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Your August 2016 Newsletter from Dr. Daniels
Does Your Pet Suffer
From Allergies?
Hill's nutritionists and veterinarians developed Prescription Diet® Derm Defense™ clinical nutrition specially formulated to help manage environmental sensitivities in dogs.
There are many types of environmental irritants that surround us and our pets each and every day including fleas, pollen and even the dust in our homes. For some dogs these irritants can cause a skin condition that may lead to scratching, sometimes excessively. The good news is most dogs with these skin conditions can benefit simply from the right food.
As Kids Head Back to School,
Our Pets Can Feel Left Behind
In households with school-aged kids, summers are typically full of fun for everyone in the family – including the dog. But what happens when the kids head back to school in the late summer and the house is suddenly quiet and lonely?
With this sudden change in daily routine, your dog  may experience depression or separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is triggered when dogs become upset because of separation from the people they’re attached to.
Signs your dog might be suffering from separation anxiety include destructive or anxious behaviors like:
  • Howling
  • Chewing
  • Pacing
  • Housesoiling
  • Attempting to escape from the house or yard
Here are some things you can do to help your pup overcome the “back-to-school blues.”
  • Schedule an appointment with your Dr. Daniels. Your dog’s anxiety might have an underlying medical cause or Dr. Daniels might have some additional ideas to help relieve your dog’s stress.
  • Consider preparing Kongs or meat bones stuffed with peanut butter or some other favorite treat and freezing it. Working to get the treat out will provide your dog a distraction from his stress and hours of enjoyment and mental stimulation while you’re gone.
  • Check out some doggie day cares in your area. A day or two of supervised play and exercise may be beneficial to your lonely dog.
  • Take your pooch for long morning walks to get him plenty of exercise and tire him out.
  • Spend quality time with your dog when you are at home; include him in family activities to assure him he’s still an important part of the family.
 
 
***Homemade Treat Alert***
Frozen chicken stock (onion free) & chopped fruit cubes. Your pups will thank you for this cool treat in the hot month of August!
Read More...
August is National Immunization Month
August is here, which means it is National Immunization Awareness Month! Just like us, its important for our pets to stay on top of their vaccines and immunizations.
 
Why are vaccinations important? Giving your pets their regular vaccinations is the key to a long and healthy life. Regardless of whether you keep your dogs and cats inside or not, vaccines are essential in ensuring your pets health.
 
Many contagious diseases are airborne, meaning your pet could contract it through an open window. Pets are also very prone to slipping out of the house on occasion, which could lead to risk of disease. Places you may frequently visit such as boarding kennels, dog parks, and grooming salons are high-risk environments.
 
Making sure your pet is vaccinated before visiting such places can give you peace of mind. Remember that vaccinations can take a few days to a few weeks before becoming effective – check with your Dr. Daniels before taking a recently vaccinated pet to any of these places!
 
Initial vaccines should be given to your puppies and kittens starting at six to eight weeks of age, with the final dose administered at 16 weeks of age.
 
Always keep your vaccination records and schedule biannual checkups with Dr. Daniels to monitor your pet’s overall health and to stay up to date with any vaccinations necessary.
 
Essential Vaccinations for Your Dog
 
If you’ve recently adopted a dog, here are the vaccinations you can expect Dr. Daniels to give your new pet:
  • Distemper Vaccine: This vaccination protects against Distemper, Hepatitis, Para influenza, and Parvovirus.
  • Rabies: Rabies virus is fatal and all mammals are susceptible to infections. In most states, dogs are required by law to receive the rabies vaccination.
Essential Vaccinations for Your Cat
 
If you’ve recently adopted a kitty, here are the common vaccinations you can expect Dr. Daniels to give your new pet:
  • Distemper Vaccine: This vaccination protects against Viral Rhinotracheitis, Callcivirus, and Panleukopenia.
  • Rabies: Rabies virus is fatal and all mammals are susceptible to infections. In most states, cats are required by law to receive the rabies vaccination.
 
Meet "Jaffa" Coon
Our August 2016 Pet of the Month

My name is “Jaffa” Coon and I am a 3-year-old Domestic Short Haired feline. My mom says I am the most well behaved cuddle bug kitty ever. 
Ssh....don’t tell Dr. Daniels but my favorite treat is catnip from my grandma’s garden. Something funny that happened to me was the time that I got my head stuck in a cup because I was drinking mom’s water without her looking. My owners love me so much that they always give me my favorite belly rubs when they get home from work. I enjoy chasing fish around their tank in my spare time. I am so spoiled that I even get to sleep on mommy’s tummy.
5 Benefits of Routine Vet Visits for Your Cat
August 22nd is Take Your Cat to the Vet Day, so here's a reminder of the top 5 reasons routine vet visits are vital to your cat's healthy life. 
  1. Cats age more rapidly than humans. A cat reaches the approximate human age of 15 during its first year, and then 24 at age 2. Veterinary care is crucial because a lot can happen in four “cat years,” which is why yearly visits are so important.
  2. Cats are masters at hiding illness. Cat's natural behaviors make them excellent at hiding how they feel when they are sick or in pain. Your cat could be developing a health condition long before you notice anything is wrong. Dr. Daniels is trained to spot changes or abnormalities that could be overlooked and detect many problems before they advance or become more difficult to treat.
  3. Over 50% of cats are overweight or obese. Dr. Daniels will check your cat's weight and provide nutritional and enrichment recommendations to help keep your cat at an ideal weight. Just a few extra pounds can put cats at risk for diabetes; heart, respiratory, and kidney disease; and more.
  4. Preventive care is better than reactive care. Information discussed, along with a thorough physical examination, provides you with a plan to help your cat remain healthy. Regular exams can help avoid medical emergencies since Dr. Daniels can often detect conditions or diseases that may affect your cat’s health long before they become significant, painful, or more costly to treat.
  5. Kittens have 26 teeth, while adult cats have 30. That equates to a lot of dental care! Periodontal disease is considered the most prevalent disease in cats three years of age and older. Often there are no obvious signs of dental disease. Most cats with dental disease still eat without a noticeable change in appetite!  
Largo Veterinary Hospital  •  1120 Starkey Road  •  Largo  •  FL  •  33771

http://www.largovet.com

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