NEWSLETTER

Hello from Under the Desk!

I hope your A/C is working smoothly in this heat and humidity! It is pretty warm out there and it can be easy for pets to overheat. As a reminder, pets should not be left in cars even with the windows down. In a very short amount of time, it can become oven-hot in the car. We know it is fun to take pets with us when we go places but for their safety, leave them inside at home inside during these hot summer days. Even on a relatively mild 85-degree day, it takes only 10 minutes for the interior of a car to reach 102 degrees-and within 30 minutes, the inside of the car can be a staggering 120 degrees. Leaving windows open a few inches does not help. Furthermore, when it comes to the body's ability to cool itself, canine physiology is vastly different from ours. While humans have sweat glands all over our bodies that help regulate our body heat, dogs cool down mostly by panting, which is much less efficient than sweating. In only a short amount of time, a dog with a high body temperature can suffer critical damage to his nervous system, heart, liver and brain.

What happens when we take your dog into the back of the hospital? Usually we take pets out of the room to get blood and fecal samples, trim nails, empty anal glands, and get better magnification to look at a lesion. We have a table set up with all the equipment ready to use and plenty of room for even the biggest and most active pets. Many of these tasks can be done in rooms (though anal gland odor is pretty pungent) it is often quicker to do it on a dedicated table. If we have to take your pet to the back treatment area, don't worry. Your pet is still being treated respectfully as if you were right there.

This summer we have 2 blood work specials for you! We have a Junior Package for dogs and cats less than 7 years old which includes a complete blood count (CBC) for infection or anemia, blood chemistry which includes liver and kidney function, Heartworm test, and a fecal sample for $66. The Senior Package for dogs older than 7, includes the CBC, chemistry, Heartworm test and adds a thyroid level and urinalysis for $105.

South Florida Siberian Husky Rescue's Second Annual Celebrity Bowling Fundraiser is coming! On Sat August 7th from 6 to 8 PM, join Mrs. Florida and Juan-Carlos Fanjul from CBS News there. Reserve your tickets at http://www.meetup.com/sibrescue/calendar/13810673/

ASPCA News Release

The nation's first criminal dog-fighting DNA database has been established by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), The Humane Society of Missouri (HSMO) and the Louisiana SPCA (LA/SPCA), and will be maintained at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) Veterinary Genetics Laboratory. Known as the Canine CODIS (Combined DNA Index System), the database is designed to help the criminal justice system investigate and prosecute dog fighting cases and address the growing problem of dog fighting using 21st century technology.

The database is similar to the FBI's human CODIS, a computerized archive that stores DNA profiles from criminal offenders and crime scenes and is used in criminal and missing person investigations. DNA analysis and matching through the database will help law enforcement agencies to identify relationships between dogs, enabling investigators to establish connections between breeders, trainers, and dog-fight operators. Blood collected from dog fighting sites will also be searched against the Canine CODIS database to identify the source.

In Florida, it is illegal to have dogs unrestrained in the back of trucks. It is very easy for a pet to fall over the side during a sharp turn or to leap out after a squirrel or a dog. To protect dogs, they need to be restrained in a kennel or in the car. There are many dog seatbelt options out there. Some even include booster seats so smaller dogs can still look out the windows.

Dr. Kadish and Dr. Love are certified to use Stem Cell Therapy for your pets. It is being used to treat arthritis, kidney diseases, tendonitis, torn ligaments, and even spinal injury. The cells are harvested from your pet's fat pad under a mild anesthesia, processed, and then injected into the necessary area 2 days later. Responses have been good. Please call to schedule an appointment to learn more.

In anticipation of World Rabies Day on Sept 28th, I included the following from their organization:
["Rabies is primarily a disease of children, who are particularly at risk from this terrible disease, due to their close contact with dogs, the major global source", said Dr. Debbie Briggs, Executive Director of the Alliance for Rabies Control. "Children are more likely to suffer multiple bites and scratches to the face and head, both of which carry a higher risk of contracting rabies. Children are often unaware of the danger that dogs transmit rabies and may not tell their parents when a bite, lick, or scratch has occurred from an infected animal", says Briggs.

Rabies is a viral disease that can be transmitted to animals and humans. The disease is transmitted mainly by bite, but exposure may also occur through contamination of broken skin or mucous membranes with saliva from an infected animal. Once neurological symptoms of the disease develop, rabies is fatal to both animals and humans. The good news is that rabies is easily preventable. "Vaccination prior to possible exposure is a crucial part of health management of domestic animals, and is the single most important factor in rabies prevention", said Peter Costa, Global Communications Coordinator for the Alliance for Rabies Control.]

Even indoor pets need rabies vaccines since bats can get in and even the most timid pet can escape during a storm. There have even been cases where rabid wild animals came in through pet doors and attacked people and pets in their own homes.

Until next time!

Inigo Montoya