July  2008

Water Safety Tips

It's time for slipping on sandals and straw hats and heading to the beach with your dog.  Here are some tips to be sure to have fun in the sun without any mishaps. 

Some dog breeds are made for swimming and even have webbed feet, but not all dogs take to the water naturally.  Dogs with certain conditions, such as obesity and heart disease, may not be able to handle the physical demands of swimming.  For dogs with orthopedic conditions, on the other hand, swimming can be excellent physical therapy.  In any case, introduce your dog to the water slowly and be aware of your pet's swimming abilities. 

Many lakes and rivers may not be safe for swimming.  There may be strong currents or deep drop-offs, not to mention broken glass and shell fragments, which can lacerate paw pads.  Obviously, if it's not safe for people to swim there, it's not safe for dogs either.  Dogs should never be pushed off of a boat or dock into the water or left unattended in a pool or lake.

Be sure to bring fresh water and a bowl to prevent dogs from drinking questionable water.  Lake water may contain bacteria and protozoa such as Giardia, which may lead to gastrointestinal upset.  Stagnant water may also be a source for blue-green algae and Leptospirosa, both of which can cause severe disease. 

Some water is irritating to skin, coats and ears.  Whether dogs have been swimming in a pool, lake or river, it's a good idea to rinse their coats off with clean water.  When possible, the inside of the ears should be dried with cottonballs to prevent ear infections from developing.

When boating, be sure to strap a life jacket on your dog.  This valuable flotation device can help prevent an unexpected fall overboard from ending badly.  The life jacket should fit snuggly and have a handle or strap that is easy to grasp in case the owner needs to pull to the dog out of the water.   

Home Delivery Service of Hill's Pet Food Now Available

Now you can order and receive Hill's Pet Food without ever leaving the comfort of your home. (Delivery charges apply). Just click on the "Home Delivery" icon on the left side of this page and sign up to place online orders 24 hours a day.  You can even request automatic deliveries to ensure that you don't run out of the nutrition your pet needs.  ***Service provided by Vetsource.***

Who Are You Calling A Mutt?    

™ MX analysis test is now available at San Antonio Animal Hospital.  Your dog is your best friend and companion.  You think everything about your mixed breed is great - what he likes, what he doesn't like.  Wouldn't it be amazing if you knew the breeds in his ancestry? This comprehensive DNA-based mixed breed test is for dogs only.  It identifies more than 130 AKC-recognized breeds that may be present in mixed breed dogs and will allow veterinarians to answer one of the most frequently asked questions, "what's in my dog's breed mix?"

The blood sample drawn from your dog will go through a complex analysis.  The Wisdom Panel™ MX test will detect specific combinations of genetic markers to help reveal the breed heritage of your dog.  For more information, visit www.wisdompanel.com.

 Glaucoma Screening Now Available

San Antonio Animal Hospital is proud to announce that we now have the technology to detect increased intra-ocular pressure, also known as, glaucoma.

Glaucoma is defined as an increase in pressure in the eye with a loss of vision.  The signs of glaucoma include: redness, cloudy eye, tearing, loss of vision, an enlarged eyeball, lethargy, and loss of appetite.  The disease is quite painful in most cases, especially when the eye pressure is elevated.  Human patients complain of severe headache or migraines.

Primary glaucoma is an inherited condition.  Primary glaucoma occurs in many breeds, especially American Cocker Spaniels, Basset Hounds, Chow Chows, Shar Peis, Labrador Retrievers, and Arctic Circle breed dogs (Huskies, Elkhounds, etc.)  It can also occur in some breeds of cats.  Secondary glaucoma occurs when the eye diseases cause decreased fluid drainage.  Common causes of secondary glaucoma are inflammation inside the eye (uveitis), advanced cataracts, cancer in the eye, lens subluxation or luxation and chronic retinal detachment.

Pressure damage to the optic nerve and decreased blood flow to the retina, the "film in the camera", results in loss of vision.  However, if the pressure in the eye remains uncontrolled, the retina degenerates and vision is permanently lost.

Early diagnosis and care provided by a veterinary opthalmologist is the only chance to prevent blindness and the associated pain of glaucoma.

A device called a Tono-Pen is gently tapped on the cornea where four measurements are taken.  This test is painless and should be done on all breeds that are predisposed to glaucoma, as well as, all senior pets.

Ask your veterinarian for more information about glaucoma in your pet and the Tono-Pen.  

Comfortis - the new once a month flea pill for dogs

There's a new flea control product on the market called Comfortis™.  This chewable, beef flavored tablet is given to dogs once a month to control fleas.

This product offers a solution for pet owners who: want to avoid the mess and inconvenience of topicals, have children or other pets in the household, or have dogs with flea allergy dermatitis.

The effectiveness of Comfortis™ won't wash off when dogs are bathed or go swimming. 

Studies show that Comfortis™ starts killing fleas within 30 minutes and is 100% effective in 4 hours.  It's been proven safe for dogs and puppies over 14 weeks old and over 5 lbs.

Comfortis™ is available by prescription only from your veterinarian.  Ask one of our veterinarians if Comfortis is right for your dog.

Pets Need Dental Care Too 

For most of us, caring for our teeth and gums has been part of our daily routine for as long as we can remember.  Just like you, your pet needs dental care, too - regular, professional care from your veterinarian and effective daily home care from you to keep your pet's mouth healthy.

Plaque is a colorless film that contains large amounts of bacteria.  If left unchecked, plaque builds up, creating infections, destroying gums and resulting in the loss of the tissues and bone that support the teeth.

All pets are at risk for developing dental problems.  Once your pet displays any of the warning signs below, serious periodontal disease may be present.

- Bad Breath   - Yellow brown crust on teeth   - Bleeding gums   - Change of chewing or eating habits   - Tooth loss   - Change in behavior   - Abnormal drooling

Contributing factors to periodontal disease include:  poor oral hygiene, breed and age.  Ignoring the condition of your pet's mouth can lead to period0ntal disease, tooth loss and other serious health problems, such as heart, liver and kidney failure.  Periodontal disease is more common in smaller breed dogs and certain breeds of cats.  Periodontal disease is also more common as pets grow older.

Excellent oral care is maintained by daily oral hygiene, whether by brushing or by chewing. Feeding a dental food, like Hill's T/D, is a great way to ensure your pet receives good oral care every day.

Watch your pet for the warning signs of periodontal disease and inspect your pet's mouth regularly.  Never brush your pet's teeth with human toothpaste!

Steps to better oral care include a visit to your veterinarian.  Every regular exam in our hospital includes a thorough dental exam.  If we find signs of disease, we will recommend a treatment plan including a dental cleaning.  This procedure is very much like the teeth cleaning you receive at your dentist's office.  The main difference is the need to use anesthesia to be able to clean your pet's teeth.

Plaque should be removed from your pet's teeth every day before it mineralizes into tartar.  Brushing your pet's teeth or feeding a dental food each day will control plaque buildup.  Be sure the dental food you use offers total balanced nutrition for whole health.

Periodontal disease can be prevented in most pets through professional and daily home care.  Start a preventive program of veterinarian-supervised dental care today!

Stage 1  - Inflamed gums

Stage 2 - Moderate Tartar

Stage 3 - Gum recession

Stage 4 - Severe periodontal disease

FDA Issues Warning About Buying Drugs Online

On December 14, 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to pet owners about buying drugs online. The warning suggests that it is safest to work with veterinarians to obtain drugs for pets.  The FDA warning was prompted by increased concerns about the quality of drugs that can be obtained online, especially from foreign countries that may sell products that are not regulated by the government.

Advertisements can be appealing to consumers.  "Discount pet drugs - no prescription required" is a common theme when you surf the web, but the FDA experts say it can be risky to buy drugs online from these sites. 

When drugs are purchased through veterinarians, owners can rest easy knowing that the product has been stored properly, have been purchased through the manufacturer and that manufacturer warranties / guarantees will be honored.

Government investigations have found that some companies advertising drugs online sell expired drugs.

To keep you pet safe and healthy, talk with your veterinary team about the drugs you buy.  To read the entire FDA warning, visit their website at:  www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/petdrugsonline121407.pdf

E-Newsletter now available!

Our monthly newsletter, San Antonio Tail Mail, is now available in an electronic version.  Email a request to be added to our e-mailing list:  sanantoniovets@earthlink.net

Updated Recommendation for Heartworm & Intestinal Parasite Prevention

We are committed to provide you and your dog with the best available medicine.  After thorough consideration of all currently available medications, we have decided to recommend SENTINEL™ for the following reasons:

SENTINAL™  is highly effective in protecting your dog from developing deadly heartworm disease.

SENTINEL™ is highly effective against three other major intestinal worms and the control of fleas in the environment:

Hookworms:  up to 36% of all dogs are infected with this potentially deadly parasite. (Can be transmitted to humans)

Roundworms: 95% of puppies are infected with this potentially deadly parasite. (Can be transmitted to humans)

Whipworms:  nearly 20% of dogs are infected, causes diarrhea, potentially deadly.  

SENTINEL™ covers more than 98% of all intestinal parasites your dog will be exposed to in his/her lifetime.

SENTINEL™ comes in a flavored, highly palatable tablet. 

We recommend yearly heartworm, blood parasite and intestinal parasite screening.  

 Lost-And-Found

Bring a picture of your lost pet and post it on our bulletin board.