Summer 2010 Newsletter

Allergies

Does your animal scratch to the point where he/she is raw? Does your pet hack and cough constantly? Does your pet have watery eyes?

Just like humans, pets can suffer from allergies. Pets can get allergies through skin contact with the allergen, breathing in allergens, and/or by ingesting allergens.

Possible signs of allergies:

• Scratching
• Licking paws
• Hacking
• Watery eyes
• Congestion
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting

Treatment for allergies varies depending on the degree of the irritation. Treatments can include the following:

• Remove of the irritant
  
• Antihistamines
  
• Corticosteroids
  
• Immunotherapy
  
• Switching pet food to a hypo-allergenic diet.

If the allergies are consistently bad and we can’t seem to determine what your animal is specifically allergic to, we offer allergy testing.

Flea/Tick/Heartworm Preventative

Now that the weather is getting warmer, fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes are out. We highly recommend that your pet be on a flea/tick preventative through the warmer months up until the first real hard frost.

Ticks are now carrying more diseases such as Anaplasomis and Ehrlichiosis in addition to Lyme disease. So, it is extremely important to have your pet protected. We recommend Frontline Plus, Advantix, or Advantage depending on your pet’s lifestyle.

We also recommend having your pet on heartworm medications year round. Not only does it protect against heartworm but it also takes care of some internal parasites that your pet may be exposed to.

For dogs, we recommend Heartgard Plus or Interceptor as year round heartworm preventatives.

You might be wondering, can cats get heartworm too? The answer, is YES they can. Unfortunately it is harder to detect in a cat. The symptoms can look very similar to an Upper Respiratory Infection.

If your cat is going to be going outdoors, we recommend using Revoultion as a heartworm preventative. Not only does it protect against heartworm but it also protects against ear mites, roundworms, and hookworms.

Heat Stroke

Now that it is getting warmer, it is extremely important that you do not leave your pet in your vehicle. It can reach over 110 degrees with in 10 minutes.

If you do need to leave your pet in your vehicle make sure that keep your windows rolled down or significantly cracked to allow air flow for your pet.

If possible:

Park in a shaded area.
Leave the AC on in your vehicle.
Make sure your pet has plenty of water available to them.
Do not leave your pet in the vehicle for long periods of time.

Please use extreme caution when choosing to leave your pet in your vehicle.
Your pet could become extremely dehydrated and potentially die if left in a warm vehicle for long periods of time or in some cases short periods of time.

What is new @ Stoneledge?

Dr. McConnell (Dr. Mac) is now working full time at Stoneledge. We are very pleased to have her on board.

Amanda, our receptionist, is now back after being on maternity leave. Amanda and her husband had a beautiful baby girl named McKenzie on March 21, 2010. Please all join in congratulating the proud new mom.

Stoneledge is NOW on FACEBOOK.
Please become a fan!!

Now, selling Pet Odor candles, Furminators, and Kongs.
We also have new treats that are great for hiding your pets medication.

Collars and leashes are on sale while supplies last.
$7.00 plus tax for leashes
$5.75 plus tax for collars.

Gift Certificates now available.

Winter 2009/2010

H1N1 virus- Are your animals at risk?

There has been a lot of concern regarding the possibility of animals contracting the H1N1 virus. So far, a few cases have been found where they have been positive for the H1N1 virus.
The H1N1 virus resembles most viral respiratory infections which can make it hard to diagnose. Clinical signs to watch for are:

1. Coughing
2. Sneezing
3. Runny nose/eyes
4. Lethargy
5. Loss of appetite
6. Respiratory abnormalities (dyspnea, tacgypnea)

As of right now, there is no H1N1 vaccine for pets and the human H1N1 vaccine should not be used.

Animals are contracting the virus from people. It is not known if an infected pet will spread the 2009 H1N1 virus to other pets or to people. If you have any ill pets please have them seen by a veterinarian especially if someone in the household has been ill with flu like symptoms.
If you have any questions please feel free to call us.

Or visit the AVMA’s website for the latest up to date information regarding the H1N1 virus.

http://www.avma.org/public_health/influenza/new_virus/new_flu_virus_faq_pet_owners.asp


Our Emergency Referral Partners

Stoneledge Animal Hospital is a member hospital of the Animal Emergency Clinic on Warren Avenue in Westbrook, Maine. There is also a new emergency/specialty referral hospital just off Route 1 in Scarborough, called the Maine Veterinary Referral Center. These clinics are open 24 hours a day/ seven days a week for services including: ICU care, hospitalization & monitoring, emergency surgery, and medical treatments.

When we are not available or when we feel your pet needs these special services for the best care, we will refer you to one of them. We receive a fax of your pet’s history after treatment so their medical records with us are complete. Often follow up exams will be done through Stoneledge for continued care.

These clinics exist, much like our human ER’s, for the best benefit of your pets, so that immediate help is available when necessary.

The numbers for both clinics are listed on our answering machine.
Animal Emergency Clinic 207-878-3121Maine Vet Referral Center 207-885-1290


Pet Insurance

Have you ever wished that your medical insurance covered your pets? Well, there is pet insurance available for your furry friend(s).

What pet health insurance does is helps you pay your veterinary bills for your dogs or cats. You select the plan you want. Once you meet the deductible the insurance company then reimburses you.

There are many pet health insurance companies out there. Here is a list of some we see/hear of the most.

ASPCA- Pet Health Insurance 1-866-861-9092 www.aspcapetinsurance.com/info

VPI Pet Insurance 1-800-872-7387
www.petinsurance.com

Pets Best Insurance 1-866-578-1175
www.petsbest.com/b3


Personal Notes

You may have noticed that Stoneledge Animal Hospital has added some new friendly faces to the practice.

Dr. Laura McConnell (Dr. Mac), DVM.

&

Teresa Beal- Licensed Technician.

We are pleased to have them on board at Stoneledge Animal Hospital.

On a sadder note, Dr. Eve Knowles, DVM will be leaving Stoneledge Animal Hospital at the end of December.

Please join us in wishing her the best in the coming year.

We now have a digital photo frame in our waiting room.


Do you have any comments/suggestions for our clinic/staff?

Please email us and let us know.

For Pet Photos/
Comments/
Suggestions
Only

Please Email Us

LstoneLegeanima
@maine.rr.com