World Pet Memorial Day

We recently celebrated Memorial Day in the United States,

a national holiday honoring the lives of men and women  

who died while serving to protect our country.  But there is

another memorial day observed during June each year globally

that few of us know about.  World Pet Memorial Day is

celebrated the second Sunday in June.  It’s a day, like our

traditional Memorial Day, when we remember our beloved

pets who have “crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.” 

Universally animals have become a huge part of our lives

and many of us think of them as family members.  Thus, when

we lose them we often suffer great heartache.

June 14^th is a day selected as a time to remember our pets

and what they have meant to us.  We can do this by visiting

their grave site, donate to a pet charity or volunteer time at a

local animal shelter.   Trees can be planted in memory of the

love and happiness we shared with our pets.  We can create or

add to a memory book about the pet.

The French poet, Anatole France said:  “Until one has loved

an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”  If this is

true for you, if your spirit has been touched by an animal that

has passed, take time on June 14^th to honor them. 

Lexi

Hannah

Rex

Percy

Niketa

Harry

June 7th - 13th is Pet Appreciation Week!

The doctors and staff of Kaukauna Veterinary Clinic would like you to please remember to show your pets extra love and attention during this week (if not every week!) 

Anyone who has ever had a pet knows how much we gain from having the companionship and love they give.  We all know they give unconditional love, but they can also give us some relief in our everyday lives by helping us to reduce some of our daily stresses, and getting out to walk a dog can get us outside for exercise we may not otherwise get! According to the Centers for Disease Control, having pets in the home can also decrease blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and possibly improve your social life!  

To help you show your appreciation for your pets and help you celebrate, here are some ideas for extra things you can do during this week. This is also a chance to encourage our pets to exercise (keeping them healthy while they help us). Many people don’t realize that some pets can get stressed if they are home for long hours during the day while we are working, going to school, etc. and that extra stress can cause some health problems for them and can also contribute to some behavioral issues. It is our duty, and our privilege as pet owners, to help them relieve some stress, and keep them as healthy and happy as possible.

 

Ways to celebrate your dog:

•   Add an extra 10 minutes (or more!) to the daily walks

•   Learn how to reduce stress and aid in relaxation by giving your dog a massage

•    Visit a dog park (only if your dog plays well with others!)

•      Give extra belly rubs!

•   Most dogs love getting new toys or chew products – always check for safety

•   Spend extra time cuddling (grooming sessions are nice if your dog enjoys that)

• Bake some homemade dog biscuits – start your online search for recipes at www.thekitchn.com/cookies-for-canines; there are many more recipes to consider, but be sure your dog doesn’t have food sensitivities or allergies to the ingredients and you can make chemical/preservative free treats. You can find dog bone shaped “cookie cutters” at most pet stores to aid in the fun! Most homemade treats will not stay fresh very long because there are no preservatives, so make only small batches or freeze whatever your pet can’t consume within 5-7 days. Check with your dog’s veterinarian if he/she is on a prescription diet before you make and offer any treats.
•    Take your dog shopping! The pet stores in our area do allow leashed, vaccinated dogs inside to shop with you and most will give treats to well behaved dogs in the checkout lines!

 

photo by Lindsey Ann

Ways to celebrate your cat:

•   Play with a laser mouse for a few extra minutes of exercise each day

•   Get a new toy – crinkly balls, pole/string toys (Cat Dancer) can help you interact with your cat during play time

•  Toys with catnip can be a good stress reliever for many cats

•   Some cats like to watch TV –play a DVD made especially for cats

•   Gently brush your cat or use a massaging grooming glove for a few minutes each day

•   Plant some grass near one of his/her favorite hideouts (some pet stores carry the grass plants that can be planted indoors)

•  Get your cat a window seat or cat tree so he/she can watch the activities outside (a cozy bed on top of the refrigerator can work well for some cats)

•     Bake some homemade cat treats – start your online search at www.simplypets.com/pet-recipes/cat/treats; there are many recipes to consider, but be sure your cat doesn’t have food sensitivities or allergies to the ingredients and you can make chemical/preservative free treats. You can find “cookie cutters” for homemade treats at most pet stores to aid in the fun! Most homemade treats will not stay fresh very long because there are no preservatives, so make only small batches or freeze whatever your cat can’t consume within 5-7 days. Check with your cat’s veterinarian if he/she is on a prescription diet before you make and offer any treats. 

All pets can benefit from some special items, treats, and attention: many birds, small animals, fish or reptiles who may share your home might love something special – check the local pet stores to see what products may be offered for these pets. 

Remember all the love and companionship your pet(s) give you and give them special love and attention not just during pet appreciation week, but every week.

National Dog Bite Prevention Week

      

 There are many things you can do to prevent dog bites.  

The following AVMA brochure can help you learn more about dog bite prevention.

  

AVMA Dog Bite Prevention Brochure

 

  

May is Cancer Awareness Month

Cancer in companion animals…

Cancer – the word everyone hates to hear, whether it is their own diagnosis or for their pet. While the diagnosis of cancer causes our hearts to break thinking of the loss of our pets, not all is as horrible as one might initially think. Some cancers are now more treatable than ever, with many pets enjoying many more months and even years together. The goal for every cancer patient is to get as much quality time as possible. 

Many pets are not acting sick at all at the time of their diagnosis, so it can be impossible to think of them as having a disease that may end their life much sooner than their expected life span. Treatment can be much more successful in these patients, as they are in reasonably good health otherwise and can endure their treatment better than those who are more debilitated when they are diagnosed.

Some cancers dictate surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy for treatment. Surgery can be curative for some cancer, others would require chemotherapy after surgical removal of tumor(s). Chemotherapy alone may be recommended for some types of cancer…your veterinarian will discuss all options with you after the diagnosis has been made.  

Treating pets with cancer involves more than medications and technology. It is about respecting quality of life, enjoying the good days, compassion, understanding, and trust. The goal in treating cancer in pets is to get them into remission (symptoms are gone and the patient is comfortable) rather than actually curing their disease. 

Most pets do very well with chemotherapy; they rarely have the nausea, vomiting, and sick feeling that people experience. And, because they live day to day and don’t have the psychological aspect of facing cancer, they accept each day as it comes and don’t dwell on the negative aspect of having a terminal disease. 

Your veterinary team can guide you with treatment options, help and support as you face what could be the biggest challenge of your pet’s life. 

For more information:

 National Canine Cancer Foundation

Morris Animal Foundation     

The Old Grey Muzzle Tour 2015 

Grief Resources 

  

In Loving Memory of Lexi

April is Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month!

Spring is here, which means tick season is here too! Kaukauna Veterinary Clinic recommends year round flea and tick prevention, so if you haven’t given your dog his monthly dose, now is the time to start.  

Every year we see more and more dogs that are testing positive for tick-borne diseases. The most prevalent tick borne disease in our area is Lyme, with Anaplasma coming in second. As the tick population continues to increase and move closer to us, the amount of disease also rises. Tick prevention is no longer only necessary for the dogs that travel “up north” or spend a lot of time hiking and camping. A dog that never leaves his backyard is at risk, just like dogs that travel to these places.

Our clinic offers topical prevention for fleas and ticks, as well as oral products. The oral products come in a tablet that can be given monthly OR every three months. All of these products have been tested for safety and efficacy.

 

Besides monthly prevention, we also recommend an annual 4DX test. This is an antigen test that will look for heartworm disease (spread by mosquitoes), as well as exposure to three tick borne diseases. Many dogs that test positive do not show clinical signs. This does not mean they won’t in the future, which is why we often do additional testing and/or treat with antibiotics.

In addition to topical or oral prevention and routine testing, a vaccine is available for Lyme. Kaukauna Veterinary Clinic does recommend this vaccine to all dogs. Unfortunately, at this time there is not a vaccine available for Anaplasma, making topical or oral prevention a must.

Clinical signs of Lyme disease are fever, lethargy, inappetence, lameness, and pain. Lyme disease can be life threatening at this point because irreversible kidney damage can occur. Anaplasma has many of the same clinical signs as Lyme, but this tick borne disease actually attacks the white blood cells and can cause platelet loss. If a dog does test positive, certain blood and urine tests should be done to monitor any changes in kidney values, platelets and white blood cells.

Treatment for both Lyme and Anaplasma is an antibiotic called Doxycycline. If the dog is showing any of the above symptoms, IV fluid therapy and other medications may also be recommended by your veterinarian.

As a veterinary clinic, our job is to do our best to protect dogs from these diseases by educating their owners and giving them the highest standard of care and recommendations. Many people are unaware however, that these tick-borne disease can be transmitted to humans as well. Lyme and Anaplasma can cause many of the symptoms in humans as in dogs. Be sure to take precautions and be informed for your own safety as well as your dogs.

Because ticks aren’t going anywhere any time soon, the best we can do is work to prevent them from spreading disease to our dogs. With monthly year round prevention, annual testing, and vaccinating, we can make sure our dogs stay healthy.

 

WLUK-TV FOX 11 Lyme Disease Report 2014            Parasite Prevalence Map