pale mucous membranes, lethargy, increased respiratory rate, increased heart rate, vomiting, and decreased appetite.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- Prognosis is excellent with early treatment.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">* <u>Yeast-bread dough</u>: Found in uncooked bread.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- Due to the warm, moist environment in your pet's stomach, the yeast in the bread will ferment and rise. This can cause distention of the abdomen and/or bowel obstruction. The stomach can dilate and twist, known as GDV (Gastric Dilation and Volvulous). The fermentation releases alcohol and can result in alcohol poisoning.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- GDV is life threatening and needs emergency abdominal surgery. Symptoms of GDV include: vomiting and retching without the production of anything, lethargy, increased heart rate, weakness, collapse and shock. See below for symptoms of alcohol poisioning.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- Prognosis is great if treated immediately, but is poorer in cases of severe alcohol poisoning, bloat or GDV.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">* <u>Alcohol</u>: Not only is it found in it's liquid form, it can also be found in rum-soaked cakes and dressings. It is also found as a by product with ingestion of yeast bread dough.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- It does not take much alcohol to be consumed by your pet to reach toxic levels. Symptoms include: smell on breath, low body temperature, low blood pressure, seizures, neurologic depression, and respiratory failure.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- Prognosis is excellent with proper veterinary care.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">* <u>Fatty foods</u>: Found specifically in butter, oils, meat drippings and scrapes, grease and chocolate. Ingestion can cause pancreatitis. Miniature Schnauzers are more sensitive to pancreatitis.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- Symptoms typically aren't seen for 1 to 4 days post ingestion. Vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, decreased appetite and lethargy are typically seen.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- In-hospital care is necessary to treat. Early treatment will result in a good prognosis.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Although Gentle Care does not advocate feeding your pets "people" food , here are some foods that are safe. They are not only safe, but also low calorie options.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- Apples</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- Peas</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- Green beans - great supplement to food for weight loss</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- Unsalted, unbuttered popcorn</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- Carrots - makes excellent treats for weight loss</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- Sweet potatoes</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- Zucchini</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- Squash</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- Ice cubes - frozen diluted beef or chicken broth makes great treats</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- Lettuce</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- Blueberries</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">If you ever have a question whether a food is safe or not for your pet, feel free to call an informed team member at Gentle Care Animal Hospital: 919-852-4386.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-size:78%;">Information from PetPoison Helpline</span></div>Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777659501368650940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985755465309786049.post-38308566005318156042010-02-10T06:52:00.001-05:002010-02-10T06:53:57.027-05:00What's your favorite dog breed?<span class="inside-copy" id="chatter">American Kennel Club dog registration statistics for 2009 are out, and they show these as the ten most popular purebred dogs (No. 1, left, through No. 10, right). But we want to know what you think -- which is your favorite?</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/pets/2010-01-28-favorite-dog-breed_N.htm" onclick="" target="">Click here to check it out and vote</a>Dr. Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16258450579145756612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985755465309786049.post-80004377600665786212009-10-13T18:14:00.003-04:002009-10-13T18:18:11.237-04:00October Updates from GCAH and Voting for the 2010 Maggy Awards<img src="http://www.petrepair.com/images/dog_on_laptop.jpg" align="right" />Hitting subscriber inboxes in moments is this month's eNews from Gentle Care Animal Hospital!<br /><br />If you're not on the list, be sure to check it out online: <a href="http://www.petrepair.com/enews/2009-10.html">http://www.petrepair.com/enews/2009-10.html</a>.<br /><dir><span style="font-weight: bold;">Included this month</span>:<br />-Voting for the 2010 Maggy Awards<br />-PetRepair.com Gets a New Look<br />-Meet Spotty the Goat<br />-Fall Reminders<br />-From the PetRepair.com Blog<br />-<em>Coming Next Month</em>: The Holidays and Your Pets</dir><br />If you're not on the list, sign up today! <a href="http://www.petrepair.com/enews.html">http://www.petrepair.com/enews.html</a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2010 Maggy Awards - CAST YOUR VOTE TODAY!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.carymagazine.com/maggy-awards/vote-now-2010-maggy-awards"><img src="http://www.petrepair.com/images/maggy_awards_2010.gif" align="left" /></a>This year, Gentle Care Animal Hospital has been nominated in the Maggy Award Categories of Best Veterinary Hospital and Best Grooming - we sincerely appreciate your thoughtful nominations!<br /><br />We invite you to join us in voting for your local favorites - now through October 31st! Restaurants, shopping, services, and lifestyles are just some of the categories you'll find to vote on. As always, thank you for your support! We truly take great pride in becoming one of your local favorites!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.carymagazine.com/maggy-awards/vote-now-2010-maggy-awards">Click here to cast your votes for the 2010 Maggy Awards today</a>!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Wags & Shakes</span>,<br />The Doctors and Staff of Gentle Care Animal HospitalUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985755465309786049.post-28398544073162588052009-09-30T07:21:00.002-04:002009-09-30T07:27:00.872-04:00A Pet In Your Life Keeps The Doctor AwayLowers blood pressure, encourages exercise, improves psychological health - these may sound like the effects of a miracle drug, but they are actually among the benefits of owning a four-legged, furry pet.<br /><br />"Pets are of great importance to people, especially during hard economic times," "Pets provide unconditional love and acceptance and may be part of answers to societal problems, such as inactivity and obesity."<br /><br />In the preliminary program, a group of older adults were matched with shelter dogs, while another group of older adults were partnered with a human walk buddy. For 12 weeks, participants were encouraged to walk on an outdoor trail for one hour, five times a week. At the end of the program, researchers measured how much the older adults' activity levels improved.<br /><br />"The older people who walked their dogs improved their walking capabilities by 28 percent," Johnson said. "They had more confidence walking on the trail, and they increased their speed. The older people who walked with humans only had a 4 percent increase in their walking capabilities. The human walking buddies tended to discourage each other and used excuses such as the weather being too hot."<br /><br />Pet ownership may have multiple health and emotional benefits for both children and adults. "Today, pets are in more than 60 percent of American homes and more people are incorporating pets into their leisure time, such as making them part of their exercise routines, taking them to dog parks and bringing them to family events."<br /><br />Source:<br />Kelsey Jackson<br />University of Missouri-ColumbiaDr. Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16258450579145756612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985755465309786049.post-10332313482708726222009-08-26T07:28:00.001-04:002009-08-26T07:31:59.759-04:00Agility contests for cats? It's purr for the courseThey work their way through a daunting course of tunnels, jumping and weaving through poles. All on cue. Sort of.But whatever they decide to do, it's more than most normal-thinking people would expect.For these animal athletes are cats, doing their owners' bidding — more or less — in competitions patterned after canine agility contests.<br />The felines are enticed, cajoled and sometimes just released like bullets to maneuver over or through six to 14 obstacles. The best make it in about 10 seconds or so; the less eager take, well, a few minutes.For pet owners stunned when their own cat deigns to jump off the kitchen counter in the same week she's ordered to do so, the idea of an on-demand feline performance — in public, of all things — seems implausible.<br /><br />But evidence is appearing at cat shows all over the world, and interest is growing."Many people show up at our events saying, 'I heard there was cat agility, and I didn't believe it. I had to come and see it with my own eyes."They're blown away," says Vickie Shields, a cat-agility pioneer who with three friends put on the first-known contest in Albuquerque in 2003.They founded International Cat Agility Tournaments. The tournaments were held at about 25 shows put on by The International Cat Association clubs in the USA last year and at about 100 worldwide.<br /><br />"Cats are very smart and very trainable, but they're not dogs. They don't take orders," Shields says. "They will do things you want them to for praise and for fun — and if they want to do it."It's a simple matter of training, she says. Most people use clicker training (a click sound is made when the cat performs the desired action) and toys on sticks as lures to indicate where to go next.<br /><br />"This whole thing about cats being untrainable is ingrained in society, and it's a myth," Shields says. "Agility is all about showing how smart and trainable they are, the bond between cat and owner, and showing the cats in active, athletic ways that you don't see when they're posed and judged at shows. You can get chills watching the speed and coordination of some of these cats." And not so much with others.<br /><br />"Some cats will get in there and then quickly decide 'I'm just not doing that' and sit in the middle and take a bath," says Carol Osborne, a certified ringmaster for agility competitions put on by the Cat Fanciers' Association.About 40 shows will feature agility competitions this year, including two this month in Maumee, Ohio, and DelMar, Calif., and three in February in Portland, Ore., Oak Lawn, Ill., and Cincinnati.<br /><br />"Some of the cats finished in two minutes, some didn't finish at all, some got distracted in the middle and went off on their own adventures,' says Bengal cat breeder Ree Hertzson, who saw her first agility competition at The International Cat Association show in Syracuse. "And the Persians would stop after a few seconds and lie around looking pretty."<br /><br />At the urging of others at the show that day, Hertzson put her show cat Packer into the agility ring without preparation or training on the part of either owner or feline.<br /><br />Packer was like a Thoroughbred at the gate. When released, he blasted through the course in 14.5 seconds, directed by a toy Hertzson held. "Some cats are instinctively driven to do it, apparently," says Hertzson, who was astonished by Packer's performance. Also, he's very toy-driven, which prompts him to track wherever the toy goes.<br /><br />Packer ran the course repeatedly that day and was eager for more. "By the 11th time, he didn't need the toy anymore to know what sequence to follow. He ran me ragged." Most cats require a larger measure of preparation. And shows generally offer opportunities for "practice runs" for newcomer cats and owners."You can observe the new cats going through this, and then, suddenly, the light comes on for them. They get it. They know exactly what they're supposed to do," Shields says.<br /><br />Says Oborne: "The cats that figure it out and do well love it and finish the run and cry to go back." Then there are the ones that don't."Not all cats reach that light-bulb moment," Shields concedes.Osborne recalls one feline that everyone called Perimeter Cat because each time he got onto the course, "he would not go over, under or through anything, he'd simply trot all around the ring, on the outside of the obstacles, avoiding every one of them. He ran the course many times, and he never did things any differently."<br /><br />This was not a disappointment to the audience, she says. "Everybody loved watching him."<br />Indeed, part of the appeal is the possible train-wreck aspect that proves cats are independent thinkers. Another is that any cat can be entered, not just bluebloods. So house cats and shelter kittens have done agility. A three-legged cat has competed and done admirably, as has a blind one.Some things have become evident, Shields says. "Males get distracted more often. But they're also the more powerful jumpers."Another: "Persians will do a couple of obstacles, then rest."<br />By: Sharon L. Peters, from USA TODAY.Dr. Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16258450579145756612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985755465309786049.post-44528843717354694982009-08-11T15:46:00.003-04:002009-08-11T15:51:22.851-04:00Is Your Cat Right or Left Pawed?Clients of mine, Tammy and Chuck, sent me this article so I thought I would pass it on: I think it's pretty interesting. <br />It may not be obvious from the scratch marks cats dish out, but domestic felines favour one paw over the other. More often than not, females tend to be righties, while toms are lefties, say Deborah Wells and Sarah Millsopp, psychologists at Queen's University Belfast in Northern Ireland.<br /><br />However, these preferences only manifest when cats perform particularly dexterous feats. That's for the same reason we can open a door with either arm, yet struggle to write legibly with our non-dominant hand. "The more complex and challenging [the task], the more likely we're going to see true handedness," Wells says.<br /><br />She and Millsopp tasked 42 domestic cats to ferret out a bit of tuna in a jar too small for their heads. Among 21 females, all but one favoured the right paw across dozens of trials, while 20 out of 21 males preferentially used the left. One male proved ambidextrous.<br /><br />Not so for two simpler activities: pawing at a toy mouse suspended in the air or dragged on ground from a string. No matter their sex, all of the cats wielded their right and left paws about equally on these less demanding tasks.<br /><br />Hormone levels could explain sex differences in paw choice, Wells says. Previous research has linked prenatal testosterone exposure to left-handedness. While studies of two other domestic animals, dogs and horses, revealed similar sex biases.<br /><br />Journal reference: Animal Behaviour (DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2009.06.010)Dr. Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16258450579145756612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985755465309786049.post-11943298531328556742009-07-26T07:34:00.001-04:002009-07-26T07:34:00.468-04:00Tuning In To Your CatAnyone who has ever had cats knows how difficult it can be to get them to do anything they don't already want to do. But it seems that the house cats themselves have had distinctly less trouble getting humans to do their bidding, according to a report published in the July 14th issue of <i>Current Biology</i>, a Cell Press publication.<br /><br />The rather crafty felines motivate people to fill their food dishes by sending something of a mixed signal: an urgent cry or meowing sound embedded within an otherwise pleasant purr. The result is a call that humans generally find annoyingly difficult to ignore.<br /><br />"The embedding of a cry within a call that we normally associate with contentment is quite a subtle means of eliciting a response," said Karen McComb of the University of Sussex. "Solicitation purring is probably more acceptable to humans than overt meowing, which is likely to get cats ejected from the bedroom." She suggests that this form of cat communication sends a subliminal sort of message, tapping into an inherent sensitivity that humans and other mammals have to cues relevant in the context of nurturing their offspring.<br /><br />McComb said that she was inspired by her own cat, who consistently wakes her up in the mornings with a very insistent purr. She learned in talking with other cat owners that some of their cats too had mastered the same manipulative trick. As a scientist who already studied vocal communication in mammals, from elephants to lions, she decided to get to the bottom of it.<br /><br />It turned out that wasn't so easy to do. The cats were perfectly willing to use their coercive cries in private, but when strangers came around they tended to clam right up. Her team therefore had to train cat owners to record their own cats' cries.<br /><br />In a series of playback experiments with those calls, they found that humans judged the purrs recorded while cats were actively seeking food as more urgent and less pleasant than those made in other contexts, even if they had never had a cat themselves.<br /><br />"We found that the crucial factor determining the urgency and pleasantness ratings that purrs received was an unusual high-frequency element - reminiscent of a cry or meow - embedded within the naturally low-pitched purr," McComb said. "Human participants in our experiments judged purrs with high levels of this element to be particularly urgent and unpleasant." When the team re-synthesised the recorded purrs to remove the embedded cry, leaving all else unchanged, the urgency ratings for those calls decreased significantly.<br /><br />McComb said she thinks this cry occurs at a low level in cats' normal purring, "but we think that cats learn to dramatically exaggerate it when it proves effective in generating a response from humans." In fact, not all cats use this form of purring at all, she said, noting that it seems to most often develop in cats that have a one-on-one relationship with their owners rather than those living in large households, where their purrs might get overlooked by poorly trained people.<br /><br />In those instances, she said, cats seem to find it more effective to stick to the standard meow.<br /><br />The researchers include Karen McComb, University of Sussex, Brighton, U.K.; Anna M. Taylor, University of Sussex, Brighton, U.K.; Christian Wilson, University of Sussex, Brighton, U.K.; Benjamin D. Charlton, Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, GA.<br /><br />Source:<br />Cathleen Genova<br />Cell PressDr. Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16258450579145756612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985755465309786049.post-49118022002677068162009-07-19T07:26:00.000-04:002009-07-19T07:27:13.577-04:00Rabies: How To Protect Yourself And Your PetsRabies is a virus that occurs in mammals and infects the central nervous system; the disease can cause death in humans if it is not treated. Nearly 90 percent of cases occur in wild animals (raccoons, bats, foxes etc.); less than 10% of cases occur in domestic animals like dogs or cats. Humans usually become infected when they are bitten by an infected animal.<br /><br />Early symptoms of rabies are fever, headache and general malaise. Since these are similar to other illnesses, infected persons often do not seek treatment because they are unaware they have rabies.<br /><br /> Progressive symptoms include:<br /><br /> -- Insomnia<br /><br /> -- Anxiety/confusion<br /><br /> -- Partial paralysis<br /><br /> -- Agitation<br /><br /> -- Hallucination<br /><br /> -- Excess saliva<br /><br /> -- Difficulty swallowing<br /><br /> -- Fear of water<br /><br />If you have been bitten by any animal you should seek medical care immediately. After possible exposure to rabies, the wound should be washed thoroughly with soap and water. Treatment for someone who has contracted rabies is called post-exposure prophylaxis or PEP. PEP treatment consists of one dose of a substance called immune globulin and five doses of the rabies vaccine over 28 days, both of which help your body fight the virus. Treatment must be given as soon after exposure as possible for the best chance of recovery.<br /><br />If you see an animal you suspect of having rabies, you should call your local health department or animal control agency. These agencies will have ways to safely remove the animal from the area so that no one becomes infected. Infected animals often display symptoms similar to those listed above and may seem to be acting strangely or seen somewhere outside their normal habitat.<br /><br />The best way to prevent the spread of rabies is to have all your pets vaccinated against the virus. This will also help prevent them from being infected if they come in contact with an infected animal.<br /><br />NC Health Info is a guide to reliable health and medical information that links users to local health services throughout North Carolina.Dr. Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16258450579145756612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985755465309786049.post-61209271652179603302009-06-24T06:41:00.001-04:002009-06-24T06:43:48.715-04:00Puppy love: More pets partake in even formal weddings<div class="inside-copy">Wedding attendants are going to the dogs.</div><p class="inside-copy">Pet-loving couples are increasingly including their dogs (and other pets, to a much lesser degree) in the wedding parties of some very formal weddings — decking them out in silk and satin and including them in the receiving line, on the program and in the portraits.</p><p class="inside-copy">"Many people think of their pets as family members, and they wouldn't think of having a special day like this without that member," says Celina Bojorquez, co-owner of Beverly Hills Mutt Club, purveyor of upscale accessories like doggie tuxedos ($70 and up) and couture dresses ($170 to $500).</p><p class="inside-copy">The shop has outfitted canines for scores of weddings in the last couple of years. Not all have been done up in full-dress regalia; some have merely donned accessories for a little special-day elegance. Bojorquez has sold dog-besotted soon-to-weds silk ties and bow ties for their four-legged pals, satin bandanas, crystal leads and collars, and, in one case, a gold harness and leash to match the bride's gold dress.</p><p class="inside-copy">Though pets have long been part of casual weddings in meadows, on mountaintops and at the seashore, their participation in chichi affairs at the most ornate churches and refined locales is a more recent phenomenon.</p><p class="inside-copy">Increased numbers not withstanding, not everyone is completely enchanted with the notion of animals in the aisles or at the altar. Many locales prohibit them; many families and wedding planners discourage their participation.</p><p class="inside-copy">Lynda Barness of I Do Wedding Consulting in Philadelphia always warns couples of the potential perils — "animals are animals, and they can do animal things," she says — and so far all her clients have concluded that including pets in the wedding party isn't necessary. "But as part of the portraits, that's just fine."</p><p class="inside-copy">Her concerns range from potty issues to a dog acting up because it's not used to being in a room with 300 people to the fact that "the bride and the groom and others in the wedding party have enough to tend to that day."</p><p class="inside-copy">Also, "if a dog isn't used to wearing a top hat, there may be issues."</p><p class="inside-copy">Beth Anstandig of Los Gatos, Calif., acknowledges there may be matters to work out but says having her own two border collies involved made her wedding day even more special. "The guests loved it," she says. And she and her husband cherish the photos featuring the dogs — especially because both have since died.</p><p class="inside-copy">"We are so happy to be able to look back and remember them as they were on that day."</p><p class="inside-copy"><b>He's a loved one, too </b></p><p class="inside-copy">"The family was a little skeptical," Kaycee English says with a chuckle about the moment last year when she announced that Bowser, the Australian shepherd pup she and John English had fallen for on <a href="http://www.petfinder.com/" onclick="">Petfinder.com</a>, would be part of her fancy wedding. "Bowser had instantly become a family member." They adopted him from Purrs and Pups Animal Rescue in Riverdale, N.J., weeks before their wedding day.</p><p class="inside-copy">"The people I loved would be there, and there was no way Bowser wouldn't be," says English, of Freehold, N.J., who works for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. So she bought Bowser a canine ring-bearer outfit, and he pulled off his wedding-day role without incident (dissolving a worried dad's concern about crazy-dog potential and lost rings).</p><p class="inside-copy"><b>No pets? 'Unimaginable' </b></p><p class="inside-copy">Los Gatos, Calif., psychotherapist Beth Anstandig was something of a trendsetter when, five years ago, she informed her stunned parents that her beloved border collies, Levi, 11, and blue-eyed Frank, 9, would be attending her very fancy, very formal wedding.</p><p class="inside-copy">The dogs had joined her on road trips, seen her through grad school, accompanied her to classes when she was a teacher and "helped me grow up," she says. It would have been "unimaginable" to have such an important day without them.</p><p class="inside-copy">Her fiancé, Eric Killough, had grown to love the dogs, too. He joked that he intended to have an "adoption ceremony" to formalize his relationship with them.</p><p class="inside-copy">On the wedding day, a groomsman walked Levi and Frank down the aisle to the altar, and there they remained quietly throughout the vows. "They weren't there because it was cute to have them there," Anstandig says. "They were there because they belonged there. It would have felt incomplete without them."</p><p class="inside-copy"><b>Speak now or forever hold your pooch </b></p><p class="inside-copy">Jessica Sempek of Skokie, Ill., encountered some "naysayers who thought it was strange" when the topic of Emmie and Lady Bug being part of the ceremony arose during the planning of her elegant wedding to Scott Stewart last summer. But those voices were quickly silenced.</p><p class="inside-copy">"We have two of the most amazing girls," Sempek says. The couple adopted the two mixed-breed Kentucky-born rescues months apart from Heavenly Hearts Rescue of Southeastern Wisconsin.</p><p class="inside-copy">When the couple — she works for the American Medical Association, he's a hospice nurse — exchanged vows, the two dogs were at the altar. They were walked down the aisle on rhinestone leashes by the groom's nephew.</p><p class="inside-copy">By Sharon L. Peters, Special for USA TODAY</p>Dr. Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16258450579145756612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985755465309786049.post-38037549982244124792009-06-19T14:48:00.001-04:002009-06-19T14:51:59.159-04:00New airline Pet Airways' only passengers to be four-legged<div class="inside-copy">A solution to some of the anxiety that Deborah Kehoe Wade and other pet owners suffer when they have to put a furry family member on a plane may be around the corner.</div> <p class="inside-copy">It's the sort of anxiety Wade experienced when she moved from Washington, D.C., to Bogota, Colombia, two years ago, despite paying a New York pet travel service more than $2,000 to ship her pets.</p> <p class="inside-copy"> </p><p class="inside-copy">"The guy in New York did a good job," Wade says of the service. "He was very nice. But it was kind of disconcerting. You never met him. You just talked to him on the phone. And you're trusting him with your pet.</p> <p class="inside-copy">"I do think it would be nice to take your dog out to the airport and hand your pet to a person who can tell you that they personally will put your pet on the plane and see to his needs," she says.</p> <p class="inside-copy">Soon, pet owners who live in a handful of large U.S. cities will have the ability to do that. Pet Airways plans to begin service on July 14 as the USA's first pets-only carrier — no human passengers allowed. The introductory fare: $149 each way. For that, pets will be flown in individual crates in lighted and pressurized plane cabins, with a human attendant checking them every 15 minutes. They'll board, just like people, from their own airport lounges and get overnight lodging accommodations on long-haul flights. Their owners can track their whereabouts at all times online. They can even earn "pet points" as frequent fliers.</p> <p class="inside-copy">Pet Airways won't solve every owner's needs initially. It will serve only five U.S. destinations: Baltimore/Washington International Airport, plus non-commercial airports in the New York City area, and in Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles. It's catering to dogs and cats starting out. And it'll fly each route once a week.</p> <p class="inside-copy">But Pet Airways founders, husband and wife team Alysa Binder and Dan Wiesel, have big expansion plans and are convinced there will be plenty of demand from pet lovers to achieve them.</p> <p class="inside-copy">"We're planning on growth to 25 cities in the next couple of years," Binder says.</p> <p class="inside-copy"><b>Potty breaks for 'pawsengers' </b></p> <p class="inside-copy">Lots of start-up airlines with big ambitions have failed. Unlike Pet Airways, most didn't launch amid a deep recession. But Binder and Wiesel believe they've found the right specialty market and a modest enough operating plan to make it.</p> <p class="inside-copy">"There're about 87 million U.S. households that have pets. It's a niche market, no doubt. But the pet community — pet owners and pet lovers — they get it," Binder says. "They've known for a long time that there's a need for this. We're pet owners ourselves. We are our own market."</p> <p class="inside-copy">The key to Pet Airways' success may be its choice of aircraft: the affordable, economical Beech 1900. Designed as a 19-passenger turboprop for use by regional carriers serving small markets, the 1900 used to be one of the most widely used planes by regional airlines. But travelers' preference for jets forced airlines to abandon turboprops starting in the late 1990s, even though jets are more expensive to operate. That left the market flooded with little-used 1900s.</p> <p class="inside-copy">Geoffrey Gallup, co-owner of Suburban Air Freight, an Omaha-based air-freight specialist that will operate Pet Airways' planes under contract, says he can supply as many 1900s as Pet Airways needs. If it needs more than the four 1900s currently in Suburban Air's fleet, Gallup says, more can be obtained for about $1.5 million each. That's paltry compared with the $10 million to $35 million price tags on used jets.</p> <p class="inside-copy">The 1900 won't fly as fast or as far as a jet. But unlike time-conscious humans, dogs and cats shouldn't mind. Making more frequent stops for fuel actually is a good thing for animals. It'll give attendants time to get the animals out of the plane for a walk and potty break.</p> <p class="inside-copy">With all its passenger seats removed except those for in-flight pet attendants, the 1900 can hold up to 50 small animal crates, though typically it will fly with smaller numbers of what the airline calls "pawsengers." </p> <p class="inside-copy">"It's a completely novel idea that is fascinating to me," Gallup says. "The more we talked to Dan and Alysa about it, the more we came to see that they've done their homework."</p> <p class="inside-copy">Pet comfort and owners' peace of mind are what Pet Airways is selling more than the transportation. It's a lesson Binder and Wiesel learned from experience.</p> <p class="inside-copy">In 2005, the couple moved from California's Bay Area, where they'd been successful recruiters for and consultants to several venture-capital groups and tech start-ups. They figured that Zoe, their 17-year-old Jack Russell terrier, was too old to make the cross-country drive to Delray Beach, Fla., comfortably. Zoe traveled in the dark belly of a jetliner.</p> <p class="inside-copy">Zoe survived the flight better than Binder and Wiesel, who fretted while their dog was in transit.</p> <p class="inside-copy">"We thought there had to be a better way," Binder says. That was the genesis of Pet Airways.</p> <p class="inside-copy"><b>Owners' fear bigger than risk </b></p> <p class="inside-copy">Few of the estimated 1 million or more animals that fly annually are lost, injured or die during air travel. In 2005, the first year that airlines had to report those numbers, 102 pets died, 48 were reported injured and 30 more were lost. In 2008, only 31 pets (dogs, cats and birds) died in transit on airlines, with only eight injuries and four animals reported as lost, according to the website PetFlight.com.</p> <p class="inside-copy">But it's not necessarily statistics that matter most to owners. It's a perceived lack of comfort, the sometimes hassle involved in transporting live animals by air, and a fear that their pets will be harmed that spark anxiety.</p> <p class="inside-copy">There are commonly quoted, but hard-to-substantiate, statistics from various animal welfare groups that suggest more pets are harmed in transit than the officially reported numbers indicate. Pet Airways itself quotes a study by the San Francisco SPCA that estimates that about 5,000 animals are injured, out of an estimated 1 million to 2 million that travel by air each year.</p> <p class="inside-copy">It's Pet Airways' goal to ease those concerns by convincing owners its service is safer.</p> <p class="inside-copy">"We're going to provide a level of care that will both keep your pet comfortable and make you comfortable with the whole process of transporting them," Binder says.</p> <p class="inside-copy"><b>Not the only way to fly </b></p> <p class="inside-copy">Pet Airways isn't launching its service into a competitive vacuum. Although their policies vary widely, all the USA's biggest passenger airlines allow at least some type of pet travel.</p> <p class="inside-copy">Even Southwest <a href="http://stocks.usatoday.com/custom/usatoday-com/html-quote.asp?symb=luv">(LUV)</a>, which had never allowed pets onboard, announced last month that it would let cats and dogs in the cabin if their approved carriers fit under a passenger's seat.</p> <p class="inside-copy">In recent years, two airlines, Continental <a href="http://stocks.usatoday.com/custom/usatoday-com/html-quote.asp?symb=cal">(CAL)</a> and Delta <a href="http://stocks.usatoday.com/custom/usatoday-com/html-quote.asp?symb=dal">(DAL)</a>, have created special operations aimed at treating animals better. The few available statistics don't prove conclusively that their approach is safer or more successful, but their goal is to make people comfortable with the idea of putting their pets on planes, thereby giving the owners greater reason to fly on them, too.</p> <p class="inside-copy">Continental's PetSafe program (Delta's similar program is called Pet First) features airport kennels at its hubs and temperature-controlled vans that deliver pets to planes moments before they push back from gates and pick them up immediately after a plane docks. That gives pets last-on/first-off treatment and reduces chances of prolonged exposure to temperature extremes on the loading ramp and potential hazards in cargo areas.</p> <p class="inside-copy">"We have specialized workers in our hubs who actually bid for PetSafe jobs. That's all they do, work with animals all day long," says Lisa Schoppa, manager of product development in Continental's cargo division. "Most importantly, they're empowered. If they see something wrong with a puppy, for example, they have full authority to pull that puppy off the flight line and take them to a vet if they think that's necessary."</p> <p class="inside-copy">In addition, there are about 300 independent pet travel specialists around the world who are members of the Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association. These companies are best described as travel agencies for pets, says Gay O'Brien, IPATA's president and head of family-owned O'Brien Animal Transportation & Services in Foster City, Calif.</p> <p class="inside-copy">Pet travel companies help humans navigate the complex and often contradictory rules that govern animal travel.</p> Their services, which can include door-to-door service or other special handling arrangements, cost more than dealing directly with the airlines, even though most animals shipped this way wind up being on the same planes. But pet travel companies argue that their value-added services reduce owners' hassles, and are worth it.<script type="text/javascript">var _sttoolbar = {}</script><script src="http://w.sharethis.com/widget/stblogger.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript">stBlogger.init("http://w.sharethis.com/button/sharethis.js#publisher=560d0af4-f5e7-4a26-b601-9d15474a7eec&type=blogger&embeds=true");</script>Dr. Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16258450579145756612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985755465309786049.post-64745920983387096472009-06-17T06:22:00.000-04:002009-06-17T06:23:17.858-04:00Obesity Is A Problem For Dogs, Too!It's not just humans that suffer from obesity - vets say that emerging obesity problems in dogs are leading to shorter lives and reduced quality of life.<br /><br />The warning comes in the wake of the launch of an over-the-counter weight loss treatment for humans.<br /><br />Dr Alex German, an expert in dog nutrition and obesity problems, from Liverpool University, said: "Some estimates say that around 40% of pet dogs in the US are overweight or clinically obese*, and the anecdotal evidence from colleagues is that we are already seeing a similar problem in Europe.<br /><br />"Excess weight results from lack of exercise and inappropriate diet and, if owners are working longer hours, they will have less time to exercise their dogs properly. The credit crunch may potentially have an impact, since it may make owners more reluctant to take their pet to a veterinary surgeon, thereby missing out on important advice on health and wellbeing."<br /><br />As in humans, overweight dogs may experience associate medical problems including arthritis, respiratory problems, diabetes and incontinence. Some pre-existing conditions, such as osteoarthritis, may be exacerbated, and the dog's quality of life reduced because of its impaired ability to play and take exercise.<br /><br />Dr German said: "Once a dog becomes obese, or even overweight, it really is best to take veterinary advice about how to solve the problem. Sudden implementation of a rigorous exercise routine, without consideration of co-existing health problems, may exacerbate the problem.<br /><br />"Weight loss usually involves a combination of dietary energy restriction, increasing activity levels and, in some cases, prescription medicines," said Dr German<br /><br />"Although many of these impose a potential financial cost and in a recession, owners may be less willing to carry the financial cost."<br /><br />In some breeds, and in cross breed dogs, it can be difficult for owners to establish the ideal weight, and information available on the internet may not always be accurate or appropriate.<br /><br />He stressed that dogs can become overweight for all sorts of reasons - including compulsive eating and theft of food, begging from people other than the owner, and pre-existing medical conditions which limit their exercise. "Food is associated with love, which means you are dealing with both diet and psychology," he said.<br /><br />*According to The American Veterinary Association, a dog which is 5-20% over its ideal weight is 'overweight', and one which is 20% or more over its ideal weight is 'obese'.<br /><br />For further information, please visit <a href="http://www.canineobesity.info/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.canineobesity.info</a><br /><br />Pfizer Animal Health, a business of Pfizer Inc, is a world leader in animal health, committed to providing high-quality, innovative health products, including pharmaceuticals and biologicals for livestock and companion animals. Pfizer Inc, a research-based pharmaceutical company with global operations, discovers, develops, manufactures and markets leading prescription medicines for humans and animals.<br /><br />Source<br /><b>Pfizer Animal Health</b><script type="text/javascript">var _sttoolbar = {}</script><script src="http://w.sharethis.com/widget/stblogger.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript">stBlogger.init("http://w.sharethis.com/button/sharethis.js#publisher=560d0af4-f5e7-4a26-b601-9d15474a7eec&type=blogger&embeds=true");</script>Dr. Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16258450579145756612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985755465309786049.post-20606948076779882392009-06-07T08:09:00.002-04:002009-06-07T08:14:14.957-04:00New Canine Mast Cell Tumor TreatmentPfizer Animal Health today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first canine cancer therapy in the U.S. - PALLADIATM (toceranib phosphate) - which was developed by Pfizer to treat mast cell tumors in dogs. Pfizer made the announcement to veterinarians attending the 2009 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Forum and Canadian Veterinary Medical Association Convention.<br /><br />"Pfizer Animal Health is proud to bring the first canine cancer therapy approved by the FDA to U.S. specialists, their patients and caregivers," said George Fennell, vice president, Companion Animal Division, Pfizer Animal Health. "In the weeks and months ahead, Pfizer will introduce PALLADIA to boarded specialists to expand the body of clinical experience with this new therapy. The experience gained during this time will enable us to support veterinarians more effectively when we make the product available for purchase in early 2010," Fennell said.<br /><br />Pet caregivers should continue to consult with their local veterinarians about options for their dogs with cancer, who may then refer appropriate cases to specialists for treatment with PALLADIA.<br /><br /><b>A new option to treat canine mast cell tumors </b><br /><br />According to the Morris Animal Foundation, cancer is a leading cause of death in dogs. 1<br /><br />Pfizer Animal Health estimates 1.2 million new canine cancer cases are reported in the U.S. every year. 2 Mast cell tumors are the second most common tumor type and are often seen as lumps in the skin. These tumors are classified as grade I, II or III, with grade III being the most severe. If not treated, they can spread to other parts of the body including lymph nodes.<br /><br />Prescription-only PALLADIA is an oral therapy indicated to treat Patnaik grade II or III recurrent cutaneous mast cell tumors with or without regional lymph node involvement. PALLADIA belongs to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) class of compounds. It works by blocking the activity of key receptors important for the development of blood vessels that supply tumors, as well as receptors critical for tumor survival.<br /><br />"PALLADIA is an exciting, new treatment option for dogs with mast cell tumors," said Cheryl London, DVM, PhD, board certified medical oncologist and associate professor at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.<br /><br />"At the completion of a PALLADIA clinical study, approximately 60% of dogs had their tumors disappear, shrink or stop growing. Also, we determined that dogs whose tumors responded to PALLADIA experienced an improved quality of life,"3 said Dr. London, who has helped Pfizer Animal Health's Veterinary Medicine Research & Development to develop PALLADIA since 2000.<br /><br />PALLADIA can be administered in a veterinary clinic or in the home by a dog's caregiver. PALLADIA is not for human use and is only available in the U.S. Adverse events with PALLADIA can be serious but most are mild to moderate and are generally manageable. The most common side effects of PALLADIA involve the gastrointestinal tract and signs include diarrhea, decreased appetite, lethargy and vomiting. Life-threatening adverse events are rare but possible and early recognition is critical. Children should not come in contact with PALLADIA. In addition, all individuals, including children and pregnant women, should avoid direct contact with broken or partially-dissolved PALLADIA tablets or biological waste from dogs treated with PALLADIA. For specific dosing and prescribing information, visit <a href="http://www.palladia-pi.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.palladia-pi.com</a>. <script type="text/javascript">var _sttoolbar = {}</script><script src="http://w.sharethis.com/widget/stblogger.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript">stBlogger.init("http://w.sharethis.com/button/sharethis.js#publisher=560d0af4-f5e7-4a26-b601-9d15474a7eec&type=blogger&embeds=true");</script>Dr. Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16258450579145756612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985755465309786049.post-91129020974730317102009-05-16T10:41:00.000-04:002009-05-16T14:22:55.659-04:00Veterinarian Offers Advice On Evacuating With A Pet If Disaster StrikesA veterinarian at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine has advice for pet owners who want to consider how pets fit into their own household emergency plans -- especially if that includes evacuating.<br /><br />Dr. Marjory Artzer, professor of clinical sciences, suggests thinking about the supplies you'd ordinarily have on hand at home but may not have access to if forced to evacuate. This includes pet food, which can be bagged in easy to handle amounts, as well as bottled water, a leash, a pet carrier and an adequate amount of any medications your pet regularly takes.<br /><br />Artzer said heartworm medications and flea/tick preventatives are essential. Pet owners also may want to include bandaging material for wounds.<br /><br />Pets not of the canine or feline variety require considerations in addition to the basics like food and water. Artzer said owners should think about a safe means of transport and a way for environmental temperature control.<br /><br /> Artzer also suggests bringing along paperwork like health records and registration.<br /><br /> "It may make a difference in how the pet is handled," she said.<br /><br /> Having pets properly identified can make an emergency or evacuation go more smoothly, too.<br /><br /> "An ID tag on a collar is an easy way to see immediately, but they can get lost," she said. "A permanent way is microchipping."<br /><br />In an emergency, your pet's nerves can be just as frayed as yours. To make animals more comfortable, Artzer suggests doing a pets' favorite activity every day, whether it's walking, playing ball or just brushing its fur.The best time to think about an emergency or evacuation plan for your pet is before disaster strikes. Artzer suggests thinking of alternatives to evacuating with your pet ahead of time.<br /><br /> "Have a backup plan for help, like a friend or boarding facility," she said. "It is important to think ahead."<br /><br /> Source: Kansas State UniversityDr. Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16258450579145756612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985755465309786049.post-9824320696199454262009-05-16T06:21:00.000-04:002009-05-16T06:22:08.935-04:00Flu Outbreak: There's More Than One Doctor In The HousePhysicians aren't the only ones on the front lines of the 2009 H1N1 flu outbreak. Veterinarians play an important role, too.<br /><br />Whether they're conducting research or serving as "disease detectives" at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, playing a critical role in state and local health departments or ensuring the health of our domestic swine herds by continuing to give regular vaccinations against influenza and increasing biosurveillance and security measures on farms, veterinarians are in the middle of the action when it comes to identifying and helping control the H1N1 flu.<br /><br />"Veterinary medicine is so much more than giving vaccinations to pets," says Dr. Faye Sorhage, president of the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians and the New Jersey state public health veterinarian. "When you look at all the new, emerging diseases, there are so many that are zoonotic in origin that require the expertise of both physicians and veterinarians. That's what's happening today. These experts are working side-by-side on this flu virus."<br /><br />And that's a good thing for all involved, says Dr. Russell Currier, the executive vice president of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, the professional organization responsible for certifying veterinary specialists who work in food animal health and public health.<br /><br />"This new outbreak shows that we have emerging infectious diseases that can spread very quickly," he said. "It took Magellan three years to circumnavigate the globe, but you can do it now in a day."<br /><br /> Sorhage echoes those concerns.<br /><br />"Globalization is adding to our concerns, which makes increased surveillance, detection, testing and research, especially when it comes to these new viruses and zoonotic diseases, so important," she said. "The situation mandates the participation of skilled veterinarians working in these areas."<br /><br />It's long been known that many diseases affecting people have animal origins. Take, for example, West Nile virus, monkeypox, Ebola -- and some types of influenza. Veterinarians play a critical role in identifying, controlling and helping treat all of them.<br /><br />"This traditional inter-relationship between disciplines has existed for a long time and continues to grow stronger every day," Currier said. "We have a history of physicians working with animal diseases and veterinarians working on human diseases. We need the physician, the veterinarian, the virologist, the epidemiologist and the environmental scientist to research these diseases. This flu episode brings into sharp focus the importance of one medicine."<br /><br />Dr. Roger K. Mahr, former president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), has championed the One Health concept since his installation as AVMA president in 2006, when he made it the cornerstone of his term in office.<br /><br />Mahr continues that effort today in his duties as project director for the One Health Joint Steering Committee, and in light of the challenges the world is facing with the H1N1 outbreak, a spotlight on a united approach to world health couldn't be timelier.<br /><br />"The newly emerging H1N1 virus clearly underscores the need to embrace the One Health concept, which is the collaborative effort of multiple disciplines, working locally, nationally and globally, to attain optimal health for people, animals and our environment," Mahr said. "The basis for understanding and addressing the 2009 H1N1 virus, as well as other emerging and potentially emerging diseases, is that a changing environment populated by interconnected animals and people creates integrated challenges. These challenges require integrated solutions and call for collaborative leadership."<br /><br />Dr. Peggy Carter, president of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, said the 2009 H1N1 influenza outbreak once again highlights the role veterinarians play in keeping both animals and people healthy and safe.<br /><br />"People and animals are aligned in a new health paradigm, just like our banks are linked in a global financial system," Carter said. "This really is one team, one fight."<br /><br />The AVMA and its more than 78,000 member veterinarians are engaged in a wide variety of activities dedicated to advancing the science and art of animal, human and public health.<br /><br /> Source: American Veterinary Medical Association <hr size="1">Dr. Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16258450579145756612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985755465309786049.post-70013837097816657112009-05-13T15:36:00.002-04:002009-05-13T15:39:05.728-04:00New Doctor's Joining the Team At Gentle Care Animal HospitalWe are happy to announce that we have two new doctor's joining the team at Gentle Care Animal Hospital. They both have a combined experience of around 20 years and both bring a unique experience to the practice. I know you will immediately feel comfortable with both of them so without further ado let's start the introductions.<br /><br />Dr. Diona L. Krahn grew up nearby in Rockingham, NC. She graduated from Meredith College in 1994 with a batchelor’s degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. Since her graduation from NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1998, Dr Krahn has been providing care for small animals in the Cary/Apex area. During her years in practice, Dr. Krahn has obtained advanced training and experience in veterinary dentistry. She also has a special interest in endocrine disease. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, The North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association, and The American Veterinary Dental Society. Outside of small animal practice, Dr. Krahn enjoys yoga, cycling, hiking, being outdoors and spending time with her family. The Krahn family includes Dr. Krahn and her husband, two young active boys (Xander and Cael), two cats (Bob and Abigail), and a Whippet named Cooper.<br /><br />Dr. Jennifer Parker is originally from Columbia, SC. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Duke University and then attended the University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine. After completing her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2000 she practiced small animal medicine in Statesville, NC for 4 years. Dr. Parker then moved to Houston, Texas where she has worked for the last 5 years. She recently relocated back to North Carolina and joined Gentle Care Animal Hospital in May 2009. She lives in Cary with her husband, Eric, two daughters, Caroline and Lauren, and two dogs, Jack and Georgia.Dr. Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16258450579145756612noreply@blogger.com0