NOVEMBER 2002 FYI
Remember to give your cat
and dog its monthly dose of heartworm preventive medication
A MOUSE IN THE HOUSE
is certainly a pest and unwanted, but controlling them and eliminating
them must be done humanely. Recently, a Houdini-like, hamster was
presented having just been removed from a " modern" rodent
control device called a glue trap. A favorite pet of a Sylvania
kindergarten, it escaped its home and sought refuge under a bookcase.
A long forgotten rodent control glue trap was hidden in the far
corner under the bookcase. Luckily, the persistent teacher searching
for the furry classmate found it stuck to the trap. After gently
removing the hamster, she brought it to us to remove all the glue.
The poor animal's legs were stuck to its body and its hair was thoroughly
impregnated with heavy glue. After an hour's work by Beth and Betty,
with the help of mineral oil and Dawn dish soap, the glue was gone
and our patient was ready to go back to class. A glue trap works
by trapping the mouse so that it will starve to death or die of
dehydration. Mice have been known to chew off limbs to escape. A
glue trap is not a humane rodent control device and should never
be used. If we must kill a pest we must be sure that we select the
most humane method.
RED EYES in your dog
or cat can have a variety of causes, some very minor and others
far more serious. Environmental irritation, allergies, infections,
glaucoma and corneal ulcers are but a few of the causes of red eyes
in our pets. We are reluctant to delay evaluating eye problems or
to recommend home remedies. A serious eye problem can endanger your
pet's vision or cause unnecessary pain. Glaucoma is a disease that
iscaused by an increase of pressure within the globe. We use an
instrument called a tonometer to evaluate internal eye pressure.
Prolonged or severe glaucoma is very painful and will cause a loss
of vision very quickly. At least 40 breeds of dogs and three cat
breeds are susceptible to inherited glaucoma. Testing with a tonopen
is a quick, simple and inexpensive method to detect glaucoma before
it causes permanent vision changes. Early glaucoma can be controlled
with medicine or surgery.
IT'S NOT TOO LATE to
sign up for the DOG JOG. Our annual celebration of the joy of owning
a dog is scheduled for Saturday, November 2 at the Flower Hospital
campus. We will assemble at 2 PM at the gazebo near Lake Park. We
encourage you and your pet to dress up for Halloween so that we
can show off for the residents of Lake Park. Many of our blood donor
dogs will be leading the pack and the grand Marshall dog is Sully
a Golden Retriever that survived a major tumor because of our blood
bank. Cost of the DOG JOG is $10.00. Each dog/owner team will receive
a gift bag with a bandana, leash and other goodies. All profits
will be donated to Team Toledo Greyhound Rescue. COME HAVE A GOOD
TIME AT THE DOG JOG NOV. 2
HOLIDAY TIME IS RAPIDLY APPROACHING
and there are many things to remember when it comes to your pet.
Be sure to schedule your pet for a holiday grooming. Ashley, Jen
and Kelly's schedule is starting to fill up for the holiday grooming
season. Boarding will be full for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New
Years. If you are going away during this period and you need space
for your pet call soon to get a reservation. Again this year our
staff has elected to give up a fancy holiday party and use the funds
to help those less fortunate. This year we will be bringing Christmas
to a group of kids from Sunshine Children's Home. If you get a chance,
tell our staff thanks for their generosity.
RETRACTABLE LEASHES CAN
BE DANGEROUS. Recently, there have been several lawsuits against
the manufactures of several brands of retractable dog leashes. The
packages now contain disclaimers about the possibility of injury
if the retractable cord is handled when the cord is extending or
retracting. We do not think retractable leashes are a good idea
because they do not give you proper control of your pet when
walking. A good nylon, woven or leather leash is a better choice.
SPEAKING OF LEASHES we
would like to ask you to not bring your dog into the hospital on
a chain leash. The chain leashes causes severe damage to door jams
if pulled aroundthe edge. If you need an alternative leash we will
supply you with one. THANKS
BLOOD DONORS ARE NEEDED for our
canine blood bank. The number of dogs that have been helped or
saved by our blood bank is well over 20. Many of the recipient
dogs required blood from our universal donor dogs. This has put
a lot of pressure on the few dogs that have universal blood type.
If you have a dog over 50 pounds between 1-6 years old please
consider enrolling him in our blood donor pool. There is no risk
to your dog and it will receive typing, blood work and acknowledgement
free of charge. Our blood donor recognition banquet is December
4. Awards and gifts will be distributed to owners and donors.
Recently, a dog required two units of whole blood to treat a severe
case of traumatic shock and blood loss. We called two families
and they were there in less than two hours. Our blood donors and
their families are great assets to all our patients.
SANTA IS SCHEDULED at
the Sylvania Veterinary Hospital Saturday December 7 from 2-6 PM.
Jim Carroll will take studio quality pictures. Jim is the premier
pet photographer in NW OHIO. There will be no Polaroid pictures.
Jim will make a donation to Maumee Valley-Save-A Pet for each sitting.
The basic package is a beautiful, color 5x7 picture. In addition,
you may purchase Christmas cards, wallet pictures, key chains, buttons,
and other specialty photos. You may include your family or children
in the picture with your pet.
WE HAVE AN ADOPTION CAGE
in the front office area. We will usually have a cat or kitten looking
for a new home on display. If you are looking for a cat be sure
to ask us, we can help.
PLANS FOR THE NEW HOSPITAL
are taking shape. The outside elevation is nearing completion. The
floor plan is in the fourth generation and is getting close. We
hope to break ground in March. One of the truly unique features
of the new hospital will be the construction of a separate cat hospital
within the building. Isolation from our canine patients will make
visits to the new Sylvania Veterinary Hospital less stressful for
our feline patients. We will be having daily doggy day care, an
under water treadmill for exercise and physical rehab and an automatic
dog walker so all dogs will get to exercise at least 30 minutes
daily when in our care. Year round obedience classes will be held
in our large multipurpose room.
Consider purchasing pet health insurance. We have informative
brochures.
We now monitor blood pressure of sick,
injured and anesthetized patients.
We appreciate referrals of new clients.
You will receive free gifts for each referral. Help us grow.
We will support organizations you consider
worthy. If your favorite charity is having an auction ask us for
a gift. We will provide you with an auction item.
Dr. Bob will be speaking at career days
at all three Sylvania junior highs next in November.
Laser declaws are better for your cat.
There is less bleeding, less post surgical pain, quicker recovery
and we do not need to stop circulation to the toes of the patient
with a tight tourniquet.
If any of our employees provide great
service you can vote for them for employee of the month. Ask anyone
for a ballot and we will see that it is counted.
As the holidays approach we encourage you
to consider PAWS AND WHISKERS CAT SHELTER AND MAUMEE VALLEY SAVE-A-PET
FOR a donation. Better yet, join one or both of these worthy organizations
so you can help them year round.
