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Pet Gazette FALL 2009

Fall Economic Article

My wife, Jennifer, and I recently became foster parents to a wonderful old Florida Curr/Pit Bull Mix. She has been aptly named “Red,” due to her short, red hair. Red was found wandering loose on Sanibel by two local residents who turned her over to the Sanibel Police, who then brought her to our Sanibel Clinic, where Jennifer works. Red was initially placed in foster care by the wonderful volunteers of P.A.W.S. (a Sanibel-based rescue group); P.A.W.S. placed ads in local newspapers, pictures were posted all over and all the local shelters were notified, but no one stepped up to claim Red. Red, you see had a grapefruit-size tumor on the left side of her head, below her ear. Our theory is Red was a victim of the economy. The tumor had opened up, she was in pain, and we believe, the owners faced a difficult decision. They could not afford a major surgery, nor could they bring themselves to send this sweet, loving creature to the Rainbow Bridge. So instead, she was abandoned on Sanibel, an island of nature and animal lovers.

With the financial assistance of P.A.W.S. and Coral Veterinary Clinic, the skillful hands of Dr. Kirk Andazola removed the tumor. The good news is that Red felt much better with the tumor removed, but the bad news is that the tumor has invaded her inner ear, and the pathology report came back as cancer. Red is presently fighting problems relating to her cancer, but is enjoying being a member of the Nichols family.

Red is symptomatic of the problems owners and pets are facing due to the current economic situation. Many owners are struggling to pay bills and put food on their own table, and sometimes the family pet has to go without preventative vaccinations, heartworm and flea preventatives, pain medication, not to mention surgical procedures, like the one performed on Red.

We at Coral Veterinary Clinic recognize the struggles many of you are having taking care of your pets. In response to this fact, we have enacted our own stimulus package to reduce costs of some basic pet care products and services, which will be discussed in detail in this newsletter.

The first of these is our $100.00 discount on puppy spays and neuters and kitten spays when performed by 6 months of age. We are also continuing our Dental Month tradition of 20% off all dental procedures performed during the month of October, and a free bag of Hill’s Prescription Diet t/d! To help with heartworm, flea, and tick preventatives, we have dramatically reduced our prices on Heartgard and Revolution. Rimadyl, a common pain medication, has an offer on their website, and we have received samples to be given away with a purchase of Rimadyl. We are still offering a free first Laser Therapy treatment, performing free full-mouth x-rays with all dental cleanings, and we are continuing our discounted Homeagain microchip implant and registration. We are also continuing our commitment with Save the Pets Alliance with food donations and as a drop-off location for the public’s donations to the Harry Chapin Food Bank. (Thank you Don Coleman for being our food transporter!) In addition to all of the above, we have not raised our prices on services for over one year.

We hope you are able to take advantage of at least one, hopefully more, of these discount programs. Coral Veterinary Clinic’s hope is that they help allow your pet to have the protection and treatments they need and deserve.

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Canine Influenza Vaccine, H3N8

Coral Veterinary Clinic is happy to announce the availability of the vaccine against Canine Influenza, H3N8, so you can protect your dog against a newly emerging, highly contagious respiratory infection.

The facts about Canine Influenza Vaccine (CIV) are as follows:

CIV was first reported in Florida in March 2003.
The most recent data has confirmed cases in 30 states.
Naive (unexposed) dogs have no natural immunity to this new virus.
Other than dogs that have already had CIV and recovered, virtually all exposed dogs will become infected and 10-20% of them may have a severe form.
CIV is easily spread through direct contact (licking, nuzzling); through the air (coughing or sneezing); and via contaminated surfaces (such as when person picks up the virus on their hands or clothing, then touches or pets a dog.) Spread can also occur if that same person touches and contaminates another surface – a doorknob, for example.
Cases have been reported in veterinary clinics, shelters, and all types of multiple-dog facilities.
Of the unprotected dogs (not vaccinated) exposed to CIV, 20% will show NO signs, but still shed and spread CIV, about 80% will develop clinical disease and up to 8% of clinically ill dogs may die from complications.
The clinical signs, such as coughing, do not typically peak until after the major shedding has already occurred; the most contagious dogs are most likely not even showing signs.
Testing for the virus is difficult, often inaccurate, and the answers are not known until the disease is past its peak.
The CIV vaccine greatly reduces the amount and duration of shedding of the virus.
The CIV vaccine is highly effective in decreasing the clinical signs and protecting the lungs against long-term damage.
In the first year, the dogs are given two vaccines, 2-3 weeks apart; this is followed by an annual booster.

Based on these facts we are absolutely requiring CIV vaccination for all dogs boarding at Coral Veterinary Clinic or being groomed at Top Dog Grooming. We are also strongly recommending the vaccine for all dogs that are boarded or groomed elsewhere, dogs that travel, go to dog shows, dog parks, dog school/classes, or doggie day care facilities. This virus can live out of the body on any surface for up to 12 hours. It can also survive in a puddle of water for 2 days! You can unknowingly bring this virus home with you and pass it on to your dog(s). Any dog who currently receives the Bordetella vaccine is considered a candidate for the CIV vaccine.

Dogs who have received the first vaccine have minimal protection; however once they receive the booster (in 2-3 weeks) they will have maximum protection. For these reasons, we are requiring all boarding dogs starting this Thanksgiving must have had both vaccines in order to board at Coral Veterinary Clinic. Please understand this is for the protection of your dog as well as all the other dogs that come in to our facilities on a daily basis.

Canine Influenza virus is a highly contagious disease. Please protect your dog and all the dogs in our area by having your pet vaccinated against CIV today!

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Lee County License Microchip Discount

You may have seen a recent article in the News-Press announcing that Lee County Domestic Animal Services will be requiring a microchip as well as sterilization of pets to qualify for the discounted license, effective January 1, 2010. This is to encourage pet owners to microchip their pets, which makes it much easier for Animal Services to locate owners of lost or stray pets.

The new rates for Licenses as of January 1, 2010 will be: a 1-year County License for a sterilized and microchipped pet is $8.00, while a 1-year license for a non-microchipped pet or non-sterilized pet will be $35.00. A 3-year license for a sterilized and microchipped pet will be $15.00, while a 3-year license for a non-microchipped pet or non-sterilized pet will be $65.00. The savings for a 1-year license is $27.00 and for a 3-year is $50.00. If you currently have a license and your pet is not microchipped you may receive a letter from Lee County Domestic Animal Services informing you to comply with the new law or receive a fine or fines, starting at $150.00. Detailed information can be found on their website at: www.leelostpets.com/Pages/PetLicensing.aspx.

Coral Veterinary Clinic has been offering low-cost microchipping and the 1st year of registration with the Homeagain network for over 1 year. For $39.99 we will implant a microchip and register the chip and the pet with Homeagain (the cost is $14.99 each year) which includes all of the following services: Proactive Pet Recovery Network, Lost-Pet Medical Insurance, ID Cards, Lost Pet Alerts, and 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance. If your pet has a different type of microchip it can still be registered with Homeagain, for $14.99 per year, and take advantage of all benefits Homeagain provides. For all of our International Travelers we now have ISO Homeagain microchips available for the same low price of $39.99! Visit www.homeagain.com for further information and to add pictures of your pet.

Your savings in Lee County Domestic Animal Services license fees will more than offset the cost of the microchip and you will have the peace of mind knowing your pet has the state of the art Advanced Anti-Migration Microchip ID system to protect your pet if it gets lost or runs away for any reason.

Call our receptionists to schedule a microchip implant appointment or our Veterinarians can do it for you when your pet is in the clinic for any routine visit. Protect your peace of mind while you save on Lee County Domestic Animal Services License fees!

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Savings on Heartgard, Revolution, and Rimadyl

Coral Veterinary Clinic is very excited to be able to offer discounted prices on three of our most popular products. By purchasing in bulk and using manufacturer discounts we are offering greatly reduced prices for the heartworm & intestinal parasite monthly preventative “Heartgard”; and the monthly Heartworm, Flea, and Tick preventative “Revolution”. We believe our purchase price on these products is comparable to the “discount companies,” and an added benefit to purchasing directly from your veterinarian is the manufacturer guaranties their product from failure. Veterinary clinics are also given coupons and rebates that “pharmacies” are not.

Pfizer, the manufacturer of Rimadyl, our biggest selling oral pain medication, is offering a significant savings program on the purchase of Rimadyl. They have supplied us with a first week supply free, plus a $10.00 rebate for every future purchase. Even owners whose dogs are already on Rimadyl can take advantage of both promotions! The free “Arthritis Pain Management Kits” have a brochure, a 2x2 card with information on how to get the $10.00 rebate check, and the medication. It is a great way to make pain relief for your dog less painful for your pocketbook!

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Online store welcome letter

We are proud to announce that we now have an additional service added for your convenience. Coral Veterinary Clinic now has an online store! So you can order and pay for your pet care products or prescriptions online and we can fill them for you with the added convenience of to-your-door shipping. You can purchase your flea and tick control products, heartworm preventatives, dog or cat food as well as almost any other pet care item your pet might wish for. The link to our store can be found on our website, www.coralvetclinic.com. Click on the purple button, in the top right corner, called “Online Shopping”. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call or email Carrie at critterstore@coralvetclinic.com and we will do our best to help.

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Spay/Neuter Discount

Coral Veterinary Clinic has a strong commitment to alleviation of the pet overpopulation problem. This problem has worsened with the economic downturn. Pet-owners with financial hardships not only have trouble-affording spaying or neutering their pets, they sometimes have to choose between medicine for themselves and food for their pets.
We have decided to offer a $100.00 discount on puppy spays and neuters and kitten spays. There are only 2 qualifications to receive this discount.

The puppy or kitten will have had to be vaccinated by Coral Veterinary Clinic at least once prior to the surgical procedure.
The pet Must be under six months of age.

We will not cut corners on these surgeries. We will still perform pre-operative bloodwork; use the surgical laser, to decrease pain and bleeding; and give appropriate pre- and post-operative pain medications.

To receive the discount simply schedule the surgery at the appointment for the final vaccinations, and you will receive a credit of $100.00 on the day of the surgery. Let’s help control pet overpopulation together!

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Vectra 3D

Coral Veterinary Clinic is extremely happy to announce that we are now carrying the most comprehensive protection against insect vectors ever made! Parasites that transmit disease(s) are also called vectors. When an infected flea or tick bites your dog or cat, it has the potential of causing various diseases. Monthly application, all year long, can protect your puppy or dog against six serious vectors and the diseases they carry, as well as protecting your kitten or cat against fleas.
Some of the key features are:

Fast Acting

Kills on contact, parasites do not have to bite to die.
Starts killing fleas in 2 hours.

Complete

Dog - Repels and kills fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, lice, mites, and sand flies.
Cat – Kills adult fleas and controls all immature stages of fleas (eggs, larvae,
and pupae.)

Long Lasting

Remains effective after bathing and swimming.
Full protection for one month.

Convenient

Protection for puppies and kittens as young as 7 weeks of age.
Unique, patented applicator makes application a breeze.

Although Vectra 3D does repel and kill mosquitoes, the manufacturer and we at Coral Veterinary Clinic strongly recommend you continue to use monthly heartworm preventative on your dogs and cats. The manufacturer will not guarantee against heartworm disease. We do not want to take a chance on the occasional mosquito bite that may occur and possibly transmit heartworms to your pet.

Vectra 3D is available only from your veterinarian and offers the most complete and effective protection against more external parasites than any other product in history. So, if you are not satisfied with the flea and tick control you are currently using on your pet, ask us about Vectra 3D. You can also visit their website at www.summitvetpharm.com, for information and to sign up for free Vectrapet reminders.