Welcome to the first electronic newsletter of the new Sylvania Vet web site!

It has taken longer than expected to get the kinks out and start our regular communication with you. We encourage you to scout the site regularly, as there will be constant updates and improvements.
Dr. Bob would like to thank www.citydetective.com for the design and production of our site.
Eric at City Detective is responsible for developing our site and providing the expertise to make it a site to behold. City Detective will remain involved in the site as final touches are completed and new ideas are incorporated. Day to day monitoring and updates will be handled by our in-house webmaster, Cheryl Hunter. You may offer suggestions for site improvement, site subjects or information articles to Cheryl by clicking on the site e-mail address. Each Doctor also has his or her own e-mail address. You may contact them directly by clicking on their address located in the staff page. Everyone checks his or her e-mail regularly so a reply to your question will come quickly. We will highlight other features of the site in future e-letters.

Sunday February 18 is our annual household pet cat show, Cavalcade of Cats. It will be held at Gladieux Meadows 4480 Heatherdowns Blvd., this is the former Meadowbrook Hall, across from the Masonic Auditorium. There are still entry slots available for your cat but you must hurry. Call the office, 885-4421, for applications and details.
Spectators are welcome and encouraged. There will be up to 100 cats of all sizes, ages, breeds and mixes competing in three judging rings. Additionally, many vendors with cat related merchandise will be present. Dr. Esplin and other veterinary professionals will be there to answer animal related questions. Door prizes will be awarded every hour and a raffle will go on through out the day. Proceeds from the Cavalcade will be split between Lend A Paw Feline Shelter, On Hillwyck, and Maumee Valley Save A Pet. They will be showing cats and discussing adoptions on Sunday. There will be no actual adoptions accomplished at the show.

PLEASE ATTEND THE CAT SHOW. YOU WILL HELP SUPPORT TWO VERY WORTHY ORGANIZATIONS. If you would like to help, contact Ann at the office, 885-4421. We can always use volunteers.

Did you know that there is a way of permanently identifying your pet, so that should it be lost or stolen it can be returned to you?

Microchip technology enables us to implant a chip the size of a rice grain between the pet's shoulder blades. When a scanner is passed over this area a number flashes. This number is registered with the AKC and can be traced 24 hours every day. We encourage you to have your dog, cat or other pets microchipped with the Homeagain Microchip. Recently, a beautiful Afghan was presented having been hit by a car. It was wearing no tags and its owner was not known. We attempted to save its life anyway but were unable to due to massive chest damage. This animal was not chipped. To this day the rightful owner of this beautiful dog is unknown.

On a happier note, we had a stray presented and found a microchip. We followed procedure and were calling the owner before they realized their pet was even missing.

For at least the last 30 years dog vaccines have routinely carried a fraction called Leptospirosis. The bacterin protects against a large bacteria disease that can be fatal to dogs and is transmissible to humans. Not much Lepto was seen in our area and many Doctors elected to leave it out of their patient's vaccination schedule. We never eliminated the Lepto fraction because it had such important public health benefits. Recently, there has been a resurgence of Lepto throughout large areas of the country. The NW Ohio region is one of these. Additionally, at least two new Lepto serovars (strains) have been recognized. Pets that live in and never leave the city are at low risk of exposure. Clients that live in more suburban, rural areas or that take their dog, hunting, camping, to the MetroParks or open fields to run are at greater risk. There is a new vaccine with the two new serovars. Because your dog has had the older two, in its annual series, we need not worry about them. However, we do think if your dog is in a risk group that it would be prudent to schedule an appointment for the new Lepto serovar vaccines. To establish immunity will require two injections 2-4 weeks apart then annual booster. Ultimately, we will try to get this vaccine fraction on schedule with your dogs other vaccines. Cats are not susceptible. If you have questions please call or e-mail us.

We would like to recognize the Employee of the Month. Dr. Kelly Lockerman was chosen by the staff to be our outstanding employee for January. Most of you have met Dr. Kelly and found her to be highly competent and friendly. Her communication skills are top notch and her rapport with clients and their pets is special. Kelly was recently engaged and will be married in October. Good work Kelly.

Cris, at the front desk, deserves special mention for the great effort she gave to our Christmas project. The staff gave up a fancy, expensive Holiday party for a potluck so the money saved could be used to help a needy family. Cris and Dr. Jen did the work lining up the family, with the help of the Huntington Community Center. Cris then coordinated spending the money and arranging to have it delivered. Because of Cris' effort Sylvania Vet was able to reach out to the community and help and we all are better for our effort. Thanks Cris, Dr. Jen and all staff members.

We hope you liked our first e-letter. Let us know how we can improve and any subjects you would like answered. We would like to remind you that there is also a published newsletter you should receive after each visit. Please be sure to read these and to read your receipts there is frequently important information to be learned.

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