Longwood Vet Clinic

Fuzzy, frisky and funny

2012-02-13T13:04:00.001-05:00

We know that your pet is awesome and you know that your pet is the cutest. Here is a chance to let everyone else know it too. Hallmark is running a contest to have your pet starring in a new line of birthday cards. Follow the link below to enter. Good luck!

http://hallmarkcontests.com/page/CONTESTS/contest/FuzzyFriskyandFunny?mailID=T_E_M_020912_UCC_VA_MainEnterNow

How to brush your pet's teeth - Step by step.

2012-02-10T08:37:00.001-05:00

Just like in humans, dental care is an important part of your pet’s overall health.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to keeping those chompers sparkling white at home.

1- Start brushing your pet’s teeth early—8 to 12 weeks old is best. If you brush every day, your pet will become familiar with the routine when their permanent teeth erupt. Please note: You may need to stop brushing while your pet loses her baby teeth. Her mouth will be a bit sore and handling may cause more pain. Continue once all permanent teeth come in.

2- Work with your pet’s mouth. Be patient and make it fun. Use love and praise, and try to practice at the same time each day to establish a routine. Choose a quiet time, such as late in the evening. Or, if your pet is highly motivated by food, try just before dinner so she’ll be rewarded for her cooperation.

3- Handle your pet’s muzzle and touch her lips. Work up to rubbing the teeth and gums

with your finger. Put a few drops of water flavored with low-sodium chicken or beef bouillon for dogs and tuna juice for cats in your pet’s mouth and she’ll begin to look forward to these sessions.

4- Rub the teeth gently with a washcloth or a piece of gauze wrapped around the end of your finger and soaked with bouillon- or tuna flavored water.

5- Finally, use a finger brush or a soft veterinary toothbrush to brush the teeth using the bouillon water or tuna juice. Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle to the tooth and brush gently back and forth or in a circular pattern from gum to tip. Brushing the tongue side of the teeth is less critical, but still good. Offer rewards and treats when your pet allows you to brush.

6- Consider other dental aids. A large selection of veterinary toothpastes, oral rinses, and gels are available to you. Our team can help you select the right one for you and your pet. These products all enhance your home care program, but daily brushing is best. Avoid human toothpaste because fluoride and detergents can be harmful if swallowed. Hydrogen peroxide can be harsh on the gums and shouldn’t be swallowed either. Baking soda has high sodium content and should be avoided in older pets.

7- Pick kibble and rubber chew toys that will help keep the teeth clean. Avoid natural bones, which are hard enough to fracture teeth. Our veterinary team can recommend a complete and balanced professional diet to use at feeding time and as a treat.

Please don’t hesitate to call us, we are here to help!

Parvo outbreak in Southwest Florida

2012-02-08T14:50:00.001-05:00

Thinking about enjoying the weather this weekend by taking a trip with your pup?? Think again if your destination is Southwest Florida. Around 20 cases of Parvo have been reported in Lee County in recent weeks and at least two canine deaths have been attributed to the outbreak.

The disease is passed from dog to dog after contact with feces from an infected dog or through contaminated dirt or surfaces (for example, a kid petting several dogs at a park without washing his/her hands between pups).

Symptoms of Parvo disease could be any of the following: lethargy, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and fever.

However, since you cannot prevent anyone from coming to our area, what you can do is guarantee that your beloved pooch is protected. Make sure your dog had a recent DAPP or DHPP vaccine, also known as "Distemper Combo" in the last three years or if you have a pup, certify that he or she is not due for any booster. This is the age when they are most susceptible to infections.

If you are not sure about their vaccines, log into your pet portal at www.longwoodvet.com and make sure your dog is safe and sound.

How to brush your pet's teeth

2012-02-06T11:58:00.001-05:00

Most people are well aware of the steps they should take to have a healthy set of teeth. Brush regularly. Enjoy sweets in moderation. Floss. Schedule regular checkups with a dentist. But when it comes to animals, many pet owners are clueless about dental care.

By the age of 3, about 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats have periodontal disease.

Prevention may mean more work for you, but it has the best end result for your pets and often your pocketbook. By implementing preventive measures, you can improve your pet’s quality of life and prevent severe complicating factors of periodontal disease: heart conditions, kidney problems, or other dental diseases that can cost more to treat in the long run.

Make sure you are aware of the signs of dental problems; we encourage you to call if you notice any issues. These signs include bad breath, bleeding from the gingiva, changes in eating behavior, or pawing and rubbing faces.

With some instruction and follow-up care, your pets can have a healthy mouth, and they will thank you for it in the long run.

Learn how to brush your dog or cat’s teeth daily using a pet-friendly toothbrush and toothpaste. Take a look at this video and then stay tuned for our next blog with step-by-step instructions on how to brush your pet's teeth.

February is Dental Care Month

2012-02-03T14:45:00.001-05:00

Did the whole month of January go by already??

It is hard to believe but February is here. In the veterinary world, February is also know as "Dental Month" and with that in mind, our blogs this month will be related to dental care.

To begin with, we bring you a link to a video talking about anesthesia-free dental. We urge you to watch it.

Stay tuned for more information about your pet's dental health.

Why does my dog eat poop?

2012-01-30T07:24:00.001-05:00

Why does my dog eat poop?

Eating feces seems to stem from instinct in dogs, and is an extremely common behavior.

It's possible to be more common in females than in males, and that makes sense, because the mother dog typically eats the feces of her puppies until they stop nursing. But it's very common in male dogs, too. And show me a dog who won't eat cat poop, if given the chance! There aren't many! Bottom lines is that we don't really know why. A good way to try to change this behavior is to sprinkle some meat tenderizer on their food. After digestion, it makes the poop taste "funny" to dogs. If you try it, make sure to get a meat tenderizer without any salt.

Why do dogs mount legs?

2012-01-27T22:45:00.001-05:00

Friday

Why do dogs mount legs?

This behavior is particularly embarrassing, especially if your dog does this to guests in your home. There are two reasons dogs exhibit this behavior. Number one, it can be sexually driven, especially in non-neutered male dogs. If your dog commonly shows this behavior and it is a male dog, make sure you have him neutered to reduce the behavior.

The second, and actually the more common reason for mounting, is as a demonstration of dominance. This behavior is the opposite of the submissive urination. When a dog mounts someone’s leg, another animal, or an inanimate object, they are trying to be dominant to that individual or thing.

Why do dogs urinate when they get scared?

2012-01-27T08:15:00.001-05:00

Thursday

Why do dogs urinate when they get scared?

Being pack animals, dogs are constantly assessing their place in the pecking order of life. Every time they meet another dog or a human, their fist action is to determine dominance or submission to the new individual. If the dog feels submissive, he or she will communicate this feeling by cowering, exposing the belly and passing a small amount of urine. People become very upset by this behavior, but remember that the dog is just telling you that it knows you are the boss.

Why do dogs...

2012-01-25T14:20:00.001-05:00

Wednesday

Why do dogs hang their heads out the windows of cars?

Dogs love to hang their head out the window of moving vehicles and it is a great sight to see the ears blowing back, the tongue hanging out, and most of all, the nose working in high gear. Most dogs investigate their environment by their keen sense of smell. By hanging their heads out the window, they can soak up the surrounding odors in fast motion.

Why do dogs...

2012-01-24T09:03:00.001-05:00

Tuesday

Why do dogs bark at people in uniforms?

Dogs are very territorial creatures and will often bark at any stranger that approaches their territory. Some owners’ report that their dog has a particular phobia about the mailman or the meter reader, but in reality, the dog’s reaction probably has little to do with the person’s uniform.

Why do dogs do that?

2012-01-23T08:45:00.001-05:00

Why do dogs do that?

Each day of this week we are going to address some of the most common trivial questions we get from pet owners regarding their dog's behavior. Feel free to send us your questions too.

Monday

Why do dogs circle before they lay down?

There is a theory that this behavior is instinctual and dates back to our domestic dogs’ wild ancestors. Feral dogs have been observed to circle in order to mat down grass or other vegetation before laying down and we think this ingrained behavior has been passed on to our pet dogs.

Preventing Distemper

2012-01-13T10:56:00.001-05:00

Here is the final installment on Distemper. We hope you liked to learn about this dangerous, yet, very preventable disease.

Preventing Infection

If confirming diagnosis and therapy are the pitfalls of distemper, prevention is the easy part. Effective distemper vaccination has been available since the 1950s. Prior to widespread vaccination, distemper was the scourge of the canine community, wiping out entire towns of pet dogs. Today, distemper is a rare disease except in the shelter, rescue, and pet store world.

The “distemper shot” is the basic immunization for dogs. It is generally combined with vaccine for canine parvovirus as well for parainfluenza, adenovirus 2, leptospirosis, and sometimes coronavirus. Puppies are vaccinated beginning at age 6 to 8 weeks, and then every 2 to 4 weeks thereafter until age 16 weeks. The next vaccine is one year later. After that subsequent vaccination boosters are given every 3 years. Vaccine is available in the traditional modified live virus format, where distemper virus is modified to induce immune-response but not illness. Vaccine is also available in the recombinant format where a live harmless virus (not the distemper virus at all modified or otherwise) is used to carry the portion of the distemper virus that generates the immune-response. The benefit of the recombinant format is that it is completely impossible for distemper or distemper encephalitis to occur as the result of vaccination. These complications are exceedingly rare but still possible with modified live virus vaccine.

The use of the human measles virus to vaccinate against canine distemper is largely passé nowadays. Immunity obtained this way does not last as long and is not as successful as that obtained with a modified live or recombinant distemper vaccine.

Treatment for Distemper

2012-01-12T07:37:00.001-05:00

Many bizarre protocols have emerged over time as we grope for meaningful anti-viral therapy. The fact remains that recovery from distemper is all about immunity and the only real treatment is supportive care while the patient mounts an immune response. If the patient has pneumonia, antibiotics are used on the secondary bacterial infections. Airway dilators are used as needed. Physical therapy is used to promote coughing. If the patient has diarrhea, intravenous fluids are used to prevent dehydration.

Distemper is extremely variable in its ability to produce symptoms and recovery occurs at any stage. This has led to assorted therapies being credited with effect when what was more likely witnessed was the natural removal of the infection by the host’s immune system.

Neurologic distemper is particularly difficult to treat. Still, it is possible for dogs to recover with livable deficits even from neurodistemper.

And tomorrow, look for our final blog on Distemper: Prevention.

What are the symptoms of Distemper?

2012-01-11T10:04:00.001-05:00

Most of us have heard of distemper infection for dogs and gather it is bad. The basic vaccine for dogs is “the distemper shot,” which vaccinates against distemper, parvovirus and some minor kennel cough agents. Luckily, this is all most people ever hear of distemper. The typical distemper suspect is a rescue or pet store dog or puppy, usually with questionable vaccination history or an as yet incomplete vaccination series.
Symptoms begin with:

Gooey eye and nose discharge
Fever, which often comes and goes unnoticed
Poor appetite
Coughing and development of pneumonia

The virus is attacking interfaces of the body with the environment (the mucous membranes) and starts with the respiratory tract, hence the pneumonia, but it does not stop there. The virus moves on to produce:

Vomiting and diarrhea
Callusing of the nose and foot pads (hence one of the old names for distemper – hard pad disease).

After completing what is called the mucosal phase of infection where environmental interfaces are attacked (as described by the above GI and respiratory disease), the virus proceeds to the central nervous system for its neurologic phase leading to:

Seizures, classically starting with snapping or tremors of the jaws that progress to convulsions of the whole body. This distemper classic sign is called a chewing gum fit.
Seizures are not the only distemper sign by any means. Tremors, imbalance, and limb weakness all may occur. Signs may progress to death or may become non-progressive and permanent. Recovery is also possible.

This means that the dog appears to recover only to break with neurologic disease 1 to 3 weeks later. Younger puppies or individuals with weak immunity often die during the mucosal phase while stronger individuals may have relatively mild mucosal signs and not appear ill until the neurologic phase strikes.

Check our blog tomorrow to learn about how Distemper is transmitted and the progress of the infection.

Distemper Outbreak in Florida

2012-01-10T07:44:00.001-05:00

Miami-Dade County Animal Services is reporting an outbreak of canine distemper among its shelter population.

So far eighteen dogs have been infected with the highly contagious virus that could be deadly if left untreated. The county agency is now testing the rest of its dog population and will quarantine the dogs for two weeks.

During that time, all dogs will be closely monitored and treated with antibiotics if needed.

Canine distemper is spread through airborne particles and this time of the year, when so many of us travelled to different parts of the country, we urge all of our patients to be protected against any diseases that we can vaccinate. Check your pet's records and make sure they are up to date on their vaccines.

Happy 2012!

2012-01-02T14:01:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year!

All of us at LVC wish you a wonderful year full of new beginnings and much prosperity.

We are excited to start 2012 anew with fresh new scrubs and cheery colors. Stop by to see us.

We've heard that many pets made "New Year Resolutions" and most of them are related to weight loss. Let us know how we can help you keep your pet's scale going in the right direction. We can help you develop a plan that will be easy to stick to.

We are looking forward to see you in this new year.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T11:37:00.001-05:00

During the holiday season, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our success possible. It is in this spirit we say thank you, best wishes for the holidays and a happy New Year.

Please enjoy another one of our famous JibJab cards starring our doctors.

And don't forget that we will be closed on Saturday.

Click here to open card and Merry Christmas!

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/n7zJ93c4hFYkmv5LANjV

Reindeers

2011-12-20T09:33:00.001-05:00

Everyone knows about the reindeer that pull Santa’s sleigh, but many of us forget that reindeer are real life animals.

Reindeer are native to the arctic regions of Europe and Asia. Unlike other deer, both male and female reindeer have antlers. The male reindeer is called a stag and can be up to six feet in length, four feet tall at the shoulder, and weighs around 250 pounds. The female reindeer is smaller and is called a doe.

Reindeer have large spreading hooves that give them extra traction on ice and snow. Many centuries ago they were domesticated and trained to wear harnesses and pull sleds.

The antlers in the case of older males are shed in December, while the younger deer shed their antlers in spring. The females usually shed their antlers in the summer and just after calving. And that brings us to the conclusion that Santa's reindeers are either very young or girls, since they all have antlers.

How did reindeer become part of the legend of Santa Claus?

Much of the American version of Santa Claus was derived from Scandinavian culture and who better to pull Saint Nick’s sleigh in Norway than reindeer?

Legend has it that Santa's reindeer are the only known flying reindeer in existence, believed to be given the power of flight by magic corn given to Kris Kringle by a wizard. Through this magic corn, the reindeer's strength is increased to three times normal, their stamina in increased to infinity, and their hoofs can use the air as if it were solid ground.

Here’s a true or false question for you: Two of Santa's reindeer were named 'Donner' and 'Blitzen.'

The answer: FALSE!

The famous poem, “A Visit from Saint Nicholas”, which was first published on December 23, 1823, was the first document to give Santa’s reindeer names. Two of the original names in the poem were “Dunder” and “Blixem”, which are the Dutch words for thunder and lightning.

Over the years and after many reprintings, the name Blixem was changed to Blitzen, probably because it rhymes better with Vixen. The name Dunder was misprinted as Donder, and then eventually changed to Donner in the song Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, which was written in 1949. Interestingly, the word donner is German for thunder.

Christmas Party at the Zoo

2011-12-13T13:25:00.001-05:00

Take a look at the pictures from our Christmas Party this weekend. The whole clinic and our family members went to Central Florida Zoo to celebrate another year as LVC FAMILY.

Check it at You Tube -

We had a blast!!!

Give your family the gift of having a good smelling dog

2011-12-09T14:49:00.001-05:00

Imagine this scene: Christmas Eve, all the relatives are about to arrive, you have decked the halls for the past month and you are about to light the candles…suddenly, your dog Hoover walks by and let’s just say he’s not smelling anywhere as fresh as your candles are. Remember, this is just a scenario; the good news is, you can avoid this situation all together this holiday season!

We know how busy you are going to be in the coming weeks and bathing your pet will be the last thing on your mind...until he walks by and you catch a whiff. Take the pressure off and leave your pet’s bath to us! Take advantage of the time we can save you for a few last minute preparations.

Our bath schedule is filling up very quickly and you don't want to wait until the last minute to book it.

Bringing your pet back home smelling fresh and with a cute bandana will be an extra gift to your family.

Why are cats are so flexible?

2011-12-06T07:54:00.001-05:00

Why are cats so flexible?

Cats make their living in the wild as predators, and to be successful, they must be quick, powerful, and flexible. From a sitting start, they can spring up to nine times their height, and they can narrow their shoulders and chest to squeeze through almost impossibly tight spaces. In an eye's blink they can right themselves in midair and land on their feet, and make sudden changes in direction while pursuing and capturing prey.

Cats are able to rotate their supple spines more than many other animals and can twist their bodies to a much greater extent. Cats' vertebrae—the spools-on-a-string-like bones in the back—are very flexibly connected and have especially elastic cushioning disks between them. This limber spine allows cats to perform their elegant and graceful acrobatic feats, but it also contributes to their speed as runners. To reach top speed—about thirty miles an hour—cats lengthen their stride, and thus increase their speed, by alternately extending and flexing their backs. When the cat pushes off to start a new stride—with claws serving as spikes for traction—its body stretches to it maximum length, with every stride propelling the cat about three times the length of its body.

Moreover, the feline shoulder blade is attached to the rest of the body only by muscles, not by bone. This gives the shoulder blade tremendous freedom to move as the cat moves, extending its running stride even more. And unlike the long anchored collarbone we humans have, cats have tiny rudimentary collarbones that contribute to their ability to squeeze through tight openings.

Are cats and dogs colorblind? Do cats' eyes glow in the dark?

2011-12-01T21:57:00.001-05:00

Many people think that dogs and cats cannot see any colors, only shades of gray. But this is not true. Cats and dogs can see some colors but not all of them. So in a sense they are like people who are colorblind. Cats and dogs have cells in their eyes that respond well in bright and dim light. At night, cats and dogs use cells called rods that are sensitive to dim light. They are found in a lining at the back of the eye called the retina. When light falls on the rods, they send a message to the brain to explain the image that they see. For the bright light of day, you need cells called cones. But having cones in your eyes also means that you can also see color. Humans have three kinds of cones that allow them to see blue, red and green. So humans (and monkeys!) can see in full color. Dogs and cats only have two kinds of cones sensitive to blue and green light. So they do see some colors. By the way, if you have a horse or pony at home, they have red and blue cones. Horses see some colors, but they can't tell green from gray.

Now, do cats' eyes glow in the dark? No they don't. Cats and dogs have some cells behind the retina that act like a mirror. These cells are found in a part of the eye called the tapetum. This mirror reflects light back, giving the rods and cones a second chance to pick up the small amount of light available at night. It is this tapetum that makes cats' and dogs' eyes seem to glow in the dark.

Humans don't have a tapetum. You may have noticed that if you use flash to take a photo, humans tend to look like they have red eyes. This is because there is a reflection of the red blood vessels behind our retinas. If you took a flash picture of your dog, you might see yellow or orange eyes instead. This is a reflection of the light of the flash by the dog's tapetum.

How to give pills to your pet

2011-11-28T13:12:00.001-05:00

Disclaimer: If you find your self in the same position, call us for REAL instruction if you find trouble right after step 1. Do not attempt all these step. As you will see, they are just funny and should not be considered.

How to give the cat a pill

Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.
Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.
Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.
Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.
Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.
Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.
Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.
Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.
Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink glass of water to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.
Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.
Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus jab. Throw Tee-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.
Ring fire brigade to retrieve cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil-wrap.
Tie cat's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of fillet steak. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down.
Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.
Arrange for ASPCA to collect cat and ring local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.

How to give the dog a pill

Wrap it in bacon.

Happy Thanksgiving Card

2011-11-22T08:31:00.001-05:00

A special greeting of Thanksgiving time to express to you our sincere appreciation for your confidence and loyalty. We are deeply thankful and extend to you our best wishes for a happy and healthy Thanksgiving Day.

Please enjoy another funny greeting card featuring our Doctors.

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/9aGeqPLjwMScEK4m

Excessive Barking?

2011-11-15T15:02:00.001-05:00

Is excessive barking a common complaint among dog owners?

Dogs that bark excessively can be very frustrating for owners. In order to deal with this problem effectively, we must realize that barking is normal behavior and that dogs bark for specific reasons, not just to be annoying. Excessive barking can be controlled, but it requires training, patience, and a dog that can readily follow commands. Before you attempt any training for a specific behavior problem, establish basic obedience, like teaching your dog to lay down and stay.

What is the next step after basic obedience?

First, there are several things you should not do:

Shouting "No" is only going to make matters worse since the dog will thinking you're barking too and is probably happy you joined in.

Do not hug your dog, talk soothingly, or otherwise play into your dog’s barking. This reinforces his behavior and he'll likely bark even more the next time.

Do not physically punishment the dog for barking. This will only make your dog fearful and will not stop the barking.

To effectively train your dog to minimize barking:

Short frequent training sessions.

Use one word commands, e.g. "ENOUGH".

Use an effective food reward.

Reward for only GOOD behavior.

Set up short; frequent training sessions of 5-10 minutes each.

Pick a one-word training command, for example, "Enough", and always use that word in the same tone of voice.

Find an effective reward, such as a treat, but remember to reward the dog for only good behavior.

To train the dog, set up a situation in which he will bark, for instance knocking on the door. After one or two barks, put a treat right in front of his nose. When he stops barking say, "Enough", wait a few more seconds and if he’s quiet, give him the treat. Timing is critical – he must be quiet when you give the command and the treat or he will think he’s being rewarded for continuing to bark. If you repeat this process enough times, the dog will associate the word "Enough" with being quiet and you’ll be able to use the command to stop barking in the future.

10 Pet Ssafety Tips for the Holidays

2011-11-07T11:55:00.001-05:00

10 Pet Safety Tips for the Holidays

When celebrating the winter festivities, don't forget to keep holiday pet dangers in mind. It may require some changes to your normal decorating or dining routine, but these tips from our friends at HomeAgain Microchips can help you create a pet-safe holiday that is fun for the whole family.

Practice fire safety. Nothing looks nicer than a Thanksgiving table aglow with candles. But be sure to never leave any fire unattended particularly when you have pets in the house. Not only can curious whiskers get burned, if a candle is knocked over by a wagging tail, it can lead to a serious fire.
Hoard the people food. Although it’s tempting to give your pets a taste or two from your Thanksgiving plate, too much human food can be bad for your pet’s health.
Hide the breakables. Holiday feasts can mean bringing out treasured items like Great Aunt Mae’s fine china or your finest stemware. Just remember that your beloved pets don’t know the value of these items, and they could get broken. So if you have favorite, breakable decorations or table settings, be sure to keep them out of reach.
Watch out for toxic plants. Many holiday plants, including mistletoe, holly, poinsettia, and even that beautiful Thanksgiving centerpiece of lilies can be toxic to pets. If you must decorate with these holiday pet dangers, keep them well away from curious paws and mouths.
A toast to everyone’s health. When you raise that glass of holiday bubbly, be sure to place your unattended alcoholic drinks where Fluffy or Fido can’t sneak a taste. Alcohol and pets simply don’t mix. If ingested, your pet could become weak, ill, go into a coma or worse.
How sweet it isn’t. Although many people like to leave out chocolates for visitors throughout the holidays, it’s important to remember that these sweets are major pet dangers. Chocolate is tasty for you, but it’s toxic for Fluffy and Fido.
Keep the lights high. Many people enjoy decorating with strings of lights during the holidays, but do so with caution. Twinkling lights make a shiny toy, but they’re not safe to play with or chew on. Keep your celebrations shock-free by hanging lights up high.
Don’t decorate with food. Strings of cranberries and popcorn can be a beautiful way to liven up your household, and a fun project to do with your kids, but they’re holiday hazards for pets. Even if the food on the string isn’t toxic for Fido or Fluffy, they may end up eating the string—and that can cause serious health problems.
Steer clear of tinsel town. Tinsel is more than just a glittery decoration. If your pets eat it, it can cause intestinal problems that require a trip to LVC.
Wrap it up. If you like to display your holiday presents, watch out for ribbons, bells, and other small toys that can present a choking hazard for your pet. If there are any dangerous-looking gifts, it may be a good idea to hide them safely in a closet until it’s time to open them—or open them right away. After all, no one can accuse you of being rude if you’re doing it to have a pet-safe holiday.

Do dogs have morals?

2011-11-04T12:45:00.001-04:00

I was just reading an article about dog's morality. The first thing that came to my mind was an episode I faced couple weeks ago. When I got home, I was warmly greeted by my dog (which includes a full inspection of the mysterious smells I brought in on my scrubs from work) followed by her running to a corner and avoiding eye contact. At that moment, I knew she had done something she was not so proud of. That sent me on my own "inspection" only to find out she had finished off the lasagna that my son forgot to put away after his late night snack. I could see “I’m sorry” on her face and I've no doubt she does know right from wrong.

Do you believe dogs have morals or a sense of justice? I'm sure you will have stories to share. Email us to theteam@longwoodvet.com or post on our facebook.

If you are interested in reading the whole article, click http://www.livescience.com/16814-animals-wrong-clues-point.html, but here is a summary of it.

For years, scientists categorically ruled out the possibility that animals might have a sense of morality — that they know right from wrong. Lately, though, the tide is turning.

"People used to like to make that stark division between human and nonhuman animals," said ethologist Marc Bekoff. "But there's just no doubt that the scientific evidence for animal morality is accumulating as more and more animals are studied."

Bekoffis a professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and co-founder (with primatologist Jane Goodall) of Ethologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. His extensive field research has led him to believe that morality is an evolved trait, rather than a system created by humans, and that it evolved early in the history of mammals.

"It has only been observed in certain species, because it really hasn't been studied extensively, but I would expect that moral sentiments would be fairly widespread among mammals," Bekoff told Life's Little Mysteries, a sister site to LiveScience.

Furthermore, experiments at the University of Vienna have also found that dogs become upset by unfair treatment by humans. When asked to shake hands, the dogs in the study were happy to oblige at first regardless of whether they were given treats or not. But the dogs' enthusiasm for the trick waned when they saw other dogs being rewarded with food after a handshake, but received nothing themselves. The ignored dogs also started showing signs of distress, such as licking or scratching. The researchers argued that these stress signifiers proved the dogs were upset about being treated unfairly — not just sad about missing out on a treat.

Happy Halloween!!!

2011-10-31T14:32:00.001-04:00

Happy Halloween!!! Take a look on our Halloween greeting card to see our doctors and their other talents. Click this link http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/8hicrdmCp8ZID2DE , sit back and enjoy it!

For all of you that told us you had a really hard time taking pictures of your pet in a costume, here are our tips for pet photography.

How to photograph a dog

Remove your brand new camera from box.
Remove box from dogs mouth and throw in trash.
Remove dog from trash and wipe off coffee grounds from his nose.
Choose a suitable background for photo.
Mount camera on tripod and focus.
Remove dirty socks from dog's mouth.
Place dog in spot and return to camera.
Forget about spot and crawl after dog on knees.
Focus camera with one hand and fend off dog with other hand.
Get tissue and clean nose prints from lens.
Put cat outside and put neosporin on the scratch on dog's nose.
Put magazines back on coffee table.
Try to get dog's attention by squeaking toy over your head.
Replace your glasses and check camera for damage.
Jump up on time to grab dog by scruff of neck and say: "No, outside!! No, outside!!"
Call spouse to clean up mess.

Halloween Safety and apologies from our TRICK emails this week

2011-10-28T13:10:00.001-04:00

We'd like to apologize and to thank the patience of all our client's that had their email accounts bombarded with older blogs this week. We are calling it an episode of growing pains.

In the process to redirect our blog to the new website, it caused the system to resend some older blogs and left clients wondering what was going on in here. The system should be all fixed and just a treat from now on. Please let us know if you are having any issues with our emails. Now, about another kind of tricks and treats, let's talk about the holiday many will be celebrating this weekend and Monday.

Halloween is always a popular holiday, but there are safety concerns for our pets.

The most important concern is making sure this holiday is a treat and not a trick for our dogs and cats. Unfortunately animals can be the targets of malicious pranks on Halloween.

Animals should absolutely be kept indoors and precautions should be taken to prevent them from escaping when trick-or-treaters come to the door. In fact, it may be best to keep the pets isolated in a separate room to reduce the risk of escape and to lower the stress of so many visitors.

Keep the candy away from the pets. Not only can candy create an upset stomach, but chocolate can be extremely poisonous to some pets, especially dogs. Also, take care with the jack-o-lantern. Pets can knock them over and start a fire or burn themselves.

Here are some tips on keeping your pet safe on Halloween:

Keep pets indoors and away from the front door while you have trick-or-treaters.
Keep dogs and cats away from the candy and the jack-o-lantern.
Use common sense if costuming your pet. Don’t do it if they don’t like it. And be careful that the costume does not restrict their vision, hearing, or breathing.

Big Day At LVC

2011-10-24T13:26:00.001-04:00

Today is a Big Day here at LVC.

Just a few hours ago we implemented our new website! This should allow us to serve our clients with more options to access their pet's information thru multiple sources.

Now our clients can log onto our website www.longwoodvet.com to see their own pet's vaccine history, make appointments, request refills for medication, post their pet's pictures, etc.

There are also free apps at Android Market and at I-Tunes App Store that can be downloaded to give you access no matter where you are. Just search for Petwise and download it.

Go ahead and take a look around. We are very proud to bring our clients new technology, hopefully making their lives a little easier.

Happy Boss Day

2011-10-17T15:43:00.001-04:00

All of us at LVC are very fortunate to work with the Best Boss any one of us has ever had. Here we extend our thanks to Dr. Marrinson for allowing us to make work feel like our second home and to have a genuine interest in the well being of each of his team members. Many of you don't get to see everything that goes on behind the scenes, but we are a family; we have fun together, we celebrate our accomplishments, we are allowed to express our compassion toward your pets, and we have the freedom to do whatever it takes to treat your pet like one of our own. We deeply appreciate our work environment and thank Dr. Marrinson for the culture he has created in our practice.

Have a Happy Bosses Day everyone!

Plants

2011-10-14T12:31:00.001-04:00

With fall, we start getting ready for the long holiday season. We just talked about acorns, but there are some other dangers to bring awareness to. From October and into January, most of us will have our houses decorated both inside and out. Some decorations, however, could prove dangerous to our four-legged friends. This is especially true during the later Winter holidays.

Poinsettias, Holly, Mistletoe, and Laurels are just four plants that you want your pets to stay clear of. Ingesting these plants can cause vomiting, irritation to the mouth, gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular collapse, erratic behavior, and diarrhea. Keep all live plants away from your pets and make sure that they cannot get to them.

Holidays are not the only time of year to be on the lookout for dangerous plants. Lilies, onions, and chili pepper plants are toxic for your pet to ingest. If you are unsure if the plant you have is dangerous, do some research first or ask your veterinarian. Here are just a few sites to get you started before you go to a home improvement store for supplies to work on your weekend project:

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/plants_poisonous_to_pets.html

Rain or Shine

2011-10-12T14:34:00.001-04:00

Regardless of the weather outside, dogs need exercise. This past weekend they thought otherwise. If even the trip to go potty was a struggle, exercise was completely out of question. On these days, it's helpful to have a variety of ways you can provide your dog with boredom relief without having to go outdoors. Here are a few ideas you may find helpful!

Tug and Fetch - Tug and fetch are classic dog games that do not require a lot of room. Hallways tend to be great for fetch games, and tug can be played virtually anywhere.

Learn new tricks – it provides great mental exercise and can often tire a dog more than a walk that is two or three times as long. Teaching your dog new behaviors is fantastic for her confidence and will make both of you happy!

Play Hide and Seek! - Hide and seek is a great way to exercise your dog's mind, body, and recall skills. Stock up on great treats and have family members take turns interacting with your pup.

Food Dispensing Toys - Food dispensing toys are invaluable boredom busters. While rubber Kongs are classic toys and can be stuffed with a great variety of treats, in the last few years the food dispensing toy market has greatly expanded.

Doggie Play Date! - If your dog has a favorite playmate or friend, consider scheduling a rainy day play date. Before your dog's pal arrives, be sure to puppy proof and pick up all breakables and valuables. As you know, dog play can get quite rowdy!

Go on a Socialization Outing - If you are unable to take your dog for a walk, consider taking him for a ride and doing a "fun visit" to LVC where he just goes to hang out and get some treats and scratches just for being a great dog. This will provide the added benefit of teaching him that vet visits can be a lot of fun!

Acorns

2011-10-03T09:09:00.001-04:00

Did you enjoy the wonderful weather this past weekend?

As I took my dog for a walk on Sunday, I noticed her interest in everything that was lying on the ground. That got me thinking…it’s probably a good time for us to talk about acorns.

More than fifty varieties of oak grow throughout the United States. As autumn sets in, these lovely trees will begin dropping their acorns into yards, fields, and forests.

Although acorns are a grand example of the variety of nature, they can be harmful to dogs. Small amounts of acorn ingestion typically cause no more than minor illness, although they contain some substances that can cause kidney damage or worsen the condition of a compromised kidney. Typical symptoms are stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation; while whole acorns can also block your pup's digestive tract.

Make sure you keep an eye on your pooch when you go out for walks, especially if he/she is the type that eats first and asks questions later.

Fall is here!!!

2011-09-26T14:32:00.001-04:00

Fall is here and with that comes the hope that pretty soon the weather will cool off a bit. When that happens, we start to get more active with our dogs and go back to the routine of taking longer, or at least more enjoyable walks.

If you have an older dog like I do, you may realize that some changes have happened in the summer months and your dog is not as agile as before.

Many dogs develop arthritis in their lives, whether from injuries, surgical procedures or just as part of the aging process.

Thankfully, you don't need to wait until your dog is painful or unable to walk. We can analyze your pet's joint status and the need for supplements, medications or both.

If you want to get more familiar with osteoarthritis, you can log on to www.deramaxx.com/playmore and then give us a call so we can discuss how to help your aging pup.

If you are already using Deramaxx, ask us about our $15 rebate on your next refill.

Blog

2011-09-19T14:20:00.001-04:00

This weekend I came across a newspaper article about a Pet trust fund. It made me wonder what plans our clients are making, if any, to ensure a quality care for their pets in case they can't provide it themselves.

In this article, the alarming fact was that over half a million dogs and cats are euthanized each year because their owner dies or is forced to move to assisted-living housing where they are not permitted.

On the other end of this spectrum, many owners are making very detailed plans going as far as having a trust fund in place with detailed directions about caring for their animal family members and deciding on pet funeral and burial plans if they are not present at the time of loss.

This shows that the emotional connection between owners and their pets are stronger than ever and pets really are considered family members.

Do you have any plans in place for your pets?

Time to Celebrate

2011-09-15T12:47:00.001-04:00

I'm so proud to announce that this week we hit the 1 year mark of being free from accident/injuries at Longwood Vet Clinic. This means we suceeded in staying out of the reach of claws and teeth and we could probably get a second job at Cirque du Soleil with our newly acquired flexibility.

With safety in mind, take a look at the following responses from Dr. Marrinson about "Aggressive dogs". Kitty cats out there, be warned, we will also have a talk later on.

What makes dogs attack people?

Dogs behave aggressively for several reasons and their motivation changes with the circumstance. For instance, abuse can provoke even a nice dog to be aggressive and in fact, fear is one of the most common triggers for aggression. Dogs are also aggressive in defense of their territory, as a hunting instinct, or out of a desire to be dominant.

Aggression is both an instinct as well as a learned behavior. Aggressive dogs are often poorly socialized animals that when faced with a stressful situation, choose to be aggressive if they have not been trained to be calm and passive.

Why do dog attacks often involve more than one dog?

We use the term ‘pack mentality’ to define behaviors that are magnified when dogs are together in a group. And a group of dogs is bigger and more aggressive than the sum of its parts. It’s the same sort of behavior observed when people riot. Dogs are much more likely to attack a person or another animal when they are with one or more other dogs.

Are certain breeds of dogs inherently more aggressive than others?

The correct statement might be that some breeds are potentially more aggressive than others. Any dog, regardless of the breed, can be aggressive. Especially those that are not socialized, well trained, and well treated.

However, there are certain breeds that have bad reputations, sometimes deserved, sometimes not. As a veterinarian, there are breeds that I am more cautious when working with.

Which breeds have a greater potential for aggression?

Potentially Aggressive Large Dogs:

Rottweiller

Chow

Sharpei

German Shepherd

Pit Bull

Springer Spaniel

Potentially Aggressive Small Dogs:

Cocker Spaniel

Chihuahua

Lhasa Apso

Among large breeds, most people will recognize the Rottweilers and Pit Bulls, since these breeds are commonly in the news. Other large breed would include Chows and Sharpeis, German Shepherds, and Springer Spaniels.

Small dogs that can be aggressive include the Cockers, Chihuahuas, and Lhasas. Some people are surprised by some of the breeds listed, but much of the public’s perception is formed by media coverage. Its always a big story if a pit bull bites someone, but no news crews show up for a Chihuahua bite.

What are your recommendations regarding dogs known for aggression?

While there are certain breeds with a greater potential for aggression, each dog must be judged individually. I certainly see some Rotweillers that are awesome, trustworthy, family dogs.

So before choosing a breed, research all the potential problems, both behavioral and medical. Matching the right dog with the right person is very important.

You should choose a dog that agrees with your lifestyle and if you decide to own a dog with potential for aggression, it is critical that you raise that dog in the right type of environment and use the correct training and socialization techniques.

LVC

2011-09-06T14:12:00.001-04:00

Labor Day is now behind us and even though this week will be a short one, it is already looking like it will be a very busy one also. While we take care of the pets that may have indulged a little too much with their owner's BBQ, take a moment to read about Colitis. Happy short week everyone!!

What is colitis?

Colitis is inflammation of the colon, or large intestine. Colitis is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders in dogs. It does occur in cats, although less often.

What are the symptoms of colitis?

Animals with colitis will have diarrhea, often with mucus or fresh blood in the stool. When the colon becomes inflamed, the pet feels an urgency to have a bowel movement. So, a dog or cat with colitis will often have inappropriate accidents in the house and even after the colon is empty, may continue to strain as if trying to go. This nonproductive straining can be confusing to an owner who often misinterprets this symptom as constipation.

What causes colitis?

There are various causes including parasites, bacterial infections, and dietary problems. The most common cause of colitis is stress. This stress is often associated with activities that are scary to the pet like boarding, guests in the house, and thunderstorms.

How is colitis treated?

If the specific cause can be determined, therapy is directed at the source. For instance, if an infection is found, antibiotics are prescribed. Reducing the inflammation in the colon is also important. High fiber diets are also very helpful in the treatment and in the prevention of colitis.

What should an owner do if they suspect their dog has colitis?

Seek veterinary care as soon as possible.
Avoid events that you know may be stressful for your dog.
Ask your veterinarian about a higher fiber diet, especially if your pet seems prone to colitis.

Pooch to 5K

2011-08-23T07:41:00.001-04:00

The kids are going back to school, routines are going back to normal, and now your pooch will spend most of their day lounging around at home. While this rest and relaxation can be good for your pet, too much could become a bad thing. They need just as much exercise as we do, and sometimes they don't get it. As the days get cooler, this time of the year will be the perfect time to begin including an exercise regiment into the daily routine.

Even if your pet's diet is healthy and they receive the proper amount of food, the lack of exercise could still cause some obesity. Every year, more and more pets are gaining unnecessary weight. This leads to serious health issues, some including diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease. Finding a good exercise plan can help your pet get back on track to a healthy lifestyle. The Pooch to 5K is just one program that can help. It consists of a twelve-week program designed to help get you and your pet running a 5K a day! It's a great way to help keep your pet in shape and stay healthy.

Here is the link if you want to check out this free program: http://www.poochto5k.com/

Ear Infections

2011-08-17T14:16:00.001-04:00

How common are ear infections in dogs?

An ear infection is one of the most common medical reasons dogs are taken to a veterinarian. Not only are ear infections common, but for some dogs they are chronic and recurring.

What causes the infection?

These infections for dogs are not contagious, since they are caused by organisms that already live in small numbers inside the ear canal. Given the right conditions, these yeast or bacteria can overgrow and create an infection.

How would I know if my dog has an ear infection?

The ears are very sensitive in dogs and when they become infected, they are very painful. Dogs with ear infections will often shake their heads or scratch at the ears. Owners may notice a foul odor and see discharge collecting around the outside of the ear.

If you suspect your dog has an ear infection, your veterinarian can collect samples from the ear to determine the type of infection, and then prescribe the right medication.

Some dogs are extremely prone to ear infections so if you dog gets one, watch closely for recurrence and see your veterinarian right away if problems come back. The quicker you have the ears treated, the better your dog will feel.

5 reasons to get a Pedicure for your pet

2011-08-15T15:27:00.001-04:00

A pedicure is something many pet owners don't think about giving their furry friend.

You may not think it's needed, you may not have the time or don't know how to do it.

A pedicure , however , is something very important for your four-legged family members to receive regularly. Here are the top five reasons:

1. Cosmetic: Every pet deserves to be pampered and pretty. A clean clip leaves the feet well groomed.

2. Safety: A long toe nail can get caught in a number of things. If an animal panics while the nail is still caught, they can rip it out and cause severe damage to not only the nail, but also the toes. This is especially true for dogs that do a lot of digging or that sleep with a blanket.

3. Human injuries: An excitable dog might jump up on a family member when they are returning home or during play time. A playful cat might extend their claws to catch feathery toys and end up catching your hands. You can limit these injuries with a pedicure and still enjoy being greeted by your dog or having play sessions with the kitty.

4. Prevent infections: A long nail, such as the dewclaws, could easily overgrow and curl down into the paw pads. Unnoticed, it could cause an infection when the nail punctures the pads. A pet could also chew on long nails, keeping the location moist, creating the perfect habitat for yeast and bacteria to grown into the nail bed.

5. Arthritis: Longer nails may keep the toes from touching the floor naturally. This can put pressure on the toes and create or aggravate arthritis. This may cause the pet to limp and become sore.

The main thing you want to remember is that pedicures will make your pet feel better.

Medially Luxating Patella

2011-08-10T10:09:00.001-04:00

Medially luxating patella is an inherited defect, usually of small breed dogs, in which the patella or kneecap does not remain in its normal position. At the end of the femur or thighbone, there are two ridges with a deep groove between them. The kneecap is a piece of unattached bone that rides in this groove. In dogs with a luxating patella, the ridges on the femur are not prominent and the groove is too shallow. These shallow grooves allow the patella to luxate, or jump out of the groove sideways. The kneecap generally luxates toward the inside, also known as the medial side of the knee.

Symptoms of luxating patella vary with severity. Some dogs will only luxate the patella occasionally, in others, it is out of place all the time. Owners are often unaware that their dog has a problem until their veterinarian finds it. For young dogs, there might be no symptoms, or at most, an occasional limp. With time, the abnormal movement of the kneecap will create excessive wear. As the joint becomes arthritic, we can see progressive pain, lameness and swelling of the joint.

Severe cases may require surgery to keep the kneecap in place. Minor cases do well without surgery, but may need treatment for arthritis later in life. Because this is an inherited trait, any animal diagnosed with a medially luxating patella should not be used for breeding.

Dog treat recalled.

2011-08-09T13:49:00.001-04:00

Texas-based Merrick Pet Care has recalled a single lot of Doggie Wishbone treats on concerns that the batch could be contaminated with salmonella. Please check out this link for more information.

http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/08/wishbone-pet-treats-recalled/

Crazy Animal Stories

2011-08-08T10:28:00.001-04:00

There have been lots of animals in the news lately. I have several stories to share. The first one is about a peacock. He decided to make a break for it and escaped from the Central Park Zoo. He spent the night perched on a fifth story window ledge on Fifth Ave. Zookeepers were only mildly concerned, stating that the bird's natural behavior would lead it to fly back home. That is exaclty what he did. At 6:45 the next morning he flew back to the zoo and was put back in his aviary.

A Memphis family got the surprise of their lives when a snake slithered out of the engine compartment and slid up to the windshield on the hood of their SUV while they were driving down the highway at 65 mph! Mom continued to drive while dad pulled out his camera phone and recorded a video of the encounter. Unfortunately they did not stop the car and eventually the snake fell off. There have been some questions on whether that was the right thing to do or not. What would you have done? You can see the video here: http://thestir.cafemom.com/in_the_news/123915/huge_snake_on_car_windshield

Lastly, a 170 pound green sea turtle named Andre was released back into the wild. He was rescued by the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, Florida over a year ago. When they found him he was close to death from injuries by a boat propeller. He was suffering from a collapsed lung, pneumonia and holes in his shell that exposed his spinal cord and allowed in several pounds of sand. After an extensive 14 month rehabilitation and several surgeries, Andre was finally ready to be released into the wild. Close to 1000 people were there to watch as Andre swam on to his new life.

Another Week Gone By

2011-08-05T09:46:00.001-04:00

We are starting to get the hang of our new "paper light" system. Things are starting to move a little faster every day as we use it more and more. Even on last Saturday (usualy our busiest day) things seemed to move rather smoothly.

Several pets came in for dentals this week. Dental health is so important! We applaud owners who get their pets a dental cleaning when it is recommended. We also saw quite a few puppies this week, including twin Yorkies, an English Bulldog, and a Boxer. Puppies always brighten our day!

We've had several pets board with us over the summer while their owners were away. They have certainly kept our kennel team busy! Now that school starts in a couple of weeks the amount of pets staying with us will slowly start to decline.

All of us here hope you have a great weekend!

Feline Acne

2011-08-03T11:31:00.001-04:00

In humans, acne is an inflammatory condition, usually involving the face, and is most common in adolescents. Feline acne is a little different in that it can occur in any age of cat, and that it has a specific location. It is always found on the underside of a cat's chin. Feline acne looks like pustules and/or scabby crusts, and sometimes you may notice an accumulation of black specks of sebaceous discharge that collects in the hair around the chin. This condition is not usually painful or itchy, and most cats don't seem to be bothered by it at all.

The most common cause of feline acne is poor hygiene. It takes a lot of effort for a cat to groom this area because it must first lick its paw, then use it to clean the chin. For some cats, this is just too much trouble. The chin has a lot of secretory glands and if the area is not cleaned regularly, the ducts to these glands become blocked and irritation and infection can set in. We also see feline acne associated with a contact allergy to plastic. When a cat eats and drinks fom a plastic bowl, their chin contacts the edge of the bowl. If the cat is allergic to plastic, it can make the chin break out.

Most cases of feline acne are mild and require no treatment. Most of the time the owner is more bothered by the problem than the cat! If your cat develops lesions on its chin, avoid using plastic bowls. Instead, try glass, ceramic, or stainless steel food and water bowls. In more severe cases, we might recommend that you clean the chin for your cat. If medications are necessary, topical benzoyl peroxide is safe and effective.

A Washing Machine Survival Story!

2011-08-01T09:53:00.001-04:00

An amazing little 8 week old kitten went through a 50 minute washing machine cycle and survived! The little kitten, called Princess, jumped into the machine when her owner's back was turned. Her owner assumed that she was in another room and was surprised to find her clinging to a pair of jeans when the cycle was through.

Princess was rushed to the emergency vet in Abderdeen in the UK. She was shivering, bruised, and had damage to her eyes from the laundry soap. She was treated with oxygen, IV fluids and diuretics to remove the fluid from her lungs. She was also put on a heating pad to help raise her body temperature back up as well as given medication for her eyes. Two days later Princess was eating and acting like a normal kitten.

Princess was very lucky. Most kittens would probably not survive like she did. It is extremely important to make sure to check your washer and dryer thoroughly before tunring them on. Cats love to hide in them because they are dark and sometimes warm. Also, when the washer and dryer are not in use, their doors should be kept closed to prevent any stowaways.

A Crazy Week But A Fun End!

2011-07-29T11:18:00.001-04:00

This week has been quite crazy for us since we have all started using our "paper-light" system. We appreciate everyone's cooperation and understanding as we are still learning how everything works. While we have run into some issues, we know that each week will get easier as we get more practice in.

On a lighter note, I wanted to share some information from an article I read recently. Each year Veterinary Pet Insurance puts out a list of the top 10 weirdest dog names, as well as the top 10 weirdest cat names. They choosen out of over 480,000 insured pets. In addition they also said that for the second year in a row Bella is the most popular name. (Perhaps because of the Twilight Phenomenon?) Here are the list of names for your enjoyment!

Dogs:

1. Almost-A-Dog (A Teacup Yorkie)
2. Franco Furter (A Dachshund of course!)
3. Stinkie McStinkerson (An Olde English Bulldog)
4. Sir Seamus McPoop (An English Bulldog)
5. Audrey Shepburn (A Lab/Shepherd Mix)
6. Dewey Decimell (A Miniature Schnauzer)
7. Knuckles Capone (An English Bulldog)
8. Beagle Lugosi (Obviously a Beagle!)
9. Shooter McLovin (An English Bulldog)
10. Uzi Duzi Du (An Akita)

Cats:

1. Ozzy Pawsbourne
2. Mr. Meowgi
3. Murderface (A Scottish Fold)
4. Fuglee (A Sphynx)
5. Scruffernutter
6. Corporal Cuddles
7. Cat Masterson
8. Spam
9. Tape W. Orm
10. Louisiana Purchase

Cushing's Disease

2011-07-27T10:23:00.001-04:00

Cushing's Disease is the common name for hyperadrenalcorticism, a condition in which there is too much cortisone in the body. Cortisone is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands and only small amounts are needed for the body to function normally. Cushing's Disease can affect both dogs and humans.

There are two forms of Cushing's Disease. The first is when the body spontaneously produces too much cortisone. This form of the disease is caused by a tumor. The second form of Cushing's Disease happens when the patient is given too much cortisone as a medication, especially when high doses of cortisone are prescribed continuously for months or years.

One of the symptoms of Cushing's Disease is extreme thirst. These dogs will drink massive amounts of water and produce large amounts of urine. With large amounts of urine being produced, these dogs may even have accidents in the house. Another symptom of Cushing's Disease is a "pot bellied" look. The excess cortisone weakens a dog's muscles, especially the abdominal muscles, which causes them to have that appreance. Dog's with Cushing's Disese may also have thin hair coats, be prone to skin infections, and have blackheads.

Cushing's Disease can be treated surgically or by medications. If the tumor can be located, it can sometimes be surgically removed. If surgery is not possible, however, there are medications that can control the disease and reduce the symptoms. While Cushing's Disease will shorten a dog's life, it can be controlled for months or even years with the dog enjoying a good quality of life.

Paperless!!!

2011-07-25T16:34:00.001-04:00

This week we are very excitred to announce that we are going paperless. Tuesday and Wednesday we will be training and transitioning into a earth friendly paperless mode. Do you think we are scared?? Absolutely, and thrilled a bit more. The options and opportunities with our computer system will hopefully make our lives easier and your pet's record more accurate and precise.

On Wednesday we will be closing at lunch time, from noon to 2 pm for training. Let us know if you need to make special arrangments.

Please have patience with us as we learn our way around this new technology. I'm hoping it will be all smiles and no tears. On Thursday, it won't be only our roof that will be green.

Corneal Ulcers

2011-07-22T13:15:00.001-04:00

Trauma is one of the most common eye problems both dogs and cats can have. These injuries usually involve the cornea, which is the thick, clear, outer membrane that covers the pupil and the iris. When the cornea is traumatized, a lesion called an ulcer forms. An eye injury can occur in a number of ways, including fighting, shampoo in the eyes, and even from scratching at an itchy face.

Ulcers may not always be visible to the naked eye. We use a special diagnostic test that involves putting stain in the eye. The stain will stick to the cornea if there is a defect and will glow under a blacklight. Ulcers are extremely painful and often pets will squint or hold their eye closed. The eye may look bloodshot and excess tears can be produced.

Any eye injury should be considered an emergency. If you notice your pet squinting or persistently rubbing at an eye, you should bring them to see us immediately. Corneal ulcers can become infected very quickly and the infection will jeopardize the healing process. If a corneal ulcer is diagnosed, eye medications containing antibiotics will be prescribed. It is extremely important to note that any eye medication containing a steroid or hydrocortisone can make an ulcer worse. This is why we recommend to bring your pet in for an eye problem before giving any medications.

If corneal ulcers are uncomplicated and treated quickly, recovery may only take a few days. If the cornea becomes infected or is very deep, surgery may be necessary. The sooner your bring your pet in to us the greater chance your pet will have for a speedy recovery.

Wash'n Zip Pet Beds

2011-07-18T09:20:00.001-04:00

We have discovered that some clients of ours have come up with an amazing idea! Stan and Jennifer Pelz were tired of pet beds that were either unwashable or only part washable. Their pet beds, inevitably, ended up dirty, smelly and soiled. They have come up with this brilliant product called the Wash'n Zip Pet Bed. It is a comfortable pet bed that unzips all the way to fit like a comforter in your washing machine. The bed is made from high quality material that can withstand many washings. They have been using the same pet bed for their own dog for over 2 years! Several employees here have purchased these beds from them and have been completely satisfied. We keep a sample here in the clinic if you want to come by and check it out. You can check out this amazing product at www.washnzippetbed.com

This Week At LVC...

2011-07-15T10:22:00.001-04:00

Today is Friday and that means it's week in review time! We had lots of wellness visits this week, including a cute little Boxer puppy for his vaccines. One of our most well known, diabetic old kitties has come in this week a couple of times for laser therapy. He has pretty bad arthritis in his back end and we are happy to report that his mobility has been much better since starting treatment! We also had several new clients and new patients this week. We are so glad to have them join our family here!

We had to say goodbye to our pet of the month this week. He was really special to all of us here. Our heart goes out to his family. It is a sad loss for us all.

This week each area of our team (kennel,, client care, and technicians) had a meeting. We all meet once a month to talk about updates and ways that we can improve our customer service for all of you. Now it's time for me to go help out! We have a booked schedule today! See ya next week!

Urinary Incontinence

2011-07-13T09:37:00.001-04:00

Incontinence is a lack of the self-control that allows us to hold our urine. It is, unfortunately, a common problem for older dogs. It is not the same as a dog who consciously empties its bladder at inappropriate times. An incontinent dog has no control and typically drips small amounts of urine constantly.

The causes of urinary incontinence can be different,depending on whether the dog is male or female. It is much more common in females because we see incontinence due to low estrogen levels that exist in older spayed dogs. Both male and female dogs become incontinent due to arthritis which can make holding the urine difficult or even affect their ability to sense the need to urinate. Occasionally, incontinence can acccompany bladder infections or bladder stones. This is why we will always check a urine sample first to make sure it is normal.

Incontinent dogs typically do not leave large puddles, but will leave small drops of urine all the time. Often, incontinence is more pronounced during sleep and owners will typically find wet bedding. Once again, incontinence is more common in older dogs and may be noticed along with other age related changes such as arthritis.

Urinary incontinence is treatable. For older, spayed females, supplementing estrogen in small doses will provide relief. In male dogs, medications designed to increase muscle tone in the bladder and urethra can help. Managing your pets arthritis with medications or food will often give them better control.

Although we see the problem most in spayed dogs, fear of incontinence is not an excuse for not spaying your dog! The problems we see in older non-spayed females are much worse and far less treatable than urinary incontinence.

Getting Organized

2011-07-11T09:45:00.001-04:00

Have you ever been late to work because you can't find your car keys? Have you had to call your cell phone repeatedly just so it will make noise so you can find it? According to the National Association of Professional Organizers, Americans spend 1 year of their lives looking for lost items!

Getting organized at home or at work is something a lot of people struggle with. Up until reading an article in a magazine I didn't even have a clue that a National Association of Professional Organizers existed. Their website has some really great tips for an organizational start: www.napo.net

Getting organized at home is a summer project of several employees here. What other summer projects do you have?

Untitled

2011-07-08T10:10:00.001-04:00

It's Friday already! This week flew by, especially since we had a holiday on Monday. First of all, as promised, I have an update on our cat who had surgery last week. They removed the floss and the cat recovered well. She went home a couple of days later and has been doing fine since.

This week, once again, we saw a lot of animals for their wellness visits. There were also several dogs that we saw this week for upset stomachs and vomiting. They must have eaen something that did not agree with them.Quite a few acupunctures were also done this week. There were even a couple that Dr. Anderson was able to do on the fly for patients with acute problems. It's amazing how much better it makes them feel!

We've had a great week this week and look foward to the exciting possibilities of next week!

Canine Breast Cancer

2011-07-06T19:23:00.001-04:00

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer seen in female dogs. Dogs have 10 mammary glands, 5 on each side, extending from the forward part of the chest all the way to the groin area. That creates a lot of tissue that can be affected.

The single greatest cause of breast cancer in dogs is their heat cycle. The hormonal fluctuations, especially the increase in estrogen, that occurs during a heat cycle creates changes in the mammary tissue. These changes can lead to the formation of abnormal cells and eventually cancer.

Spaying your dog greatly reduces the chances of developing breast cancer. In those females spayed prior to their first heat cycle, breast cancer is very rare. Those that are spayed after their first heat but before 2 years of age will have a somewhat decreased incidence of breat cancer, about less than 25%. Those spayed after 2 years of age have the same incidence of disease as those who were never spayed. Greater than 50% of nonspayed dogs will develop breast cancer.

Surgery is the most common form of treatment for breast cancer. Radiation and chemotherapy can also be used depending on the particular animal and the stage of the cancer. These treatments are expensive and can be stressful on your pet. The best approach is prevention and to spay your dog before six months of age in order to prevent the first heat cycle, and therefore prevent breast cancer.

Untitled

2011-07-01T10:10:00.001-04:00

This week the majority of our appointments were well visits. We love these visits because we get to see pets come in year after year and see how they change and mature. Also, yesterday we had a cat come in who had swallowed a piece of dental floss but could not pass it because it was stuck under her tongue. We cut the sring last night and gave her until today to pass it. She still was unable to and will be having surgery today to remove the dental floss from her intestines. We will keep you updated on her progress.

We'd like to say a special thank you to Cindy Kingston who brought all of us ice cream yesterday for our clinic meeting. We all had lots of fun and really enjoyed it!

Finally, for those of you who have called us recently, you may have noticed that we have gotten rid of our automated phone system. Now, whenever you call you will be able to directly speak with one of our Client Care Specialists who will be able to assist you with your needs!

World's Ugliest Dog

2011-06-27T09:05:00.001-04:00

The annual World's Ugliest Dog competition was held on Friday June 24 at the Sonoma Marin Fair in California. This years winner was a 14 year old Chihuahua/Chinese Crested Mix named Yoda. She beat out 29 other contestants to win the title. Yoda's owner is Terry Schumacher, of Hanford California. Her daughter found Yoda abandoned in a field behind an apartment building. Terry originally thought the dog was a rat and told her daughter to stay awat from it. They quickly discovered that the rat was a dog and adopted her. Yoda has been a part of their family for 14 years.

Yoda won a trophy to take home and a $1,000 check for her owner. In addition she will receive a photo shoot with Kira Stackhouse of Nuena Photography and a pampered overnight stay in the luxurious Loft Suite at the Sheraton Sonoma County. Yoda will also have the opportunity to go on talk shows and become known worldwide. Animal Planet has been a sponsor of the event and even broadcasted the event this weekend. The contestants that Yoda beat out can be found here: http://www.sonoma-marinfair.org/ugly-dog-gallery.

Puppies And Kittens Galore!

2011-06-24T10:14:00.001-04:00

This week was filled with puppies and kittens for us! We started off the week with a gorgeous Husky puppy for vaccines. We also saw an adorable Alaskan Klee Kai puppy for her third set of vaccines as well. On Tuesday we saw a cutie little Boston Terrier and today we get to see a Pitbull puppy for its first vaccines. On Wednesday we neutered a 6 month old Choclate Lab puppy. He has been boarding here with us and is recovering very well!

On Monday we saw a mama cat and her 3 kittens for a check up and a deworming. They are all little black and white tuxedo cats. The kittens were still too young to get their first vaccines but we will see them again in a couple of weeks. . We also saw a little 6 week old kitten named Cynder for her first vaccine. She had previously been fostered by an employee here and has been loving her new home. We can't believe how big she's gotten!

Getting to love on all these puppies and kittens is one of the best things about working here!

Ear Infections

2011-06-22T09:16:00.001-04:00

An ear infection is one of the most common medical reasons we see dogs here at Longwood Vet Clinic. Ear infections can occur in dogs of any age, gender or breed, but there are certain breeds like Cocker Spaniels, Golden Retrievers, and Labs who are more affected. For some dogs ear infections are chronic and recurring.

What causes the infection?

Certain allergies create inflammation in the ear that can predispose the dog to infection. Also, anatomy works against the dog since from the external opening, the canine ear canal is all downhill to the eardrum. Anything that gets into the ear canal in the way of moisture, dirt, wax, etc. cannot readily drain out. Instead, it accumulates in the ear canal and creates an environment conducive to infection. These infections for dogs are not contagious, since they are caused by organisms that already live in small numbers inside the ear canal. Given the right conditions, these yeast or bacteria can overgrow and create an infection.

How would I know if my dog has an ear infection?

Symptoms of ear infections include pain, head shaking, odor, and a discharge from the ear. The ears are very sensitive in dogs and when they become infected, they are very painful. Dogs with ear infections will often shake their heads or scratch at the ears. Owners may notice a foul odor and see discharge collecting around the outside of the ear.

If you suspect your dog has an ear infection, it is important to call and schedule an appointment. Once here, one of our veterinarians can look in the ear and collect samples to look at under the microscope. This will help determine what type of infection it is so the right medication can be prescribed. Some dogs are extremely prone to ear infections so if your dog gets one, watch closely for recurrence and call us right away if problems come back. Infections in dogs can change, so the same medication may not be used every time. The quicker you have the ears treated, the better your dog will feel.

Smitten With Kittens

2011-06-20T10:34:00.001-04:00

Who can resist a cute little kitten? Seminole County Animal Services is overflowing with cats and kittens so they are having their third annual Smitten With Kittens Adoption Event. The event will be taking place at Hollywood Houndz in Lake Mary from 10am - 3pm on Saturday, June 25th. Not only will there be adorable kittens up for adoption, but there will be snacks, drinks, training tips and even a prize drawing! The blood mobile from Florida's Blood Centers will be there taking blood donations as well. A special goody bag will be given away to each family who decides to take home a furry friend!

Hollywood Houndz is located at 4243 W. Lake Mary Blvd in the Target/Publix plaza

For more information you can email Diane at dgagliano@seminolecountyfl.gov or call 407-665-5208

If you or someone you know is looking for a new kitten to share their home with, spread the word!

Untitled

2011-06-17T10:49:00.001-04:00

It's been a good week for all of us here. We've had a couple of interesting cases this week including removing a large stone from the bladder of a cat and fixing an ear hematoma. Both of those surgery patients are doing very well!

Kristy, one of our technicians, is a huge Pit Bull advocate and has told us about the Humane Society's $5000 reward for any information on dogfighting. The link is here: http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/campaigns/cruelty_fighting/hsus_rewards_animal_fighting.html

From there you can print out posters to post up in your neighborhood to help out as well! We hope this will help save the lives of many dogs!

Pancreatitis

2011-06-15T09:44:00.001-04:00

What is pancreatitis?

The pancreas is a small organ located at the point where the stomach joins the small intestine. It has two main functions. One is to produce insulin, the other is to produce digestive enzymes. These enzymes allow the digestion and absorption of fats. Acute pancreatitis is a sudden onset of inflammation of the pancreas.

Who is at risk?

Any dog can get pancreatitis, but middle-aged dogs have an increased risk. Certain breeds, especially Schnauzers, are also more prone to pancreatitis.

What causes pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis is most commonly the fault of the owner, with high fat food being the usual culprit. Dogs fed high fat diets, especially table scraps have a high incidence of the disease. We also see problems when dogs get into the garbage or ingest foreign bodies.

What are the symptoms of pancreatitis?

Dogs with pancreatitis are extremely sick. Vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration are severe. Pancreatitis is treated with iv fluids, and antibiotics and requires hospitalization. It may take days or even weeks to completely recover and some dogs will die, even with aggressive treatment.

What should dog owners do to prevent pancreatitis?

Feed high quality food.
NO TABLE SCRAPS!
Monitor for vomiting / diarrhea.

Preventing pancreatitits is one of the many reasons to feed your pet a high quality dog food. Stay away from cheap and generic brands. Avoid all table scraps, especially high fat foods like beef and pork. It may be comforting to share your food with your pet, but you can really hurt or even kill your dog if he or she develops pancreatitis. Watch your pet closely for vomiting and diarrhea. At the first sign of illness, consult your veterinarian and follow their treatment recommendations.

Pets

2011-06-13T09:44:00.001-04:00

Most of our employees here have pets who are rescues. They have either come from a shelter or have been strays at some point. However, we do have employees that have a fondness for certain breeds. Luz Elena a technician loves Boston Terriers and has two of them at home. Kristy, another technician has a fondness for Pit Bulls. We also have some cat people as well. Lauren in the kennel has five cats and Jen R., our kennel manager, has three at home. Jen is also fostering a little kitten that she found in the bushes til he is old enough to go to a loving home. Kris, from client care, loves Orange Tabby cats and has several at home as well. What breeds do all of you have a fondness for?

Untitled

2011-06-10T15:11:00.001-04:00

Another week comes to a close. We had some interesting cases this week, including a silk terrier that lost a fight to his girlfriend and a Sharpei that ate his mom's earrings. Now we will leave you with some short news from animals around the country. Enjoy your weekend and try to keep it cool.

# San Francisco's Animal Control & Welfare Commission will consider a measure to ban cat, dog and other pet sales at commercial pet stores as a means of increasing shelter adoptions and reducing euthanasia rates. The proposed ordinance would limit the ways people could acquire pets to adoption events and organizations, shelters, rescue groups and buying directly from breeders.

# In romantic relationships, 90 percent of pet owners said they’d fight more passionately for their pets than they would money in a divorce. 60 percent of pet owners would be totally turned off and decline a second date if a date didn’t like pets. 30 percent would try to change the potential mate’s mind about pets before dumping him or her. 10 percent said they’d date the non-pet lover a second time.

In what are hopefully platonic relationships, 73 percent of pet owners surveyed said they’d choose their pet over a human if they could have only one best friend.

# The Environmental Protection Agency has announced plans to outlaw the sale of certain rat poisons to consumers, in an effort to cut the growing number of incidents of children and pets being accidentally exposed to the products. Products subject to the ban would include those containing brodifacoum and three other chemicals. Two affected companies said they intend to challenge the decision.

# Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., says he plans to introduce a bipartisan bill called the Horse Transportation Safety Act, which would ban the use of double-deck trailers in transporting horses across state lines. AVMA says horses being transported should have at least enough headroom to enable them to stand comfortably, a condition not accommodated by these trailers, Kirk notes.

# Mature dogs and cats that come already housebroken and have left their frenzied youths behind can be ideal for senior animal lovers looking for furry friends to care for, experts say. Additional benefits from adopting older animals include the fact that they've got a track record when it comes to behavior and personality traits and most animals have already been spayed or neutered.

# The Cleveland City Council has approved changes to portions of an existing ordinance that automatically classifies pit bulls as a "vicious" dog. With the changes, the emphasis in terms of classifying vicious animals will be predicated on evidence of such behavior, rather than by breed

# The Vernon, Conn.-based Bravo! pet food company has announced a voluntary recall of its 50-count bulk oven-roasted Pig Ears chews that were distributed on the East and West coasts from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28, over a concern that the products might be contaminated with salmonella. The move comes after a random sample of the products were found to have the bacteria.

Be Prepared

2011-06-08T10:15:00.001-04:00

Hurricane season is here again and it is important to make sure that you and your pet are prepared for an emergency. Preparing an evacuation kit is the first step to take. This should include paperwork regarding ownership of your pet, their most recent vaccination histories and microchip number. You can access your pets vaccines records easily through the pet portal on our website. A photo of you and your pet may be a good idea to have as well. Your kit should also include a collar or harness with a leash for each pet. These should be separate from your everyday leash and collar, so you don't have to hunt to find them at the last second. A collapsible cage or airline type carrier suitable for transport and housing should also be included. The carrier should be large enough to accomodate your pet plus room for food and water bowls, and a small litter pan for a cat. Some extra food, water and litter should be on hand as well. All carriers, collars, leashes, etc. should be clearly marked with your personal identification information and your pet's name.

It is also important to have an evacuation plan in place. The evacuation site should be outside your immediate area and ideally with friends or family. Many hotels are now pet friendly and there are several hotel chains who do not normally accomodate pets that, in an evacuation situation, will accept them for an extra fee. Other possible options may include veterinary hospitals, boarding kennels and shelters. Making sure your pet is microchipped is one last precaution you can take should you and your pet be separated. If your pet is not currently microchipped, we can do so at any time, no doctor appoint is neccessary. Call us to schedule a technician appointment.

Making an evacuation plan and preparing an evacuation kit can make all the difference in the event of a disaster.

Hobbies

2011-06-06T10:20:00.001-04:00

We work really hard here at Longwood Veterinary Clinic, but there are several team members who do some fun things in their spare time. Jen R., our kennel manager loves to run! She has accomplished two marathons already and is currently training for her first triathalon in September. Thanksgiving weekend she will also run in her third marathon. She gets up at 4:30 in the morning three times a week to run and train. We are always so proud of her when she reaches her goals!

Adriana, our head technician, loves scrapbooking and has been doing it on and off for about 14 years. She has completed about 10 books, including one for her parent's wedding and one for son's first year. Adriana has also made a couple of scrapooks as gifts for people. She is currently working on a book for her son's music and also one for her pets.

Kerry, one of our technicians, loves to go geocaching in her spare time. For those who don't know what geocaching is, it is a global treasure hunt where people use their gps to locate items that people have hidden. There is a website (www.geocaching.com) to sign up and create a "geoname", and where you can log your finds. Kerry is up to 454 finds and has cached all over the Central Florida area. She says that the best thing about the hobby is discovering local places that she never even knew existed.

Sam, one of our kennel techs, makes jewelery when she isn't working. One of Sam's previous jobs was at a bead store and she taught a class there on how to make jewelry. She makes 3-D woven hearts out of Swarovski crystals. We'd also like to salute Sam for being in the Army Reserves. One weekend a month and 2 full weeks out of the year she goes for training.

These are just a few examples of the many hobbies our team members have. All of us here are passionate about animals, but we are also happy to share our many other passions.

Week In Review

2011-06-03T10:00:00.001-04:00

It's been a great week here at Longwood Vet Clinic. We had more than our average boarders due to the holiday weekend, keeping the kennel technicians on their toes! If you have been in to see us recently, you may have noticed some new faces in all areas of the clinic. We have Elizabeth, a technician, Sam in the kennel, and Jeff, our new client care specialist. In addition, Liz will be starting on Monday as a kennel tech as well. We also have a new doctor who has rejoined our team. Dr. Bearden worked for Longwood Veterinary Clinic in the early 90's and we are very happy to have him back. We welcome them all and are glad to have them on our team!

We were all a little saddened this week when we lost a couple of beloved patients who have been dear to us throughout the years. Our hearts go out to those families in their time of loss.

Overall, it has been a great week and we hope you have had a great week as well. We can't wait to see what exciting things will happen next week!

Microchips work!

2011-06-01T10:31:00.001-04:00

A terrier mix named Teddy, was just recently found over 1000 miles from his home in Mississippi and has been returned to his owners, thanks to his microchip! Teddy is less than a year old and was microchipped by his owners as a puppy. We at Longwood Veterinary Clinic continue to urge people to microchip their pets and stories like this one are the reason why! Studies show that microchipped pets have a 74% successful return rate as compared to a 13% success rate when owners try to find missing pets on their own. Microchips have even helped speed along the reunion of pets with their owners after disasters like Hurricane Katrina.

A microchip is a small battery free device that is sealed in biocompatible glass and covered by a sheath to prevent the chip from migrating. It is implanted between the shoulder blades using a hypodermic needle and can be done at any time. When the microchip is activated from by a low power radio frequency signal from the scanner, it transmits a preprogrammed ID number. Since microchips have no power source, they never have to be replaced. It is important to make sure your pet is accurately registered, and your information is kept up to date. We never know what may happen and we want to make sure every pet will get the best chance it can!

Uniform Change

2011-03-23T11:40:00.001-04:00

You may not recognize us the next time you come in! We have completely changed our uniforms, including all new colors for technicians and kennel attendants. We love our new look! Let us know what you think!

Green!

2011-03-17T10:46:00.001-04:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! We hope everyone remembered to wear green or else beware of pinches!

Know Your Flea Facts!

2011-03-04T11:38:00.001-05:00

Florida's warm, humid enviornment makes it the perfect breeding ground for fleas. An understanding of the flea life cyce and choosing the best flea prevention will help keep your pet itch free.

Here are some improtant facts about fleas and their life cyce:

Fleas are insects and have 4 life stages
Of the total population of fleas in your enviornment, only 5% are the adults that you can see. 95% are in the other various stages of eggs, larvae (maggots), and pupae
Once a flea finds a host like your pet, it stays there willingly and does not jump from pet to pet
An adult flea must feed on blood to reproduce and can lay hundreds of eggs a day!
Flea eggs do not hatch until they have fallen off the pet into your enviornment
The greatest concentration of flea eggs, maggots and pupae will be where your pet spends most of their time (beds, furniture, etc)

Choosing a good flea control product is key in keeping your enviornment flea free. There are many different flea products out there but the best medicine for your pet would be to use a monthly flavored tablet called Sentinel for dogs. For cats we recommend a monthly topical called Revolution or a Program injection that lasts 6 months. Another pill called Capstar can be used as needed for both cats and dogs. Here is what you need to know about these products:

Sentinel

Sentinel is a monthly parasite prevention that not only protects agains fleas, but prevents heartworms, roundworms, hookworms and whipworms. Lufenuron is the product in Sentinel that breaks the life cycle of fleas. It inhibits the synthesis of chitin which is a protein in insects that makes up their exoskeleton. For a flea to hatch from it's egg it must develop an egg tooth in order to crack open the egg. The egg tooth is made of chitin, which Sentinel prevents from forming. If the flea cannot develop an egg tooth, that flea egg will never hatch. Because chitin does not exist in mammals, it doesn't affect them at all, making Sentinel completely safe for your pet. Sentinel is to be given once a month with a full meal. The Lufenuron needs fat in the stomach in order to absorb properly and be completely effective. Giving Sentinel with just a treat is not enough.

Program Injection

For cats, Lufenuron, the same drug that is in Sentinel for dogs, comes in an injectible form called Program. It works the exactly the same way in cats, the only difference being in the way it is given. One Program injection lasts for 6 months and then needs to be readministered.

Revolution

Revolution is a topical form of flea control for cats that also protects against intestinal parasites, heartworms, and ear mites. It kills adult fleas and prevents flea eggs from hatching in your enviornment as well. Revolution is given monthly and applied just like any other topical onto the skin at the back of your cat's neck. Revolution is especially recommended for outdoor cats.

Capstar

Capstar is an oral tablet that will kill any fleas on your pet for 24 hours. It can be used for both dogs and cats and starts killing fleas within 30 minutes. Capstar is an insect neurotoxin that paralyzes the mouth of the flea, leaving them unable to bite and eventually killing them. When a pet is allergic to fleas, it is the saliva of the flea that they react to. The Capstar paralyzes the flea before it can inject its saliva and make your pet itch. While Capstar is a neurotoxin to insects it is completely safe for your pet. The same molecule that enters their system is excreted unchanged in the urine 24 hours later, not affecting any internal organs at all. Capstar can be given up to once a day safely, but usually twice a week for 3 weeks is sufficient if you are seeing adult fleas.

In order to keep your household flea free, every pet in the house must be treated. If Sentinel is only given to a dog and a cat in the same house remains untreated by Program or Revolution, there is a break in your flea prevention and fleas will still be able to reproduce in your enviornment. A flea infestation is not something that will go away overnight. It can take up to 3-6 months to completely clear an infestation. Putting your pet on the best flea prevention is the first step in the right direction! We are always happy to answer any questions you may have.

Spay Day USA

2011-02-22T14:00:00.001-05:00

Feb 22nd. - Spay Day USA

Important reasons to

spay or neuter your pet

More than 4 million pets are euthanized in U.S. animal shelters each year simply

because they have no home. Many are puppies and kittens less than 6 months old.

Help stop this needless loss of life. Spay or neuter your pet.

Common myths

Spaying or neutering your pet does not:

• Cause laziness or hyperactivity • Postpone or delay normal behavioral maturity

• Reduce its instinct to protect your family and home • Alter its personality in any manner

• Cause immature behaviors

Our team members can answer your questions about spaying or neutering your pet or any other procedure

your pet may undergo at our hospital. Please don’t hesitate to ask.

Spaying your female pet

(ovariohysterectomy):

Removal of the ovaries and uterus.

Ideal age is 4 to 6 months.

• Eliminates the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer.

• Eliminates unwanted pregnancies.

• If spayed before the first heat cycle, your pet has a less

than 1 percent chance of developing breast cancer.

If spayed after one heat cycle, your pet has an

8 percent chance of developing breast cancer.

If spayed after two heat cycles, the risk increases to 26

percent.

• Pets with diabetes or epilepsy should be spayed

to prevent hormonal changes that may interfere

with medication.

Neutering your male pet

(castration):

Removal of the testicles and spermatic cord.

Ideal age is 4 to 6 months.

• Eliminates the risk of testicular cancer, the second most

common tumor in male dogs.

• Greatly reduces the risk of prostate cancer and prostatitis.

• Reduces the risk of perianal tumors.

• Reduces roaming and fighting.

• Eliminates or reduces spraying or marking in males neutered

before 6 months of age or before the onset of these behaviors.

• Eliminates the risk and spread of sexually

transmitted diseases.

• Eliminates unwanted litters.

President's Day!

2011-02-21T10:37:00.001-05:00

Every Monday lately seems to be a holiday. Happy President's Day everyone! For most people, all it really means is a day off from work. If you have the day off enjoy it! Feel free to stop by and visit us!

Valentine's

2011-02-14T09:23:00.001-05:00

We want to wish everyone a very happy Valentine's Day filled with lots of love and puppy kisses!

Training Meeting

2011-02-09T15:09:00.001-05:00

We hope everyone has been having a great week so far! This is just a little reminder that the clinic will be closed tomorrow (Thursday 2/10) from 12pm-2pm for team training. We are always striving to make our customer service even better!

Untitled

2011-01-19T10:54:00.001-05:00

Hi my name is Cocoa!
I am a 3 year old, spayed Siamese mix who is looking for my forever home. I am shy at first, but very sweet and snuggly once I get to know you and a quiet home would best suite me. I have a food allergy to tuna so I am on a special diet of Prescription Diet d/d.

If you can't see my picture here, please check Longwood Vet's Facebook.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

2011-01-17T10:07:00.001-05:00

Happy Holiday to everyone.

I bet all the kids are appreciating this rainy day to sleep in and be off.

All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

HIP DYSPLASIA

2011-01-12T13:25:00.001-05:00

Hip dysplasia is a genetically inherited problem of the hip joints. Dogs with hip dysplasia are born with hips that don’t fit together correctly.

Do puppies born with hip dysplasia walk abnormally from the very start?

Not outwardly. Even though the hips are abnormal from birth, usually symptoms don’t show up until the joints become arthritic, which, depending on the severity of the malformation, can be as early as six months of age but is often not until the animal reaches six or more years of age.

Is hip dysplasia treatable?

Early detection is the most important point. If the disease is identified before arthritis begins, then you have more treatment options. Therapies range from nutritional and exercise control to medications or even surgery.

Can hip dysplasia be prevented?

The incidence of hip dysplasia can be reduced through responsible breeding. Only dogs that have been x-rayed and shown to have good hips should be used for breeding. Unfortunately this is no guarantee of success. Even dogs with good hips might carry the gene for bad hips. But selective breeding is the best prevention tool we have.

So what do people need to know about hip dysplasia?

· Hip dysplasia is usually seen in larger breeds, but any breed can be affected.

· Early diagnosis is critical in order to have the most treatment options.

· Have your vet examine the hips of your new puppy right away, and if necessary take x-rays.

· If purchasing a purebred dog, buy only from a reputable breeder and ask to see certification

· that the parent’s hips are good.

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T12:36:00.001-05:00

2011 is coming full of promises and hope is in the air.

All of us at Longwood Vet Clinic wish you a wonderful New Year.

Don't forget to provide a safe place for your pet to hide if he/she is scared of fireworks; the smaller and more confining the better. Plastic airline type carriers work well and can even be covered with a blanket to make it more cave-like. Anxiety can be reduced if the pet has a safe place to go during the fireworks.

See you in 2011.

Separation Anxiety

2010-12-30T10:20:00.001-05:00

Separation Anxiety

Define what separation anxiety is for a dog?

Dogs are pack animals. They live in and spend their lives in groups. When you adopt a dog, you and your family become the dog’s pack. It is not instinctive for a dog to be alone for hours at a time. Many dogs become anxious and develop behavioral problems when separated from their “pack.”

Is separation anxiety common in dogs?

Separation anxiety is one of the most commonly recognized behavior problems in dogs today.

What are the symptoms of separation anxiety?

Dogs may bark excessively or become destructive during their owner’s absence. Some dogs will even cause themselves physical harm.

What role do owners play in causing this problem?

First, we must realize that people are a big part of the problem. We all have habitual routines we go through as we prepare to leave the house. You put on your shoes, you brush your hair, you get your jacket, you pick up your keys, you leave through the same door… Dogs learn to recognize these clues and become anxious just knowing you are leaving. Then, as we leave, we pet the dog, we talk to the dog, we comfort the dog then walk away. The dog is left with a strong feeling of wanting you and when you’re not there, they become frustrated and exhibit some negative behavior.

So how do you treat separation anxiety?

First, vary your routine. Try to mask some of your habits that tell the dog you are leaving.
Next, do not interact with the dog for 30 minutes before you leave. This only reinforces the dog’s anxiety.
Just before walking out the door, give your dog a chew toy that will keep him occupied and his mind off you.
And finally, in severe cases, medication can be used to aid in the training process.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-20T15:53:00.001-05:00

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/S8PnWGsHEbu22RFK

Merry Christmas from all of us at Longwood Vet. Please open the link above to view oour Christmas card!!!

Sunny's 2 cents

2010-12-17T13:16:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone. Sunny just asked me to share a link that she found while surfing the net. http://theoatmeal.com/comics/cat_know Take a look and see what kind of entitlement I have to put up from her.

Pets as a gift

2010-12-07T10:56:00.001-05:00

Are pets commonly given as gifts?

According to statistics from the Humane Society of the United States, 62% of American households now include a pet. Of those, 34% of dogs and 40% of cats were acquired from a relative or a friend with many of those being gifts. Now that were into the holiday season, many people might be considering giving a pet as a gift.

Is a pet a good idea as a gift?

That depends on the circumstances. A new puppy or kitten under the Christmas tree is a wonderful image and it is certainly acceptable for parents to give pets as gifts to their children. But extra caution should be used when giving a pet to someone other than a very close relative. It may seem like a great idea to you, but it may not seem so to the other person.

Please remember that a pet is not an inanimate object, which can be returned after the holidays. Owning a pet is a huge responsibility that requires a strong commitment for the next 15 or more years.

What are the important things to think about when considering a pet for the holidays?

First, plan ahead. This decision should not be made at the last second or under pressure. Give some thought about what type of pet best meets the life style of the owner. Allow time for research and time to look for the right pet.

You will also need time to get the new pet to the veterinarian before it is given as a gift. Make sure the animal is healthy before it goes to its new home.

If you are looking for a purebred animal, find a reputable breeder or a breed specific rescue group. I do not recommend purchasing any pet from a pet store. Better yet, check with your county’s Animal Services or Humane Society and find an animal that truly needs a home.

Finally, make sure the timing is right. The holidays are always very busy. Make sure you have the time to devote to the needs of your new pet. If not, make the smart choice and wait until after the holidays when life if a little calmer.

Happy Chanukah to all oour Jewish friends.

2010-12-01T15:50:00.001-05:00

Chanukah... The victory of light over Darkness.

A shining deed can brighten a seemingly dark world.

All of us at Longwood Vet Clinic whishes you a Happy Chanukah.

Cold weather in Florida

2010-11-30T10:24:00.001-05:00

How concerned should pet owners be about cold weather here in Florida?

There is some concern and the problem that I see is that because our really cold weather doesn’t happen very often, people don’t put a lot of thought into what lower temperatures mean to our pets. Its interesting that people will go to such effort to cover their plants on a cold night and then leave their dog or cat outside all night with no shelter or heat.

Aren’t animals more tolerant to cold than we are?

Considering that our pets are wearing their fur coats all the time, animals are somewhat more tolerant of the cold than we are. Be the real issue is acclimation. If you spend much time in any environment, your body acclimates or become used to that range of temperatures. Our pets are the same way. Their bodies become more adjusted to the hot weather and less so to the cold. When truly cold temperatures happen, their bodies are no more ready for it than we are.

So, animals in different parts of the country would have different tolerances?

Sure. A dog from Minnesota or a cat from New York would be better prepared for our winter than Florida pets. While we don’t get seriously cold weather here very often, when we do it can be a big problem for our pets.

What are the guidelines for dealing with cold weather?

A little common sense here goes a long way. If it’s too cold for you to be outside, your pet should not be either. More specifically, prolonged exposure to any temperatures less than 50 degrees will be uncomfortable for our pets. In temperatures less than 45 degrees, outdoor pets should be provided with an insulated shelter and in temperatures less than 40 degrees, they should be indoors with some sort of heat source provided.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

2010-11-24T15:20:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!! All of us at Longwood Vet Clinic wishes you a wonderful day, filled with family, fun and good food. And don't forget, pets should not have left overs, turkey bones or turkey skin.

Sentinel great offer - limited time.

2010-11-11T23:11:00.001-05:00

We at Longwood Veterinary Clinic want to make sure that both you and your pet are protected from parasites. Right now we are offering a great deal on our 12 packs of Sentinel. For a limited time only, we are giving out $20.00 mail in rebates along with a free 6 pack of Capstar with each purchase. In addition, your name will be entered in a monthly drawing to receive a $100.00 credit on your account here at the clinic. We’ve taken this deal and made it even better! If you purchase a Sentinel 12 pack when your dog comes in for his yearly vaccines, we will take an additional $15.00 off at the register that day! Supplies are limited, so schedule your appointment today!

Cats traveling

2010-11-09T11:45:00.001-05:00

Do you have a cat who is a nervous traveler? Could sedation be the answer? Dr. Rick is hear to discuss tranquilizing your cat while you travel…

Do many people travel with their pets?

Since we are a very mobile society and many of us have pets, our animals tend to be well traveled too. Obvious reasons for travel would include moving or even short trips like taking your cat to the veterinarian, but many people take their animals along for pleasure trips and vacations as well.

Do you recommend sedating cats for travel?

This is one of the more common requests from people who plan to travel with their cat and understandably so. Cats are much less common travelers than dogs. Hardly anyone takes their cat along to run errands or to the park. Consequently, when cats get in the car, it is usually to come to the veterinarian, which is not often a pleasurable memory. When people plan on taking their cat for longer distance drives or on an airplane, they often request sedation as a way of making the trip easier.

Unfortunately, sedation is not always the answer. Tranquilizers have variable effects on cats and we cannot predict which cats will do well and which ones won’t. For a few cats, sedation makes the trip much less stressful. But for many cats, sedation makes the experience worse. Cats do not understand the feeling of sedation and many will fight its effects. Often sedation takes a nervous cat and turns it into a drunk, nervous cat.

So, what do you recommend for cats that travel?

The first step is to discuss this question with your veterinarian. Based upon your cat’s medical history your veterinarian can make the necessary decisions regarding your cat and medications.

I like to have people perform a medication trial before they travel. By giving the tranquilizer at home when you can observe your cat, we can see if the cat does well before you are out on the highway. If she is relaxed and happy, sedating for travel can help. But if your cat fights the sedation by vocalizing, pacing nervously, and becoming more anxious, you should not sedate the cat during travel.

If your veterinarian does prescribe medication, use it only as directed and never use medication prescribed for a human or another cat.

Often the best way to travel is simply to put the cat in an enclosed carrier. The confinement will offer a feeling of security that is usually sufficient to allow a comfortable trip.

Human allergies to cats

2010-11-02T15:05:00.001-04:00

How commonly are people allergic to cats?

Allergies to pets occur in roughly 15% of the human population, with cats more often causing allergic reactions than dogs. Allergies are a common reason given when cats are surrendered to animal control facilities.

How would someone know if they were allergic to their cat?

The symptoms would be similar to other types of allergies and can range from itchy eyes to sneezing to more serious breathing problems. Allergies to cats can develop at any time in your life, even if you have had a lot of previous exposure to cats without problems.

It is interesting to note that the allergy may depend as much on the particular cat as it does the person. Many people are allergic to some cats but not to others. We don’t know for sure why this is, but we do know that the allergic reaction is triggered by proteins in cat saliva that are transferred to fur and skin dander of the cat. Those same proteins exist in cat urine. Some people will have symptoms while cleaning the litter box.

What can we do to minimize allergies to cats?

By bathing your cat frequently, much of the salivary protein on the hair and skin is washed away, making the cat less allergenic. You may have to experiment with how frequently the cat should be bathed, but it should be no more often than once a week.

Use some care in handling your cat. Keep them away from places where you spend a lot of time, like your bedroom, and don’t pet the cat and then rub your eyes or touch your nose.

It has been shown that cats are less allergenic in households with leather or vinyl furniture and tile or wood floors. The theory is that skin dander clings more to fabrics and carpet.

And finally, minor symptoms like sneezing or itchy eyes can be controlled with simple medications like antihistamines. Unfortunately, if the allergy is severe, it may be necessary to find a new home for the cat. Talk to your physician if you suspect you are allergic to your cat.

Do dogs dream like people?

2010-10-22T12:49:00.001-04:00

For anyone who has watched their dog sleep, the obvious answer is yes. But the scientific answer is, “we don’t know.” We know that dogs experience REM, or rapid eye movement, sleep. REM sleep has been associated with dreaming, but we know that, at least in people, rapid eye movement during sleep is not always indicative of dreaming.

Our best guess is that dogs do dream, but there is no way to prove it since we cannot ask them.

How would we recognize REM sleep in a dog?

Watch the eyes of a sleeping dog and you will note that periodically, the eyes move back and forth in a quick rhythmic motion. This is recognized as Rapid Eye Movement, or REM, sleep. Many dogs will also move their whiskers and lips, and make licking and chewing motions when they sleep. They may paddle their feet, almost like they are running. Some dogs will vocalize, making little yips or howls.

Are owners sometimes concerned about this behavior?

Some people have seen this behavior when their dog was sleeping and worry that it was a form of a seizure. So how can you tell if what your dog is doing is normal?

If a dog is sleeping normally, he will be easily awakened by calling his name or by jostling his body. If a dog was having a seizure, you would not be able to stop a dog from seizing using those same methods.

But a word of caution: be careful when waking any dog from a deep sleep. When disturbed from a sound sleep, many dogs will instinctually try to bite before they are even awake.

Declawing

2010-10-18T09:16:00.001-04:00

What is declawing?

The term “declaw” is used to describe the surgical removal the cat’s toe nail and is usually done to prevent destructive behavior such a clawing the furniture or carpets.

There is a lot of controversy regarding declawing, with many people believing that the procedure is inhumane.

With the right surgical technique and the proper use of anesthetics and pain medications, declawing can be done safely, with minimal discomfort, and without long-term side effects.

However, the procedure should be limited to indoor-only cats and should be done as a last resort when other training techniques have failed. I would rather see a cat be declawed and allowed to remain safely indoors, than to keep their claws and be put outdoors where they are exposed to more disease and injury.

So what should cat owners know before considering declawing their cat?

The smaller the cat, the more quickly their recovery from surgery. While cats of any age can be declawed, the younger cats do better, so it is best to decide about declawing while your cat is a kitten.

Declawing should be considered only after other training efforts have failed. Cats are more trainable than you realize and most cats can be taught to use their claws in an acceptable way.

Declawed cats should remain as indoor pets.

Discuss the surgery and the technique with your veterinarian. Some techniques are better than others. And ask about the anesthesia used for the surgery and about pain control after the surgery.

LVC sign construction begins!

2010-10-15T14:38:00.001-04:00

Have you been at LVC lately?? If you have, I bet you had a hard time finding our entrance. All of our "points of reference" have been taken out. Checkers is gone, Taco Bell is now gone and even our sign had to be removed in preparation for the widening of 434. So we are very excited to start the building of our new sign tomorrow. Hopefully it will be ready by Monday. Stop by to see us next week and tell us what you think.

Blue Buffalo Recall

2010-10-12T14:56:00.001-04:00

The Blue Buffalo Pet Food Company has released a statement today announcing a voluntary recall of few of their dry dog food products. They claim that those products have an abnormal level of Vitamin D which was the result of scheduling errors from ingredient supplier. For more information, you can reach Blue Buffalo at Consumer Inquiries: 1-800-919-2833

As always, our recommendation is Science Diet and Prescription Diet Products. All of our doctors have been to their factory and personally inspected their facilities. We trust their quality and the nutrition value of their products. If you are feeding anything else and would like to consult with one of our Nutritional Advocates, give us a call at (407) 834-2526.

Untitled

2010-10-07T14:38:00.001-04:00

In celebration of "Talk about prescriptions Month" we are leaving here as a blog the alert that we recently sent to our clients regarding prescriptions and some changes of policies we made in order to keep your pets and family safe.

At Longwood Veterinary Clinic, the health, happiness, and well being of your pet are our greatest concerns.

The proliferation of, and recent problems involving, on-line pharmacies have necessitated changes in our approach to providing prescriptions for the purchase of medications from non-veterinary sources.

These changes include:

· We do not endorse any on-line pharmacy and recommend against purchasing medications from these sources.

· If you choose to purchase medications from non-veterinary sources, we ask that you sign a release acknowledging our recommendations.

· We will not respond directly to on-line pharmacies via telephone, fax, or internet. Instead, we will provide you with a written prescription for the requested medication and you can forward the prescription to the pharmacy of your choice.

In our continuing obligation to inform and educate our clients, we are providing the link below for your reference.

http://www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/resourcesforyou/AnimalHealthLiteracy/ucm203000.htm

Pocket Riders

2010-10-04T14:24:00.001-04:00

Today we are celebrating "Blessing of the Animals Day".

You may have asked yourself "How to make a monday better?". As I walked into the clinic today, the first thing I see are 3 little kittens, begging to be picked up. So hard to resist. I will take this as a sign that will be a great week.

I hope this 3 little girls are blessed with a safe and loving home. If you'd like to meet the kittens and consider them for adoption, please call us and ask for Jessica. (If you can see the picture here, please visit http://www.facebook.com/longwoodvetclinic photos. They are under Pocket Riders)

October...Already!

2010-10-01T11:58:00.001-04:00

Much to my disbelief, October is already here. What an exciting month. And I'm not talking just about Halloween and candies. Here are few recognized celebrations for the month of October:

Adopt a shelter dog Month
Eat better, eat together Month
National Animal safety and protection Month
National Dental hygiene Month
National Organize your medical information Month
Photographer appreciation Month
Talk about prescription Month

Throughout the month we will send you tips and ideas related to the celebrations of October, including Halloween Safety tips for your pet.

We wish you and your family a happy October.

World Rabies Day

2010-09-28T11:42:00.001-04:00

September 28th is World Rabies Day. This day was created to raise awareness aboout the impact of human and animal rabies and how to prevent it. Join us in Celebration of this day and keep your pet vaccinated.

If you'd like to read more, check this site http://www.worldrabiesday.org/ for a world wide alliance effort.

Love (bug) is in the air!!

2010-09-27T11:49:00.001-04:00

I'm amazed by the shower of love-bugs and the amount of them in the radiator grill of my car. Apparently the only ones liking this widespread are my cats. They can be occupied for hours watching them.

Did you know that there is an Urban myth that says Love-bugs were a synthetic genetic experiment of UCF gone wrong?? Check out the facts for this cute but annoying bugs at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovebug