October 2018 In this issue: p2: Shout Out: Cat Owners! p2: Updates & Comms: PetExec p3: Increased Risk: Leptosporosis P3: Continued Risk: Lyme Disease pp4&5: Meet the Staff: Outside Team p6: Upcoming Classes: CGC & Tricks 215-536-4443 millpondvetclinic@yahoo.com MPV Newsletter October 2018 p
Thank you for your patience throughout the process of repairing from the flood, completing four years of upgrades while repairing damage, and striving to improve our client communications. Growing Pains may be a good problem to have, but they re still a problem! We ve had a lot of input about congestion at the front desk, being put on hold when calling, and not knowing about reservations, weather warnings and closures for Doggy Daycare. We ve been listening, and after much research and inner-office coordination, we are making some changes: Camp Mill Pond SHED: Daycare, Boarding and Training will be checking in and out through the new shed out front. You will be able to make reservations, pay on your account, check in and check out in here, with less traffic than the main office. This will also be a good change for those coming for medical and rehabilitation appointments, as congestion inside will be eased. PetExec: We are also launching a new program for Camp Mill Pond. Daycare, Boarding and Training clients will be able to utilize this program in multiple ways, including the ability to upload vaccine records, make changes to your contact information, add & update pets, and more - right from your computer, tablet or phone. You will also be able to upload a picture of your pet for our records, and check expiration dates for your pet s vaccines. This program will allow us to send out blast emails and texts, ensuring that you get word when there is an advisory or closure for weather. Daycare clients will be able to go online and schedule Daycare for your pets. Reserving Daycare in advance will help us to ensure appropriate staffing ahead of time, but same day reservations will often be available. You will be able to Request Boarding reservations and Training appointments online. Clients new to PetExec will need to go to our website and click the link to create a PetExec account. Once you ve registered with PetExec, simply type in petexec.net and log in. Again, thank you for your patience. We cannot express how much we appreciate you! We want to give a big HURRAH & High Five! to the owners of the cats we see regularly. It s so easy to leave the cat at home when taking your dog in for preventative veterinary care, and are many reasons people think cats don t need to go to the vet: The cat stays inside - or it s an outside cat. He s healthy, she doesn t have any (apparent) problems. Cat s don t really need preventative care, they re so independent. Unfortunately, it s an incorrect myth or assumption that your cat does not need to see the vet regularly. The Cat Community wants you to help keep your cat healthy with routine check-ups. Did you know that 83% of cats visit the veterinarian before their 1st birthday, but over 50% don t return until they become sick or are in pain. With regular healthcare, your veterinarian can often detect conditions that may affect your cat s long-term health. The main reasons for this are: Animals are VERY good at hiding pain. Not seeing symptoms does not mean that your cat doesn t have an issue that needs to be addressed. Often, the vet can handle a situation quickly and inexpensively if it s caught early; while the same condition can take quite a process and be expensive to deal with later on. Veterinarians are legally prohibited from giving medical advice or prescriptions for animals they have not physically examined in over a year. Outside cats in particular need to come in for their Feline Leukemia vaccine. This disease is contagious, and is very prolific in this area. Inside cats can catch diseases from other pets, and you can even bring them home on your clothing or shoes. Cats are legally required to have a rabies vaccine every 3 years (as are dogs, ferrets and other pets). MPV Newsletter October 2018 p2
The CDC, US Pharmacist, Leptosporosis.org, National Institute of Health and other organizations are publishing articles in an attempt to ensure everyone is aware of this increased risk of leptospirosis after flooding and hurricanes. Please check your records to ensure your dog s vaccine is up to date, or call your vet to find out. Leptospirosis.org: All cases of freshwater flooding will lead to an increased risk of human leptospirosis, especially those where the areas affected include dwellings and farmland, and where the water remains present for several days. This is also the case with other waterborne diseases and pathogens. Where flooding is entirely due to saltwater there is little or no risk from leptospirosis as a direct consequence of the floodwater, as the bacterium cannot tolerate saltwater. There is however an increased association of rodents and humans, as the rodent population seeks shelter from rising water and food supplies. The early signs of infection occur between 4 and 10 days after exposure, and usually begin with a fever, a red skin rash and a general influenza-like feeling. Headaches, reaction to light, muscle and joint pains, vomiting and fatigue are also common. Most cases recover after a mild illness of a few days, but some progress into a severe illness over 5-7 days. The patient gradually becomes more fatigued and will report headaches, fevers, [generalized] pain, bruising of the skin, bleeding from the nose, eye pain and gastrointestinal discomfort. In some but not all cases, the liver is affected and the patient shows jaundice (yellow skin pigment). Very similar early symptoms can be caused by a number of other waterborne diseases, and the usual diagnostic method is isolation of the bacteria from blood samples. Image from article Beware of Leptospirosis after the passage of Hurricane Maria, by Yuri A Jones, Oct 3, 2017 CrLyme is a New Lyme Vaccine by Vanguard. This is the first (currently only) chimeric recombinant canine Lyme disease vaccine. VANGUARD crlyme helps provide broad-spectrum coverage against outer surface protein A (OspA), found in the tick, and contains antigens from multiple types of outer surface protein C (OspC), found in the tick and dog. The rate of infection may go down overall in the winter, but not enough to eliminate the risk or stop using flea & tick preventatives. Here are a couple of ideas to help with remembering to give or apply preventatives: Put a pop-up reminder in your phone - we can help you! Using Bravecto? We love it! but it can be hard to remember when you last gave it. Write on your heartworm preventative box which months Bravecto is due. MPV Newsletter October 2018 p3
Our Outside team is very interrelated, and routinely help each other out. You ll see people from both teams coming up to get your dog. Steve is our CMP Team Leader, coordinating our Daycare and Kennel teams, many of whom also work in Training. MPV Newsletter October 2018 p4
MPV Newsletter October 2018 p5
Started in 1989, the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Program is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. The CGC Program is a two-part program to help pet owners instill basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club. Many other countries have developed CGC programs based on the AKC s CGC Program. Police and animal control agencies use CGC for dealing with dog problems in communities; groups around the country are using the program as a beginning dog training program for children; and state legislatures began recognizing CGC as a means of advocating responsible dog ownership. Here at Mill Pond, we care a great deal about how our pets are received and integrated into families and communities. Good training and socialization skills can help us assure that the dogs we love will always be welcomed and able to participate well in family & community activities. The Basic Obedience class is a pre-requisite for enrolling in our CGC class. - Kyra Sundance Utilizing the Dog Tricks and Training Workbook, this is a step-by-step interactive class to engage, challenge and bond with your dog. Dogs are part of our family, and our relationship with them requires nurturing to keep it alive and flourishing. This class is a strong step toward developing a closer bond with your dog. Trick training builds relationships by deepening the communication pathways, trust and mutual respect. The trust and cooperative spirit developed through this process will last a lifetime. Veterinary Care by Appointment Only Medical & Wellness Surgery Dental Diagnostic Imaging PennHip Testing Small Animal Rehab by Appointment Only Exercise, Massage Underwater Treadmill Stem Cell Therapy Acupuncture Chiropractic Care & more! Boarding By Appointment Only Drop-off/Pick up Mon - Sat 9:00-12 noon or 3:00-6:00 pm Sun 4:00-6:00 pm Daycare By Appointment Only Mon-Sat 8:00 am-6:00 pm Training By Appointment Only Puppy Training Private Lessons Group Obedience Classes Agility Training 2255 Mill Pond Road, Quakertown, PA 18951 215.536.4443 reception@mpvclinic.com www.millpondvetclinic.com MPV Newsletter October 2018 p6