8/22/2010

Compassionate Care will be open normal business hours the Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend.  Monday, September 6th we will be open only from 8-4 pm.  

We will also be closing Friday September 17th and Saturday September 25th.  We hope these schedule changes will not cause any inconvenience for you pets, and that everyone has a safe and happy holiday weekend.

8-28-2010
 Frustrated by all the news about the Gulf Spill and our endangered waterways?  Want to do something about it?  The Ocean Conservancy sponsors local cleanups of our beaches and rivers in addition to accepting donations towards waterway conservation and funding political movements that support clean water clean shores.  If you are interested in finding out more about the Ocean Conservancy, please visit there website at www.oceanconservancy.org.

If you are interested in volunteering in a local clean up project, please visit their cleanup search site and type in Rhode island as your address to find a listing and availability of local events.

Have free time on Saturday the 25th?  Then join us in helping clean up Rhode Islands waterways.  I will be at Bold Point Park in East Providence.  Hope to see you there!

SEPTEMBER

August and September are typically are the worst months for skin allergies and flea infestations, and this past month showed no change from the norm! Allergic contact dermatitis, Hot Spots, and Flea bite Dermatitis are all allergic skin conditions that can cause intense itchiness, skin infections, hair loss and excessive grooming. This year has been particularly bad for flea issues, so they have earned the dubious honor of being the subject of our September newsletter.

Typically, signs start earlier in the Summer, when the allergy season is gearing up. This is especially true for flea bite allergies. Often, pets that are allergic to flea saliva will begin to scratch and get skin infections from the scratching, long before you will see the fleas. It takes several weeks for a flea population to build up enough to actually see fleas on the pet. This is especially true in cats, that initially can groom faster than the fleas can reproduce.

Once you can see fleas, there is an infestation somewhere in your house or yard. The most popular places for fleas to live are in damp cellars, in damp ground under bushes or porches where dogs like to dig or hang out to cool off, and in old decomposing leaves. Because we had such a rainy and hot Spring and Summer, the flea populations in the environment are significantly higher than in years past. Once the population outside is high enough for several fleas to jump up on your pet and ride inside, they will start to lay eggs in the house. One flea can lay 20,000 eggs in three days, so the problem becomes an infestation rapidly. By August, you will start to see fleas in the house and consistently on your pet.

For this reason, it is important to use flea prevention on your pets throughout the Summer EVEN IF YOU DON'T SEE THEM ON YOUR PET. Again, once you see them, it is too late and you are looking at several months of getting the population under control. If you are just trying to prevent a problem, any of the topical products that are sold through a veterinarian will kill fleas within 24 hours of exposure to the product. A flea has to feed before it can lay viable eggs, so the medication will kill them off before a population can establish itself in your house.

If you ALREADY have fleas in the house, and again, if you can see them, you have an infestation, then you must use a product that also has an Insect Growth Regulator. An IGR is birth control for fleas. It prevents the fleas from laying viable eggs, and stops them from being able to replace themselves as the flea preventative kills the adults off. IGR's are available in may house sprays, flea bombs, some oral medications, and in certain topical medications. Remember, once you see a few fleas on your pet, you have several thousand larvae somewhere in your house or yard that are waiting to hatch and feed, so applying one dose won't take care of your problem. It may take up to 4 months to eradicate a flea population from a home depending on how bad the initial population was. If you are still seeing fleas, after applying the preventative, you should consult your veterinarian for appropriate medical advice. This consultation is likely to require a scheduled appointment.

It is always BEST to purchase your initial supply of medications from your veterinarian as they will be able to council you appropriately on proper application, treatment regimens and house treatment, to get the problem under control as soon as possible. They will also be able to make recommendations for other medications that may be needed to treat any secondary skin infection or parasite transmission that occurs as a result of the flea bites. Many products are only guaranteed by the manufacturer if they are purchased at a veterinary clinic. Always consult your veterinarian before applying these products, as some can be toxic to cats, or to pets that are ill as a result of their infestations. Most products sold through veterinary clinics have been tested to be safe for use in short term studies. There is a relatively low report of adverse reactions to these products, and most that are reported are the result of IMPROPER application, or application to anemic pets. For this reason, it is the policy of our clinic not to sell these products to patients we have never seen. Long term side effect have NOT been evaluated in pets, but are probably no different than us using OFF^R to protect ourselves from mosquito bites.

If you are having an issue with a pet that has fleas, is excessively grooming or scratching, or has chronic skin infections in the late Summer and Early Fall, it is likely that there is an underlying flea bite allergy and you should schedule an examination with your veterinarian.

IAMS CAT FOOD RECALL

8/9/2010

There have been additional products added to the Iams and Eukanuba food recall.  All veterinary prescription diets have been added, as well as some of the Eukanuba Naturallly Wild diets and the original Iams diets listed below.  For a more detailed list of recalled foods, please visit the FDA web page for CAT food recall and DOG food recall.  For more information regarding this recall, please call Proctor and Gamble's customer service number at 1-877-340-8826

7/19/2010

All varieties of Iams Proactive Health Canned cat and kitten food have been recalled for possible inadequate Thiamine levels.  The recall applies to 3 and 5.5 oz canned with a date stamp on the bottom of either 9/2011 or 6/2012.  Signs of Thiamine deficiency include incoordination, stumbling, weakness, muscle tics, and seizures.  Cats will only develop these signs if they are being fed this food and NOTHING else.  If you suspect your cat is showing signs of illness as a result of these diets, you should call your veterinarian immediately.  If you feed these diets and have questions about whether or not your cans apply, you can call Proctor and Gamble at 1-877-340-8826.

4/15/2010

The Rhode Island State legislature recently enacted new rabies laws and regulations pertaining to rabies vaccination and how to handle bite situations.

 As of this month, rabies vaccines that are administered by a veterinarian and are labeled for 3 years of protection, will only have to be boostered every 3 years if your pet's currently considered up to date on his or her vaccines.  Pets that have never been vaccinated before, or have not received a rabies vaccine in the last 72 months, will need a 1 year booster before the vaccine is considered protective for 3 years.

There are certain rabies vaccines that are only labeled for one year of protection. Pets vaccinated with those vaccines will still require yearly boosters.  If you are unsure which vaccine your pet has received in the past, you should contact your veterinarian for more information.

 If your pet was vaccinated for rabies two years ago, you will likely still receive a reminder postcard from us informing you that it is time  to get your pet's vaccines updated.  The computer software we use will not know that the laws have changed and assume your pet is still due.  We will try our best to catch these when you call to make appointments to try and ensure you do not make an unnecessary trip to the clinic. However, it is always recommended to have a physical exam done on your pet EVERY year, regardless of vaccine status, to make sure we can work together to keep your pet happy and healthy.  

If you have any questions regarding your pet's vaccine status, or the new regulations, please call the clinic or contact us by email at our CONTACT PAGE.