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Your October 2016 Newsletter from Dr. Daniels

 
Wow, October is a busy month!
Did you know, October is Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month, Service Dog Month, Pit Bull Awareness Month, National Animal Safety & Protection Month, and National Pet Wellness Month! Not to mention all the special pet "days" that occur this month too...What a busy month.
As much as we like to use this monthly newsletter to inform you on all important monthly topics, that is just too much info. So we chose to tie in Pit Bull Awareness Month and Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog since the #1 breed found in shelters are Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes.
However, please take time to like us on Facebook and we will cover each topic as well as post photos of your pets and their medical conditions to help keep everyone well informed. 
10 Excellent Traits of a Pit Bull
With nearly 18,000 pit bull and pit mixes sitting in shelters waiting for their forever homes, the least we can do is give you 10 reasons why they are a great breed to choose. 
 
 #1 - They're easy to train.
This breed is easier to train than many other breeds. Pit bulls are more likely to obey their owners and require fewer command repetitions. 
 
#2 - They're active dogs.
For owners who love to be active, pit bulls will keep you well exercised. This breed is very energetic and requires daily activity to stay in shape and remain content.
 
#3- They fare well in the heat.
This breed does well in hotter climates, due to their short-low maintenance fur. Don’t expect a pit bull to adjust well to cold locations.
 
#4 - They suffer from few dental problems.
You won’t have to worry about this breed’s high dental bills. Pit bulls have great dental health and very few, if any, dental problems during their lifetime.
 
#5 -They can be great with kids.
When trained properly, the American pit bull terrier is considered playful and great with children. The pit bull was given the nickname "Nanny Dog" in the 50’s because they were so good with kids. You can find many images from that era showing kids and pit bulls together.
 
 
#6 - Protective of Their Owners.
Their loyal nature can lead the breed to protect its owner in times of crisis.
 Most rarely bark and can be too trusting of humans unless they need to protect their family.
 
# 7- Eager to please
Despite the bad rep the breed has received, the pit bull was actually bred to be loving of his family and to be eager to please – he will do anything his owners asks of him—making him perfect for any performance sport. A well-socialized pit bull has a very “lab-like” personality.
 
#8 – "Locking Jaw" is a Myth
 Many people believe that the pit bull can lock their jaw – making it impossible to get them to release something they are holding. And while they do have strong jaws, studies have proved there is nothing different about it than other breeds; they cannot lock their jaw. (www.realpitbull.com)
 
#9 - An abused pit can still be a trustworthy pet.
Overall too many pit bulls of have been horribly abused, neglected, and/or forced to fight. Still they love people more than anything, and still will be loving family pets. Each dog is an individual and should be judged by his current personality and behavior. Certainly he may be influenced by his genetics and history. But consistent training can transform an unpredictable dog into a great pet.  Responsible rescues and shelters evaluate dog behavior prior to adoption, and then adopt out only those pit bulls that display the proper temperament toward humans.
 
#10 - They have long lifespans.
A pit bull will be part of your family for many years to come. The average life span is 8-15 years.
 
 
Is My Pet Overweight? 
More than half of all pet dogs and cats in the US are considered to be overweight? Here are 5 things your need to know about you pet's weight:
How many extra pounds does it take for my pet to be at a higher risk for potentially serious medical conditions? Not as much as you might think. Just 5 extra pounds for dogs and 2 extra pounds for cats could be harmful to your pet!
 
What are the most common health concerns faced by overweight and obese dogs and cats?
  •  A decreased life expectancy of approximately 2.5 years
  • Chronic pain from osteoarthritis
  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Heart and respiratory disease
  • Knee ligament injury
  • Kidney disease
Some medical problems like diabetes and high blood pressure require daily, long-term medications, and the costs associated with ligament injury could be in the thousands. 
 
All pet owners are perfectly aware if their pet is overweight.
WRONG! Most pet owners do not realize that their pets are overweight or are in denial.
 
How do I know if my dog or cat is overweight?
Here are some easy checks you can perform on your dog or cat.
What do you do if you need help getting weight off your pet? Make an appointment with Dr. Daniels, come up with a plan together, put the plan in motion, and then celebrate with us when your pet reaches a healthy weight!
Beware of Online Pharmacies
Shopping at online pharmacies can help save money on medication for pets just as it does medication for people. Why are Practices of Illegitimate Online Pharmacies Dangerous?
 
The United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), revealed that its own investigations identified a number of online companies selling counterfeit products and unapproved drugs that could pose a risk to the health of your pet.
 
Some websites are shipping expired drugs, while others dispense without a prescription or make false claims as to the benefits of a particular drug. Selling products without the requirement of a prescription poses an immediate risk to the health of your pet. Concerns have also been raised about a class of pain relievers available online that is known to cause internal bleeding in pets if consumed regularly.
 
Purchasing unregulated medicine is dangerous because your animal is unable to communicate if it is effective or even harmful. Buying online from an unregulated pharmacy cannot guarantee you that the drugs you have purchased are not already expired and repackaged in someone’s basement. If the medication you purchase does not do what it is supposed to, your animal is at risk of disease and that can have an impact on your home and family as well.
If counterfeit pet medication fails, the money you saved will end up costing you more later if you need to purchase medication again from another provider or possibly treat a condition that has resulted from the counterfeit medication.
 
If there are recalls on particular products, products sold on the internet often do not contain the necessary packaging to ensure that the manufacturer can be traced. In these cases, no guarantees are provided.
 
Drugs are dangerous to everyone when there is no professional involvement. A veterinarian is needed to monitor the care of pets. Saving money won’t necessarily save your animal’s life. 
Meet "Chester" Garton
Our October 2016 Pet of the Month

I am a 2 year old DSH feline. My owner says I am special because I am precious. I have a very love-able personality and talk to my owner all the time. Shhh...don't tell Dr. Daniels but my favorite treats are "Irresistibles". My owner spoils me by letting me sleep with him every night!
We are excited to announce
our Rewards Program!
1000 points = FREE nail trim OR
 a $25 credit to your account
How do you sign up?
Activate your VetScene Portal here:
Activating your account automatically gives you 200 points
Every dollar you spend on services or products = 1 point
There are more ways to earn points too, once you sign up we'll email you all the details!
 
READ MORE:
 

 
 
Largo Veterinary Hospital  •  1120 Starkey Road  •  Largo  •  FL  •  33771

http://www.largovet.com

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