Our first pet belongs to one of our technicians, Anna Whaley. Esbe is a 6 year old DSH neutered male cat. He currently weighs in at 22.2 pounds. While Esbe was neglected and starved as a kitten, he has more than made up for it! When Anna shaved him this month,  she got a good look as to how much of that “fluff” was actually fat. For the last several years, Esbe (along with the rest of Anna’s cats) have been fed Science Diet C/D (due to urinary issues). Because she has a multiple cat household it was easiest to “free feed” (putting down bowls full of food and letting her cats eat as much as they want, whenever they want). In order to help Esbe lose weight she is going to switch him to Science Diet M/D – a low carb weight loss/diabetic food. She is also going to start to “meal feeding” her cats measured amounts twice daily.

Esbe – Day One

Our second pet is a patient here at the clinic. Rhonin is a 5 year old neutered male Golden Retreiver that has packed on 30 pounds in the last 3 years . At 155 pounds he is about 45 pounds overweight and is feeling it in his joints. In order for his owners to help him lose weight they are going to change his food from a Lamb and Rice diet to a fish based diet that is low in calories. Rhonin also suffers from food allergies, so there are limited kinds of foods he can eat. Another way they are going to help him lose weight is to feed him two smaller meals per day instead of one big meal per day. As the weather improves they are also going to increase his exercise.

Rhonin – Day One

Please stay tuned for updated posts to see if they are able to meet their weight loss goals.

1. Send out a search party. Start at the location the pet was last seen. Call out to the pet, shake a bowl of food/treats, or squeak a toy – anything that might attract their attention. The sooner your search begins, the better.

2.  Call Animal Control (402-442-7900) to place a LOST report for your pet.  Animal Control is the agency in charge of responding to community calls regarding stray animals or animals in distress.

3.  Call the Capital Humane Society (402-477-7722) and place a LOST report.  The Humane Society houses stray/lost animals brought in by Animal Control.  Visit the H.S. routinely (every 48-72 hours) to personally see the animals that might match your pets description.

4.  Place LOST posters around your neighborhood.  Include a recent photo and a detailed description to help people identify your pet. For example: color, special markings, coat type, body size/build, wearing collar or tags, spayed/neutered/intact, declawed/not declawed, personality (friendly or shy), and area/location last seen.  Be sure to include instructions on how to reach you if your pet has been found. You  may even want to go door to door in your neighborhood to personally talk to your neighbors and/or hand out flyers.

5.  Call the Lincoln Journal Star Classifieds to place a free LOST PET ad.  The ad will run for 6 days at no charge.

6.  If your pet has a microchip, call the company where the chip was registered to report your pet lost.

7.  Stop by local veterinary clinics, pet stores, and grooming/boarding facilities to see if they will place your lost poster for their clients to see.  Some grocery stores also allow local postings.

8.  Utilize technology – post information regarding your lost pet on Facebook, Twitter, Craig’s List, ect.  Use caution when posting personal information or meeting a stranger claiming to have found your pet.

Losing your pet is scary.  By placing lost reports through local animal agencies and in many public places throughout the community, you will increase your chances of finding your pet.  Don’t give up hope!

This year there is a new option when considering flea and tick prevention for your dog or cat. Bayer has released a new flea and tick collar that will repel and kill fleas and ticks for 8 months. The collar is designed to slowly release and keep a steady state of active product in the lipid layer of your pet’s skin, just like a topical product like Frontline or Advantage would. The collar is water proof (you can even leave it on while swimming!), odorless, and safe for adults and children to come into contact with. Please click on the link posted above to watch the video for more information on how the collar works.

The collar was originally released and proven safe and effective in Europe over the last year. The main ingredient in the collar is Imidacloprid, which is the main active ingredient found in Advantage.  The second added ingredient is Flumethrin which was added for tick prevention.

We currently have these collars in stock. The collars run from $67-$72 depending on the size of your pet. You can also redeem a $20 mail in rebate after your purchase of Seresto. This makes your total cost around $50 for 8 months of flea and tick prevention.

Pitts Veterinary Hospital relies heavily on the services provided by the diagnostic lab.  On a weekly basis, several tissue samples are sent to the diagnostic lab for histopathology.  Because the laboratory is right here in Lincoln there are no shipping costs and the samples can be submitted on the same day they were taken.  This  means that getting results to help diagnose your pet happens quickly and treatment can start sooner.

Countless numbers of our patients have been diagnosed through the experts at the Veterinary Diagnostic Center.  Please consider donating to the fund so that we can continue to provide your pet with reliable testing in a lab that is state of the art and fully accredited.  To read the full story and find information regarding how to donate, please click on the link below:

http://stories.nufoundation.org/node/1056

The past year has been especially trying when it comes to ordering and stocking commonly used veterinary medications.  Our full-time inventory manager, Matt, works hard every day to keep our hospital stocked with the drugs and medications that are necessary for us to provide our clients and patients with proper treatment.

Matt has many important tasks to complete each day.  He makes sure that all areas of the hospital are fully stocked with supplies for the day, counts inventory for accuracy and reordering purposes, speaks with our vendors both in person and via phone to get the latest information on pricing, new items, or any changes that may affect us.  When shipments arrive, he is in charge of receiving the product, tracking outdates, tagging items, and entering all information into the computer.  Matt also helps answer the phone, fill in at the front desk, and prepares information for staff meetings. He is a busy guy!

When it comes to ordering drugs and medications, our focus always relates back to the patient/client.  We want to be fully stocked at all times to minimize delays in treatment and to provide the best care possible.  We want to purchase inventory items at the best price available in order to keep our prices reasonable for the client.  We want to offer options for preventive medication and prescription diets so that we are able to accommodate individual patient/client needs.

Over the past year we have encountered many obstacles when it comes to ordering drugs and medications.  In some cases we have seen prices double or triple!  Examples would be BNP (a triple antibiotic eye ointment) and metronidazole (used to treat G.I. upset).  In these cases we have searched out cheaper, but comparable alternatives or we have ordered in bulk at the low price, stocking up before the price increase.  We have seen many items become unavailable due to manufacturing issues – either difficulties with raw material or companies just discontinuing the product altogether.   The Iams company and Novartis both encountered shutdowns due to errors or safety reasons that put delays in us receiving their product.  Some companies have put certain items on allocation, meaning we can only order them for specific cases. One example of this is Immiticide which is used in treating heartworm disease.  We have to call for each specific case – we can no longer keep this drug on hand.

We have seen a few of our favorite drugs become completely unavailable. In this case we try to find a similar replacement or a compounding pharmacy that is able to make the drug for us.  Terry and Carol Pitts do not make these decisions lightly.  Whenever we have to make a switch, they carefully do their research to find a safe and effective alternative.  Right now we are experiencing changes with PPA(phenylpropalalamine) which is used to treat urinary incontinence.  The tablet form is no longer available, but we are able to get the chewable form – for now.

Ordering, receiving, and counting inventory for Pitts Veterinary Hospital is a full time job.  Careful consideration is taken to make sure that we are stocked with the appropriate amount of supplies (not too much or too little) and that we carry the safest, most effective options available.  We do our best to monitor pricing so that our products remain affordable for the pet owner.  If you ever have a question regarding our inventory or an item that you would like us to special order for your pet, Matt is your guy!

Dog Dental Facts

• Puppies have 28 temporary teeth that erupt at about three to four weeks of age. They have 42 permanent teeth that begin to emerge at about four months. Symptoms of gum disease in dogs include yellow and brown build-up of tartar along the gum line, inflamed gums and persistent bad breath.
• Broken teeth are a common problem, especially among outdoor dogs. According to veterinary dental experts, aggressive chewing on hard objects, such as commercially available cow hooves, is a primary cause of broken teeth in dogs.

Cat Dental Facts

• Kittens have 26 temporary teeth that begin to erupt at about two to three weeks of age. They have 30 permanent teeth that erupt at about three to four months. Symptoms of periodontal disease in cats include yellow and brown tartar buildup along the gum line, red inflamed gums, and persistent bad breath.
• Resorptive lesions are the most common tooth disease in domestic cats. Studies show that about 28 percent of domestic cats develop at least one of these painful lesions during their lifetime.

Oral disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem for pets.

An astounding 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age 3, according to the American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS).

• Periodontal disease is a common problem in dogs, particularly smaller breeds.
• Oral disease begins with a buildup of bacteria in the pet’s mouth.
• Bacteria, combined with saliva and food debris between the tooth and gum, can cause plaque formulations that accumulate on the tooth. As bacteria grow in the plaque and as calcium salts are deposited, plaque turns to tartar.
• Bacterial plaque is the most important substrate in the development of periodontal disease. The inflammation and destruction that accompanies periodontal disease results from the direct action of bacteria and their by-products on periodontal tissues as well as the indirect activation of the host immune response.
• Without proper preventive or therapeutic care, plaque and tartar buildup leads to periodontal disease, which affects the tissues and structures supporting the teeth. Left untreated, periodontal disease can cause oral pain, dysfunction, tooth loss and systemic complications.
• Tartar has a contributory role due to its roughened surface, which enhances bacterial attachment and further plaque development, and also irritates gingival tissues.

Periodontitis may lead to other health problems

• Periodontal disease causes red, swollen and tender gums, receding gums, bleeding, pain and bad breath. If left untreated, periodontitis can lead to tooth loss.
• The inflammation and infection associated with periodontal disease may damage other organs such as the heart, liver, and kidneys, or lead to other serious health problems.

Pet owners should look for warning signs of oral disease

• Common indications of oral disease include bad breath, a change in eating or chewing habits, excessive drooling or swelling, pawing at the face or mouth and depression.
• If any of these signs are present, please call 402-423-4120 for a dental exam.

The good news is that pet owners can reduce the risk of oral disease by following these recommendations:

• The first step in preventing oral disease is a routine physical examination including a dental exam.
• Pet owners should practice a regular dental care regimen at home, which may include brushing the pet’s teeth with specially formulated toothpaste. It is best to start early, but grown dogs and cats can learn to tolerate brushing. Toothpaste for humans is not recommended because it may upset the pet ́s stomach.
• Schedule regular follow-up care with your family veterinarian and ask about specially formulated foods with proven benefits in plaque and tartar removal.

We look forward to seeing you  in 2012.