June 2009

Whetstone Animal Hospital

Dr. Jeff Holter

1321 E. Mansfield Street,  Bucyrus, OH 44820

419-562-0027

www.whetstoneanimal.com

 

Dear Client,

Our clinic is currently in the process of updating both our client records and our pet reminder systems.  We’d hoped to send out a more comprehensive newsletter this Spring, but have been unable to do so yet, and with the aforementioned changes occurring, we’re worried that a few pets may have “slipped through the cracks” with regard to reminders for important treatments.  Therefore, we’d like to cover a few important points here.

# 1:  If your dog isn’t on Heartworm Preventative by this time in the Spring, it should be.  Heartworm Disease is easy and relatively inexpensive to prevent, but it is dangerous and expensive to treat once your dog has it.  Heartworm Disease is transmitted by mosquitoes, and it is a significant problem in our area of Ohio.  All dogs need to be tested with a simple blood test prior to being placed on preventative medication.  If your dog is not on Heartworm preventative and has not been tested, we urge you to call us to set up an appointment.  For more information on Heartworms in dogs, look on the Internet at

www.petsandparasites.org/dog-owners/heartworms.html .

 
# 2:  We know that the economy is bad right now, so money can be tight.  But we also believe that Heartworm testing and preventative for your dog is of the utmost importance.  Therefore, we will be holding a Heartworm Testing clinic for dogs on Saturday, June 13th from 9:00 am to noon. At this clinic we will be running a straight Heartworm test only at a price approximately 25% less than our normal test (our normal recommended test also checks your dog for 3 other blood parasites).  In addition to our normal recommended preventative products, we will also have some lower-cost alternative preventative products available.  You may also bring along a stool sample from your dog to have it checked for intestinal worms.  We will not be doing examinations, treating for illnesses, or administering vaccines at this clinic; we also will not write prescriptions for Heartworm preventatives to be purchased online.  If you wish to bring your pet to this clinic, you must call by noon on Thursday, June 11th to schedule your appointment.
 
# 3:  Based on fairly recent research findings, we are now recommending that all cats—even indoor cats—also receive monthly preventative medication for Heartworms.  There are two types of preventative available: a tablet for Heartworms only, and a topical medication that also prevents fleas, intestinal worms and ear mites; we recommend the latter for most cats.  Your cat does not need a blood test first, but because these are prescription medications, we are requiring that we have seen your cat in the recent past before we can dispense these medications. For more information on Heartworms in cats, look on the Internet at www.petsandparasites.org/cat-owners/heartworms.html .
 
# 4:  Now is the time to begin preventative treatment for fleas—don’t wait until you’re seeing fleas on your pet. Warmer weather doesn’t just bring mosquitoes—it also brings fleas.  It is much easier to prevent fleas now than it is to treat for them later, after they’ve contaminated your house with their eggs.  Many of the pet store products for flea control are ineffective, and significant side effects can be seen with their usage in some pets.  We have flea control products that are proven to be safe and effective—including a newer product, the first once-a-month flea pill (available for dogs only; sorry, cat owners).  We also have the knowledge to help you use these products for maximum effectiveness.  Stop in or call for more information.
 
# 5:  As stated earlier, we’re in the process of updating all of our records.  If you’re receiving this information from us, it means our records show that you have at least one pet that you’ve brought to us in the recent past.  If you no longer have your pet but haven’t previously informed us, please call so we can remove the pet’s name from our system.  If you brought a sick pet to us for medical treatment in the past, we encourage you to make an appointment for wellness services (vaccines and Heartworm testing) now.  And if we saw a sick animal for you because your regular veterinarian was unavailable, we encourage you to set up an appointment with him or her for these services—our sole aim here is to educate owners about these important pet issues.