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 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:
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. 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
  We will be offering discounted boarding for any Hurricane Florence evacuees. Please call us at 706-546-7879 for availability.
Do you have questions about dental care for your dog?
Here are some common questions asked about pet dental health: Q: I’ve heard dental problems are common in dogs. How will I know if my dog has a dental problem? A: Dental disease is the most common disease in dogs. About 70% of dogs over the age of 3 are affected with dental disease. Check for redness or bleeding at the gum line, as well as tartar accumulation on the teeth. Also look out for signs of discomfort or foul smelling breath. If any of these symptoms are noticed, contact your veterinarian for a dental check-up. Q: What is tartar and why is it so bad? A: Bacteria naturally inhabit yours and your pet’s mouths. If allowed, it will breed on the surface of teeth to form an invisible layer of plaque. Plaque accumulation will eventually mineralize and thicken around the base of the tooth at the gum line and become visible tartar. Tartar begins to irritate the gums, causing inflammation known as gingivitis. If not removed, this process will continue and gums will become even more inflamed, leading to infection known as periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a serious condition which can lead to gum recession and eventually loss of teeth. Infections from periodontal disease can spread to other parts of the mouth, as well as internal organs such as the heart, liver and kidneys. Q: What can I expect when I bring my dog in for a dental exam and cleaning? A: A dental exam will include examination of the mouth, teeth, and gums, as well as a full physical examination to rule out any underlying health issues. If it is determined your pet would benefit from having tartar and plaque removed, your veterinarian will perform a dental cleansing and polishing. Plaque and tartar can only be removed by those specially trained and is performed under anesthesia. Blood work is needed to determine adequate liver and kidney function to ensure that anesthesia can be given safely during a dental cleaning. It may also be determined that your dog be started on antibiotics prior to a dental cleaning. During the cleaning, careful attention is made to remove the tartar above and below the gum line. Gum recession can occur when tartar accumulates below the gum line. If a diseased or loose tooth is found, an extraction may be necessary. Fluoride applications may be given to strengthen tooth enamel, along with antibiotics given to treat any bacterial infection. In addition, polishing the teeth creates a smooth surface which deters bacteria from accumulating. Polishing is an important part of preventative care because plaque and tartar naturally begin to form on teeth in as little as 6 hours after a dental cleaning. Q: What about special dental diets and treats? A: Special dental diets can play a role in reducing the accumulation of plaque and tartar formation. There are veterinarian approved diets that have tartar reducing ingredients or have larger kibble which are textured to aid in plaque removal. In addition, there are also special canine chew toys and treats that have tartar controlling ingredients. Many products such as oral rinses and water additives are also available that cut down on bacteria or have plaque reducing enzymes. Your veterinarian can give you specific dietary and dental aid recommendations that will help guide you in your pet’s dental health program. Daily brushings are the best form of tartar prevention in between dental cleanings. Q: How do I go about brushing my dog’s teeth? A: As important as the cleaning and polishing is to remove hardened deposits on the teeth, the prevention of plaque build-up is just as important. A dental program should include daily brushings using a veterinarian approved toothpaste and toothbrush. This helps maintain good oral hygiene and prevent build-up of disease causing plaque and tartar. Be sure to choose toothpaste made for dogs, which comes in a variety of canine-friendly flavors. Human toothpaste should NEVER be given to your dog, as it may contain harmful ingredients. When it comes to your dog's dental health, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Schedule your dog's dental evaluation today! Dr. Jeni Gustafson Dr. Kasey Stopp Dr. Sarah Clifton 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.
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
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:
To read more about firework fear and behavior, go to http://www.wral.com/lifestyles/pets/story/3090123/. While each cat has its own individual disposition and temperament, when it comes to body language, all cats communicate in essentially the same way! When you know what to look for, learning to interpret their message is not that difficult!
LEARNING THE BODY LANGUAGE OF CATS Tail Cat’s tails can be very expressive and are good indicators of the way they are feeling. For instance, the tail of a cat feeling:
A cat’s ears can provide a good visual indicator of their mood.
The meaning of the way a cat holds its head depends upon the cat’s circumstances of the moment, for example:
Whiskers can be used to measure their mood, for instance, whiskers that are:
Cats use their eyes to try to send a message, for instance:
A cat will use its body in ways that are intended to show affection and trust, for example:
Sources: http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/cat_communication.html#Body_language http://pets.webmd.com/cats/features/cat-body-language |
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