Holiday Pet Hazards
While
you are busy making your festive plans for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah,
Christmas and New Year's, please don’t forget to include your pets. The holidays are a
time for giving, but there are some things you should not share with
your furry friends. Once you know the hazards, a little precaution and
prevention will make holidays a happy time for everyone.
Some of the more common holiday hazards include:
Bones: The holiday turkey or chicken will leave a lot of tantalizing bones, but don't feed them to your pet. Beware of steak bones, too. Small bones or bone chips can lodge in the throat, stomach, and intestinal tract.
Holiday plants: Holly and mistletoe are extremely poisonous when eaten. The lovely poinsettia may not be truly poisonous but its milky white sap and leave can certainly cause severe gastric distress. With so many hybrid varieties available each year, the best approach is to keep the plants out of your pet's reach.
Electrical cords: Holiday lights mean more electrical cords for kittens and puppies to chew. Be sure you have cords secured and out of the way.
Candles: Lighted candles should never be left unattended and that is even more
important if left at kitty’s eye level or within puppy’s chewing zone.
An exuberant tail or a swat of a paw can turn candles and hot wax into
an instant disaster. Anchor candles securely and away from curious faces
and feet.
Pine needles: Check around holiday trees frequently. Ingested pine needles can puncture your pet’s intestines.
Holiday tree: Make sure your tree is well secured. If you have a tree-climbing cat
or large dog with a happy tail, anchor the top of the tree to the wall,
using strong cord or rope. Preservatives often used in the water in a
tree stand can cause gastric upsets, so be sure it is inaccessible or
not used. Avoid sugar and aspirin additives in the water as well.
Ornaments: Sharp or breakable ornaments, dreidels, and even aluminum foil should
be kept out of reach. String objects, especially tinsel and ribbons,
are to be safeguarded at all costs. They are thin and sharp and can wrap
around intestines or ball up in the stomach.
Stress and company: With everyone coming and going, watch out for open doors and sneaky
pets. Make sure your pets have updated collars and tags on in case of
escape. Microchipping your pet will also help if your pet escapes. All
pets should have at least two forms of id on them at all times. Ask
guests to keep an eye out for pets under foot and remind them that
sometimes your normally friendly dog or cat may be less than willing to
deal with enthusiastic children and rooms full of unfamiliar people.
Provide a special quiet place with a blanket and fresh water for your
pets to retreat to when the festivities get too stressful.
U.S. District Court Rules PetArmorTM Plus Violated Merial Patents on Frontline - Orders Seizure
Sequoia welcomes Dr. David Clark & Dr. Philip Bosse to our team!
At the end of May, Sequoia Veterinary Hospital said farewell to two outstanding and dedicated veterinarians in our practice, Dr. Juli Murphy and Dr. Jill York. After many years with the Sequoia family, they moved their family out of the area.
But upon their departure, we gained two new great doctors - Dr. David Clark & Dr. Philip Bosse!
Dr. David Clark grew up in the Boston area, and completed his undergraduate degree at Wesleyan University in Connecticut in 1996. He moved out to San Francisco to continue his veterinary training and went back to school soon after. He received a Master's Degree in Animals and Public Policy from Tuft's Veterinary School in 1999, and his veterinary degree from U.C. Davis in 2003. David has been working at various hospitals in the San Francisco area since that time, and has a strong interest in internal medicine and dentistry. David currently lives in San Francisco with his wife, Lindsay and two children, Isadora and Griffin. He also has one dog, Puck, and two cats, Icarus and Squig.
Dr. Philip Bosse hails from North Carolina. Born and raised in eastern NC he attended North Carolina State University completing a bachelor’s in Animal Science in 2004 before attending veterinary college at the same university, graduating in 2008. After veterinary school he completed a rotating small animal internship in Connecticut with a focus on emergency work as well as working with specialists in various fields. A need to explore brought Philip out to California, but the excellent weather and good people have made it his home. Philip currently has one cat, Seymour, who he rescued while in Connecticut after being surrendered to the hospital with a fractured femur.
To learn more & see photos, please visit the Doctor page!
Prescription Diet Foods Available for Order - Online or by Phone
Sequoia Veterinary Hospital will no longer carry a large quantity of prescription diets. Diets are now available for purchase online to be delivered to your home, or can be ordered by phone (with one week notice) for pick-up at SVH.
Refills can be ordered through our online store (click here to be redirected). Purchasing food at our online store is inexpensive, will provide convenience, and is easy to use. In addition to the prescription diets, here you can also purchase flea & tick preventatives, heartworm medications, pain management medications, and accessories! Shipping is free on select items, and is also free when you set up automatic refills. Shipping for all Royal Canin products is only $2.99.
If you wish to reorder food or prescriptions for pick-up at Sequoia Veterinary Hospital, please call us at 650.369.7326, at least one week in advance to place an order. You will be transferred to a reorder-line where you will leave a message including details regarding your request. You will be called once the refill request is completed.
Buyer Beware: Purchasing Pet Drugs Online
Article by FDA - Consumer Health Information
"Discount pet drugs - no prescription required" may appeal to pet owners surfing the web, but FDA experts say it can be risky to buy drugs online from sites that tout this message and others like it.
Some of the internet sites that sell pet drugs represent legitimate, reputable pharmacies, says Martine Hartogensis, D.V.M., deputy director of the Office of Surveillance and Compliance in FDA'S Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM). But others are fronts for unscrupulous businesses operating against the law. FDA has found companies that sell unapproved pet drugs and counterfeit pet products, make fraudulent claims, dispense prescription drugs without requiring a prescription, and sell expired drugs. Pet owners who purchase drugs from these companies may think they are saving money, says Hartogensis, but in reality, they may be short-changing their pet's health and putting its life at risk. CVM regulates the manufacture and distribution of animal drugs, while individual state pharmacy boards regulate the dispensing of prescription veterinary products.
Some foreign internet pharmacies advertise that veterinary prescription drugs are available to U.S. citizens without a prescription. But, says Hartogensis, "There is a risk of the drugs not being FDA-approved." A foreign or domestic pharmacy may claim that one of its veterinarians on staff will "evaluate" the pet after looking over a form filled out by the pet owner, and then prescribe the drug. "A veterinarian should physically examine an animal prior to making a diagnosis to determine the appropriate therapy," says Hartogensis. CVM is especially concerned that pet owners are going online to buy two types of commonly used prescription veterinary drugs - nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and heartworm preventives. "Both drugs can be dangerous if there is no professional involvement," says Hartogensis. "It's not generally a concern if the owner uses a legitimate online pharmacy and mails in a prescription from their veterinarian, who is monitoring the animal. But if there is no veterinarian-client-patient relationship, it's a dangerous practice."
NSAIDs and Heartworm Preventives
Veterinarians often prescribe NSAIDs to relieve pain in dogs. NSAIDs should not be purchased on the internet without a veterinarian's involvement because...
... dogs should undergo blood testing and a thorough physical examination before starting NSAIDs.
... dogs should be monitored by a veterinarian while they are taking NSAIDs.
... veterinarians should discuss possible side effects of NSAIDs with the owner.
... the prescription should be accompanied by a client information sheet that explains important safety information to the owner.
Heartworm disease is a potentially fatal condition transmitted by the bite of a mosquito that is carrying infected larvae of the heartworm parasite. Dogs, cats, and ferrets can get heartworm. Heartworm preventives, given daily, monthly, or semi-annually depending on the product, kill the larvae before they become adult worms.
The American Heartworm Society recommends...
... using heartworm medication for dogs year-round, no matter where you live in the United States.
... getting dogs tested yearly to make sure they're not infected with heartworm.
"Testing is important even in dogs regularly treated with heartworm preventive products due to the occasional reports of product ineffectiveness," says Hartogensis. An internet pharmacy veterinarian cannot draw blood from the animal to perform the test. If the test isn't done, a pet owner could be giving heartworm preventives to a dog that has heartworms, potentially leading to severe reactions.
Tips for Buying Pet Drugs Online
Vet-VIPPS - the Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites - is a voluntary accreditation program of the National Association of Boards of the Pharmacy (NABP). NABP gives the Vet-VIPPS seal to online pharmacies that dispense prescription animal drugs and comply with NABP's strict criteria, including federal and state licensing and inspection requirements, protecting patient confidentiality, quality assurance, and validity of prescription orders. Look for the Vet-VIPPS seal displayed on a pharmacy's website or check with NABP at www.nabp.net (click on "Accreditation Programs") to find out if a pharmacy is Vet-VIPPS accredited. Because this is a new program, begun in 2009, a small number of pharmacies are currently Vet-VIPPS accredited.
These state-licensed internet pharmacy services work directly with the veterinarian, require that a prescription be written by the veterinarian, and support the veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Ask your veterinary hospital if it uses an internet pharmacy service.
*Find this and other consumer updates at http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/default.htm
Iams Food Recall
As of July 2010, Procter & Gamble is voluntarily recalling specific lots of its ProActive Health (canned) diets and Iams Veterinary Dry Formulas, due to a possible health risk. The foods being recalled include the following:
Iams Feline Renal Formula dry foods with lot codes: 01384174B4 and 01384174B2 and UPC Code: 019014214051
Iams ProActive Health canned Cat & Kitten Food - all varieties of 3 oz & 5.5 oz cans, dated 9/2011 to 6/2012 (printed on bottom of can)
Iams Veterinary Formulas, Dry (with "Best By" dates from 01 Jul 10 - 01 Dec 11. All UPC codes are included in the recall)
Eukanuba Naturally Wild, Dry (with "Best By" dates from 01 Jul 10 - 01 Dec 11. All UPC codes are included in the recall)
Eukanuba Custom Care Sensitive Skin, Dry (with "Best By" dates from 01 Jul 10 - 01 Dec 11. All UPC codes included in recall)
Eukanuba Pure, Dry (with "Best By" dates from 01 Jul 10 - 01 Dec 11. All UPC codes are included in the recall)
This recall is placed in North America as a precautionary measure, as the food has the potential to be contaminated with salmonella. No illnesses have been reported. If you have purchased this Iams diet with the lot codes listed above, it is recommended to discard the food. People handling this dry pet food can become infected with salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product.
Consumers can call P&G Pet Care if they would like additional information, or have any questions, at 877.340.8826.