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Your April 2017 Newsletter from Largo Veterinary Hospital
April Pet Holidays
April 11: National Pet Day
April 22: Earth Day
 
Thinking about getting
a cute little bunny this year? 
Cute little bunnies turn into rabbit that need regular veterinary care. Although Dr. Daniels does not treat rabbits, we would still like to responsibly remind you of the care those sweet little Easter bunnies will need. Read these quick facts and follow the link for an informative article
  • Rabbits should not be considered “starter pets”
  • Must be provided safe shelter
  • Prefer to live indoors because they cannot tolerate extreme cold or heat
  • Live 7-10 years
  • Are natural chewers
  • Love to play so they need toys
  • Should NOT be fed: beans, cucumbers, cat/dog food, chocolate, cookies, corn crackers, eggplant, green beans, peas, potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, beets.
Before you get a rabbit read this article: myhouserabbit.com
Meet "Itsy Bitsy" Jenkins Our April 2017 Pet of the Month


I am a special pet because one look at me and I stole my parent’s hearts. Don’t tell Dr. Daniels but my favorite treat is baby food. One time my dad found me sitting in the bathroom garbage can, it was very funny. I also entertain my family when I talk to my dad like a macaw bird, you should hear me! I am loved so much that my family would do anything for me. Of course, they let me sleep anywhere I want.
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Largo Veterinary Hospital?
 
1000 points = $25 credit to your account OR a free nail trim
 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! How do you sign up?
Activate your VetScene Portal here:
 
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Pet First Aid Awareness Month
Do you know what to do during a pet emergency? Pets are an important part of our families, and April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month. This is the time to ensure you have the skills to take care of your furry family member.
 
Pet First Aid Tips:
Dehydration: To determine if your cat or dog is dehydrated, pull up on the skin between the shoulder blades. It should spring right back; if it stays tented this is a sign of dehydration.
 
Poisoning: Signs of pet poisoning include bleeding externally or internally, dilated pupils, drooling or foaming at the mouth, seizures or other abnormal mental state or behavior.
 
Seizures: If your pet has a seizure, make sure it is in a safe place, but do not restrain the animal. Keep your hands away from its mouth as your pet may not know who you are during a seizure and could bite you.
 
Heat Stroke: Signs of heat stroke or heat exhaustion include collapse; body temperature of 104 degrees F or above; bloody diarrhea or vomiting; wobbliness; excessive panting or difficulty breathing; increase heart rate; mucous membranes very red; and increased salivation.
 
Animal Bites: Pets bitten by other animals need vet attention to prevent the wound (even if minor) from becoming infected and to check for internal wounds. Never break up a dogfight yourself because you could be bitten. If your pet is bleeding, apply direct
pressure using gauze over the bleeding site. If blood soaks through, apply more gauze (do not removed soaked gauze) until you can reach a veterinary hospital.
More lifesaving information is available on the Red Cross Pet First Aid App that helps dog and cat owners to provide emergency care until veterinary assistance is
available. Owners have access to step-by-step instructions, videos and images for more than 25 common first aid emergencies. Click on the Red Cross icon to download the Red Cross App :
 
6 Things You Need to Know About
Heartworm Disease:
What is Heartworm Disease?
Heartworm disease is caused by a parasite lives inside the heart and blood vessels of the lungs. Heartworm disease is transmitted by mosquitoes.
 
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of heartworm disease are subtle and can be easy to miss. As the number of heartworms increases, the symptoms of coughing, lethargy, exercise intolerance, lack of appetite and weight loss become more apparent. 
 
Who is at risk?
Most people know that heartworm disease affects dogs, many are unaware that it can also affect cats. The fact is any animal can be bitten by a mosquito and therefore become infected with the parasite. 
 
How is it diagnosed?
Heartworm disease is most commonly diagnosed using blood tests that detect the presence of heartworms. 
 
How is it treated?
The goal of treatment is to kill the heartworms without harming the patient. Fortunately, the treatment options have improved but they still have potential risks. Infected animals usually receive a series of intramuscular injections, hospitalization and then strict confinement to limit exercise for weeks. The fact is, treatment is expensive, time consuming and not without risks. For these reasons the goal should always be prevention rather than treatment of this horrible disease.
 
What is the best way to prevent it?
The best way to treat heartworm disease is to prevent it in the first place.At Largo Veterinary Hospital we recommend Advantage Multi to protect your pets from heartworms. Before starting preventative medications on pets over 6 months of age, have Dr. Daniels test them for heartworm infection because serious complications can develop if an infected animal is started on certain preventatives.
 
Our Kids & Our Pets
"The future of our children and their ability to show compassion toward animals and each other, depends on us, to give them the skills necessary to make the world a better, kinder place to live".
-Colleen Paige founder of National Kids & Pets Day
The responsibility that a child can learn from caring for a pet is vital in their social development. Children that grow up with pets tend to be extremely nurturing and compassionate, making dedicated and loving parents and pet owners themselves. This, in turn, simply makes for a happier world. And who doesn't want that? "National Kids and Pets Day encourages parents to never leave small children alone with dogs and cats and other animals that have the potential to cause them harm.
 
Thousands of children a year are either injured or killed by family pets. Often these tragic events can be avoided. Millions of orphaned pets sit in shelters awaiting new homes. But be sure that your child and family are ready for a new pet. A recent study reveals that children raised with animals are less likely to develop allergic reactions to animals, so that is an added bonus to having animals already in the house when the kids start arriving. Celebrate your kids and pets... today and every day!
 
Bringing an animal into a family should be a privilege and done in a way that is safe for both child and animal. A successful adoption is based on the parents’ careful supervision and commitment to making it work safely for the pet and the child.
 Here’s a rough guide to what’s appropriate at what age:
Your pet and your newborn:
After the baby is born bring home one of the baby's items for your pet to sniff and prepare for the arrival. Keep cats out of your newborn's sleeping area but supervise an introduction so your cat's are not left out.
 
 Birth to six months: A quiet time for the animal/child interaction. No small child should be left unsupervised with an animal.
 
Six months to a year: Keep pet food and feeding areas away from crawling and toddling children. A child of this age will grab at whatever is in his or her path, so ears and tails are a target, and children have to be carefully supervised around animals to avert any unexpected reactions. It is not fair to expect your pets to tolerate such behaviors.
 
1-3 years: A time of exploration and for putting things in the mouth. A dog or cat who is possessive about his or her toys and food can be potentially dangerous to a child. The child is eye level with a medium to large dog, and dogs can see that as a threat.
 
4-6 years: By now, a child has mastered quite a lot of language and can understand more about how to interact with another living being, but a firm eye on the situation is still needed.
 
6-10 years: Your child can now help look after a pet – feeding, cleaning up, walking, and playing with a cat or dog or any other animal in the house.
 
Teens: At some point in the teen years, your child may develop other priorities in his or her life, such as sports, band, boys, girls, existential philosophy, or shopping. Pet-care chores can suddenly and dramatically go onto the back burner. Parental supervision is a must.
 
18-20 years: Many kids will be going away to college or joining the military. You need to be ready for the likelihood that taking care of the animals will revert back to the adults or other children in the family.
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Largo Veterinary Hospital  •  1120 Starkey Road  •  Largo  •  FL  •  33771

http://www.largovet.com

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