Pet Gazette To Our Friends and Clients
PET GAZETTE NEWS FOR YOU AND YOUR PETS
Issue 1
1
Pet Gazette News for you and your pets
May 9, 2016 THE CREW
IN THIS ISSUE
To Our Friends and Clients by Deirdre
So much has changed for us here at MacDonald Veterinary Services. We moved to our new location here in Gilford about five years ago. We are loving it here! If you haven’t been to the location at 43 Gilford East Drive in Gilford, you should stop by and see us! Our parking lot is so much larger as well as our office space. Dr. MacDonald is loving spending time outside in the summer working on his garden that he now has space for. We also are loving how the area right around us is growing, with the new businesses moving in across the street, and in our building (welcome to the building Sheehan Tile)! Dr. MacDonald is looking forward to watching his practice grow for the next several years with the help of Dr. Montminy and the rest of the staff. As for our crew here at MacDonald Veterinary Services, we have a lot of updates. We are so happy to announce that Allison, one of our lovely technicians here, is graduating from Great Bay Community College on the 14th. We are so proud of how much she
has grown in the time that she has been with us and we are very excited to continue to help her expand in this career. We also want to wish Rachel, our CVT (certified veterinary technician), congratulations and best wishes as she is getting married on May 14th as well!
Fireworks and Thunderstorm Anxiety Dr. Montminy tells us some helpful hints to help your anxious pets get through thunderstorms and fireworks this summer.
Page 2
We recently added a new member to our family here. Courtney, our newest receptionist brightens our office with her bubbly personality. Whether you speak with her over the phone, or meet her in person you can’t help but love her.
Pet Fire Safety Did you know pets are responsible for starting about 1,000 house fires a year? Deirdre goes through ideas on how to keep our pets safe from fire danger.
Page 3
PET GAZETTE NEWS FOR YOU AND YOUR PETS | Issue 1
2
Fireworks and Thunderstorm Anxiety by Dr. Richard Montminy
For dogs that experience anxiety secondary to thunderstorms or fireworks, first remember not to encourage the behavior by giving extra treats, rewards, or attention. This may seem like a good way to soothe your dog, but can actually act as a positive reinforcement for the undesired behavior. Many dogs can benefit from wearing a Thunder Shirt or similar garment made to enhance calm by providing a slight constrictive sensation to their midsection (similar to swaddling for an infant). Such products are readily available in most pet stores and should be fitted appropriately to ensure they are not too tight. Alternatively, the effects of thunderstorms can occasionally be aborted by rubbing unscented dryer sheets on the dog’s hair coat (although this trick unfortunately does not work for fireworks phobia).
Pets in the News by Deirdre
Still another option is the application of a DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) collar. These collars should be worn at all times, and has a natural calming effect during times of stress. There is also an herbal relaxant called Composure which may help. If all else fails, pharmaceutical therapy can be used. Some medications such as Prozac are given daily while others like Xanax are given on an “as needed” basis prior to the anticipated anxiety attack. Most recently, SILEO oral gel offers calming without sedations for those suffering from noise aversion. As with other behavioral issues, we believe consultation with a behaviorist can be beneficial in developing a treatment protocol specific to your pet’s needs.
This shelter is funded by Lya Battle and Alvaro Saument and was started eight years ago. Both founders started this nokill shelter to promote animal welfare and respect. There are many commodities throughout this shelter including a bed in sheltered structures where volunteers can go to feed and bathe the dogs. Also there is fresh flowing water that is located in several locations over the whole property.
Have you heard of The Land of the Strays in Costa Rica? This is the name of a rescue society that allows the hundreds of rescued dogs to roam free over their many acres during the day. Each dog is named in this non-profit shelter. MacDonald Veterinary Services
•
If you find yourself in Costa Rica, you can go to this shelter for a free hike and visit all of these dogs, or you can schedule a walking hike on the property to see if any of the dogs pick you so you can adopt them. If you search online and on Facebook, you can find many pictures of these dogs as they wait for their forever homes.
43 Gilford East Drive Unit 2 Gilford NH 03249
• 603-524-8900
• www.macdonaldveterinaryservices.com
PET GAZETTE NEWS FOR YOU AND YOUR PETS
Issue 1
1
Pet Fire Safety by Deirdre
Every July there is a day that is dedicated to pet fire safety. Although we try to advise our clients everyday on how to keep their furry best friends safe, on July 15th we focus on the many fire hazards that surround our pets and some ways that we are able to protect them.
Candles are a very large risks when it comes to pets. Cats gracefully walking along your fireplace mantle or your dog clearing off your coffee table with his tail can be a normal sight for most pet owners. When you add candles to the mix, you could have a disaster on your hands. One simple way to avoid this problem is to have flameless candles, but keep in mind there are still some small dangers from some candle alternatives.
Stove tops are another danger to our pets. Cats often jump up onto countertops and walk on stoves. Occasionally they can knock into and turn on gas top ranges. A good way to avoid this issue is use knob covers which are found at most baby-proofing stores. Here is some advice to taking steps to keeping your pets safe in case of a fire:
Chewing on electrical cords is something that we fear here at MacDonald Veterinary Services, not only is it a large fire hazard, it is also a huge medical risk for your pets. Chewing on electrical wires is not just a destructive behavior, it could cause mouth burns as well as serious lung and nervous system damage.
National Pet Week Photos of our clients from our Facebook Page
Take an afternoon to draw up a disaster preparedness plan for your family and include the non-human members as well. Have plenty of smoke detectors and test them regularly. Place a “Pet Alert” sticker on the inside of your front door windows to make emergency crews aware. Keep a leash, carrier, or even a spare pillowcase near where you pets sleep in case you need to evacuate quickly.
PET GAZETTE NEWS FOR YOU AND YOUR PETS
Issue 1
1
AVMA Pet Health Awareness Events May/June/July 2016 May
National Service Dog Eye Examination month Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month May 1-7 – National Pet Week May 1-7 - Be Kind to Animals Week May 3 – National Specially-abled Pets Day May 5 – National Ferret Day May 14 – National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day May 14 – International Migratory Bird Day May 20 – Endangered Species Day May 15-21 – National Dog Bite prevention Week May 23 – National Heat Awareness Day
June
ASPCA’s Adopt a Shelter Cat Month American Humane Association’s Adopt-a-Cat Month National Zoo and Aquarium Month National Dairy Month June 5-11 – Pet Appreciation Week June 4 – International Hug Your Cat Day Jun 8 – World Oceans Day June 12 – World Pet Memorial Day June 24 – Take your Dog to Work Day
July
Heartworm Awareness It is very important that you keep your dog on heartworm prevention every month, year-round. Heartworm disease is mosquito-borne, but even though the summer is the most common time for infection, infection during winter months is possible. In addition to heartworms, the heart worm preventions that are available also help control intestinal worms, which are a year-round nuisance. Think of giving heartworm prevention as giving a monthly oral dewormer, because that is exactly what it is. Here is an interesting facts about heartworm pills; many people think that heartworm pills prevent the dog from getting heartworm for the next month, but actually heartworm pills work backwards. This means that when you give your dog a heartworm pill, it starts working on killing any heartworm larva that have been injected into your dog over the past month and within a week the medication is almost completely out of your dog’s system.
July 10-16 – National Farriers Week July 14 – Shark Awareness Day July 15 – Pet Fire Safety Day July 31 – National Mutt Day
Fun Facts A German Shepherd guide dog led her blind companion the entire 2100 mile Appalachian Trail Cows have best friends Norway knighted a penguin In Palding, Ohio, a police officer may bite a dog to quite it down. Outdoor cats’ lifespan averages about 3 to 5 years; indoor cats have lives that can last 16 years or more. When a household cat died in ancient Egypt, its owner showed their grief by shaving their eyebrows.
Issue 1
1
Pet Gazette News for you and your pets
May 9, 2016 THE CREW
IN THIS ISSUE
To Our Friends and Clients by Deirdre
So much has changed for us here at MacDonald Veterinary Services. We moved to our new location here in Gilford about five years ago. We are loving it here! If you haven’t been to the location at 43 Gilford East Drive in Gilford, you should stop by and see us! Our parking lot is so much larger as well as our office space. Dr. MacDonald is loving spending time outside in the summer working on his garden that he now has space for. We also are loving how the area right around us is growing, with the new businesses moving in across the street, and in our building (welcome to the building Sheehan Tile)! Dr. MacDonald is looking forward to watching his practice grow for the next several years with the help of Dr. Montminy and the rest of the staff. As for our crew here at MacDonald Veterinary Services, we have a lot of updates. We are so happy to announce that Allison, one of our lovely technicians here, is graduating from Great Bay Community College on the 14th. We are so proud of how much she
has grown in the time that she has been with us and we are very excited to continue to help her expand in this career. We also want to wish Rachel, our CVT (certified veterinary technician), congratulations and best wishes as she is getting married on May 14th as well!
Fireworks and Thunderstorm Anxiety Dr. Montminy tells us some helpful hints to help your anxious pets get through thunderstorms and fireworks this summer.
Page 2
We recently added a new member to our family here. Courtney, our newest receptionist brightens our office with her bubbly personality. Whether you speak with her over the phone, or meet her in person you can’t help but love her.
Pet Fire Safety Did you know pets are responsible for starting about 1,000 house fires a year? Deirdre goes through ideas on how to keep our pets safe from fire danger.
Page 3
PET GAZETTE NEWS FOR YOU AND YOUR PETS | Issue 1
2
Fireworks and Thunderstorm Anxiety by Dr. Richard Montminy
For dogs that experience anxiety secondary to thunderstorms or fireworks, first remember not to encourage the behavior by giving extra treats, rewards, or attention. This may seem like a good way to soothe your dog, but can actually act as a positive reinforcement for the undesired behavior. Many dogs can benefit from wearing a Thunder Shirt or similar garment made to enhance calm by providing a slight constrictive sensation to their midsection (similar to swaddling for an infant). Such products are readily available in most pet stores and should be fitted appropriately to ensure they are not too tight. Alternatively, the effects of thunderstorms can occasionally be aborted by rubbing unscented dryer sheets on the dog’s hair coat (although this trick unfortunately does not work for fireworks phobia).
Pets in the News by Deirdre
Still another option is the application of a DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) collar. These collars should be worn at all times, and has a natural calming effect during times of stress. There is also an herbal relaxant called Composure which may help. If all else fails, pharmaceutical therapy can be used. Some medications such as Prozac are given daily while others like Xanax are given on an “as needed” basis prior to the anticipated anxiety attack. Most recently, SILEO oral gel offers calming without sedations for those suffering from noise aversion. As with other behavioral issues, we believe consultation with a behaviorist can be beneficial in developing a treatment protocol specific to your pet’s needs.
This shelter is funded by Lya Battle and Alvaro Saument and was started eight years ago. Both founders started this nokill shelter to promote animal welfare and respect. There are many commodities throughout this shelter including a bed in sheltered structures where volunteers can go to feed and bathe the dogs. Also there is fresh flowing water that is located in several locations over the whole property.
Have you heard of The Land of the Strays in Costa Rica? This is the name of a rescue society that allows the hundreds of rescued dogs to roam free over their many acres during the day. Each dog is named in this non-profit shelter. MacDonald Veterinary Services
•
If you find yourself in Costa Rica, you can go to this shelter for a free hike and visit all of these dogs, or you can schedule a walking hike on the property to see if any of the dogs pick you so you can adopt them. If you search online and on Facebook, you can find many pictures of these dogs as they wait for their forever homes.
43 Gilford East Drive Unit 2 Gilford NH 03249
• 603-524-8900
• www.macdonaldveterinaryservices.com
PET GAZETTE NEWS FOR YOU AND YOUR PETS
Issue 1
1
Pet Fire Safety by Deirdre
Every July there is a day that is dedicated to pet fire safety. Although we try to advise our clients everyday on how to keep their furry best friends safe, on July 15th we focus on the many fire hazards that surround our pets and some ways that we are able to protect them.
Candles are a very large risks when it comes to pets. Cats gracefully walking along your fireplace mantle or your dog clearing off your coffee table with his tail can be a normal sight for most pet owners. When you add candles to the mix, you could have a disaster on your hands. One simple way to avoid this problem is to have flameless candles, but keep in mind there are still some small dangers from some candle alternatives.
Stove tops are another danger to our pets. Cats often jump up onto countertops and walk on stoves. Occasionally they can knock into and turn on gas top ranges. A good way to avoid this issue is use knob covers which are found at most baby-proofing stores. Here is some advice to taking steps to keeping your pets safe in case of a fire:
Chewing on electrical cords is something that we fear here at MacDonald Veterinary Services, not only is it a large fire hazard, it is also a huge medical risk for your pets. Chewing on electrical wires is not just a destructive behavior, it could cause mouth burns as well as serious lung and nervous system damage.
National Pet Week Photos of our clients from our Facebook Page
Take an afternoon to draw up a disaster preparedness plan for your family and include the non-human members as well. Have plenty of smoke detectors and test them regularly. Place a “Pet Alert” sticker on the inside of your front door windows to make emergency crews aware. Keep a leash, carrier, or even a spare pillowcase near where you pets sleep in case you need to evacuate quickly.
PET GAZETTE NEWS FOR YOU AND YOUR PETS
Issue 1
1
AVMA Pet Health Awareness Events May/June/July 2016 May
National Service Dog Eye Examination month Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month May 1-7 – National Pet Week May 1-7 - Be Kind to Animals Week May 3 – National Specially-abled Pets Day May 5 – National Ferret Day May 14 – National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day May 14 – International Migratory Bird Day May 20 – Endangered Species Day May 15-21 – National Dog Bite prevention Week May 23 – National Heat Awareness Day
June
ASPCA’s Adopt a Shelter Cat Month American Humane Association’s Adopt-a-Cat Month National Zoo and Aquarium Month National Dairy Month June 5-11 – Pet Appreciation Week June 4 – International Hug Your Cat Day Jun 8 – World Oceans Day June 12 – World Pet Memorial Day June 24 – Take your Dog to Work Day
July
Heartworm Awareness It is very important that you keep your dog on heartworm prevention every month, year-round. Heartworm disease is mosquito-borne, but even though the summer is the most common time for infection, infection during winter months is possible. In addition to heartworms, the heart worm preventions that are available also help control intestinal worms, which are a year-round nuisance. Think of giving heartworm prevention as giving a monthly oral dewormer, because that is exactly what it is. Here is an interesting facts about heartworm pills; many people think that heartworm pills prevent the dog from getting heartworm for the next month, but actually heartworm pills work backwards. This means that when you give your dog a heartworm pill, it starts working on killing any heartworm larva that have been injected into your dog over the past month and within a week the medication is almost completely out of your dog’s system.
July 10-16 – National Farriers Week July 14 – Shark Awareness Day July 15 – Pet Fire Safety Day July 31 – National Mutt Day
Fun Facts A German Shepherd guide dog led her blind companion the entire 2100 mile Appalachian Trail Cows have best friends Norway knighted a penguin In Palding, Ohio, a police officer may bite a dog to quite it down. Outdoor cats’ lifespan averages about 3 to 5 years; indoor cats have lives that can last 16 years or more. When a household cat died in ancient Egypt, its owner showed their grief by shaving their eyebrows.
