Talkin’ ‘Bout Teeth February 3, 2011

Smile, Mishu! Mwahaha!

We’re all very excited here at RVAH, as it’s time for Dental Month! Much like humans, dogs and cats need regular dental check-ups to ensure their health and happiness. Periodontal disease is one of the most common diseases affecting pets – common signs are bad breath, yellow or brown tartar near the gum line, red and swollen gums, pain or bleeding when eating, and decreased appetite or difficulty eating. Periodontal disease can negatively affect your pets’ heart, kidneys, and liver.
Good and proper oral hygeine can add years to your pets life.
There are a number of preventative measures to protect your furballs’ pearly whites:

-Brushing the teeth with a pet-specific toothpaste once a day – human toothpastes can hurt our stomachs. If you can’t brush, even just getting the enzymes of the toothpaste on the teeth can be beneficial. You can use a finger toothbrush or piece of guaze. Focus on the outer surface of the teeth where the tooth and the gum meet.
-There are various food and water additives that can reduce the build up of plaque which can lead to the build up of tartar, such as Clenz-a-dent. This works by preventing the build up of bio-film (which leads to plaque build up) on the teeth when used daily.
-Oral cleansing gels can be used once daily also to prevent build-up of plaque.
-C.E.T. chews for dogs and cats contain chlorhexidine for prevention of plaque. Give your pet one chew daily.
-Regular check-ups at RVAH to monitor your furry friend’s dental health can help preserve your pet’s teeth as they age and prevent periodontal bacteria from causing infection.

For Dental Month, we are offering free dental exams for all patients as well as 10% off all dental procedures through the end of February! Appointments fill up fast so be sure to call to book. Keep your pets happy and smiling!

Tis The Season! October 6, 2010

Boooo!

Spooky, huh? As autumn gets into full swing, we at Roscoe Village Animal Hospital are gearing up for Halloween. It’s coming up so fast and I’m still not sure of my costume. This Dracula cape is nice but… I think I should be a lion this year, seeing as I am queen of the hospital.

This is a very exciting time of year for us and we have a big weekend of festivities coming up. Clear your calendars for October 16th & 17th! On October 16th we will be sponsoring the Howl O’ Ween Fundraiser & Adoption Event for Chicago Canine Rescue Foundation. Hosted by the wonderful people at Moonshine on 1824 W Division from 12pm to 4pm, this event is sure to be a blast. CCRF will have dogs available for adoption, the Dog Obedience Group (D.O.G.) will answer training questions and provide tips for working with your pooch, and we at RVAH will provide veterinary information and education! There will be free pumpkin carving, a pet costume contest at 2pm ($5 per entry), and professional pet photography. Entry is $10. Also, Moonshine will provide special $30 drink packages for all the beer, wine, and call drinks you want! Proceeds go toward CCRF so come help save some doggies!

Then on Sunday, October 17th, we’re throwing our Fifth Annual Halloween Bash right here in the hospital! There will be fun and games, treats and prizes for all ages! Tour our hospital and meet the staff. Be sure to bring your little critters (pets and kids)! There will be a Best Pet Costume Contest at 3pm, a silent auction, and on-site pet photography for $20. All proceeds will benefit the New Leash On Life Animal Rescue. The celebration runs 12pm-4pm so don’t miss it!

Join the party and support local animals in need! And don’t forget to wear your costumes. I’ll have mine!

Oldies But Goodies September 3, 2010

Ah, Mishu, that crusty old man with whom I begrudgingly share my food supply…He just doesn’t know how good he has it here at RVAH. Spends all day lying behind the computer, complimentary pedicures, has a personal water fountain… Our veterinary team ensures that as he climbs in years, he continues to age “gracefully.” Or something to that effect.

Rivalries aside, all senior (over the age of seven) cats and dogs should be getting regular check-ups every six months. Our life spans are a little more accelerated than those of humans, so visiting the vet once a year is similar to a human only going to the doctor every seven years!

We know these visits can add up, so in honor of senior pets and their wonderful people, September is our special Senior Wellness Month! Our two beefy specials provide your pet with preventative care, establish baseline diagnostics for future visits, offer early detection of developing issues or disease, and enhance your aging pet’s quality of life!

Our basic Senior Wellness exam is 10% off this month and includes a comprehensive physical exam, bloodwork for total body function, urine analysis for kidney and bladder function as well as diabetes screening/monitoring, and fecal analysis to check for parasites and other abnormalities.

A more thorough evaluation is available this month at 20% off as well! This Senior Wellness package would include all of the above services, plus a series of x-rays to scan for any abnormalities, a blood pressure evaluation, an additional urine test to check for signs of early kidney disease, a tonometry for dogs to assess for eye diseases, and a complimentary nail trim for all. For this package, you would drop your pet off for several hours and a doctor or technician would meet with you at pick-up to discuss our findings. In addition, we will send you home with a personal photo ID of your pet and a folder containing information on all of the services we provided. Not bad for a day’s work!

In your pet’s golden years, it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between illness and the effects of aging. Our Senior Wellness exams will clear the confusion and educate you how to keep your elder friends happy and healthy through all stages of life. Mishu is thankful for it and I’m sure your furry companions will be too!

June Blooms June 23, 2010

Hello all! I know you all must be thrilled by my return! I apologize for my absence. The humans have been busily humiliating me with their plastic cone collar. So what if I don’t stop picking at the sores on my leg? They’re mine! Hmph.

At least it brought out my dazzling eyes.

My leg is doing a lot better though, thanks for your concern. I know you were worried! That being said, June has been flying by. So much going on this month! First of all, June is Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month! We luxurious and exciting creatures need people to love us and feed us and give us a good home. In return, we’ll be the most loyal companions you could ask for! Be sure to visit your local shelter or rescue and consider taking home the purr-fect friend! And don’t forget we’re here to help ensure your furry pals’ health and happiness!

Also, Friday, June 25^th is Take Your Dog to Work Day! Can you convince your boss to let your endearing pooch help out around the workplace? Tell us your stories! You can help bring awareness to the delights of canine companionship and encourage others to adopt!

Hope you’re all keeping cool during this bright Chicago summer! And if anyone could teach Mishu to share, that would be awesome.

For more information:

http://www.aspca.org/adoption/adopt-a-shelter-cat-month/

http://www.takeyourdog.com/

Bags are Neat-o! May 19, 2010

Ohmygosh, I found the coooolest bag today! One of the humans plopped it on the counter and it was like…. Big enough for me to crawl in and was just chalk full of tissues and keys and knick-knacks to shuffle around and it was dark and cozy. And get this: Nobody could find me in it! They were all like “Where’s Honey?” and I just sat still snickering to myself. My stealth powers are unsurpassed. I hope we can find it in the budget this year to get my own purse.

Online Pharmacies April 26, 2010

Life is tough. I do so much to keep the hospital in line and still I only get fed twice a day. Dogs shove their snouts in my face. I can count how many days I haven’t been kicked out of my chair on one paw. Some people just don’t realize what I go through!

But I know you all understand. You try to give the best care to your furry friends but sometimes it’s hard between bills adding up and the time constraints of daily life. As such, more and more people have been turning to online pet pharmacies for their pets’ needs. However, many of these businesses don’t make visitors aware of the risks of using their products.

The most frequent requests we get from online pharmacies are for monthly heartworm and flea & tick preventatives. The prescription-strength products we most highly recommend for prevention are Heartgard Plus and Frontline Plus. These are generally only available through a veterinary office, as your veterinarian wants to ensure your pet does not have allergies, health conditions, or breed-specific sensitivities to these medications. The manufacturer of these products, Merial, has vowed never to distribute them outside of proper veterinary clinics and hospitals. How then do online pharmacies get a hold of them?

One method is that they could be acquired through other countries where veterinary medications are not regulated like they are here. This means the methods of storage cannot be verified; the preventatives could be stored in extreme temperatures or for unverified periods of time that hinder their effectiveness. Merial normally guarantees their products. For instance, on the off chance that a pet using Heartgard actually contracts heartworm, they will pay for the treatment. However, since they cannot confirm that online pharmacies are following proper safety protocol, they will not guarantee products sold by online pharmacies. Our Dr. Rovner has unfortunately had a case where a dog contracted heartworm while taking preventatives from an online pharmacy.

Many online pharmacies acquire other pet medications in the same way. Since the medications are diverted, their effectiveness cannot be guaranteed. We at Roscoe Village Animal Hospital find this too big of a risk and do not recommend using online pet pharmacies.

We keep an extensive pharmacy at our hospital and are able to order most any medication for your furry friend. Currently we are offering some promotions on your monthly preventatives. For Heartgard Plus, there is a $6.00 rebate on 6 doses or $12 rebate on 12 doses. For Frontline Plus, we are offering 1 free dose with a purchase of three doses or 2 free doses with a purchase of six. We are also willing to ship to your home free of charge! Our staff just wants to ensure that the medications you give your pet are safe and of the highest quality. Be sure you are making the best decision for your pet. And don’t forget to give your hard-working quadruped an extra treat or two!

Meow If You Love Sunshine! April 2, 2010

Mishu smiles upon you all on this warm and bright Friday!

Household Plants March 26, 2010

Ah, the songs of nesting birds… The sweet smells of foliage in bloom… The roar of construction down the street… Spring is here!

 In light of the budding springtime, I think we should take note of the plants we bring into our homes. While flowers and ferns can be refreshing additions, your cats and dogs may try to sink their teeth into them. There are many plants that can be poisonous and hazardous to your companion’s health, as I mentioned previously. Here are some common ones:

 -Lillies (any of the lilium species) including Easter lily, peace lily, etc.

-Tulips

-Ferns

-Elephant Ears

-Daffodils

-Aloe

-Bird of Paradise

-Wisteria

-Iris

-Hydrangea

-Honeysuckle

-Azalea

For a full list, see: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/

You may be asking what IS safe for your pet to nibble on! Your safest best is wheatgrass. This makes a tasty treat for cats and dogs and is easy to find. There are lists of other non-toxic plants on the ASPCA website above.

If your pet consumes any toxic plants, please give us a call. We’re here to help!

Have a happy and safe springtime! Here’s hoping the construction machines stop blocking my window view.

It’s too early for that. March 20, 2010

Mishu just bopped me on the face! The nerve! That cranky old man just doesn’t realize the privilege of my company. Plus if he was just going to leave his treats sitting on the counter, why shouldn’t I eat them? You snooze, you lose!

National Poison Prevention Week March 3, 2010

Has your furry resident ever eaten something they should not have? I tried chowing down on a potted cactus the other day and, let me tell you, it was not worth it.

Unfortunately, there are plenty of things out there that can harm your animal companions. The gang at Roscoe Village Animal Hospital is gearing up for National Poison Prevention Week this March 14-20, 2010 and I’m jumping right on the bandwagon. Eating is my second favorite activity (next to sleeping) and I explore a large part of the world through taste. And since the world tastes so wonderful, I don’t stop to think if what I munch on is poisonous.

But that’s where you come in! Be aware of what is toxic to your pet and make sure to contact our hospital immediately if your pet may have ingested anything questionable. Here’s a couple things to be mindful of:

-Educate yourself about your household plants and whether they are poisonous to your animals or not. We like to nibble these.
-Make sure your human medications are clearly labeled and stored appropriately with child-proof caps. Never give your pet a human medication or supplement without consulting your vet. Never give your pet acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Also, be sure to keep human and animal meds separate; mix-ups have resulted in many hospital visits!
-Keep in mind that cat medications should never be given to dogs and dog medications never given to cats, including your monthly heartworm & flea/tick preventatives. Call us with any questions.
-Household cleaning products have extremely dangerous chemicals, so store them in a locked cabinet away from prying paws. Keep your pet out of the room while spraying or using these.
-Keep garbage in covered cans. Moldy or rotting food, batteries, silica gel packets, tobacco products, potpourris, and a slew of other things can hurt your pets!
-Unfortunately, rat poison is common in our city alleys. Always supervise your pet outdoors and call us immediately if your pet comes in contact with this!
-Some seemingly innocent foods can have dire consequences for your pet. Do not feed your pets chocolate, coffee, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, macadamia nuts, and candies or other foods sweetened with xylitol.
-Beware when using pesticides and herbicides on your lawn or elsewhere, as exposing your pet to these can be dangerous. Remember, we like to nibble!

Also take note of the Pet Poison Helpline (1-800-213-6680) and keep it along with your other emergency numbers. These kind people are available 24/7 if anything happens. They do require a credit card number for consultation.

For further information: www.petpoisonhelpline.com
www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/

Stay safe, friends!
-Honey