From the Editor

Happy Spring!  I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather we have been having and not suffering too badly with allergies! 

 I heard some interesting statistics lately that, as a cat, I should share with you.  The American Veterinary Medical Association published demographics on pet ownership and I was surprised to find out that there are more pets cats than pet dogs in the US!  Yeah cats!  However, while there are 60 million pet dogs and 70 million pet cats (not including strays), sadly, the average dog owner takes their dog to the vet twice as many times per year and spends three times as much on veterinary care than cat owners.  This is not including food or supplies not purchased at vet hospitals. What I notice here at the hospital is that dog owners are very good about bringing their pets in every year for a check up, tests and vaccines.  Cat owners, not so much.  Dog owners routinely purchase heartworm prevention and frontline for their dogs and will not do the same for their cats, even though it is less expensive.  Cats get most of the same diseases dogs do (and then some) yet some owners don’t want to pay for lab work, fecals and yearly visits to keep them happy and healthy.  It’s almost as if cats are the second rated stepchildren of the family. 

Please remember that EVERYONE deserves to have a check up at least once a year (that includes people too!).  The old cliché really is true, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.  Your pets will live longer, healthier (and less expensive) lives if you prevent diseases, rather than us trying to treat or cure them.

See you cats at the vet soon!

AKVH Staff News

Congratulations to our technician Susan and her husband Doug on the arrival of their baby boy!  Susan delivered Andrew Ty on 4/26 and both mom and baby are doing well.  Susan plans on returning to work part time late in the summer.

            Well, it only took us two years but we finally have a website!  The address is www.allkindsvet.com and provides basic information about the hospital.  You can even access this edition and past editions of Lefty’s Ledger.  In the future we hope to be able to take orders for food or refills of prescriptions online.  We’ll keep you posted.

            Now that Susan is out on maternity leave and Ruth is soon to follow you may notice some new faces in the hospital.  Laura is a new registered technician that comes with over 20 years of experience.  You will also see Jennifer at the front desk and Colleen in both the front and back.  We welcome them and hope that you will be a little patient with them as they learn our computer system.

SMAWL Events

The third annual SMAWL Animal Fair will be held at the fairgrounds on May 12^th from 10am-3pm.  We encourage everyone to come out for this family event; even well mannered pets are welcome if on a leash.  All entrance fees and donations go directly to SMAWL to continue their very important work of providing veterinary care and loving homes for so many animals.  AKVH will also be there to do microchipping at a reduced cost of $36.

In Remembrance

This portion of Lefty’s Ledger is dedicated to all of the beloved pets that have passed on. Our thoughts are with you.

“Jackson” Terry* “Shadow” LaFollette* “Buddy” French* “Sweetie” Hoppman* “Cooper” Belin* “Molly” Dillon * “Killian” Madel* “Rex” and “Daisy” Powdrill* “Ferdinand” Dempsey* “Nyla” Fratz* “Ren” Bayne* “Slider” Stump* “Fuzzy” Brinsfield* “Casey” Underwood* “Nelly” Charles* “Rainbow” Clark* “Little Bit” Wood* “Ricco” Brickman* “Escape” Pike* “Cody” Taylor* “Rush” Utara* “Dakota” Cole* “Iggy” Hester* “Grace” Walsh* “Robby” Walker* “Smokey” Berry* “Ruby” Loftis* “Ninja” Guana* “Wildman” Lindsay* “Scarlet” Oliver* “Cyress” Simpkins* “BigFoot” Kans* “Ditsy” Czirjak* “Smoke” Langston* “Ted” Walker* “Superstar” Vail* “Jack”Merson* “Creep” Dickinson* “SlimJim” Coleman* “BB” Barrick* “ET”Ware* “Celeste” and “Mosby” SMAWL* “Buttons” Ellis* ”Midnight” Janssen* “Bisjou” Mayberry

Health Related Issues

We know that many of you have been concerned about the pet food recall and we wanted to pass along any more information we know and some updates. First and foremost please check the menufoods.com website regularly to see if your pet food is listed in the recall.  While most vets and larger pet food suppliers have pulled the recalled foods from the shelf you cannot be sure that everyone has.  Secondly, there is still speculation to the specific agent that may be causing problems.  Many veterinary teaching facilities are doing research as we speak to see what the common denominator in these cases is. It was first suspected to be a toxin in the wheat gluten, then a byproduct of plastic called melamine but, to be honest, they are not sure yet. There is also not sure it is from food at all.  Out of the 60 million bags and cans sold less than 2 dozen confirmed deaths are thought to be linked to the food. Those animals died of kidney failure.  It is the leading cause of death in cats over 10 years of age and also very common in dogs.  What we can tell you here at AKVH is that we have had no related cases.  However, due to the increase in concerned clients running blood work we have been able to identify many other diseases and problems and initiate treatment.  I guess that is what you would call a “blessing in disguise”.  We encourage everyone to have lab work done on their pets at least yearly but if your pet is showing a change in appetite, thirst or urination we suggest having it done as soon as possible.   

            In light of the pet food scare we have had more clients ask about natural foods and raw diets.  There is a considerable amount of debate about natural/homemade or raw diets.  We at AKVH support appropriate natural diets, both for animals and people.  However, many homemade diets are lacking in adequate nutrition.  Clients need to be aware of the vitamins and minerals that cats and dogs need in addition to protein, fat and carbohydrates and what ratio of each.  Cats are carnivores and require a higher amount of protein (assuming they have normal kidney function) but, surprising to most owners, dogs are omnivores like us and need a more balanced diet.  Let us not forget about calcium, taurine, magnesium and other minerals necessary to prevent heart, muscle and bone problems.  Pet food companies such as Hill’s have been doing research for decades to determine what needs to be in pet foods to provide optimal nutrition for the life of your pet.  Even with doctors working continually on foods, there are changes made periodically as they learn more.

From the Doctor's Corner

To breed or not to breed, that is the question…

As you can imagine, in our profession we frequently get clients saying that they would like to breed their pet and would like to know our opinion on the matter (others don’t but get it anyway!).  When we ask the owner why they would like to breed most people honestly answer “money”.  What most owners do not understand is the financial and time commitment necessary to breed, especially in the beginning.  Remember that most large breed dogs, especially German Shepherds, Labs, Golden Retrievers and Rottweilers need to have a hip certification done before breeding.  This is to help prevent them passing along hip dysplasia, a hereditary disease that causes arthritis and pain and is frequently a reason for euthanasia. Most vets can do this at their facilities at a cost of $150-$200.  In addition, some pets require eye certification against hereditary eye problems such as retinal atrophy or cataracts, this certification must be done by a veterinary ophthalmologist.  This is just an example of tests required. In addition, many females have difficulty delivering so if you plan on breeding you should have a nest egg of about $1000 in case of emergency C section. Don’t forget, if your female can’t nurse, for whatever reason, newborns need to be fed every 2-3 hours all day long. Secondly, people say they want to breed because their pet is so wonderful that they want more just like him/her.  Those of you with children know that just because they are your offspring does not mean they have to be anything like you!  There are no guarantees that your pets offspring will look or act at all like your current pet.

            Lastly, as we have discussed before, there are numerous reasons not to breed.  First, spayed and neutered animals generally live longer and generally have less medical problems and are therefore, less expensive to care for. In addition, our local animal shelter, Tri County Animal Shelter, takes in over 1000 animals per month and has to euthanize almost HALF because there are not enough homes for them all.  One quarter of which they now report are purebreds.  The top breeds being Labs, Pit Bulls, German Shepherds, Beagles and Rottweilers.   

            The only acceptable reason why breeding should be done is to improve the breed.  That means that both the male and female have to be free of genetic and hereditary diseases and have a good personality.  Most people don’t understand that behavior is also hereditary.  Aggressive dogs make aggressive dogs.  Skittish, fearful dogs can make more fearful dogs.   Also, things like allergies and ear infections can also be hereditary. 

            While it may sound like we are absolutely against breeding, we are not.  We are just advocates for responsible breeding.  If you have any questions about what diseases your breed is predisposed to or what tests are required for breeding don’t hesitate to call us.