You may have noticed a familiar face missing recently at the clinic. Our client care specialist, Kathy is currently on medical leave..
On Monday, April 8, we said, "goodbye" to our beloved cat Tika...
1. Accustom your pet to its carrier and to traveling in the car. Place the carrier out a few days prior to your appointment and put a few treats in the carrier to entice them...
If you haven’t already started your flea/tick preventive for the year, now is the time to start. Even though our temperatures are much milder than last year, all it takes is one warm day...
SDMVC has been counted among only 15% of small animal practices throughout the United States and Canada that have made this voluntary commitment to excellence ...
What in the world is leptospirosis? How can my pet get leptospirosis? How does leptospirosis affect my animal? Can humans get leptospirosis? ...
Iowa law now requires all pets that have received a 3-year Rabies vaccine ...
We Miss You Kathy!
You may have noticed a familiar face missing recently at the clinic. Our client care specialist, Kathy is currently on medical leave from South Des Moines Veterinary Center. We miss her dearly and our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.
Tika
On Monday, April 8, we said, "goodbye" to our beloved cat Tika. Tika started her life at SDMVC when she found by a team member in a box by the front door. She quickly became the official greeter to each person who stepped in through the doors. Tika was an icon here at SDMVC.
We know many of you enjoyed seeing Tika and gave her lots of love throughout the years. She always loved a good chin rub or butt scratch! We will always remember her as our little princess. We miss you Tika.
10 Things You Can Do to Make Veterinary Visits Better For Everyone
1. Accustom your pet to its carrier and to traveling in the car. Place the carrier out a few days prior to your appointment and put a few treats in the carrier to entice them. Take car rides to other destinations besides the vet clinic. This will make car rides more enjoyable and decrease the association of a car ride and going to see the veterinarian.
2. Drop by the clinic with your pet just to visit. We love when people drop by with their pets just to say, "Hello". This allows us to give your pet some attention, treats and an overall positive experience. This will help your pet feel more at ease when they do have to come for an appointment.
3. If our veterinarian doesn't already have your pet's medical records on file, bring them with you or have your previous veterinary team send or fax the records.
4. Arrive on time or a few minutes early for your appointment.
5. Know what medications your pet is receiving (including supplements), as well as how much, how often and how long it is given. Even better would be bringing them with you.
6. Share your observations and concerns with your veterinarian- after all, you know your pets better than anyone else does.
7. Ask questions. Ask until you understand.
8. Ask for handouts and brochures about your pet's condition.
9. Follow your veterinarian's recommendations. They're given for one very important reason- to keep your pet healthy.
10. Relax. Our pets pick up on our emotions and attitudes. If you have a relaxed, optimistic outlook on the veterinary visit, your pet will feel more comfortable.
Tick Myths vs. Facts
If you haven’t already started your flea/tick preventive for the year, now is the time to start. Even though our temperatures are much milder than last year, all it takes is one warm day.
Disease-carrying ticks pose health risk to both dogs and people, no matter where you live. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that ticks in every U.S. state carry diseases and the number of tick-borne diseases is on the rise. But do you know the myths vs. facts of ticks?
Myth #1: Ticks live in trees, so as long as I don’t live near or visit a wooded area, I don’t have to worry about them.
FACT: Ticks live on the ground no matter the locale, be it an urban park or a rural area. They typically crawl up from grass blades onto a host and migrate upward (which is why they’re often found on the scalp).
Myth #2: The best way to remove a tick is with a lit match, fingernail polish, or petroleum jelly.
FACT: None of these methods cause the tick to “back out,” and all of them may actually result in the tick depositing more disease carrying saliva into the wound, increasing the risk of infection.
The best way to remove a tick is to grasp it as close to the skin as possible with tweezers and pull the tick’s body out with a steady motion. Wear rubber gloves and clean the skin with soap and water after removal. Dispose of the tick by placing it in alcohol or flushing it down the toilet
Myth #3: Lyme disease is the only tick-borne disease that ticks can transmit to dogs and humans.
FACT: Lyme disease is the most widely known and common tick disease, but there are many others that ticks carry and can transmit to people and animals. These include Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Anaplasmosis (sometimes known as “dog fever”), Ehrlichiosis, and some emerging diseases with potentially devastating effects.
Myth #4: I don't have to worry about ticks in the winter.
FACT: In most areas of the country, high season for ticks runs from April to November. Experts recommend year-round preventives, however, as infection can occur at any time of the year. In the winter, for example, some tick species move indoors and are in closer contact with pets and people, while others make a type of antifreeze to survive during the winter months.
In Iowa, the most common ticks are the Lonestar Tick, American Dog Tick, and Black-legged Tick. The Black-legged Tick or deer tick trasmits Lyme disease. A current Lyme vaccine will protect your dog against Lyme Disease and a monthly tick preventive is an easy way to prevent other tick-borne diseases.
So are your pets at risk? Go to DogsAndTicks and take the quick assessment to find out what you can do to make sure your pet is protected!
References:
http://www.dogsandticks.com
http://www.cdc.gov/ticks
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM2036.pdf
AAHA Accreditation Renewed
South Des Moines Veterinary Center has successfully renewed accreditation by the American Animal Hospital Association. We have been evaluated on more than 900 standards to ensure our patients and clients receive the highest level of care. It is a privilege to be counted among only 15% of small animal practices throughout the United States and Canada that have made this voluntary commitment to excellence. We strive to represent the best in veterinary medicine.
Frequently Asked Questions about Leptospirosis
What in the world is leptospirosis? Many pet owners have never heard of it. Leptospirosis is a disease caused by a spiral shaped bacteria. Both humans and animals can be infected with the bacteria. It is most commonly contracted by drinking contaminated water, including rivers, streams, and even puddles.
What animals get leptospirosis?
Leptospirosis can affect many different animals but is most commonly found in dogs, horses, cattle, wildlife, rodents, and pigs. To our currently knowledge, it rarely affects cats.
How can my pet get leptospirosis?
Leptospirosis is spread through the urine of infected animals, which gets into water or soil and can survive for weeks to months. Animals become infected when they come in direct contact with the contaminated areas. The bacteria enters through cuts in the skin, through eyes, nose or mouth, as well through ingestion of contaminated water or soil (eat or drink it). The bacterial can also be inhaled.
How does leptospirosis affect my animal?
In dogs, leptospirosis can cause fever, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, weakness, stiffness, and muscle pain. Each patient is different when it comes to leptospirosis. Some have very few signs and others become very sick. Kidney and liver damage can also occur from this disease. In general young animals tend to be severely affected than older animals.
Can humans get leptospirosis?
YES! Humans can become infected with leptospirosis in ways similar to animals. In addition to touching, inhaling or ingesting contaminated water or soil, humans can also get leptospirosis by coming in contact with infected urine from animals (including dogs).
*** In a recent research study, leptospirosis was found to be one of the top diseases spread from pets to people (this is called a zoonotic disease).
How do I protect my pet and myself from leptospirosis?
Avoiding contact with contaminated areas is one main way to prevent disease, but far too often we cannot know when an area is contaminated. If rodents run on it or drink from it, it is likely to be contaminated.
Vaccination is one of the best ways we can help prevent disease. The “Lepto” vaccine protects dogs from the 4 most common serovars (types) of leptospriosis. It is a series of 2 vaccines (3 weeks apart) for the first year, then annually after that. This is one of the best ways to protect you and your pet from this nasty disease!
References:
Fast Facts: Leptospirosis. The Center for Food Security and Public Health, 2006
Iowa law now requires all pets that have received a 3-year Rabies vaccine to have that booster on or before the due date. If your pet goes beyond the 3-year date, a 1-year Rabies vaccine will be given. This is to ensure your pets safety against this deadly virus. Please contact the South Des Moines Veterinary Center at (515) 285-5523 if you have any questions regarding these new changes.
