Homestead Happenings. Looking forward to the New Year! Homestead Vet. Inside this issue. Health awareness events

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1 Homestead Vet December 2016-Mar 2017 Volume 1, Issue 1 Homestead Happenings Looking forward to the New Year! With the New Year, comes new beginnings, new resolutions and even new schedules! In the aftermath of the holiday season, it is customary to set about plans for self-improvement including healthier eating, weight loss, and new exercise programs. People of course are generally good at knowing if they need to shed a few pounds but how do you know if your dog or cat have overindulged? It is common for people to offer treats and snacks when pets seek attention, but those calories can add up on your pet s waistline and increase their risks for diseases linked with obesity. To determine if your pet needs to lose weight, please contact us for a weigh in and a free weight assessment with one of our knowledgeable pet nurses. They can discuss your pets current weight and what they need to shed those pounds. As with people, calorie restriction and exercise are important for weight loss. To determine what activity is right for your pet and how to get into an exercise routine, please contact our office. No time to sneak in exercise for your pet? Ask us about our drop off treadmill sessions or other options for exercise during the winter months. Follow the link below for more ideas on how to stay fit with your pet. For the winter season, we will be changing our appointment hours to better suit doctor coverage and client needs. Office appointment hours will be available: Mondays 9am-6:30pm (Dr. Rouse) with the last appointment at 6pm. Tuesdays 2pm-6pm (Dr. Natalie David) with the last appointment at 5:30pm. Wednesdays- surgery day (Dr. Rouse,) limited sick appointments available as time allows. Thursdays- 10am-7:30pm, (Dr. Rouse) with the last appointment at 7pm. Friday: Limited morning appointments available on select days. (Dr. Rouse) 2pm-6pm (Dr. Tamara Mengine), with the last appointment at 5:30pm. In addition to these days, Dr. Tamara Mengine is available for House Call visits on Wednesday mornings and Dr. Jennifer Rouse is offering Home Rehabilitation Calls on Tuesdays and Fridays. Inside this issue February Dental Health Month.2 3 Winter Safety Tips VRS products are here... 4 Meet The Staff... 4 Looking for a good home... 5 VRS products are here... 6 Health awareness events January is National Train your Dog Month and Walk Your Pet Month February is National Pet Dental Health Month and Responsible Pet Owners Month The third week in March is National Poison Prevention Week and March 23 is National Puppy Day

2 February is National Pet Dental Health Month Photo Credit: American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Good oral health is more than just a pretty smile. Poor dental hygiene can put both your pet s health and your pocket book at risk. Dog breath or a cat with a foul-smelling mouth can be a sign of untreated dental conditions. If left untreated, you may put your pet at risk for greater problems such as periodontitis or heart disease. Routine cleanings can help prevent periodontal disease and save money in the long run. A 2014 analysis conducted by Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. showed that the average cost per pet to prevent dental disease is just one-third of the average cost of treating dental disease. More importantly, a complete oral examination can detect hidden health problems. Even if your pet s breath smells fine, there still could be dental conditions that are hard to spot without a complete veterinary exam. If left untreated {dental disease} may put your pet at risk for greater problems such as periodontitis or heart disease. Schedule your pet s dental checkup with us now. We ll do a thorough checkup to make sure your pet is at optimum health. We also can show you how to brush your pet s teeth in between exams. Brushing is the single most effective thing you can do to keep your pet s teeth healthy between dental cleanings. In the month of February, Homestead Vet will celebrate Pet Dental Health Month by offering 20% off the cost of a dental cleaning (a $22-24 savings.) To schedule a dental cleaning, pets must have been examined by a veterinarian on staff within the last 6 months and must be up to 2 Winter Safety Tips When cold weather hits, your neighborhood can be transformed into a winter wonderland of snow and fun outdoor activities, but did you know it can also bring health hazards for your pet? Knowing what things to avoid and safeguarding your pet can help ensure a safe and happy winter season. Regular exams: Did you know that cold weather aggravates some health conditions in pets, too? Pets with arthritis can become more sore and stiff. While arthritis is not something we can cure, there are many treatments that may be helpful for your pet that can manage their condition and prevent worsening over time. A check up with your vet can get your pet in the best possible shape to get out and enjoy the season. Things to do: Know your pet s tolerance to cold. For example, short coated dogs may require a jacket or sweater. In addition to animals with health conditions such as diabetes, kidney and cardiac disease, both very old and very young dogs can have difficulty regulating their body temperature in extreme conditions. Pay attention to if your dog is shivering or extremely lethargic after being out in the cold and contact your veterinarian immediately with any concerns. Despite having fur, both dogs and cats can get hypothermia and frost bite too! Shorten walks or skip them in extreme cold or slippery conditions. Elderly and arthritic pets are at risk for falls when it is icy out. Consider

3 Pet Dental Health Month (cont. from pg 2) Caption describing picture or graphic Winter Safety Tips (cont.) supervised indoor activities such as a brief game of catch with an indoor safe ball or soft toy or training tricks like shake a paw. Sit up and beg, and that burn both mental energy and offer a physical or core strength work out for your pet. Wipe your pet s paws and belly down when coming in to remove any salts or other chemical de-icers that they could have been exposed to. Use boots or moisturizing pad protectant to minimize their contact with these substances. Check paws for dryness, cracked pads, snow and ice balls between the toes. Keep toe nails and hair that grows between the toes trimmed to improve your dog s traction outside. Be prepared. With cold weather comes the risk of severe winter weather - blizzards, power outages and ice storms. Have an emergency/ distaster kit prepared and include your pet in your disaster plan. Make sure you have enough food, water and any medications that your pet might need to get through at least 5 days. Minimize baths during the winter months. Frequent bathing can strip away important oils in your pet s coat that lead to dry, flaky skin and itchiness. Even with this safeguard, frequent trips outside followed by coming into the dry heat can still cause concern for your pet s skin health. Contact your veterinarian for recommendations regarding nutritional supplements and topical treatments that can help date on their Rabies, Distemper vaccines and have a heartworm test on file within the last year (dogs only.) Routine pre-operative bloodwork will need to be run within a month of your pet s procedure date. Dental Health Month passes by quickly so don t wait! Contact us today to schedule your appointment and enjoy the rewards of fresh breath and good dental health for your pet. We re committed to your pet s health and wellness, and we know that you are as well. Book your Photo Credit: American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) 3

4 Meet the Staff Member! Rebecca Pilkington Rebecca has been a technician with us since September of She graduated from Penn State with a degree in Veterinary and Biomedical Science. Rebecca has volunteered at local shelters, and spay/neuter clinics. She is also passionate about wildlife conservation and recently spent two weeks in Thailand volunteering at an elephant sanctuary. When Rebecca isn t working, she enjoys spending time with her cat, Lizzie, family and friends as well as pet sitting! Winter Safety (cont.) your pet s skin stay properly moisturized. Keep them warm. Even outdoor pets need a warm place to stay in cold conditions. Make certain that they have a warm, draft free bed and that they have free access to un-frozen water. Avoid space heaters and heat lamps to prevent burns or fire. Make certain that even outdoor animals come in during extreme cold conditions. A good rule to remember is that if it is too cold for you outside then it is too cold for your pet! Pet proof the house! When it is too cold to be outside, making sure your inside space doesn t have any hazards can be just as important. Keep your pet safe from dangerous treats (chocolate, items containing xylitol, onions, grapes, etc.,) prescription medications, household chemicals, and anything attractive that might be swallowed (socks, toys easily ripped apart, string, etc.) Things to avoid: Don t start that car yet! A warm engine compartment can be an inviting temporary shelter for outdoor cats and other wildlife. Check under your car, bang on the hood and even honk your horn to displace any animals that might have holed up for a nap before you rev that engine. Be careful about what you use for ice melting. Use pet safe de-icing products for sidewalks and wipe feet down when your pet comes in. Thoroughly clean up any antifreeze spills right away and consider using pet safe propylene glycol products instead of regular antifreeze. Stay away from frozen ponds, lakes and streams as pets can fall through thin ice. With just a little safeguarding, your pet can have fun throughout the winter months and look forward to starting Spring off right! A good rule of thumb is if it is too cold for you outside, then it is too cold for your pet! 4

5 Dr. Edith is ready for her forever home! I'm Dr. Edith, a feline fellow at Homestead Vet. I have completed my internship here at the clinic and am now ready to move on to my permanent job as house cat. It has been a grueling 6 months and at times I thought I would go crazy with the meager accommodations that were provided. It s been stressful due to the hustle and bustle of all the residents here. After some adjustment, I could navigate my duties and instruct the staff in the management of diabetes, its regulation and patient care. I am proof that with proper management, diabetics can become a healthy weight and thrive on a consistent regimen. I m even growing my hair back after a bad haircut that resulted from treatment of severe matting when I was at my heaviest and couldn t groom myself properly. Would you believe I tipped the scales at 20 lbs? Through careful dieting, medication and the generous donations and support of clients at Homestead Vet, I shed half my body weight and am now a slim and trim size 10 (lbs.) Now that my time has ended here, I am looking for a family that appreciates my sense of humor, experience and is willing to keep me on a schedule so that I can continue to do what I do best- entertain and provide companionship. I am looking for a steady, long term job, so if you are in need of a hard-working feline that enjoys partnership with a caring family, please consider my application for employment. I prefer to be a solo practitioner, so I would do best as an only doctor. If there is one other low key doctor in the house I may be able to adapt but I prefer not to confer on cases. Please contact Homestead Vet at or at homesteadvetrehab@gmail.com for any inquiries into my qualifications. Prospective employers should offer a steady schedule and be comfortable or willing to learn how to give insulin injections. Please feel free to share this listing with any other employers that may be looking for my help. Dr. Edith is being fostered here at Homestead Vet. She was surrendered to the office because her owners were unable to treat her diabetes. She is currently being treated for her diabetes through dietary management and twice a day insulin injections. She is very good for her injections and does best on a relatively inexpensive food that doesn t provoke her diabetes. Her fur is nearly grown back after being shaved due to extensive matting, which we do not expect to recur thanks to her dramatic weight loss. Edith is about 7 years old, so we expect her to entertain her new family for many years to come. She is spayed, up to date on FVRCP and Rabies vaccinations and current on a monthly flea preventative. If you are interested in learning more about Dr. Edith, you can reach the office by at Homesteadvetrehab@gmail.com 5

6 Veterinary Recommended Solutions products are here! VRS is a local company based out of Plymouth Meeting that specializes in safe, natural, evidencebased products that are researched and validated by their internationally recognized Veterinarian Scientific Advisory Board. What this means to pet owners is that their products are independently safety tested and have been scientifically proven to provide benefits at the label instructed doses. Products currently offered through Homestead Vet include: Omega Benefits- liquid or capsules. An omega 3 supplement that is helpful in the management of arthritis, cardiac disease, kidney disease. skin disease, allergies and other chronic inflammatory diseases. Early Omega Benefits- liquid. An omega 3 supplement high in DHA to help promote eye and brain development in kittens and puppies. This product has also been shown to be helpful in cognitive support in older dogs and cats with age associated dementia. Entero TrueBenefits- A pre-biotic, probiotic and dental health supplement that supplies beneficial bacteria and micronutrients to support a healthy GI biome. This product is useful for patients with IBD, IBS, recurrent colitis, other maldigestion diseases and periodontal disease. Osteo TrueBenefits- A green lipped muscle product that has been shown to be effective in the management of osteoarthritis and promote joint health. Please contact our office if you are interested in starting your pet on any of these products or have questions regarding them at Homestead Vet 212 North Eagle Road Havertown, PA PLEASE PLACE STAMP HERE Phone: Fax: homesteadvetrehab@gmail.com