We wanted to remind all of our clients that Hope Animal Medical Center offers Cold Laser Healing Therapy as another one of our innovative treatment options. The laser beam stimulates the cells and tissues, reduces inflammation and helps minimize pain of many chronic conditions like arthritis, hip dysplasia, tendonitis and more.

How Does It Work?
The cold laser light penetrates deep into the tissue and provides energy that encourages cellular respiration to promote healing. The laser beam also affects nerves directly decreasing the diffusion of pain signals to the central nervous system. The net result is increased rate of healing and decreased pain.

How long will each treatment take?
The treatment time depends on how chronic the condition is and the depth the laser light needs to reach to be effective. However, almost all treatments will be between 2 and 10 minutes.

How many treatments will my pet need?
The number of treatments can vary greatly based on the condition, but many pet owners notice a positive difference within 3 or 4 treatments.

Some Benefits of using Cold Laser Therapy include:

• Pain relief
• Reduced inflammation
• Accelerated tissue repair and cell growth
• Improved circulation by stimulation
• Increased cellular metabolic activity
• Reduced fibrous tissue formation
• Improved nerve function by eliciting regeneration
• Accelerated wound healing
• Stimulated immune system

What is the cost of the treatments?
The cost of Cold Laser Therapy is very affordable and it will depend on the number of treatments needed. Individual treatments are $50.00 or we have a package of 6 treatments for $250.00.
Please contact Hope Animal Medical Center at 706-546-7879 if you are interested in scheduling a laser consultation or have any questions regarding treatment. We look forward to helping you and your pet discover the benefits of using Cold laser therapy!

“Loving Treats” That Can Be Lethal!
February is a time of year when loved ones express their affection for each other by giving and receiving chocolates and flowers. It is nice to remember our pets on this special day, as well. However, it is NEVER in the best interest of our four-legged friends to give them easy access to chocolates or flowers. As many of you already know, if a pet eats chocolate, there can be serious health consequences. Some of the common side effects include vomiting, diarrhea and even seizures.

Call Your Veterinarian Immediately, Don’t Wait!
If you suspect that your pet has ingested any amount of chocolate, you may want to call your veterinarian to alert them of the situation. Depending on the type of chocolate eaten, you may have a life-threatening situation or you may just have a mess to clean up with no implications. Your vet may ask you to bring your pet into the office immediately so they can empty your pet’s stomach and give medications to help reverse the effects. Milk chocolate often only causes diarrhea and vomiting, but the ingestion of even a small amount of dark chocolate or baking chocolate can, in some cases, cause death. It is better to give your pet a treat that is made especially for dogs or cats, and keep your own goodies away from curious paws and mouths.
A beautiful bouquet of Valentine’s Day flowers also can have serious health consequences for our pets. Curious cats and dogs often can’t resist chewing and eating the leaves and petals of a florist’s creations, which can cause digestive problems, diarrhea in pets, heart problems, kidney failure, liver disease and/or seizures. That’s why it is so important to display your flowers out of your pets’ reach. Certain flowers can be toxic if eaten. If you suspect or can confirm that your pet has eaten plant leaves or flower petals, the identity of the plant or flower is crucial in determining its toxicity. You can either call the ASPCA’S National Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435, or Hope Animal Medical Center at 706-546-7879.

Common Valentine’s Presents that Can Cause Diarrhea in Pets!
Common flowers and plants- including some often found in your own backyard-that are especially toxic and can be fatal if ingested include: Oleander, Lilies, Sago Palm nuts and seeds, Castor Bean, Azalea, Rhododendron, Chrysanthemum, Peace Lily, Tulip bulbs, Amaryllis, English Ivy and Autumn Crocus.

Everyone loves to receive chocolates, flowers or plants on Valentine’s Day. By making sure they are kept away from nosy canines or hungry felines, you can enjoy them safely with no fears of accidentally poisoning your pets.

Remember to make the day special for pets by giving lots of love, extra attention and a few safe pet treats.

ASPCA poison control has compiled a list which contains plants that have been reported as having systemic effects on animals and / or intense effects on the gastrointestinal tract. Please note that the information contained in this plant list is not meant to be all-inclusive, but rather a compilation of the most frequently encountered plants.

Be advised that the consumption of any plant material may cause vomiting and gastrointestinal upset for dogs and cats. Plants listed as either non-toxic, or potentially toxic with mild GI upset as their symptoms are not expected to be life-threatening to your pets.
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If you believe that your animal is ill or may have ingested a poisonous substance, or if you have any further questions regarding the information contained in this database, contact either us at Hope Animal Medical Center or the APCC 24-hour emergency poison hotline at 1-888-426-4435.

www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants

​New Year's Eve Safety Tips for Pets

1. Be observant of your pet's response to loud noises. Thunderstorms and fireworks are a known causes for pet anxiety, but celebration party favors and popping champagne corks can be just as traumatizing. If you are hosting a party, make sure your pets are placed in a comfortable area that is separate from the activities. Make sure they have plenty of water and are secure. When possible, refrain from keeping them outside, as fireworks and other neighbors celebrating can lead to the same ruckus and worry.
   
   
2. Always keep your pet's tags on his collar. In the case he does get spooked and bolt for an open door or gate, an ID tag will be imperative to getting him home safely.
   
   
3. Beware of alcohol! Many pets can be drawn to glasses of beer or liquor that have been left behind after the celebration is over. Consumption of alcohol can be highly dangerous for animals, and even deadly. Make sure to thoroughly clean up the area before you allow your pets to enter. Always keep a close eye on them, and never give them any alcohol as a treat or joke.
   
   
4. Be aware of party decorations. Balloons, streamers, party hats or confetti can be unhealthy for an animal if ingested. While decorating for your party, keep the animals in a separate area where they do not have access to the decorations. If they do get into them, consult a veterinarian immediately. 

We will be offering discounted boarding for any Hurricane Florence evacuees. Please call us at 706-546-7879 for availability. 

This is a great article about the top 5 vaccine myths:

The veterinary healthcare team often encounters clients who bring their pets for a wellness visit but are unwilling to vaccinate because they do not believe in vaccines. Team members must be able to dispel myths and educate clients about the need for preventive healthcare.
The following can help dispel these common vaccine myths.

1 “My pet does not spend time outside. Vaccines are not necessary.”
Vaccine administration should be considered for each individual patient based on exposure risk, geographic location, and pet lifestyle. Vaccines have been divided into core and noncore groups. A one-size-fits-all vaccine protocol does not exist.

• Core vaccines, some of which are required by law, protect pets against diseases that have public health significance, are highly infectious, and pose risk for severe disease. Core vaccines are considered high-benefit and low-risk to the general patient population. 
• Noncore vaccines, which are typically recommended for patients only at risk because of their specific location or population, should be administered based on the risk associated with vaccine administration versus the pet’s risk for contracting the disease. 

An in-depth conversation with a client about his or her pet’s environment is an absolute necessity and can help make the client feel part of the decision-making team. That the pet does not often leave the home may be true, but during the discussion, the veterinary team may learn the pet goes to a groomer or visits a local pet store. Such small facts change a patient’s risk factors. Additionally, the vaccination status of other animals the pet encounters outside the home cannot be known.


2 “Veterinarians just want to make money from vaccines.” 
When developing vaccination protocols for the veterinary practice, current evidence-based guidelines (see Vaccine Guidelines) should be reviewed. Multiple core vaccinations for dogs and cats have a proven duration of immunity (DOI) of more than one year, and administration is recommended every 3 years after the initial series. However, noncore vaccines have a shorter DOI and will need to be administered at more frequent intervals. Vaccine administration is based on the individual risk factors for that patient, not financial gain. Therefore, vaccination recommendations may vary between patients based on each patient’s risk factors. 
3 “My puppy was vaccinated and then got parvovirus. The vaccine made my pet sick.”
Vaccination is particularly important in young animals because they are generally more susceptible to infection and tend to develop more significant disease. Although modified live vaccines can rarely revert to their pathogenic form and cause disease in the patient, maternal antibody interference is more likely to be the culprit in this situation and is the reason pediatric patients require a series of vaccinations. The maternal antibodies need to fall below a certain level before vaccination is effective. The level, which is variable, can occur between 8 and 16 weeks, depending on the mother’s vaccination history and the successful transfer of maternal antibodies via colostrum.

Unfortunately, the maternal antibodies can be high enough to block the immune response to the vaccine but not to protect the pet from an active infection. This window of susceptibility is a significant reason why an appropriately vaccinated pediatric patient can contract a disease despite being vaccinated. 

4 “My dog was vaccinated last year and got sick anyway. Vaccines do not work.”
Vaccination has been widely used in humans for more than 200 years and in companion animals for more than 50 years and has proven effective in controlling a range of major infectious diseases. The goal of vaccination is to create an adequate level of protective immunity to infectious disease.
An effective vaccine mimics the immune system’s natural response. A vaccine’s failure to produce the anticipated results is considered a rare adverse event and should be reported to the vaccine manufacturer.

A more common scenario is a lack of client education regarding vaccination goals. A good example is canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC), which encompasses a wide variety of pathogens. Vaccination may completely prevent some pathogens (eg, canine distemper) but only lessen the disease frequency and severity in others (eg, Bordetella bronchiseptica, parainfluenza). Many other CIRDC pathogens do not have vaccines available, which can confuse clients because the term “kennel cough” is commonly used to describe their pet’s illness. Many clients equate kennel cough with Bordetella bronchiseptica and believe the vaccine given to their pet was not effective.

5 “My cousin’s cat had to have his leg amputated. Vaccines often cause cancer.”
Feline injection-site sarcoma (FISS) is a rare but serious adverse event in cats. Reported rates are variable and current estimates are likely below 1 in every 10 000 vaccinations.4 Adjuvanted vaccines have been implicated in FISS formation because they may trigger a more significant inflammatory response, but this is controversial because many injectable products likely produce an inflammatory reaction. The AAFP recommends administering subcutaneous vaccinations in cats’ distal limbs to assist in identifying the likely causative agent for local reactions and neoplasia and to aid in management after a sarcoma has formed.

Conclusion
Rumors travel quickly when something like a vaccine is perceived as a danger rather than an aid to disease prevention. The veterinary team must be prepared to educate clients about the goals of vaccinations for their pets and explain why vaccinations are an important part of any wellness program.
REFERENCES

1. Day MJ, Schultz RD. Vaccination. In: Day MJ, Schultz RD, eds. Veterinary Immunology: Principles and Practice. 2nd ed. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 2014:233-247.
2. Welborn LV, DeVries JG, Ford R, et al. 2011 AAHA canine vaccination guidelines. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2011;47(5):1-42.
3. Day MJ, Horzinek MC, Schultz RD, Vaccination Guidelines Group. WSAVA guidelines for the vaccination of dogs and cats. J Small Anim Pract. 2010;51(6):1-32.
4. Scherk MA, Ford RB, Gaskell RM, et al. 2013 AAFP feline vaccination advisory panel report. J Feline Med Surg. 2013;15(9):785-808. 
5. Blois S. Vaccination strategies. In: Merrill L, ed. Small Animal Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell; 2012:413-416.
6. Day MJ, Schultz RD. Immune system ontogeny and neonatal immunology. In: Day MJ, Schultz RD, eds. Veterinary Immunology: Principles and Practice. 2nd ed. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 2014:213-220.
7. Blois S. Canine vaccines. In: Merrill L, ed. Small Animal Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell; 2012:416-421.
8. Adverse event reporting. United States Department of Agriculture: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/veterinary-biologics/adverse-event-reporting/ct_vb_adverse_event. Updated June 14, 2016. Accessed July 5, 2017.

AUTHOR
Liza Wysong Rudolph BAS, CVT, VTS (CP-CF, SAIM)East Coast Veterinary Education, Aberdeen, Maryland

Liza Wysong Rudolph, BAS, CVT, VTS (CP-CF, SAIM), has been working as a veterinary nurse since 2000 and began practicing in internal medicine in 2006. She earned her bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology from St. Petersburg College, Florida, and most of her clinical experience has been related to internal medicine and emergency and critical care. She enjoys educating and training veterinary nurses through consulting, lecturing, online continuing education, and publishing.

Please see the complete article HERE

Happy 4th of July!!!

​As the holiday approaches take some time out to consider the safety and comfort of your pet(s). While the Fourth of July is a time for fireworks and celebration, for many pets and their owners it can be a nightmare. The loud noises, flashing lights, and smell of sulfur can cause excessive fear in pets. Nervous behaviors such as trembling, whimpering, and panting may be distressful to the pet, but the animal’s natural response to flee from what he interprets as a threatening situation may result in serious injury. Some dogs are so frightened by fireworks that they may run through glass windows, or escape from the yard and run the risk of being hit by a car.
Here are a few tips to keep your pet calm and safe this Fourth of July:

1. Leave your pets at home and indoors. Most pets are afraid of fireworks and may try to run away.
2. Close all doors and windows and put on background music to muffle the sound.
3. Close curtains and blinds to block the flashing lights.
4. Be sure that your pets are wearing identification tags or have microchips in case they do run away or get lost.
5. Try to distract your pet with chew toys and games, or play with another pet that does not share his fear.
6. If you have time, desensitization techniques with appropriate sound CDs, such as thunder, fireworks, trains, sirens, etc. may help pets get used to the sounds at a lower volume, then as they become more comfortable, gradually increase the volume.
7. If your pet has noise phobias, call us to discuss natural homeopathic, non-sedating remedy to keep your pet calm during storm and fireworks seasons. Sileo is a new product that helps with noise adversion, contact us for more information. 

To read more about firework fear and behavior, go to http://www.wral.com/lifestyles/pets/story/3090123/.