August 2010 Pet of the Month - Meika Olsen

Jodi Olsen has always loved animals, but has never owned a cat before. Her family have always been "dog people." When she recently bought her first house she decided she was going to jump feet first into cat ownership. On her way home from vacation in Chicago on July 4th, she stopped at a friend's farm near Jesup and picked up Meika. Meika was born on May 1, 2010. Jodi's sister also became a cat owner that day with another kitten named Coco. The other names Jodi's friends wanted to call her were Optimus Prime and Bella but as Jodi was boating one day the name Meika popped into her head. She loves running laps around the house and racing up and down the recliner. She is still very curious and likes to peek into everything. Meika makes friends easily when people come to visit. She will cuddle on your lap or sit next to you on the couch to keep you company. Meika has come in to visit Dr. Smith a few times to make sure she stays healthy and has an active, long life. She has converted Jodi into being a "dog AND cat person!"

Skunks Don't Make Good Pets

This comes from the Iowa Department of Public Health. Read and pass along!
Several weeks ago, a Northwest Iowa family decided to adopt a baby skunk that they had found in their yard. When the skunk became ill last weekend, a vet was called; the skunk was tested and found to be rabid. The skunk was likely infected with rabies before it was brought into the home. Because of this:
~All five family members are receiving the rabies vaccine and rabies immune globulin;
~Approximately 20 other family members and friends who came in contact with the skunk are being assessed for exposure to rabies and at least 6 others are receiving rabies shots;
~The unvaccinated family dog will have to be put into quarantine for six months, or euthanized.
Lessons to be learned:
~Avoid contact with all wild animals, especially skunks and bats since these animals are the reservoir for the rabies virus in Iowa.
~Vaccinate all pets against rabies.
~Do not keep any wild animals as pets. Special licenses are needed in Iowa to keep wild animals.

Taken from the EPI Update for Friday July 23, 2010
Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology (CADE)
Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH)

Mosquitoes, Mosquitoes, Everywhere!

One of the hot topics of neighborly discussion this summer is, "How about those mosquitoes? They are terrible at my house." "Yes, they are the worst I've seen!" Sound familiar? With all the rain this summer the radio and television are full of stories regarding the resulting huge mosquito population.

West Nile Virus and Heartworm Disease are both passed on to dogs by mosquitoes. However, West Nile Virus poses minimal threat of disease where deadly heartworm disease is common among unprotected dogs. According to the Animal Poison Control Center, there has only been one confirmed case of West Nile Virus in a dog in the past year and a half. In 2001, there were 120 confirmed heartworm positive cases in Black Hawk county alone.

Given the burgeoning mosquito population this year we want to urge all dog owners to make the extra effort to have your dog's blood tested for heartworm and then follow with the preventative medication. This not only protects your pets, but it helps assure that we don't get an enormous outbreak of heartworm disease that moves out of control when there is such an opportunity for the spread of disease with the increased mosquito population.

As for West Nile protection, the same concepts you use to protect yourself apply to your dog. Stay inside at times of greatest exposure which seems to be at dawn and dusk. Eliminate all standing, stagnant water sources. Use a mosquito repellant on yourself and on your dog. The sprays vary, a pyrethrin product may be safer for your dog than DEET. All sprays should be used with care, especially around the face and eyes. The repellant wipes may be easier to apply. If you have more questions about heartowm disease, West Nile virus or mosquito repellent, please call us... we would be glad to answer your questions.

Elizabeth Bixby, DVM

July 2010 Pet of the Month - Velvet Austin

Velvet Austin is a black Lionhead rabbit that was born in the late fall of 2009. She was adopted by Megan from the Cedar Valley Humane society in Cedar Rapids and named for the song "Black Velvet." Her middle name is Lulu, which is Native American for rabbit. Her first visit to Taylor Veterinary Hospital was a busy one at the hospital when another rabbit had a c-section to deliver her bunnies. It was one hopping day there!

Velvet loves any kind of veggies and greens (especially parsley and cilantro). She is very active and runs around both her cage and the house. She doesn't really like to be held for very long, but does love to be petted, especially along the bridge of her nose. One of her new favorite activities is to explore outside with her new harness. She found that she loves clover and has a "cousin" Zoey the poodle who like to spend time together. They are an unlikely pair, but Velvet will even sit still long enough for Zoey to sniff and lick her. Velvet is usually a pretty independent bunny so new visitors and friends have to slowly introduce themselves to her. Velvet will soon be moving to a new home with more room to run and explore. She is one of Taylor Vet's many rabbit friends.

Choosing the Perfect Dog

Thinking about adding a new puppy or dog to your family? Congratulations! Dog ownership is one of life's most rewarding experiences. Dogs make wonderful companions and friends and can add a great deal of love and joy to your home and family. Before you begin your search for a canine companion, it is very important to do your homework to ensure that the dog breed you choose is a good match for your lifestyle and family. If you're thinking of a mix, it will make your search much easier if you have in mind "something like a lab" or "some kind of terrier."

In finding the perfect dog, a number of questions should be addressed. What is your previous experience with dogs? There are some breeds that are not recommended for first-time owners. How much time and/or money are you willing to spend on grooming to keep a long soft coat free of tangles and mats? Children and dogs can make a wonderful mix... or a very bad one. If you have children, are you prepared to spend time training both the dog and the children to treat each other appropriately?

What size dog is right, how much space do you have and how much exercise can you give your dog are all related questions. Even though large dogs can take up a lot of floor space, they can be quite happy if allowed to expend their energy outside. Some large breeds do not require a lot of exercise and are content lying on the rug in a small apartment. Some small breed dogs only require short walks, while others can be extremely active and a large house may not be enough space to contain their exuberance.

What do you plan to do with your dog? Do you want a loyal couch potato, a jogging partner, or a good watchdog? Keep in mind that only a few breeds were originally designed to be pets. Most dogs were bred to be hunters, herders, guards or some other job which might be contradictory to what you want from a pet.

There are a number of ways to find out "the scoop" on your favorite breeds. A veterinarian is an excellent soruce of information. Talk with people you know about dogs they have had or go to a dog park where you can meet dogs and ask the owners questions. Breed books are available and there are some very good resources on the internet. AAHA's website, http://www.healthypet.com/, is a great place to start. Click on "Find A Pet" to see breed information or take a short quiz to find out the right pet for you. Never buy a dog just because you like how it looks.

If you are thinking about buying a dog for a present, make sure you or the potential owners are ready. You should not get a dog for someone that isn't expecting one or buy one on impulse. Getting a dog is a long-term commitment and should be planned for accordingly.

Whatever breed or mix you choose, remember that no breed is perfect, but researching positive and negative attributes before you get a dog will help ensure the best match possible. A well-behaved, housebroken, quiet, loyal dog doesn't come from any breed, but can be found in any breed, if the owner is willing to work at developing that relationship.

Chad Smith D.V.M.

June 2010 Pet of the Month - Atreyu and Moon Dalbey

The Dalbey family loves animals and wanted to add a pet. Unfortunately one of the children has allergies to most cats and dogs. Glenn, the father, decided to do some research and found out that Bengal cats do not have as many allergens as other cats. On February 12th, Empress Moon Child (Moon for short) joined the Dalbey family. Soon after Atreyu was also adopted from Iowa Bengal Babyz. They were named after the characters in the “Never Ending Story.” Bengals typically have temperaments more like dogs, according to Glenn, they come when you call, walk on a leash and love to be outside with the family. They are very active, but also love to curl up in your lap and snuggle. They love kids and are very vocal when they want your attention.
Moon and Atreyu love chicken and will eat other meats, except pork. They won’t touch cat treats. Bengal cats continue to get more coloration until they are about 2 years old. They typically have spots kind of like a tiger. They can do amazing jumps, Atreyu can jump about 4 ½ feet straight in the air without running first. As they get older they will be able to jump closer to 6 feet! Moon and Atreyu love to play with anything that has a feather. Their favorite toy is a stick with a feather attached to the end of it. The Dalby family is thrilled with their pets and amazingly enough these Bengal cats are not causing any allergy problems with the family. They are a perfect fit!

New Tests to Keep Your Dog Healthy

The SNAP 4Dx test is our newest diagnostic tool to help identify and treat diseases before they cause irreversible damage to your dog. It is a simple blood test that can be run in less than 10 minutes and can determine if your dog is positive for heartworm disease or if your dog has been exposed to three

Image via Wikipedia

tick-borne diseases: Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis.

As the saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” and that holds true in veterinary medicine. Preventing heartworms can be as simple as giving a pill once a month. As heartworms are transmitted from dog-to-dog through a mosquito bite, using a product like Vectra as a mosquito repellent will help. Vectra also repels and kills fleas and ticks which will minimize disease transmission. Vaccinating your dog for Lyme disease is one more step to help prevent infection.

If your pet is diagnosed with heartworms or a tick-borne disease, early treatment will help minimize any long-term damage.