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Your March 2020 Newsletter From Largo Veterinary Hospital
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| March is Poison Prevention Awareness Month
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March 3: It Pets Had Thumbs Day
March 9-13: Professional Pet Sitters Week
March 13: K-9 Veteran’s Day
March 16-22: National Poison Prevention Week
March 23: National Puppy & Kitten Day
March 28: Respect Your Cat Day
March 30: Take a Walk in the Park Day
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4 Reasons to Thank Your
Pet Sitters During March 9-13th
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- Your pets are happier and experience less stress at home in their familiar environment.
- Their diet and exercise routines are uninterrupted which minimizes the stress of you being absent.
- No travel trauma for both you and your pet.
- Your pet's exposure to illness is minimized.
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Meet Padimae Willett Our March 2020 Pet of the Month
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| | Hi, my name is Padimae and I am an 11-year-old Pomeranian. I am a very special little lady who brings happiness to anyone in my presence. I love to play and do things you wouldn't expect. Playing in the kiddie pool is my favorite activity. I jump in-and-out and in-and-out chasing my ball fearlessly dunking my head under to retrieve the ball from the pool. My parents love me so much that they bought me my own car seat to ride safely in the car. I get to travel to so many different places. Don't tell my dad but I think I have more outfits than he does! My other secret is that my favorite food is meatballs. I am so spoiled that my parents let me sleep anywhere I want!
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YOUR PET COULD BE OUR
NEXT PET OF THE MONTH!
To enter your pet into our monthly drawing to become Pet of the Month: Stop by our office and fill out a quick form telling us why your pet deserves to win. Or email us at info@largovet.com and we'll email you the form.
Winners receive a gift for you and your pet, a gift certificate to Largo Veterinary Hospital, a photo and feature in our newsletter, and your pet's name on our sign in front of the hospital.
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| HAVE YOU JOINED US ON
SOCIAL MEDIA?
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Daylight Savings is March 8th
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| Your cat probably already commands respect from you but here's a list of 10 things respectful cat owners should know how to do and videos of each in the link.
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6 Myths About
Military Working Dogs
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| | March 13th recognizes National K9 Veterans Day. Dogs were called to duty after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. Canines were used as sentries, message carriers and several other functions. Over the years the military, police and rescue have developed a variety of training methods for K9 units. Their training is tailored to meet the demands of the job and each animal and handler carries out his or her duties to the fullest. Here are some myths about these loyal soldiers:
MYTH: MWDs get titanium tooth implants so their bites cause more damage.
TRUTH: This was a myth perpetuated after the infamous Navy SEAL dog Cairo was thrust in to the spotlight after being named as being part of the Osama Bin Laden raid.
The truth is that military dogs can receive a titanium tooth but only if an existing tooth becomes damaged. It’s the same as a human receiving a crown. A dog’s actual tooth is already stable, strong, and effective enough on their own that there is no reason to replace them unless for medical reasons.
MYTH: Military working dogs bite to kill.
TRUTH: MWDs certified in patrol/bite work are very capable of causing serious bodily harm and possibly even death. However, MWD’s are not trained to kill or even trained to bite vital areas of the body such as the head, neck, or groin. Handlers train MWDs to “apprehend” suspects which means biting and holding on to them until the handler arrives to detain them. MWDs are however, taught to apprehend suspects by clenching down on a meaty part of the body such as an arm or leg.
MYTH: MWDs are left behind in war zones.
TRUTH: This wasn’t always a myth. Tragically, after the Vietnam War, military dogs were left behind and not brought home with their handlers. Now this couldn't be further from the truth. Handlers are made to repeat: “Where I go, my dog goes. Where my dog goes, I go.”Every military working dog is brought back to the U.S. bases from which they deployed with their handlers.
MYTH: MWDs go home with their handlers every day.
TRUTH: When deployed, handlers and their dogs are inseparable and will stay in the same living quarters. However, when back at their U.S. base, handlers are not allowed to bring their dogs home at the end of each day, and for good reason. Every MWD is an incredibly valuable asset to each base and there are simply too many risks in allowing them to stay anywhere but a controlled kennel area. While it may sound harsh, there probably aren’t cleaner kennels in the world than on U.S. military base.
MYTH: Every MWD is trained to detect both narcotics & explosives.
TRUTH: While all dogs receive the same patrol training, not all receive the same detection training. Each dog trained in detection specializes in either narcotics or explosives detection but not both. There are several different odors for both narcotics and explosives for dogs to learn, too much for a dog team to train and be proficient on so they must specialize in one or the other.
MYTH: All MWDS are male.
TRUTH: Females make just as good of an MWD as their male counterparts and are frequently used. They meet the same standards males do in becoming certified military working dogs in both patrol and detection. The only real and obvious difference is females are generally smaller than the males but in a military working dog world it’s not the size of the dog that matters, it’s the size of the fight in the dog, and well-trained female MWDs will fight at all costs to protect their handlers.
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MARCH IS POISON PREVENTION MONTH:
TOP 10 PET POISONS IN YOUR HOME
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| Pets are naturally curious creatures. They can't resist toppling over the trash can or rooting through your backpack to search for tasty treats. The habit can lead to illness or even death if your cat or dog consumes poisonous or toxic food or chemicals. Fortunately, keeping your pet safe from accidental poisoning can be as simple as having an awareness of the most dangerous poisons in your house.
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| DOG POISONS |
CAT POISONS |
- Chocolate
- Mouse and Rat Poisons (rodenticides)
- Vitamins and Minerals (e.g., Vitamin D3, iron, etc.)
- NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.)
- Cardiac Medications (e.g., calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers, etc.)
- Cold and Allergy Medications (e.g., pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, etc.)
- Antidepressants (e.g., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)
- Xylitol
- Acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol)
- Caffeine Pills
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- Topical spot-on insecticides
- Household Cleaners
- Antidepressants
- Lilies
- Insoluble Oxalate Plants (e.g., Dieffenbachia, Philodendron, etc.)
- Human and Veterinary NSAIDs
- Cold and Flu Medication (e.g., Tylenol)
- Glow Sticks
- ADD/ADHD Medications/Amphetamines
- Mouse and Rat Poison
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If you suspect your pet has ingested any of these items or any other questionable substance, call Pet Poison Helpline or Dr. Daniels for assistance. Accurate and timely identification of the suspected substance is very important. Having the container, package, or label in hand will save valuable time and may save the life of your pet! |
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