MAH Fall 2014 Newsletter.indd

1. SCHEDULE AN
ANNUAL EXAM. A wellness check is always a good
idea to make sure your pet
is in top shape and to watch
out for those sicknesses that
can fool the untrained eye. If
you have a senior pet, talk
to your vet about what you
should look out for. Remember, pets age faster than we do and
therefore need check-ups more often.
2. DON’T FORGET IMMUNIZATIONS. There are core
vaccines that all pets should have like Rabies and Distemper. But
there are also other vaccines that may be beneficial to your pet
based on where you live and your pet’s lifestyle. Talk to your vet
about other non-core vaccines.
5. GET PREPARED. Put together an emergency plan to
keep your pet safe in case of emergency such as an evacuation
or natural disaster. Include a safe, pet-friendly place to go, a list
of any items you need for your cat or dog including medications, and emergency numbers like your veterinarian or the
closest emergency pet hospital. (Download our smartphone
app MAHCT to access much of this info!)
6. KNOW THE COMMON TOXINS TO PETS. Examples
include human medications, household products, rat poisons,
plants, antifreeze, avocado, chocolate, coffee, fatty foods, garlic,
onions, macadamia nuts, raisins and grapes, xylitol sweetened
products, and yeast dough. Tylenol (acetaminophen) should
never be given to cats as one tablet can kill them and ibuprofen
is toxic to both cats and dogs. NEVER give any medication to
your pet without checking with a veterinarian first.
MILFORD
ANIMAL HOSPITAL
NEWSLETTER
NEWS FROM
THE FRONT OFFICE
Come see our new look! We
are in the process of remodeling
to become more client and pet
friendly. When you visit next, feel
free to help yourself to a complimentary beverage from our
new beverage station and have your younger children play or
sit at a child friendly table to do some coloring or to watch an
animal video. We have designated an area at the back of our
waiting room for cats where there is less foot traffic and it is
more tranquil for kitties in their carriers. We have added a
new exam room and consultation room so our clients have a
comfortable space to speak with our doctors privately.
We now have a surgical liaison, Joanna Winters, CVT. She will
assist our clients with any pre- or postoperative questions and
concerns. She will also assist in scheduling surgeries, providing surgical estimates, and checking in on our post-operative
patients after they’ve gone home. She we also help to coordinate any referrals to any specialists in our area.
PRESORTED
STANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE
We’re excited about all of the new improvements and additions and hope you enjoy them too.
PAID
We have also added two new receptionists, Alyssa and Alison,
who joined us this spring. And if you haven’t met our newest
addition to the reception area, make sure you peek over the
counter and say hello to “Gibson.” He is Dr. Blasi’s Australian
Labradoodle. He looks like Baci’s twin, but with springs in his
paws to jump up and greet our clients.
PERMIT #17
MILFORD, CT
7. START SUPPLEMENTS. Supplements provide additional nutrition to your pet, either to supplement the diet or
to really focus on a specific condition. Talk to your veterinarian
about what supplements might benefit your furry friend.
Dr. King lives in Trumbull with her husband, Andrew Marsh, also
a small animal veterinarian. The two met in veterinary school
and share a passion for strengthening the human-animal bond.
They have two dogs, Sophie, a boxer mix and Frank, a pit bull,
and a cat named Dale (named after Dale Earnhardt, Jr. because
of his loud “motor”). In her spare time, Dr. King enjoys hiking
with her dogs, running, and reading. While she enjoys all aspects
of veterinary medicine, she has a particular interest in internal
medicine and cardiology.
Current Resident or
4. HAVE YOUR PETS SPAYED AND NEUTERED.
If your pet isn’t already, you’re missing out on major health
benefits. According to the ASPCA, female pets that are
not spayed have a much higher chance of getting uterine
infections and breast cancer. The ASPCA also recommends
neutering male pets for protection against testicular cancer
and prostate disease.
Dr. Katie King is excited to be joining
Milford Animal Hospital as our newest
associate veterinarian in November!
She is originally from Ohio and received
a BA in Zoology at Miami University
in Oxford, OH. She then graduated
summa cum laude from The Ohio State
Veterinary College of Medicine in 2011. Prior to settling in
Connecticut, she also practiced in Ohio and Minnesota.
256 Cherry Street
Milford, CT 06460
3. DENTAL HYGIENE IS VERY IMPORTANT. For dogs
and cats dental problems often lead to other health issues such
as heart, kidney, and joint problems. Watch for warning signs
of dental disease such as bad breath, red/swollen gums, and/or
decreased appetite and bring this to your veterinarian’s attention if seen. At-home oral hygiene such as teeth brushing, oral
rinses, dental diets and chews can slow down the progression
of dental disease.
WELCOME DR. KATIE KING
Phone: (203) 878-7471
Fax: (203) 876-0943
www.mahct.com
Email: [email protected]
7 TIPS EVERY PET OWNER
SHOULD KNOW
FALL 2014
WHAT IS A VETERINARY TECHNICIAN?
FOCUS ON DENTAL HEALTH
MILFORD ANIMAL HOSPITAL IN THE DIGITAL AGE
We would like to introduce you to a group of staff members that
are very important to the care of your beloved pets. We come
from many walks of life with one singular focus: taking care of
animals. Of course we love cuddling with the cute critters, but
we also wear many other hats. We are your pet’s nurse, surgical assistant, anesthetist, dental hygienist, radiology technician,
massage therapist, dog walker, dietician, phlebotomist, nutritionist,
rehabilitator, groomer and so much more. We also hope to help
educate clients about the best care for their beloved pets.
Bad breath, excessive drooling (well more than the usual), sensitivity around the face, pawing at the mouth, reduced appetite: all
telltale signs that your best friend might require a dental cleaning.
Dental health plays a critical role in your pet’s overall health affecting liver, kidney and heart function. While brushing your pet’s
teeth is best, we know it’s not always possible. So even if your
pet might not be showing any of the above signs, routine dental
cleanings can still provide countless benefits to your pet’s dental
health, reducing the amount of harmful bacteria in your pets’
mouths. The months of January and February at Milford Animal
Hospital are Dental Awareness Months. Milford Animal Hospital
knows that dental procedures can be costly, and, we want to help.
For the months of January and February, we are offering a
25% discount on routine dental cleanings. Included in the
discount are preoperative bloodwork, a complete dental exam,
dental X-rays, ultrasonic scaling and polishing, anesthesia, IV catheter and fluids, and the hospital stay. Extractions, additional
anesthesia, antibiotics, pain medications, and any other
procedure performed at the time of the cleaning will have
an additional charge. Limited spaces are available so please call
and book your pet’s dental cleaning by February 15th to receive
the discount.
Over the past year, we have implemented some new technological advances to improve our ability to communicate with our
customers. Petly is a service that allows you to keep track of
your pet’s vaccination history on their own personalized pages.
Petly users can request appointments and order medications through
the online portal. Doctors can also
share blood test results and medical
notes with Petly users. If you prefer
to receive email or text reminders for your pet’s appointments
instead of the traditional postcard by snail mail, we can toggle
these preferences within your Petly account. To become a Petly
user, you simply have to provide our receptionists with a valid
email address. Once this is entered into our system, you should
receive an invitation to Petly within 24 hours. Be sure to check
your junk mailbox for the invite.
At Milford Animal Hospital, your technicians have been trained
on the job for many years or formally trained at an accredited
institution, or both. Our present group of technicians consists
of two Certified Veterinary Technicians that have passed a
rigorous national boarding exam, and five others that are highly
schooled and carefully trained. Our varied schedule allows us
to rotate duties each day, from assisting our doctors in office
visits, taking care of hospitalized patients, or assisting in surgical
and dental procedures.
It is our pleasure to care for your treasured pets. If you ever have
any questions we’d be glad to help so please don’t hesitate to ask!
THE IMPORTANCE OF FELINE WELLNESS CARE
Cats are the most popular pet
in the United States but they
only account for approximately
30% of our appointments and
that is the trend throughout the
country. In general, the number
of cats taken in for veterinary
care is declining. Many people
are under the misconception that because cats are more independent than dogs, they do not require the same level of medical
care. Also, because many cats are on a three year vaccine schedule, people assume that their cats only need to be seen every
three years. Cats are more likely to hide signs and symptoms of
disease or illness, which might mean that owners do not know
when cats are dealing with serious conditions. Preventative
veterinary care including regular physical examinations can help
detect many feline diseases early in their course. Detecting these
illnesses and treating them appropriately in the early stages can
prolong lifespan as well as improve quality of life. After seven
years of age, it is important that cats receive routine bloodwork
and urinalysis at least every year if not more often as they age.
More common diseases that develop with age include Hyperthyroidism, Diabetes Mellitus, and Chronic Kidney Disease. In addition, diseases caught in the early stages are often less expensive
to treat, which may save money in the long run. Please make
an appointment to have your feline friend seen today!
OFFICE HOURS:
Monday - Friday: 8:00am - 6:00pm
Saturdays: 8:00am - Noon
Sundays: Closed
To make an appointment or for questions,
please call before 5:30pm (M-F) and 12:00pm (Sat)
Fall has brought with it many changes to MAH in an attempt to
better serve our furry friends and clients. Among the changes
we are most excited to share with our clients is the acquisition
of a brand new, state-of-the-art, digital dental X-ray unit. Starting in December, dental X-rays will now be available to all of our
patients. This new X-ray unit is an invaluable diagnostic tool. The
images gained from this noninvasive tool will assist our veterinarians in choosing the appropriate course of action to take concerning your pets dental health. With Dental Awareness Months
right around the corner, Milford Animal Hospital encourages you
to schedule a dental evaluation of your best friend’s mouth. Our
goal is to take the best possible care of your best friends. Let’s
keep our pets healthy and smiling.
You may also have seen your veterinarian walking around with an
iPad in hand. They have proven to be very useful for client education purposes and our clients agree. We have some new 3D
client education modules to help explain and illustrate medical
conditions and surgical procedures. We can even email you the
animations/videos in case you need to explain the condition to a
family member. We can now also order and view digital X-rays
directly from the iPad.
We also developed and released a mobile app for smartphones
(iPhone and Android) called MAHCT. The app is free and is
available on iTunes™ and Google™ Play. From the app, you can
request appointments, order medication refills, access Petly, access
instant emergency contact info for our regional emergency centers with driving directions and direct dial capabilities, as well as
access our updated website and Facebook® pages. There is also
a feature that allows you to create Pet Postcards
that can be shared with friends and social media
outlets. Download MAHCT for free today!
For questions about any of these digital services,
please feel free to contact our office.
CT PHARMACY/PRESCRIBING LAW CHANGES AND HOW IT AFFECTS YOU AND YOUR PETS
Many of our patients take compounded medication. Compounding pharmacies make customized medication. This maybe a specific
dose, a flavored liquid or chew tab that may not be commercially
available. For clients who already receive compounded meds from
the compounding pharmacies, the new dispensing laws will not affect you. Unfortunately, when we need to dispense a compounded
medication from our hospital stock we will only be able to dispense
a few days of medication until we or you receive a larger quantity
directly from the pharmacy.
Another law no longer allows Milford Animal Hospital to accept returns on medications for a credit/refund. We cannot take previously
dispensed meds and return them to stock. The only exceptions
are unopened and factory sealed medications such as Heartworm
and Flea/Tick products. We can accept medication back for proper
disposal only. Another exception to this rule is food. Any prescription food purchased through our hospital, whether it is opened or
unopened, can be returned for hospital credit.
Our in-hospital pharmacy has instituted new checks and balances
to our dispensing protocol. This allows us to double check any
medication we dispense, to insure your pet is receiving the proper
medication, dosage and quantity. Our doctors also need time to
review your pet’s chart because many times a dosage has changed.
With these new dispensing procedures, our staff will need a bit
more time to check you out after an appointment. For medication
refills, please call ahead so that we can have your pet’s medication
ready for you when you come to pick it up. Unfortunately, stopping in for a refill without calling ahead will usually require a wait.
Another way to easily request a refill of your pet’s meds is through
Petly or our mobile app.
We appreciate your understanding with these new policies and procedures. We will continue to strive to provide a convenient and safe
way for you to receive your pet’s medication.
GIBSON’S GOSSIP COLUMN
Hi! Have you heard about the latest flea & tick
product? It’s called NexGard! Since my owner
is a vet, I get to try out everything. One might
call me a Guinea pig but I am just a handsome
chocolate Australian Labradoodle.
NexGard™ is a beef flavored, bite-sized, soft,
chewable flea and tick preventative given
orally once a month. And I love the taste of it!
It’s only beef flavored (no actual beef protein
in there) so even dogs with beef allergies can eat it. I am so
glad my mom switched me over to it. My mom used to apply a
topical medication once a month and although it worked well,
and I never minded the feel of it, I’ve heard that some of my
canine friends do. Plus she was always delaying the application
because she didn’t want my human brother and sister as well
as my receptionist friends and my favorite canine buddy Baci to
touch me afterwards. She also had to time it with my swimming,
one of my favorite activities (I am a water dog you know!). Now
with NexGard, I eat it, yum, and we are done. Easy!
Here are the specifics. NexGard kills adult fleas and is indicated
for the treatment and prevention of flea infestations. It also kills
ticks (even deer ticks that can carry Lyme disease). It works very
quickly, killing fleas and ticks within hours of ingestion and it lasts
for an entire month. It is very safe and palatable (that means it
tastes great). Rare side effects in dogs are a decreased appetite,
diarrhea, or vomiting. At this time it has not been approved
for use with my canine friends who have seizures. NexGard is
dosed based on weight and dogs must be over 8 weeks of age
and weigh 4lbs or more to take it.
Owners, I think your doggies would
love it too! Stop by the office. I am
happy to answer any questions you
may have about NexGard!
Bark, Gibson
PET OF THE MONTH
Have you heard about our pet of the month contest? Once a
month we choose a Milford Animal Hospital patient to be chosen as our pet of the month from photos you submit. If you
think your cat or dog has what it takes to be our pet of the
month, then please submit your photos to us.You can submit
as many photos as you would like, though your pet will only
be able to be chosen once.You can submit your photos to
[email protected], stop in with your pictures on your next visit,
or send them to us in the mail.
If your pet is chosen for pet of the month then you will receive
a $25.00 credit on your account that you can use at your pet’s
next visit or the next time you need to purchase something at
our office. We look forward to seeing all of your pictures. They
always make us smile, and, we would love to see your pet as
our pet of the month.