|
|
|
|
Comprehensive Veterinary Medical CareDedicated to the health, safety and happiness of the animals.
What we offer
Forever Paws Support GroupForever Paws is a support group for those individuals who are grieving the loss of their companion and special friend. The group is led by Dot (Dorothy) Nelson, a veterinary technician. It meets on the first Tuesday of every month at Kettle Moraine Veterinary Clinic, Plymouth from 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm. Forever Paws offers guidance and support to anyone who has experienced the death of a pet, pending death, or disappearance of a pet. This support group is here to help understand the process of grief. We talk about your experiences, memories, holidays, and special times shared with your pet. We laugh, cry, and most importantly, we listen. For more information or to register please call Kettle Moraine Veterinary Clinic at (920) 892-4225 or (920) 467-8195. Advice from the VetsEASTER DISASTERS Easter is a holiday that is typically spent with
family, friends and food. This celebration is often enjoyed with Easter
decorations and culinary treats that if not monitored closely can create
problems for our pets, sometimes with disastrous consequences. The
most common Easter disasters relate to our dogs and cats ingesting toxic or
non-digestible substances. Common toxins that are in our homes at Easter are
chocolate, macadamia nuts, raisins/grapes and Easter lily plants. These toxins
may cause your pet to become sick or possibly even die. If you know or suspect
your pet has eaten any of these, please call the Kettle Moraine Veterinary
Clinic immediately and we will advise you appropriately. Our pets also will eat non-digestible things that may cause obstructions in their stomach and/or intestines. Easter grass and ham bones are commonly available during this time. Both of these can cause physical obstructions in dogs and cats that would require extensive surgery to correct. Definitely keeping these items and any other potentially ingestible objects away from your pets can save their lives. Again, please call us if you suspect your pet may have ingested something harmful and we will help you to avoid an Easter disaster. FELINE HOUSE-SOILING Feline inappropriate elimination is the most common behavioral problem in cats and a frequent reason for relinquishment to animal shelters. Common complaints from owners include urinating or defecating outside the litter box or potentially even urinary marking on vertical surfaces. The behavior may include straining, painful or bloody urination/defecation, but frequently the owner notes no abnormalities. It may happen frequently or intermittently in a regular spot or generalized in the household. First, a thorough medical workup must be done including history, physical examination and urinalysis. This information will help to identify and resolve any medical or physiological problems. Common medical conditions found are bladder infections, urinary crystals or stones, kidney disease or anxiety/behavioral problems. Spaying or neutering of unaltered pets is also frequently advised. Next, the environment must be addressed. Depending on the history provided, there are many areas relating to the litter box that can be improved. Some examples are: litter box (number, size and location) and litter (type, depth and cleanliness). Also, how the pets in the household interact and changes in family schedules can influence the behavior of our feline companions. Thankfully, most cases of inappropriate elimination can be resolved. If you have concerns that your cat is not using the litter box appropriately, please call the staff at the Kettle Moraine Veterinary Clinic. We will help to identify possible causes and provide you the necessary tools to help your feline friend use the litter box all the time.
CANINE
HEARTWORM DISEASE Heartworm
disease is a potentially fatal disease in dogs caused by Dirofilaria immitis, a
blood-borne parasite. When a mosquito bites an infected dog and ingests the
microfilariae, or immature heartworm, the cycle of transmission has begun. For
the next ten to thirty days, the microfilariae further develop within the
mosquito, after which the microfilariae are now infective and able to be
transmitted to another dog from a bite by the mosquito. These infective larvae
travel in the dog's bloodstream to the heart where they mature for two to three
months and then start reproducing. Heartworms
cause disease by lodging in the heart and the main blood vessels leading from
the heart. The main symptoms seen are those of congestive heart failure, such as
coughing, weakness, exercise intolerance, lethargy, weight loss, and sometimes
death. Also, other organs such as the liver and kidneys are affected due to the
lack of blood flow. Symptoms are not immediately apparent as it may take several
years from the time your dog is infected to when it shows symptoms. This time
lapse gives your veterinarian the opportunity to do a yearly blood test to
detect an infection before your dog becomes ill. If your dog
tests positive on this blood screening test, other methods of testing may be
recommended, such as radiographs, blood chemistry panel, and urinalysis
to help stage the disease. Depending on the stage of the disease, a treatment
protocol will be recommended for your dog. Treatment is not without risk. A very
small percentage of dogs will die with treatment, however if your dog is not
treated, he is not likely to live more than a few weeks or months once symptoms
are present. Due to the
risk and expense of treatment, we recommend having your dog on a monthly
heartworm preventative to prevent the disease. The monthly preventatives kill
the heartworm larvae. Feline Inappropriate Urination Inappropriate urination is a very common problem in multi-cat households. One of the main reasons for this is because the litter box has become objectionable to the cat. This usually occurs because it is not cleaned frequently enough or because the cat does not like the type of litter in it. The other main cause is stress related. There are probably hundreds of these, but the more common are as follows: 1) a new baby in the house 2) a new person in the house 3) a new pet in the house 4) outside cats visible through windows 5) new carpet or furniture 6) new dog in neighborhood that can be seen or heard by inside cat Success of treatment relies heavily on duration of the behavior. If the problem has been going on for more than one month, success if very unrewarding. If the cat is urinating in more than two places or if you have more than two cats in your household, then treatment success is limited. Most successful treatments rely on a combination of behavior modification techniques, pheromone therapy, urinalysis, and often drug therapy. An appointment should be made to get a thorough history and discuss treatment possibilities. FEAR OF THUNDERSTORMS Anxiety to thunderstorms is most often created by our response to our pet's startle reaction to loud noises. Fear responses are often enhanced because owners try to comfort their dog and give it extra attention at the time of fear (this is called positive reinforcement). Although it is difficult and goes against how we would naturally comfort a child, it is better to act indifferent when your pet exhibits fear. You could distract your pet by playing their favorite game or reviewing basic commands such as "sit/stay". If your pet has already developed a serious anxiety, it is best to schedule an appointment and discuss other options with a veterinarian. Pet care while you are away... If you are having your pet kenneled with a caretaker
(family member, pet sitter, kennel, neighbor, etc.), please be sure to have a
“permission for veterinary care” form with them. As a pet owner, be aware that veterinarians are not
able to provide care for your animal unless you give permission to do so. If a “permission for veterinary care” form comes in to
the clinic with your animal, we will be able to provide care for your pet even
if you cannot be reached immediately. We appreciate it if you update phone/cell phone numbers
anytime your pet is left with someone else so that we can try to reach you for
follow-up/continued care decisions. Feel free to download or stop at our clinic for a consent form anytime. If you are not a client of KMVC, check with your veterinarian to see if they have a consent form for their practice.
PennHIP as a hip screening Method The Problem Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD)
The Solution
PennHIP is a science-based, hip-screening procedure capable of estimating the susceptibility for CHD in dogs as young as 16 weeks of age. The PennHIP method has been shown to have distinct advantages over other popular screening methods that are performed after the dog is two years of age or older (OFA). For more detailed information visit the PennHIP website www.vet.upenn.edu/pennhip Questions I don’t plan to
breed my dog: it’s my pet. Can it
benefit from the PennHIP information? Answer:
Yes, if your pet is found to be susceptible to hip Dysplasia (loose
hips), your veterinarian can recommend at an early age appropriate strategies
(diet, drugs, specific exercises) to delay or diminish the ultimate course of
the disease. How much will the
PennHIP procedure cost? Answer: The total fee for a PennHIP radiographic evaluation is $275.00. It is important to remember that the total service includes sedation/anesthesia, three radiographs, office consultation and all charges associated with mailing and film evaluation. Is the Procedure
safe? Answer: PennHIP is a safe procedure. Dogs with existing joint disease at the time of evaluation may experience some transient discomfort following any orthopedic exam. More than 400,000 dogs have been PennHIP evaluated, and there is no evidence to suggest that the PennHIP procedure is harmful to the hip joint. Useful LinksAnimal Eye Specialist of Wisconsin, Pewaukee WI Animal Poison Hotline - 888-232-8870 Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca NY Fox Valley Animal Referral Center, Appleton WI Healthy Pet - American Animal Hospital Association Heartgard - Protection to Live Lakeshore Veterinary Surgical Specialists PennHIP - The University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, Madison WI Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association
What breed background is your dog?
Wanting to know your dog's
breed mix is much more than a matter of curiosity. The combination of
breeds that make up a dog may affect its appearance, behavior, and well-being
in many ways. For
more information, visit www.WISDOMPANEL.com
|
|
Send mail to
webmaster@sns1.com with
questions or comments about this web site.
|
