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Nine Cat Lies

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 17:56:00 GMT

1) Indoor cats are not exposed to the outdoors

No matter how clean you house may be, parasites can travel in. Be it a worm egg on your shoes or a flea on your pants, these parasites need to find host animals in order to survive. As a result, they will stop at no cost to find your feline friend.

2) Heartworm disease is for dogs only

Heartworm disease is transmitted by mosquitoes. Not only can a mosquito bite your kitty and transmit heartworm disease, but heartworm disease in cats is not treatable. This makes prevention all the more vital for you kitty.

3) Litter is the only thing that is in a litterbox

It may be obvious that there is more in a litterbox than just the litter. After all, it is your cat's toilet. Even if you scoop your litterbox daily, there is some residual feces and urine within that box. Most internal parasites (worms) are shed in the poop and the eggs are very sticky. This means that they stick to the litterbox and then to your cat's feet. All it takes is for your cat to lick that area (See grooming myth below) and that parasite is ingested, beginning its life cycle all over again.

4) The deck, balcony, porch, etc. does not count as the outdoors

Anytime a cat steps outside the home, he/she is no longer indoors. A simple trip to the deck can expose them to fleas due to squirrels and other animals that may visit your deck. This is true of stray cats, possums and other animals that roam about.

5) Only the dog uses the "doggy door"

Mosquitoes, fleas, ticks and rodents are all seeking a way to find food, whether that food is you, your cat or your pantry. Many of these insects are either parasites themselves, or carries of different diseases.

6) My owner's shoes are a great place to curl up to sleep

Mud, dirt and other debris can contain parasite eggs. In addition, parasite eggs are very sticky and it is easier to step in a small area of poop than you may think.

7) My cat carrier is just like my home, yet with a handle

Thought your cat may hate the carrier, we think of it as a nice, clean place. The fact that the carrier gets set on the ground on the way to the car, gets set down at the veterinary clinic or the groomers; making it an easy place for parasites to find your cat.

8) A little bit of dirt is good for cats

Even commercial potting soil can be contaminated with parasite eggs. Zoetis cites an article (February 18th, 2006 in the Veterinary Record) which states that 15% of potting soils contain the cat roundworm.

9) Because I groom myself, I am clean

Grooming is your cat's way of taking a bath. The difference is that they ingest a small amount of material from their hair coat when they groom. This is why cats get hairballs. Guess what? They also ingest small amounts of mud, dirt and poop; which can all contain parasite eggs.

This article is published and written by Dr. Fink. It is adapted from the promotional handout from Zoetis, Inc. entitled The 9 Lies of Cats.

Equine Metabolic Syndrome

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 17:34:00 GMT

Equine Metabolic Syndrome and Weight Management

Is Your Horse Overweight?

Does your horse carry extra weight, have a cresty neck, or fat deposits around the tail head? These are common signs that your horse may be at risk for Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), also known as insulin resistance in horses.

Carrying excess weight doesn’t just affect appearance—it puts strain on your horse’s joints and increases the risk of serious health conditions, especially laminitis (founder).

What Is Equine Metabolic Syndrome?

Equine Metabolic Syndrome is a hormonal and metabolic disorder where the horse’s body cannot properly manage sugar (non-structural carbohydrates, or NSCs) in the diet. This leads to:

Insulin resistance – the body overproduces insulin after eating sugars and starches.
High insulin levels – a key trigger for laminitis.
Increased fat storage – especially in the neck, rump, and shoulders.

Unlike some conditions, EMS is not something we can “medicate away.” Management relies heavily on diet and exercise.

Which Horses Are Most at Risk?

Any overweight horse can develop EMS, but certain breeds are predisposed, including:

Ponies
Morgans
Paso Finos
Warmbloods

Although less common, even horses at a healthy weight can sometimes develop EMS and insulin-related laminitis.

How to Manage EMS in Horses

1. Diet Management

The cornerstone of EMS management is controlling sugars and starches (NSC levels) in your horse’s diet.

Test your hay: Knowing the NSC level of your forage is critical. If hay tests high, you can either source lower-NSC hay or soak hay to reduce sugar content.

Choose low-NSC feeds: Avoid high-starch grains like oats. Instead, consider alfalfa pellets or specially formulated EMS-safe commercial feeds.

Control pasture access: During grass season, use a grazing muzzle or provide turnout in a dry lot to limit sugar intake from lush grass.

2. Exercise and Movement

Consistent physical activity helps improve insulin sensitivity and supports healthy weight management. Exercise programs can include:

Hand-walking
Trail riding
Round pen or lunging sessions

The key is consistency, even if the exercise is light.

Can Supplements Help?

Many supplements claim to reduce insulin levels, but as of now, none are proven by scientific studies. Relying solely on supplements without diet and exercise changes will not control EMS.

Diagnosis and Veterinary Support

If you suspect your horse may have EMS, your veterinarian can perform specific blood tests to confirm the condition. At Orrville Veterinary Clinic, we can also create a personalized nutrition and exercise plan tailored to your horse’s needs.

Key Takeaways for Horse Owners

Overweight horses are at high risk for EMS and laminitis.
Diet and exercise are the most effective ways to manage EMS.
Forage testing and careful feed selection are essential for keeping NSC levels low.
Veterinary guidance ensures safe and effective management.

Normal Labor and Delivery in Dogs: What Every Owner Should Know

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 16:07:00 GMT

Welcoming a litter of puppies is exciting but it can also be stressful for pet owners. Understanding the stages of labor, preparing in advance, and knowing when to call your veterinarian are the keys to a safe and healthy delivery.

Dog Pregnancy: What to Expect

Gestation Length: Pregnancy lasts about 63 days on average, although it may range from 58 to 70 days. Since dogs can breed before or after ovulation, it can be difficult to know the exact due date. Your veterinarian can estimate more precisely through vaginal cytology, ultrasound, or X-rays.

False Pregnancies: Some dogs show signs of pregnancy even when they are not carrying puppies. This condition, called pseudopregnancy, can only be ruled out through diagnostic testing. Ultrasound can confirm pregnancy around 25 to 30 days, while X-rays are most accurate after 45 days.

Nutrition and Health During Pregnancy

Before Breeding: Make sure vaccinations are up to date, deworming is done, and your dog has been screened for health conditions. Brucella testing is important because this bacterial infection can cause miscarriage and also affect people.

Last Trimester Nutrition: By weeks 5 and 6, puppies grow rapidly and the mother’s nutritional needs increase. At this time, transition her to a high-quality growth or pregnancy diet. Do not give supplements unless prescribed by your veterinarian. Over-supplementing or overfeeding can cause complications, including delivery problems and developmental defects.

Preparing for Whelping

Set Up a Whelping Box: Provide a clean, secure box that is big enough for the mother to stretch out comfortably, with sides low enough for her to step over.

Introduce the Area Early: Let her get used to the whelping area before delivery. If she is not familiar with it, she may choose an unsuitable place such as a closet or laundry pile.

Bedding: Start with newspapers for easy cleanup. After delivery, switch to clean towels or blankets to help puppies move and stay warm.

Veterinary Check-Up: A late-term ultrasound or X-ray helps you know how many puppies to expect and ensures you can track progress during delivery.

The Stages of Labor in Dogs

Stage I

Duration: 6 to 12 hours, sometimes longer.
Signs: Panting, pacing, anxiety, restlessness, decreased appetite, and nesting behavior.
Temperature: A drop in body temperature from the normal 101–102.5°F to about 98–99°F often occurs within 24 hours of labor starting.
Veterinary Help: If active labor has not started within 24 hours of the temperature drop, contact your veterinarian.

Stage II: Delivery of Puppies

Onset: Strong abdominal contractions and straining begin.
First Puppy: Should arrive within 1 to 2 hours of contractions starting. If not, call your veterinarian immediately.
Rest Periods: The mother may rest for up to 4 hours between puppies. If more are expected and labor does not resume, seek veterinary assistance.

Stage III: Delivery of the Placentas

Timing: Each placenta usually passes within 5 to 15 minutes after the puppy is delivered.
Monitoring: Count the placentas. There should be one for each puppy. Retained placentas can lead to infection and other serious problems.

Caring for Puppies After Birth

Mother’s Role: Most dogs instinctively clean the puppies, break the amniotic sac, and chew the umbilical cord.

When to Assist: If a puppy is still in the sac, gently remove it, rub the puppy with a clean towel, and stimulate it to cry. If the cord is still attached, tie it with clean string about one inch from the belly and cut with sanitized scissors.

Placenta Check: Collect and count each placenta to ensure none are retained.

Nursing and Warmth: Place cleaned puppies near their mother to nurse. Nursing encourages milk letdown and bonding while also helping stimulate the uterus.

Key Takeaways

A normal dog pregnancy lasts about 63 days.
Nutrition, veterinary care, and preparation are essential for a healthy delivery.
Labor has three stages: preparation, delivery of puppies, and delivery of placentas.
Count the puppies and placentas and know when to contact your veterinarian.

Pet Safety Tips

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 15:32:42 GMT

Not all pets can swim – carefully monitor your pet near water until you are sure that he or she can swim without sinking.
Xylitol is a sugar substitute commonly found in chewing gum and can be deadly to pets. This chemical is especially dangerous because it is sweet-smelling and tasting. Be sure to keep pets away from purses or contents of pockets, candy baskets, etc.
Know your pet’s normal temperature, pulse and breathing rate; gum and inner eyelid membrane color should normally be a healthy pink hue.
Take a picture of yourself with your pet for purposes of identification. This way, if your pet is lost or stolen, you can prove that the pet is yours.
Never feed your pet chocolate, moldy cheese, onions, raisins, or grapes, as these are poisonous.
Many common houseplants (poinsettia, varieties of philodendron) are poisonous to your pet.
Keep a pet emergency first aid kit handy, complete with emergency phone numbers for your veterinarian and local 24 hour emergency facility.
Think ahead and have an evacuation plan in case of emergency. Do you know which local hotels accept pets?
Make sure your pet has an ID tag or microchip – especially when travelling.
Never give your pet human medication unless it is prescribed specifically by your veterinarian.
Carry an extra leash in your car to use as a collar/lead or muzzle.
Watch your pet closely when mulching or gardening, as cocoa-scented mulch can be harmful to dogs if ingested.
Never leave your pet in a parked car.

SPORTMIX PET FOOD RECALL

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 20:07:32 GMT

The FDA announced a recall of certain pet foods from Sportmix Brand. These foods contain high levels of aflatoxin, a mold that typically grows on corn. This is in response to 28 deaths and 8 sick patients as of 12/31/2020. Pet owners who have purchased Sportmix pet food products should be aware that this brand is linked to the fatalities. The pet food in question was manufactured by Midwestern Pet Foods.

According to the FDA's release, aflatoxin is "a toxin produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus which can grow on corn and other grains used as ingredients in pet food." In high levels, it can cause harm to pets. Clinical signs and sympotms include: sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice, and diarrhea. In some cases, it can cause liver damage and can even be fatal.

If you happen to have any Sportmix pet food in your possession, the FDA suggests not feeding it to your pets and consulting a veterinarian if they've ingested it recently. In the organization's recall, they wrote that their investigation is ongoing and that as more information is available, they will update their post.

Affected products iclude: (copied from the FDA website)

The list of recalled dry pet food products announced by Midwestern Pet Food, Inc. on December 30, 2020 is:

Sportmix Energy Plus, 50 lb. bag

Exp 03/02/22/05/L2

Exp 03/02/22/05/L3

Exp 03/03/22/05/L2

Sportmix Energy Plus, 44 lb. bag

Exp 03/02/22/05/L3

Sportmix Premium High Energy, 50 lb. bag

Exp 03/03/22/05/L3

Sportmix Premium High Energy, 44 lb. bag

Exp 03/03/22/05/L3

Sportmix Original Cat, 31 lb. bag

Exp 03/03/22/05/L3

Sportmix Original Cat, 15 lb. bag

Exp 03/03/22/05/L2

Exp 03/03/22/05/L3

Lot code information may be found on the back of bag and will appear in a three-line code, with the top line in format “EXP 03/03/22/05/L#/B###/HH:MM”

Veterinary Wellness Partners recommends the following companies for pet foods, as these companies have higher certification levels and higher quality control measures than some of the smaller companies:

IAMS/ EUKANUBA

ROYAL CANIN

PURINA

Hill's/ SCIENCE DIET

Article written and published by Dr. Jeffrey R. Fink

VETERINARY WELLNESS PARTNERS COVID-19 PLAN MAY 18TH, 202

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 20:07:32 GMT

With the continuing COVID-19 situation across the country, many veterinary clinics continue to provide curbside care to their clients and patients. Veterinary Wellness Partners, including our four clinics, are continuing with this same curbside care for the foreseeable short-term future.

What is Curbside Care?

Curbside care is the term used to describe the process that we use to accommodate the social distancing guidelines by having clients wait in the parking lot. We still perform a complete examination and discuss findings and recommendations with each client.

How does curbside care work?

Upon arrival at one of our clinics, clients are to call the front desk. We ask that all dogs are on leashes and all cats are in carriers, as they could easily get away if not properly placed in a carrier. We also request that clients wear a mask while interacting with our staff. Once the front offices checks your pet in, a medical team member will come out to the vehicle to bring your pet into the clinic. A valid cellphone number will be obtained, so as to allow for communication from the veterinary staff to the clients. A history will be taken either over the phone or discussed at the vehicle.

Once your pet has been escorted into the clinic, he/ she will be weighed and then will have a complete physical examination. Following the physical examination, you will be called by the attending veterinarian to discuss our findings, as well as to go over our suggested treatment plan.

At the end of the follow-up phone calls, clients will be placed on hold. This will allow the front office staff to discuss payment. A check can be written and given to the team member that returns your pet to the car, or a credit card number can be obtained over the phone.

How long will curbside care last?

We do not know the end date to this system at this time. We are monitoring the COVID-19 situation and recommendations given by the federal government, as well as the government of the state of Ohio. In addition, we take the safety and concern of our staff into consideration. Our staff members are our greatest aspect of our clinics and we need them to be comfortable and relaxed as we proceed going forward. We have had some client feedback and requests for clients to be allowed into the clinics. We will continue to listen to feedback. Some of the challenges of the social distancing protocols centers around the limited spacing in the examination rooms. With many examination rooms being too small to allow the proper 6 feet of distancing with three to four people in the rooms (one client, the doctor, and a support staff are general required for each examination).

Veterinary Wellness Partners want to thank everybody for their understanding. We have had 100% compliance with clients. There have been very few client complaints and a lot of compliments as to how this process is going. We continue to be thankful to be able to provide the best care to our patients and their families!

March Bovine Health

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 21:03:00 GMT

March Bovine Health

Gabe Middleton DVM

How can activity monitoring systems improve profitability?

Activity monitoring systems are becoming more commonplace on dairy farms. Despite the large investment, many progressive producers see the potential payback for utilizing this technology. These systems are able to effectively monitor rumination time and activity of the cow to determine if she is sick or in heat.

The most common question during the decision making process is “How will the system pay for itself?” That question is not easily answered and is dependent on the current status of the herd as well as the goals.

From a reproductive perspective; if heat detection rate and conception rates are poor, the system may help improve both of those numbers, in turn improving profitability. Changing from a predominantly timed AI program to more of a heat detection type program with an activity monitoring system is probably not going to be the sole method of payback. Reproductive hormone savings will not be substantial enough. If reproductive efficiency is already good, moving an already excellent pregnancy rate up a few percentage points does not results in tremendous financial returns. In other words, reproductive improvement can certainly occur with the installation of activity monitoring systems, but there must be other areas of improvement for the system to be justified financially.

I recently met with Joe, a regular herd health client, who has had an activity monitoring system for the last 2 years. We reviewed his herd data to see how certain metrics compare before and after the implementation of this technology. We found a much quicker payback on the system than we expected. Reproductive efficiency showed improvement, as pregnancy rate went from 24% to 27%. Both conception rate and heat detection rate also improved. The interbreeding interval was reduced as the system found cows to be rebred prior to the cows being enrolled for pregnancy diagnosis. Prior to system installation, the herd used very little timed AI, so reduction of hormone use did not occur, but the return appreciated by seeing decreased days open for the herd.

We also examined culling and death rates. Joe and I were very pleased with the level of improvement in this area. Joe's culling rates went from 32% to 25%. Culling by 30 days in milk went from 6.5% to 3.5%. Death loss was also reduced, going from 6% to 4.4%. There were over 1500 calvings in the data set, so these findings were definitely significant and did not occur just by chance. By reducing culling and death, Joe was able to change the way they managed the farm's heifer inventory. With a reduced cull rate, fewer heifers were needed. A reduction in overall heifer inventory was another significant savings thanks indirectly to the activity monitoring system. In addition, selling of heifers resulted in some increased profits that were not factored into the overall cost savings of the system.

We attributed the reduction in culling and death to both early identification of disease and utilization of group rumination numbers to allow us to make nutritional changes prior to a significant disease outbreak. For example, monitoring group rumination level of pre-fresh and far off dry cows has been tremendously helpful. Without the ability to monitor group rumination, dairies typically wait until transition cow incidence increases before making changes. With rumination data, the ability to see changes before they result in disease is a remarkable benefit. For example, if group ruminations in the prefresh pen are reduced, that issue can be immediately investigated. Some potential reasons include urine pH changes on negative DCAD rations, dry matter changes in forages, energy changes in forages, or mixing errors.

Early identification of disease typically results in improvement of treatment effectiveness. We noticed this occurring in several different areas. Success of DA surgeries was dramatically increased because of rapid intervention. Joe also noticed increased success in treatment of other fresh cow diseases. One area that we needed to fine tune over time was treatment of cows with low rumination levels. Obviously, low rumination itself is not a disease, rather a symptom. Every cow that is sorted for low rumination still needs a thorough physical examination. To avoid overtreatment, we had to adjust protocols so that not every cow received treatment. Some cows appear stable and don’t show specific disease symptoms other than low rumination. We had to be prepared to just monitor those cows. Many recover uneventfully after a day or two.

Joe also noticed that his labor need changed when he installed the activity monitoring system. While every cow needs an exam if she is sorted for low rumination, the need to go out and find the cow is eliminated by an effective sort gate. There is tremendous benefit in allowing skilled labor to do their job and not waste time finding sick cows within the group. Joe was able to expand his dairy and maintain his current labor force thanks to the effectiveness of the system in finding and sorting sick cows.

All of these benefits resulted in reduced direct disease costs and improved treatment and breeding outcomes. There was an obvious payback for that. Ultimately improved peak milks and overall production are what made the system successful for Joe. While the investment was high, he recognized the potential for activity monitoring systems to improve profitability on his dairy. Like any automated dairy system, all of basics of successful dairying still need to be in place for the system to be optimized.

IS BRD COSTING YOU?

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 11:00:00 GMT

February Bovine Health

Find out if BRD is costing you more than you think

Gabe Middleton DVM

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) continues to plague the dairy industry. Raising replacement heifers is already an expensive proposition for dairy producers, but when factoring in the increased cost of raising heifers with either clinical or subclinical BRD, the heifer program becomes even more costly. Clinical BRD is not difficult to recognize. The heifer has a fever, cough, nasal discharge, and may have a reduced appetite. Subclinical BRD occur when lung lesions are present, but the calf does not show outward signs of disease. Subclinical BRD is costly and may be present in a larger percentage of heifers than clinical BRD. Lung ultrasound is a technique that may provide some insight as to the level of subclinical BRD in youngstock.

Lung ultrasound is a relatively new technique where your veterinarian can determine lung pathology without a stethoscope. In fact, ultrasound of lungs is a much more sensitive indicator of disease than a stethoscope. Most bovine veterinarians already have a reproductive ultrasound, which will work just fine to ultrasound the lungs of calves or heifers. Isopropyl alcohol is used to help improve contact between the animal’s skin and the ultrasound probe. Normal lungs are filled with air and show up as an artifact on the ultrasound that looks like lines parallel to the animal’s body wall. When lung disease (fluid, cells) is present, there is evidence in the form of white lines running perpendicular to the body wall. This is known as a comet tail. Comet tails range in size from less than one centimeter to over three centimeters. When areas of lung consolidation become too severe, an abscess can form and can be visualized by the ultrasound.

Perhaps the science of lung ultrasound has you confused at this point. Focus on the big picture ways that lung ultrasound can help your dairy operation. Your veterinarian can quickly learn the lung ultrasound technique and the scoring system, which identifies how many lung lobes are affected.

There are multiple ways lung ultrasound can help a dairy. Some common ones are:

1) Determine which animals are candidates for culling

2) Determine the extent of subclinical BRD in replacement animals

3) Measure the success of BRD therapy

Traditional measures of BRD treatment success are reduced fever, restored appetite, lack of heavy breathing, and the animal not dying. Lung ultrasound has taught us that these are actually quite poor indicators of treatment success. Lung ultrasound can be utilized to score a group of new cases on the day of treatment, and again 7-10 days later. There should be a dramatic improvement of lung ultrasound scores at the recheck examination. Treatment success is defined as the lung ultrasound scores returning to normal or near normal. If less than 80% of animals treated aren’t cured based on lung ultrasound, further discussion is warranted, as several possible explanations for this exist. Perhaps animals are not being identified and treated for BRD early enough in the disease process. Remember that calves and heifers will have a good appetite early into BRD, so it is not a sensitive enough indicator to base treatment decisions on. Other factors potentially delaying improvements in lung ultrasound scores include pathogens that are difficult to treat (e.g. Mycoplasma bovis), very poor ventilation, and/or inappropriate therapy/dose.

Lung ultrasound can also be utilized to determine the extent of subclinical BRD in a group of calves or heifers. The impact of lung lesions on first lactation milk yield is well documented. Increased lung scores can easily cost a heifer over 1,000 pounds first lactation milk yield. Consider scanning calves and heifers at various ages to get a baseline. Repeating an ultrasound in a month to once again scan and determine if the problem is consistent at a certain age. If lung ultrasound scores consistently start to increase at a certain age, further investigation is needed. Perhaps there is a lapse in vaccination, movement into a facility with poor ventilation, or inappropriate movement causing the issue. Either way, lung ultrasound can uncover where the BRD bottleneck is to the heifer growing operation.

Lastly, culling of heifers is a practice that producers do not like to consider, but may be necessary on a select few animals. Studies have shown that heifers with more damaged lung scores or with the presence of lung abscesses are not productive future members of the herd. While culling heifers is a losing proposition due to high inputs and low value, producers should put a stop to the financial loss of that particular animal and decide to cull.

Lung ultrasound is an excellent tool to make some “next level” types of management decisions on the dairy. Your veterinarian is uniquely qualified to perform, track, and assess the status of BRD and make recommendations to get the most out of the replacement heifer operation.

Small Ruminant Wellness Plan

Mon, 24 Feb 2020 16:25:00 GMT

OVC Small Ruminant Wellness Plan

The small ruminant wellness plan (SRWP) is an all-inclusive program for sheep and goat owners. The goal of SRWP is to provide excellent quality of care for sheep and goats and provide owners with the resources to develop and improve the management of their animals. The plan includes at least one annual visit designated to discuss farm-specific management topics of the owner’s choosing. Topics include: parasitism, vaccinations, nutrition, and reproduction. SRWP members will also have open access to phone consultation with a veterinarian.

When first signing up for SRWP, owners will also receive a packet with basic management tips and resources. Other benefits of membership include discounted services. Fecal exams are 50% off. Other procedures including castration, disbudding and dehorning are 10% off. Many diagnostics are also discounted, such as ultrasound for pregnancy, bloodwork, and autopsies are 20% off from regular price.

There is a $100 annual fee to be a SRWP member. This fee easily pays for itself after the annual management visit, which is a $200-$250 value.

We look forward to working with you on all of your sheep and goat needs.

Please contact the clinic with any questions and to enroll.

BEG Diets and Heart Disease

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 22:00:00 GMT

Some of you have reached out to us regarding the FDA reports of diet related heart disease. We greatly appreciate your trust in us. We are keeping up with the investigation and can share some recommendations based on the findings as of now.

According to the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) , the FDA released information that it is investigating a possible connection between diets and a heart disease called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. The FDA began receiving reports as early as 2014 with the majority of cases reported between 2018 and 2019.

Veterinary cardiologists became suspicious of a diet related condition when an increased number of cases of DCM surfaced in breeds that were not previously genetically predisposed. DCM is a condition that results in an enlarged, weakened heart that cannot pump blood effectively. This leads to congestive heart failure. Signs of heart failure include coughing, breathing heavier, exercise intolerance, collapse and even sudden death. Breeds known to be genetically predisposed to DCM the Doberman Pinscher, Great Dane, Newfoundland, Boxer, Irish Wolfhound and Cocker Spaniel. The investigation is on-going. Investigators are looking into potential deficiency of the amino acid taurine, but that has not explained all the cases. It is also unclear if the issue is a result of diet imbalance, quality control, interaction between ingredients, poor bioavailability or something else.

Here are some things we know:

A lot of pets were found eating a BEG diet. BEG diets are Boutique brands, foods with Exotic ingredients, or Grain-free foods . Other diets that may pose a risk for pets include those that are very low in protein, very high in fiber, vegan, vegetarian, or home-cooked diets.

We are recommending sticking with a diet from companies such as Purina, Hill’s, Iams/Eukanuba and Royal Canin. These pet food companies are well-established, have board-certified veterinary nutritionists on staff, and have robust research and development. Be wary of marketing ploys, opinion ratings, and myths. Grain sensitivity (especially to wheat) is rare in animals.

The good news is that, discontinuation of the BEG diet, combined with veterinary medical treatment, many affected dogs have shown improvement of their disease and clinical signs associated with DCM. The resolution of clinical signs may take some time.

Clicking on the hyperlinks in this post will take you to the full articles relating to this topic. Here is an excellent short summary video from Board Certified Veterinary Internist and Veterinary Nutritionist, Dr. Valerie Parker, from The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center. As always, we would love to discuss this with you relating to your pets’ specific needs, so please reach out to your veterinarian with any questions or concerns you may have. In order to better help you and your pet, your veterinarian or veterinary technician may ask for a complete diet history during your pet’s appointment.

It is our privilege to partner with you in the care of your pets,

The doctors and staff of Veterinary Wellness Partners

Written by Dr. Marissa Hofstetter and Dr. Meghan Studds

These are two sites you can visit for more information:

Lisa Freeman’s blog: https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2018/06/a-broken-heart-risk-of-heart-disease-in-boutique-or-grain-free-diets-and-exotic-ingredients/

UC Davis: https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/uc-davis-investigates-link-between-dog-diets-and-deadly-heart-disease

For More nutrition related Articles, use our search engine or click on the links below:

The truth about "by Products"

Help for Aging pets

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 18:51:00 GMT

We’ve all been there – your dog or cat is aging, and you don’t know what to do, or where to start for help. You’ve noticed that she gets up a little slower these days, seems a little weaker in the back end, or he walks with a slight limp every once in a while. Did you know that there are MANY ways to help our pets with arthritis pain due to aching muscles and bones? Many people would think that it’s just a part of life; people get arthritis, too! It seems as though a lot of pet owners aren’t aware of all of the things we can do to help our pets have a better quality of life. Here are some things that you can do to give your pet the best, most comfortable life possible:

Click HERE for a link to our online store's joint supplement department. Many supplements are available without a prescription

There are many options for helping your pet live a long, healthy, comfortable life. Arthritis is not the end of the road! We are here to help you on that journey and continue to research new ways to increase quality of life in our pet friends. If you would like more information, feel free to call or email the office of your choice, and we will do everything we can to get your pet feeling better.

Robin

Veterinary Wellness Partners

Orrville Pet Spa and Resort 15th Anniversary

Wed, 06 Nov 2019 15:15:00 GMT

The Orrville Pet Spa and Resort is celebrating our 15th Anniversary of providing quality care to dogs and cats. We will be having an Open house Monday through Friday of the week of November 18-22nd. We will have refreshments and daily prizes! Stop in for tours between 9:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. during that week. We hope to see you there!

Credelio

Sun, 27 Oct 2019 11:00:00 GMT

Credelio

We recently added a new tool to the fight against fleas and ticks, called Credelio. Many of you may be familiar with Bravecto , a 12 week oral flea and tick preventative. Credelio is similar to Bravecto, yet only lasts for one month.

Credelio has the active ingredient: Lotilaner and is available by prescription. In order to get a prescription for your pet, a valid Veterinary-Client-Patient Relationship must be in place.

Credelio is a formulated into a palatable (tasty) treat that is soft and chewable. It is well liked by most dogs and easy to administer. It is highly recommended to give this product with a meal to prevent any risk of GI upset.

Credelio kills adult fleas, treats flea infestations, and treats and controls tick infestations. Ticks that are covered include: Lone Star Tick, American Dog Tick, Black-legged/ deer tick, and the Brown Dog Tick. Several of these ticks are of concern because they can transmit various diseases such as Lyme Disease , Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Anaplasmosis.

An advantage that Credelio has over several similar products is that it is approved for use in puppies over the age of 8 weeks old. Credilio comes in 5 sizes: 4.4-6.0 pound, 6.1-12.0 pounds, 12.1-25.0 pounds, 25.1- 50.0 pounds, and 50.1-100.0 pounds. Dogs over 100 pounds will need to use two tablets, one of each appropriate size.

Though Credelio has passed all safety tests and has very few side effects and risks, the following safety information is included: The safe use of Credelio in breeding, pregnant or lactating dogs has not been evaluated. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures. The most frequently reported adverse reactions are weight loss, elevated blood urea nitrogen, increased urination, and diarrhea. Please see full Credelio product information for complete safety information or contact your veterinarian.

Boo-Tastic Pup Party

Fri, 25 Oct 2019 20:01:00 GMT

Boo-Tastic Pup Party

October 25, 2019

Great fun was had at the Orrville Pet Spa and Resort during the Boo-Tastic Pup Party, our costume/ halloween party this year. Many dogs came dressed up as superheroes and other creative costumes. They all has a great time with spooky story hour and fun play time. Of course, a lot of treats were handed our for doggy trick or treat! Scroll through a few pictures to see some examples of costumes and awards!

Proheart 6 and Proheart 12

Fri, 25 Oct 2019 15:17:00 GMT

Proheart

Zoetis Animal Health has several convenient products that they offer in the injectable format. These medications make administration easier that oral and topical products. While there is yet to be an injection for fleas and ticks, there is a great one (actually 2) available for prevention of Heartworm Disease.

Proheart 6 is an injection for the prevention of heartworm disease, as well as hookworms. This injection can be administered at your dog's annual physical examination after a heartworm test has been performed to determine whether or not your dog has heartworm disease. This is called Proheart 6 because it lasts for 6 months. At that time an additional injection will need to be given, or your dog may be able to begin Proheart 12. Depeding on your dog's history, a second heartworm test will be performed at that time. The reason for the second test is that it takes 6 months for a heartworm to become detectable on a test. This means that the first test is testing for a period of time 6 months before the first injection. The second test is testing for the six months immediately before the first injection.

Proheart 12 is an injection for the prevention of heartworms and hookworms. It can be given to dogs after 2 negative heartworms, or to dogs that do not have a gap in the last 12 months of heartworm prevention.

Proheart 6 can be adminsitered to puppies over 6 months of age. Dogs must be greater than one year of age to receive Proheart12.

For more information regarding heartworm disease check out the following articles:

Heartworm FAQs

Protect Your Dog from Heartworm Disease

May is Heartworm Prevention Month

Reasons to Spay your Pet

Sat, 07 Sep 2019 12:00:00 GMT

Reasons To Spay Your Pet (Dog or Cat)

There are many reasons to spay your female pet. This surgery will help prevent medical and behavioral issues later in life. When spaying at a young age, 4-6 months, your pet will recover quicker and easier than if she is older.

Medical Reasons:

1) Pyometra - Pyometra is a bacterial infection in uterus. This usually happens shortly after a heat cycle because the cervix opens up during the heat cycle. As the heat cycle comes to an end, the cervix closes and traps bacteria in the uterus. The bacteria in the uterus then has a perfect environment to multiply. A pyometra is an emergency. As the uterus fills with bacteria, the uterus swells and can rupture. If the uterus ruptures, there is only a small chance that your pet will survive.

2) Mammary (Breast) Cancer – Mammary cancer is normally seen in intact female pets. Mammary cancer is normally malignant, meaning that it spreads rapidly to other areas of the body. Females that are spayed prior to their first heat cycle have a significantly less likely chance of getting mammary cancer. Every time your pet goes into heat, the risk of developing mammary cancer increases.

3) Perianal Fistulas – Perianal fistulas are more common in intact females. Perianal Fistulas are draining tracts around the anus. Perianal fistulas are characterized by chronic purulent discharge, foul smelling, and ulcerated tract. These are very painful and irritating to your pet.

4) Heat Cycle – Spaying your pet will also make it so your pet does not come have anymore heat cycles. In dogs, a heat cycle occurs about once every 6 months. This will also eliminate the mess of your pet bleeding during their heat cycle. In cats, about the first of the year, your cat will come in heat. They will go in and out of heat until they are bred. When cats go into heat they become very vocal. Cats go into heat about once a month until they are pregnant.

5) Frequent Urination – Your pet may start to urinate more frequently in an attempt to attract a male with her scent. This can also cause them to urinate in your house or inappropriate areas. You may also get some unwanted male visitors to your house in the attempts of mating with your female.

6) Roaming – Your pet may decide to leave your property in search of a mate. This could cause not only injuries to your pets due to being hit by a car, but also injuries to others in the attempts to miss your pet on the road.

7) Behavior – Female pets are more likely to become irritable and aggressive especially during their heat cycle. They can become aggressive towards other dogs or people. Pets can also become aggressive towards other animals or people when they don’t want you to touch their puppies. Females can have false pregnancies where they adopt an object as their puppy and could become aggressive over that object.

8) Unwanted Litters – There is already an overpopulation of animals in the world. Many animals are euthanized every year due to overpopulation. Shelters are having trouble keeping up with the number of unwanted pets in the world.

Cost – The cost of spaying your pet at a young age is considerably less than if you spay her at an older age. This cost is dramatically less than the cost of correcting the many conditions listed above, as well as being healthier for your cat or dog.

For these reasons alone, you can see the major benefit in spaying your pet. She will have a healthier life.

Written by Jenn Brown R.V.T.

Published and edited by Dr. Jeffrey R. Fink

Disease Costs on Farms

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 12:00:00 GMT

Disease Costs on Farms: Know the cost of disease on your farm

A dairy manager must evaluate and scrutinize all areas of management on the farm. Understanding diseases (transition and other) and the associated costs should be no different. The only way to truly understand the cost of disease is to enter your data into a program (fortunately there programs that can do that for a farm) or a spreadsheet that calculates costs. There are direct costs (drugs, death loss, treatment costs, milk withheld) and indirect costs (lost future production, reduced first service conception, culling) that need to be factored into the calculation. If you aren’t sure exactly how to calculate the disease costs for your farm, your farm’s disease cost is probably not much different than the industry average cost, so you could use the average costs for specific diseases. The dairy can justify management changes and improvements based on the financial cost of those diseases.

Clinical mastitis is all too common disease on some farms. A typical goal should be to have less than 2% of the milking herd with clinical mastitis per month. The best farms can get that number less than 1%. Keep in mind that even if you don’t treat clinical cases, that cow is still considered a mastitis case and most of the associated costs still apply. Research shows that the average cost of a case of mastitis is $400. I recently worked with a dairy with a high clinical mastitis rate. It turns out one of the issues was that their parlor towels were not being properly cleaned. They were able to easily justify the purchase of a new washer and dryer based on the potential savings by reducing clinical mastitis by even a small percentage of cases.

Metritis (Infected Uterus) is another transition cow disease that is very costly. Metritis typically occurs when a cow is 5-10 days in milk. Clinical signs include a fever and malodorous uterine discharge. First service conception rate and days to conception are usually increased and lactation production is decreased. A case of metritis can cost between $400-500. A different dairy farm had a 70% incidence of metritis in first lactation heifers. That is a significant financial drain. One of my producers decided to begin housing cows in a post-fresh group for the first 21-28 days in milk. This management change cost him a few thousand dollars to get started. With this change alone, he was able to reduce metritis incidence in first lactation heifers down to 10%. The decision was easily justified financially based on understanding his disease costs and incidence.

The example of a post-fresh group can also be applied to the diseases of ketosis and DA. Ketosis costs around $125 per case while DAs cost much more due to either surgery or culling. That cost is somewhat variable between farms depending on how the DAs are corrected, if at all.

Milk fever (hypocalcemia) is disease that can plague transition cows. Culling and death in early lactation can be a major financial drain on the farm. Milk fever costs approximately $125 per case. Keep in mind that hypocalcemia is considered a gateway disease, so while the actual cost of disease isn’t high, it creates an environment ripe for other costly diseases to occur. A different dairy farm had a high early lactation sold/dead rate. These involuntary and unwanted culls were a major drain on cow numbers and production of early days in milk cows. Bloodwork on fresh cows revealed an issue with fresh cow calcium status. The producer and nutritionist decided to feed a full DCAD (dietary cation-anion difference) diet to close up cows. The early lactation sold/dead rate drastically decreased. The feed additive and management change costs were easily justified based on the reduction in disease-associated costs.

There are other examples of cost benefit ratios when other diseases are examined. Respiratory vaccinations, ventilation systems in calf barns, salmonella vaccinations, mastitis vaccinations, and bedding costs are a few that come to mind. When you consider the decisions that are made on the farm on a daily basis, don’t just look at the cost of a product; but rather, what potential decreases in disease that may occur as a result. A few years ago I discovered a producer stopped using dry cow antibiotic therapy to save money. He had increases in dry period new infections and he also had a rise in bulk tank somatic cell count. He made a poor decision to try to save money but it ended up costing him more in the end due to increases in early lactation clinical mastitis and bulk tank somatic cell count.

Only the strong will survive in the industry moving forward. Farms that constantly lose money due to disease will have a hard time operating a profitable dairy. Know your cost of production, disease rates, and costs of disease so that you can make the soundest financial decision possible.

Written by Dr. Gabe Middleton

Reducing Calf and Heifer Respiratory Disease

Sat, 31 Aug 2019 12:00:00 GMT

Keys to reducing calf and heifer respiratory disease

Over the past decade, there has been an increase in housing pre-weaned dairy calves indoors. This has happened for many reasons. Humane comfort of housing calves indoors during winter months is one major factor. Another factor is the increase of group feeding of dairy calves. Whatever the reason may be, when dairy calves and heifers are housed together in a barn, they are at an increased risk of respiratory disease when compared to being housed individually in hutches. Even if calves are housed in hutches, when they are placed in groups in a barn post-weaning, respiratory disease can become an issue. Respiratory disease can be a problem in any housing situation if other management practices are not optimal.

Most producers think that colostrum management is critical to the prevention of neonatal scours, which is true. Passive transfer of immunity via colostrum is also necessary to prevent respiratory disease. Up to 1 out of 5 cases of respiratory disease in calves can be prevented by good colostrum management. Make sure your colostrum is concentrated, timely, clean, and fed at the appropriate volume.

Many vaccines do a good job at preventing respiratory disease in calves and heifers. Whether it is an intranasal or an injectable product, administering the right vaccines at the right time is very important to respiratory prevention. Giving injectable vaccines on the day of weaning and expecting those products to have maximum effect is an example of a poor use of vaccines. Vaccines do not work overnight. In addition, giving them to an already stressed animal will yield poor results. An example of a proper protocol is to administer injectable vaccines in the week or two prior to weaning, or even better, give an intranasal product around weaning. The key to vaccinations is to abide by a protocol and constantly revisit that protocol depending on the challenges of the farm.

Pen moves and pen sizes have a direct effect on respiratory disease. Pen sizes greater than 15-20 will increase the likelihood of pneumonia. Moving calves the day of weaning causes additional stress and a greater chance of respiratory disease. Management practices around the time of weaning should be critiqued and evaluated. Many changes can be instituted to help alleviate the stress ans strain on the calves.

Dairy producers should also consider the installation of a positive pressure tube ventilation system when calves or heifers are housed indoors. The idea behind these tube ventilation systems is to reduce the air bacterial counts and provide more fresh air in the microenvironment of the calf. It is critical to understand that the microenvironment is the area where the calf breathes air within the pen. A calf does not breathe the same air that a human does when they walk into the barn. The way a tube ventilation system achieves a reduction in air bacterial counts is to aim for exchanging the air in the barn at least 4 times per hour.

The tube needs to be custom designed for each calf facility. Purchasing a “cookie cutter” tube system for your facility will yield poor results. The University of Wisconsin Dairyland Initiative has created a spreadsheet that generates a custom-made tube ventilation system. The Dairyland Initiative staff has trained veterinarians and industry professionals throughout the world on proper design of these systems. If you decide to purchase a tube ventilation system, you should consider getting it designed by someone experienced with the Dairyland Initiative spreadsheet and who has taken the training course. There are also “certified consultants” within the Dairyland Initiative network that have demonstrated advanced proficiency with the design of tube ventilation systems.

Tube ventilation system designs can be modified so that the tube can be placed in many different locations throughout the barn. Typically one tube will properly distribute air up to 40 feet of barn width. The design can be modified so that the tube can be placed under or within the trusses. In the case of a barn with a low ceiling or a bank barn, the tube can be placed along the wall or out of the way of machinery that is utilized during barn cleanout. The hole size and location can be changed to accommodate basically any location within a barn.

There are some preconceived notions about tube ventilation systems that typically aren’t true. Even a well functioning tube ventilation system can be overwhelmed by disease pressure if any of these management factors become inadequate. Some producers believe that tube ventilation systems will make calf barns cold during winter. Unpublished research has shown that tubes have minimal effect on the temperature inside a calf barn relative to ambient temperature. Another misconception is that managing curtains is no longer important. Tube ventilation systems are just one aspect of preventing calf respiratory disease.

Current market prices for heifers are very depressed. So why is it still important to emphasize prevention of respiratory disease? The obvious answer is that respiratory disease directly causes increased treatment costs (labor, drugs) and death loss, as well as diminished growth. The long-term outcomes of poor growth are increased age at first calving and reduced first lactation (and likely subsequent lactations) milk yield. Don’t let the current market situation for heifer calf prices diminish the value of raising a quality heifer that will be a productive cow in the future.

Written By Gabe Middleton DVM of the Orrville Veterinary Clinic for Bovine Health

Edited for VWP by Jeff Fink DVM

Displaced Abomassum: Making the Right Decision

Mon, 26 Aug 2019 12:00:00 GMT

Displaced Abomasum: Making the Right Decision

Transition cow programs have improved to increase cow health in early lactation, thus causing a reduction in transition cow diseases on many herds. There are several management reasons why cows in transition might experience disease, and all of those factors should be evaluated on the dairy to maximize welfare and profitability. One of the most expensive transition cow diseases from both a direct (cost of fixing the disease) and indirect (cost of lost milk) is a displaced abomasum (DA).

Despite better transition cow management, DAs still happen. A producer must make a decision on whether to fix the cow (surgery, rolling/medical therapy) or to cull the cow. Often times this decision is made based on a lack of objective criteria. A producer needs to be consistent in making culling decisions with DAs, rather than making flippant decisions.

The first thing to evaluate is whether the cow has ketosis. Surprisingly, ketosis actually predicts a more positive outcome after trying to fix the DA. The reasoning behind this is that typically a cow with a DA that is not ketotic may have a more serious or devastating reason that caused her abomasum to displace. Examples of these reasons are cancer, adhesions, peritonitis, abomasal ulcers, or liver disease. The presence of ketosis typically indicates that particular disease led to the DA, rather than another disease that is extremely difficult to fix.

First lactation heifers and cows with moderate body condition scores also respond better to DA therapy. These animals typically have a more functional liver (and a subsequent more functional immune system) and are more able to withstand DA correction and return to normal production. Heavier cows are more prone to fatty liver and immune suppression, thus causing potential treatment failure.

Other factors involved in DAs are concurrent diseases, such as metritis, retained placenta, lameness, and/or mastitis. Concurrent diseases can reduce the cow’s prognosis for productive recovery from DA therapy. There is a spectrum to the severity of each disease (for example common metritis vs. toxic metritis, lameness due to hairy heel wart vs. septic pedal arthritis) that will have an impact on the outcome. Consider concurrent diseases when determining whether or not to try to fix a DA, but also consider whether a cow with a severe concurrent disease is really a candidate for culling anyways.

Too often, a dairy takes a hard line one way or another in regards to DA treatment vs. culling. The most important factors involved that lead to culling DAs are an already overcrowded barn and plenty of replacement heifers. It may be worthwhile to consider fixing at least some percentage of DAs, rather than just culling all of them. It is also worthwhile to consider culling at least some percentage of DAs, rather than fixing all of them. As stated previously, first lactation heifers and mature cows with moderate body condition in the presence of ketosis without a severe concurrent disease are excellent candidates to try to treat as these animals often return to production. It may seem counterintuitive, but during difficult economic times, it may make more financial sense to try to fix some cows rather than sell them all. This is true because it costs much more money to grow a replacement than it does to fix a cow that is already in the herd. This situation may be complicated by an overabundance of replacements, which is a problem many dairies currently have.

How will the dairy go about fixing DAs? There are a few options: surgical correction, roll and tack/toggle, or roll and medical therapy. Surgical correction likely represents the most sure-fire approach to fixing DAs, as long as a trained veterinarian does the procedure. Roll and tack/toggle may represent a salvage procedure if the dairy doesn’t want to invest the money into surgical correction. Roll and medical therapy isn’t nearly as effective as the previous two options, but can work if the concurrent diseases are addressed. In either situation, the cow must receive follow up care to treat underlying diseases such as ketosis or metritis.

It makes financial sense no matter what the economic climate to make sound decisions on culling vs. fixing DAs. It also makes the most financial sense to pick the method of correction that yields the best results. If a method of correction is yielding poor results, it is often costing the dairy more in increased culling and dramatically reduced cull cow value than it would to pick the best method of correction in the first place.

Take time to make sound decisions on DAs, but also don’t forget to track DA incidence and make sure managements steps are taken to prevent them from occurring. An acceptable rate of DAs is less than 5% annually. Remember, a cow still should be recorded as a DA even if she is culled. If there is money being left on the table on your dairy due to transition cow disease, evaluate your situation and take some steps to improve transition cow health and productivity.

Article Written by VWP owner Dr. Gabe Middleton for Bovine Health

Edited and published by Dr. Jeff Fink

Palliative Care

Fri, 23 Aug 2019 17:21:00 GMT

Palliative Care in Veterinary Medicine

Pet parents are often faced with the issue when a beloved animal companion is faced with a terminal illness and is nearing the end of his or her life. With palliative care, we focus on the patient’s comfort, as well as allowing the family to be able to have as much time with their beloved friend. This is also a good chance for family and friends to gain a little closure at the end of life of their pet. In this article, we want to focus upon Palliative care, which is often referred to as hospice care. Palliative care provides those with a serious or chronic illness – from the time of diagnosis throughout the course of treatment – care that optimizes quality of life by anticipating, preventing, and managing suffering.

We often get asked the question: "How do you know when it is time?" There is not a clearly defined set of standards, but many things can help to evaluated quality of life. Roger Brambell’s Five Freedoms help with maintaining good quality of life and may be helpful when trying to decide on the appropriate time for the family to make the final decision for their beloved pet. The Five Freedoms outline five aspects of animal welfare under human control. They were developed in response to a 1965 UK Government report on livestock husbandry, and were formalized in 1979 press statement by the UK Farm Animal Welfare Council. These timeless principles apply today, as well as when they were developed in 1965.

Brambell’s Five Freedoms

Freedom From Hunger/ Thirst:

Inappetence is often very distressing for owners. When body weight is not being maintained due to lack of appetite, there are things we can try. First is to make sure there is no underlying medical issue that could be causing the inappetence, such as a urinary tract infection. If no underlying medical issues are present, there are appetite stimulants and anti-nausea medications that can be administered.

Freedom From Stress & Fear:

One common stressor is the inability to breath regularly. Labored breathing is very stressful to our pets. There are sometimes medications or procedures that can be done to resolve labored breathing; such as bronchdilators, diuretics, or removing fluid from the lungs. Another source of stress and fear is hospitalization or hospital visits. Side effects from certain drugs or procedures can cause stress, such as nausea from chemotherapy. When in hospice, the owner and veterinarian should be in contact at least monthly. This may be in the form of a hospital visit or via phone. The veterinarian and staff make every effort to provide low stress visits to every pet that comes in, especially when coming in for euthanasia.

Freedom From Discomfort:

Discomfort can come in a variety of ways, such as having a suitable environment. This includes shelter and a comfortable resting place. Some of things to consider are:

1) Moving your pet in out of the weather, whether it be hot or cold.

2) Not letting your pet become dirty with urine and feces. Some pets become incontinent/ are unable to hold their urine or bowel movements anymore. Others may simply be unable to get up to either go to the bathroom outside or move so that they are not laying in the excrement.

3) Providing a soft place to lay for those aching joints.

4) Providing a ramp instead of stairs also helps with pets that have decreased mobility and joint pain.

Freedom From Pain, Injury & Disease:

Pain significantly decreases a pet’s quality of life. Pain management is very important in palliative care. There are a lot of medication choices to keep your pet from having chronic discomfort. Many of these medications can be given in combination to control the pain. At some point, there are times that a pet can get so much pain that we are unable to control it. At that point, quality of life diminishes greatly. We must also keep our pets safe. Depending on their mobility, falling down stairs or off beds & couches can cause issues, such as fractured bones. Heated beds can come in quite handy for comfort.

Freedom To Behave Normally:

The ultimate goal of palliative care is to allow our beloved pets to continue living a good quality life at home, doing the things they enjoy. One thing you can do to monitor the quality of life in this category is to make a list of 3-5 favorite activities your pet enjoys doing. With this list, monitor how often they are able to enjoy doing these activities. When your pet is unable to do the activities they enjoy, quality of life is diminished.

In addition to therapies mentioned above, there are alternative treatments that can have positive effects to help with quality of life. These treatments include laser therapy, massage, essential oils, acupuncture, stretching, chiropractic, and therapeutic swimming.

If your beloved pet is in need of palliative care, talk to your veterinarian with these concerns. Your veterinarian may be able to help if your pet improve quality of life in any of these categories. You veterinarian will also be able to help you notice when quality of life is diminishing.

Palliative care is a good way to keep your pet comfortable for as long as you can and give you a little extra quality time with them.

Article written and submitted by Jenn Brown R.V.T.

Edited and published by Dr. Jeffrey R. Fink

Employment Opportunity

Thu, 02 May 2019 18:28:00 GMT

Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc. – Registered Veterinary Technician

With over 60 years in the community, we are a clinic everyone has come to know and trust. We pride ourselves on providing the best service to our clients and their pets and would like to add to our growing family! If you are a visionary who wants to use your technical skills; if you are dedicated to the highest standard of veterinary care; if you want to grow and be challenged beyond your current role, then Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc. may be the place for you to shine!

Ideal candidate will demonstrate the following:

• 1-2 years of clinical veterinary experience as a Registered Veterinary Technician (Strongly preferred, not required)

• Positive work attitude and commitment to a stress-free environment for our patients

• Schedule flexibility; Available to work weekends and holidays

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment

• Provides excellent patient care and customer service

• Comfortable working with computer software to complete patient records and treatment

• Leadership skills, ability to train other staff

• Self-motivated, reliable, ability to multitask

• Competent in general knowledge and technician skills for specialty patients and ability to provide advanced patient care

• Team player with good interpersonal skills

• Planning, administering, and monitoring anesthesia, including for critical patients.

• Clear client communication and education

• Maintain professionalism in a fast-paced work environment.

Requirements and Qualifications:

We offer competitive benefits, including Group health insurance, 401k, Paid Time Off, personal pet discounts, uniforms, and other benefits.

If your skill set matches our ideal candidate, there is no need for you to look any further! Please feel free to stop in to fill out an application at 1665 North Main Street in Orrville, or email your resume to info@orrvillevetclinic.com . We look forward to hearing from you!

February Is Dental Health Month 2019

Sat, 02 Feb 2019 12:30:00 GMT

February is Dental Health Month

Common Signs of Dental Disease

February has been designated as dental health month for animals. Dental health is often an easily neglected aspect of caring for our pets. It is not until we smell their bad breath that we realize that there may be a problem. This article will identify some of the common signs that dental disease may be occurring in an animal.

One of the first signs that you may notice in your pet is a change in eating pattern. This may show up as not eating as fast as before. It could also show up as picking up kibble and taking it to another room to eat. It could also manifest as not wanting to eat all together. If there is a sudden change in your pet's eating habits, it is probably time to check their teeth, or have them examined.

Another sign of dental problems in animals is weight loss. This is often due to the fact that your pet is either decreasing the amount of food that he/ she is eating or from loss of nutrient uptake. When animals develop dental problems, they tend to decrease the time that they spend masticating (chewing). The decreased amount of chewing keeps the food particles larger, which makes digestion harder. If a pet is unable to chew well and experiences less efficient digestion, fewer nutrients are absorbed.

A third common sign of dental disease is a preference for soft food over kibble and hard food. Most pets will prefer canned food at all times; but a sudden decrease in willingness to eat dry food, combined with a strong appetite for softened/ canned food is a strong indication that there could be trouble brewing in your pet's mouth. One way to test your pet's mouth pain is to take the normal dry food and soak it in warm water. If your pet eats this softened food a lot more readily than the same food in its dry form, there may be dental disease.

Perhaps the most common complaint from owners is a sudden increase in a soul odor to the breath. This has a very strong, distinct odor. Oftentimes, it is described as a rotten smell. This is probably due to the likelihood that there is some stage of gingivitis. The odor is also caused from the high levels of bacteria that have accumulated in the tartar and plaque build up.

An obvious sign of dental disease is bleeding from the mouth. If you notice blood from your pet's mouth, it is likely that there is some form of dental disease.

whining

Cold Weather Tips for Farm Animals

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 00:30:00 GMT

Cold Weather Tips for Farm Animals

The National Weather Service is predicting several days of extremely cold temperatures in our area. In a previous article, we discussed some tips to keep small animals warm during this time. Tips included: bringing animal inside, providing solid shelter, supplemental heating sources, keeping animals dry, limiting exposure, feeding tips, and keeping fresh water available. Many of these same concepts apply to farm animals; whether dairy herds, horses, or smaller farm animals.

We will look at: How do I best protect my animals? How can I provide extra heat? How cold is too cold?

How do I best protect my animals?

The first thing is to recognize that the majority of farm animals are outside throughout the year and grow thicker coats to acclimate to colder weather. This is God's design for protecting them. While this is true, it is still going to be brutally cold outside over the next few days. If it is bitterly cold to us, it is bitterly cold to them.

The best way to keep animals warm is to provide solid shelter. Most barns will remain 15 to 20 degrees warmer than the outside temperature. With herd animals, there is comfort in numbers. These animals can huddle together and provide warmth simply by sheer numbers. Smaller shelters and sheds are superior to nothing, as they provide a wind break.

It may be a little uncomfortable to shore up buildings at the last minute, but some simple things can be done. First, make certain that any windows are shut to decrease the gaps in buildings. This helps to keep warm air in. Second, provide some relief from drafts by placing board over gaps in older wooden buildings. Hay bales can be stacked around buildings to provide wind barriers. Common sense needs to prevail, as simply keeping doors closed can help quite a bit.

Overhead areas should also be secured. Many barns still have holes for pitching hay and straw down below. The holes should be closed or covered when not being used. Overhead holes and gaps allow for a lot of heat loss, creating an upward flow of warm air and an additional area for drafts. It is beneficial to walk around the area where animals will be housed. It doesn't take long to feel colder, drafty areas.

Chickens and other smaller farm animals can benefit from smaller enclosures within a large building. Nest boxes provide such an area. Again, you should make certain that the nest boxes are clean and dry, with plenty of bedding material.

What else can I do?

It is important to keep animals dry during extreme cold. An easily overlooked aspect of keeping animals dry is to provide fresh bedding. Similar to a blanket or towel on the ground for small animals, thicker straw gets animals up and away from the frozen ground. Extra straw around the bottom of stalls and edges of barns can also help to block breezes that may occur through gaps in the lower portions of walls. Deep, dry bedding is especially important for young dairy calves, whether housed in calf hutches or in group housing.

Horses and small ruminants can benefit from having their hooves cleaned out. Any older dirt and manure can build up between the toes and within the hooves then freeze. This is a quick, easy, and often overlooked aspect of cold weather care.

How can I Supplement Heat?

Heat lamps are an easy source of overhead heat. It is important to remember safety. Animals are very curious and can chew through electric cords. They can also easily knock down heat lamps, causing a fire risk when these lamps get too close to dry bedding.

Horses, Goats, Sheep, and smaller calves can use blankets that are made for them. These can be purchased at a local farm supply store. Smaller animals can even use dog coats.

Does feed matter?

Providing fresh, quality food is important all of the time; but it is vital when the temperatures reach extremes. A general rule is to provide and extra 25% of feed to animals during these extreme temperatures. For ruminant, providing hay is one of the more important factors. This is a good time to use some (not the only source of feed) poorer quality hay for animals that are not in heavy production. This type of feed is harder for the bacteria in the rumen to break down. This seems like it would be the opposite of what makes sense, but work equals energy, equals heat. The harder (to an extent) that the bacteria have to work to digest the roughage, the more heat is produced as a byproduct. This internal heat helps to keep the animal's body temperature warmer. This means less of a pull on the body's metabolism to simply keep an animal warm. An easy way to accomplish this is to increase the animal'f hay by 25%, but have the 25% be a poorer quality feed. This does not mean feed moldy and bad feed, but rather a chance to "burn" through some first cutting hay, which tend to be lower in protein and higher in roughage.

Water, Water, Water

An article on any cold weather tips is incomplete without mentioning water. Make sure that animals have access to fresh water. Most animals will have access to heated waterers. It is important to check the integrity of these waterers several times a day. A frozen waterer can end up taking weeks to thaw if the conditions are right for a deep freeze of the water lines.

A heat lamp can be placed near the water source as well. Of course, use common sense and safety. Another area to focus on is any other area where there are water lines. This includes wash racks, milk houses, parlors, and any other locations that may freeze. These areas should be heated as well.

Cold Weather Tips for Animals

Mon, 28 Jan 2019 17:12:00 GMT

Cold Weather Tips for Animals

It looks like the National Weather Service is calling for extreme cold in our ares over the next week. Termed the "Polar Vortex," the professionals are calling for "extreme" and "dangerously" cold temperatures. On January 30th, they are predicting a HIGH temperature of -2 degrees F. The last time we had a high temperature below zero was 1994: almost a quarter of a decade ago! The extreme lows are only a part of the issue, with windchill temperatures predicted to be between -40 and -20 degrees F.

This leads to many questions:

How cold is too cold for animals?

What can I do to keep my animals safe?

How can I supplement heat?

What about farm animals and larger animals?

This article will attempt to answer many aspects of the cold weather and provide practical information to keep our pets and livestock safe during this extreme weather.

How Cold is Too Cold for Animals?

There is no set answer to this question, as it varies from breed to breed and species to species. For example, a Siberian Husky can reportedly do well in temperatures like what we are expected to see, even as low as -40 degrees. A Chinese Crested dog, on the other hand; is not designed for such extremes due to the lack of hair coat, thinner skin, and typically lack of body fat. As a general rule, if it is too cold for us, it is too cold for them. This may be a blanket statement, but it is a practical way to think of things. Most animals come equipped with their own fur coat, so they are warmer than we tend to be, but it is still not pleasant for them.

What Can I do to keep my animals Safe?

When the temperatures are this low, there are many tips to keep our animals safe. The first is to limit exposure and limit the time spent outside. It is best if animals can be brought inside, but this is not always possible. If animals are outdoor animals, they will benefit by as much shelter as possible. An attached garage or solid barn is preferable to a lean to or a small shed. Garages tend to be warmer than sheds, as they typically benefit from being enclosed and attached to the heated house.

In addition, small boxes, crates, and animal houses help to further shield them from the elements. A small, enclosed box helps to trap body heat in, as well as limiting exposure to wind. Oftentimes, these smaller boxes will be 20 degrees warmer than the air outside. A animal house can be purchased at a local pet store or online. Even cardboard boxes can be placed inside a garage, barn, or shed to help out. These are not as good as more solid enclosures, but certainly better than nothing. A box within a box can provide extra layers of insulation, even if just a little bit.

Another tip is to prevent animals from direct contact with the ground when possible. Blankets and towels help to insulate a pet from the ground-the thicker, the better!. Dogs can be fitted with boots for their time outside. Boots can be purchased online or at local pet stores. This helps to prevent the direct contact of the paw pads with the ground, as well as preventing snow accumulation on the hair between the pads. Vaseline can be applied to the pads prior to sending a pet outside. This insulates the tender pads, as well as protects the paws from any salt or ice melt that may be on the ground.

Many owners groom their dogs often. A lot of breeds benefit from being "shaved down" during the heat. The opposite is true in the winter. The thicker the hair coat, the better. One area to consider grooming is between the toes and on the bottom of the paws. This limits that amount of hair on which snow and ice can accumulate.

Finally, clothing can be placed on animals while they are outside. There are many fashionable dog and cat sweaters and coats available. These coverings provide and additional layer of heat protection, just like they do for us. Many dogs can fit into various human sweaters as well.

How Can I Supplement Heat?

Heat can be supplemented with heat lamps. It is important to use safety, as these can be a fire hazard. Heat lamps should be elevated enough that an animal can not chew through the cord. In addition, they should be placed a safe distance from anything flammable. Heat lamps can work very well to provide supplemental heat, especially in a garage, which is mostly concrete. Other portable heating devices can be used, but each presented additional risk of fire or burns if an animal is too close for too long. Heating pads can be used too, but these are not recommended. An animal can cozy up for too long and end up with skin damage from burns.

Two more practical sources of supplemental heat are heated water bottles a rice-filled sock. It is very easy to take an old mismatched sock and fill it with plain white rice. Sew over the end of the sock and you have a nice, easy device to provide heat. This can be heated in a normal microwave until it fells nice and warm. Often times, these will hold some heat for 4 to 8 hours.

What Else Should I Consider?

The basics are still important. Water and Food are vital during periods of cold. Animals require additional calories to keep warm. This means feeding additional food. In this kind of extreme weather, free choice feeding is a great idea for animals that don't over eat. A general rule is to increase calories by 25-33%. Keep in mind, this is mainly for outdoor animals. Increasing calories for predominately indoor animals is just adding calories to their diet.

Water is vital. Keeping plenty of fresh water available is key. There are many heated water bowls available online and at pet stores. In our area, there are also farm supply stores that will carry many of the items that we recommend.

Keeping animals dry is vital. Any animal that is returning to inside should be dried off. It is also good to check paws for ice that may have clumped in between the toes. Limit bathing during this time if at all possible. It is also good to allow longer hair coats/ limit trimming during cold weather.

What about farm animals?

This will be addressed in part two of this series. many of the concepts listed above will work for farm animals as well.

In Summary, we recommend some simple common sense:

1) Bring animals inside

2) Limit time spent outside

3) Provide insulation (blankets on floors, coats, boots, etc)

4) Feed extra calories to outdoor pets

5) Keep water from freezing.

6) The more shelter, the better

7) Small boxes and enclosures help to insulate.

8) Keep animals Dry

Article Written by Dr. Jeff Fink

Christmas Donation

Fri, 07 Dec 2018 19:56:00 GMT

Veterinary Wellness Partners and our clinics are collecting donations for a local dog shelters. Please help to support these wonderful organizations, who each have a passion to help save animals that do not have homes.

Needed Items include:

Food

Cleaning Supplies

Bedding and Blankets

Newspapers

Paper Towels

Toys

Leashes

Litterboxes

Monetary donations

Water Bowls

Dish Detergent

Laundry Detergent

Leptosporosis

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 15:34:00 GMT

Leptospirosis is a bacteria with the potential to cause devastating infections in multiple body systems. We are going to look at:

1) When do we vaccinate against this deadly disease?

2) Why do we vaccinate against this deadly disease?

3) What are the signs of infection?

4) When should you contact your veterinarian?

Leptospira is a type of bacterium that is found worldwide in soil and water. There are many different subtypes of leptospira, known as serovars, each of which can be shed in the urine of wild animals. Raccoons, rats, mice, moles, and deer are just a few of the wild animals that have the potential to shed the bacteria in their urine. Additionally; dogs, cows, sheep, pigs, and humans can become infected and spread the disease to others. Infection occurs when urine from an infected animal contacts the mucous membranes (mouth, eyes) or broken skin of a susceptible animal or human. The bacteria travel through the blood stream to the liver, kidneys, eyes, and reproductive tract; where it may settle to cause clinical signs. It may take anywhere from 7 days to several weeks after exposure for an infected animal to show signs of illness.

Signs of leptospirosis in dogs are most notably fever, lethargy, decreased appetite, increased drinking, increased urination, vomiting, diarrhea, or yellowing of the eyes or gums. More rarely, leptospirosis can lead to bleeding disorders, causing nose bleeds, pinpoint red spots on gums and skin, or even bloody fluid within the chest or abdomen. In pregnant animals and humans, leptospirosis can cause pregnancy loss. Because this disease can be transferred to humans, it is important to contact your veterinarian and your doctor right away to initiate testing and treatment. Wear gloves, skin, and face protection when handling an animal suspected of having leptospirosis.

Treatment of leptospirosis involves antibiotics and supportive care based on clinical presentation and signs. It may require hospitalization in an isolation ward for intravenous fluids, anti-inflammatory medication, anti-nausea therapy, liver protectant medications, and nutritional support. Antibiotics can usually be given orally at home. Some animals, that are vomiting, may need to be given by injection at the veterinary clinic. In mild cases, the prognosis for recovery from leptospirosis is good. In more severe or prolonged cases with irreversible damage to the liver, kidneys, or nervous system; treatment may not be successful.

Prevention of leptospirosis starts with vaccination of young dogs and appropriate re-vaccination (boosters) throughout life. At Veterinary Wellness Partners, we recommend adding the lepto component to the vaccination schedule at your puppy’s 12 week visit. We then recommend boostering this vaccine at the 16 week visit. The vaccine will then be boostered every year. While certain dogs may be at higher risk for leptospirosis infection, we recommend full vaccination of all dogs due to the widespread nature of the bacteria. Even indoor dogs go outside for walks and to use the bathroom and can easily come in contact with urine from wild animals. The lepto vaccine is safe and effective. Leaving your pet unprotected can potentially have lifelong consequences. If you have an adult dog that has never been vaccinated against leptospirosis, it is not too late to get them up-to-date on vaccines!

This article was written by Dr. Michele Awad-Morris

Dairy Herd Health Records Analysis

Mon, 08 Oct 2018 16:10:00 GMT

PCDart Dairy Herd records analysis

Mel Wenger DVM

The large animal doctors at the Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc. include herd records analysis as part of our comprehensive dairy herd health management. Many herds in our area use PCDart as the records data base when they do their monthly milk testing. This record service is usually provided by DHI or Dairy One, two of the local testing services. The records are generated each month, but much of the information is not properly utilized due to lack of time and the ability to glean the information that will be most helpful in making farm management decisions. We offer this analysis as part of our service to keep the relevant information in front of the veterinarian and producer each month in order to make management decisions.

PCDart is based out of Raleigh, NC. With the farm owner’s permission, we access the monthly records using the private RAC code provided by the owner. Our office downloads a summary of the test day records each month. From the summary sheet, we develop a spreadsheet with the most relevant information relating to management. We mainly focus on 3 areas; production, reproduction, and milk quality. If you are not aware of this service, please ask to see an example of this information to determine if it could be helpful to you.

When it comes to production; we track the cow numbers (both milking and dry), rolling herd average, days dry, days open, daily production, etc. We track how the past 12 months are trending. If we see a trend we are not comfortable with in any of these areas, we can open up PCDart and dig deeper into the records to see what the problem may be. Often times, ration changes or feed quality cause changes in production. We have the ability to graph these changes from month to month and year to year.

In terms of Reproduction; we track the pregnancy rate, conception rates on first service, overall conception rates, days to first breeding, percent of herd pregnant, services/conception, cull rate, etc. The pregnancy rate is a good indicator of how the breeding is going through the year. From this information, we will set up the best breeding program for your herd. This may be timed AI or a locomotion monitoring system, which we are utilized more and more. Our goals are to get the cows bred in a timely manner, to keep the herd in production, and to improve the number of replacement animals.

In the milk quality area, we track the somatic cell count (SCC), daily production, and the butterfat and protein content of the milk. Tracking SCC has been valuable in helping to make decisions to lower SCC, thus improving milk quality. Improving the quality of milk impacts profitability by increasing the amount the milk is worth. Butterfat and protein levels are greatly influenced by the nutrition. In many instances, feed changes are first noticed from the records analysis. Most of the milk check is based on the fat and protein content of the milk.

The PCDart records contain valuable information. There is a lot more information behind the summary to dig deeper into problems. Tracking trends is a good way to know the direction you are heading. If you are not utilizing a monthly testing service, we can still keep track of certain herd data. We can make up a custom report in this situation to help track the herd information.

Please ask your herd veterinarian about this valuable service. We will incorporate the records analysis into your monthly herd visit.

Mel Wenger DVM 9/29/18

West Nile Virus

Tue, 18 Sep 2018 15:00:00 GMT

West Nile Virus: What Horse Owners Need to Know

For many years, West Nile Virus (WNV) has caused scares among people and their four-legged companions. Recently, that scare became a reality for two horses and their owners in Northeast Ohio.

On August 21, 2018, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) released information concerning the first two confirmed, positive cases of WNV in Ohio this year. This is a small number compared to last year’s 14 cases, but this is still not an acceptable number. Both of these infected horses had not been vaccinated, leading the ODA and our veterinarians to urge horse owners to keep their animals’ vaccines and boosters up-to-date year-round. The West Nile vaccination is the only way to prevent such an issue.

“My message to horse owners is simple: vaccinate your animals and you can protect against West Nile Virus,” State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Forshey said in the press release. “Vaccines are a proven and effective prevention tool, and I encourage all owners to talk to their veterinarian to learn how they can easily keep their animals healthy.”

West Nile Virus is a virus that mosquitoes can spread to humans and other mammals. The virus itself is transmitted through infected mosquito bites, and may cause flu-like symptoms. In addition, West Nile can cause symptoms ranging from mild depression to encephalitis, even causing fatalities. If your horse seems mildly anorexic, depressed, drowsy, pushing forward, or experiencing asymmetrical weakness, please contact one of our veterinarians immediately. If treated early on, horses can often be cured, though the ODA says that the mortality rate for horses can be as high as 30-40%.

In order to prevent any disease symptoms, we hope to hear from you to set up a vaccination or booster appointment. In the meantime, you can help reduce the mosquito population on your property by eliminating possible mosquito breeding areas, such as stagnant water sources. It is also recommended to keep horses inside during insect feeding times, which are typically early in the morning and evening. It is also a good idea to use appropriate insect repellents.

The West Nile vaccine is often given at the same time as other vaccinations, some of which prevent other forms of encephalitis. Orrville Veterinary Clinic has an equine wellness program that is designed to protect horses against common threats that exist in our area. Please contact the office to set up a vaccination plan for your horses, or to discuss the equine wellness program in more detail.

Orrville Veterinary Clinic Achieves AAHA Accreditation

Sun, 10 Jun 2018 22:00:00 GMT

Orrville Veterinary Clinic Achieves AAHA Accreditation

May 15th, 2011

"The mission of the Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc. is to strive to promote quality health care practices for companion and farm animals. Through preventative, maintenance, and diagnostic programs, the veterinarians and staff treat all animals with compassion and professionalism."

The goal of our doctors and staff is to continually provide high quality patient care and client service. By recently becoming accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), we have reached a new level. AAHA is a national association that provides voluntary accreditation to companion animal hospitals that are committed to providing the highest standards of veterinary care. Only 15 percent of the veterinary hospitals in the United States have received this honor. The AAHA Standards of Accreditation are widely used to measure excellence in veterinary medicine. The Orrville Veterinary Clinic was evaluated on approximately 900 standards in 19 different areas including patient care, surgery, diagnostic imaging, pharmacy, laboratory, examination facilities, pet medical records, cleanliness, emergency services, dental and nursing care, anesthesiology, and continuing education. To maintain our accreditation status, we will be re-evaluated every three years to ensure that we are staying current with advancements in veterinary medicine.

AAHA's standards ensure that you and your pet(s) receive the highest quality care and service. As an example, the AAHA standards require a trained, registered veterinary technician to be certified in radiology, venipuncture, anesthesiology, surgery assistance, and pharmacology to assist with diagnostic and surgical services such as taking a digital X-ray, drawing blood, and administering medication, so that we can quickly and accurately diagnose your pet's condition.

Dr. Jeff Fink, Companion Animal Department Head, states, "We want to make sure that we are the very best that we can be. It is exciting to be officially accredited by AAHA. This places us into an elite category of veterinary clinics within the country and one of only two AAHA accredited clinics in Wayne County."

The Orrville Veterinary Clinic will be celebrating this accomplishment with a week of festivities for their clients and patients May 16th through the 20th during normal business hours. Each day will highlight a different program to benefit pets. Clients may register to win pet care prizes including services, parasite protection, and food. For a schedule of "Programs of the Day", join the Orrville Veterinary Clinic on Facebook or visit www.orrvillevetclinic.com .

Article originally published in May of 2011.

Updated In October 2013 for our new website

Hookworms in Punta Cana???

Fri, 23 Feb 2018 21:20:00 GMT

A reason to give Heartworm Pills?

Did you see the recent report of the young couple that went to Punta Cana on Vacation? They visited a resort and begin to experience itchy feet. When they returned to Canada, the doctors were a bit puzzled, until they discovered that the young couple had cutaneous larval migrans. This condition is caused as the hookworm parasite migrates through the skin of an infected host, in this case these two people. They seem to have contracted the parasites from walking barefoot on the beach at their resort. EWWWW!

According to the Centers for Disease Control, Hookworm infections infect 600 to 700 million people worldwide. Hookworm infections were common in the United States 100 years ago, but it was thought to have been eradicated with the advent of septic systems and sewer systems. However, a study in 2017 discovered an Alabama community in which about 1/3 of the people were infected with a species of Hookworms.

So what are hookworms? They are small parasites that are carried by different species of mammals, specifically dogs and cats. These parasites live in the intestinal tract and shed eggs into the feces. These eggs develop as the feces lies on the ground and then develop into larva. These larva can then reinfect a dog or cat through the skin. The parasite is also contracted through contact with feces, through the placenta, and via the mother's milk.

So what are the symptoms? In dogs and cats, clinical infestation is typically subclinical (no signs noted). Typical clinical signs include diarrhea, blood in the feces, rough haircoat, abdominal pain, inappetence, and failure to thrive.

How are hookworms diagnosed? Hookworm eggs can be detected by testing the feces. This is one of the many parasites that we check for when you bring in a yearly fecal sample (intestinal parasite test)

How are hookworms treated? The treatment involves one or two doses of oral medication. Interestingly enough, the monthly heartworm pills also serve as a monthly deworming. This helps to clear out low level infections.

Hookworms are one of the many Zoonotic diseases that we see in dogs and cats. As noted with the young couple from Canada, the larva can migrate through the feet and into the skin. Typically the infection is limited there, but rare cases can be seen of migration through the body. As this parasite looks for a host, it can do some damage to organ tissue. These parasites can even end up in the eye, rarely resulting in blindness. Humans don't act as a natural host, and it is thought that hookworms from animal do not cause mature worms in humans. The risk of infection to humans is one of the main reasons that we emphasize a monthly heartworm and intestinal parasite preventative every month, all year long. This is also one of the main reasons that removing feces from your yard helps to limit then chance of the larva getting into the soil, waiting for you or your pet to walk over them.....

Should you tighten your belt when milk prices decline?

Thu, 22 Feb 2018 19:26:00 GMT

February Bovine Health Column

Gabe Middleton DVM

It is no secret that we are in the midst of a dairy recession. Producers are trying to find ways to tighten their belts and weather the storm of low milk prices. An evaluation of the components of the farm budget should be evaluated. There may be a few aspects of the operation that can be removed or reduced without sacrificing health and productivity. Hopefully there are not many situations where you examine a product or management practice and decide to remove it because of lack of profitability. If there isn’t a financial benefit of using that product now, there likely wasn’t much benefit before.

Before you decide to stop using a product or eliminate a management practice, consider your cost of production. In other words, what does it cost on your farm to make 100 pounds of milk? After you establish this number on your farm, you can further break down the components of your cost of production and what areas need additional evaluation. If you aren’t sure how to figure your cost of production, work with an expert to determine the number. It cannot be understated how important it is to understand the financial aspect of your dairy business. Cost of production is highly variable among farms, so you can’t just look at industry averages.

After you realize how close or far your cost of production you is from current prices, you should sit down with your farm consultants to evaluate what can be done about it. In most cases, if the products that you use on your farm provided some financial benefit before, they still should do so today. A key point of this article is to examine where a producer should consider fixing some management bottlenecks to save money. Examples of this are reducing feed shrink, decreasing transition cow disease incidence, improving calf health, decreasing lameness, improving reproductive management, and reducing mastitis.

Feed shrink is something that happens on every farm. How much protein supplement gets rained on or blown away in the wind? How much corn silage gets hauled on the fields because of poor bunker face management or inadequate packing? How much TMR ends up in the cow alleys because cows toss it on their backs due to poor fly control? How much feed is thrown away due to heat spoilage? With feed costs being the number one cost on the dairy, don’t necessarily look to cut a product from the ration, rather, reduce the shrink of your current feed supply. Chances are there is more money to be made in reducing feed shrink than any other area.

Transition cow disease is an area of tremendous cost on a dairy. The costs don’t always directly hit producers in the pocketbook. Every case of mastitis, metritis, ketosis, DA, etc. has a direct cost to the farm (drugs, death loss) and an indirect cost (lost milk, reduced reproductive efficiency). Transition cow disease may be robbing the cows of peak milk levels and total production throughout the entire lactation. Sometimes proper prevention and treatment of transition cow diseases doesn’t necessarily require a large financial investment. The fixes can be as simple as cow movement and pen changes, feed delivery, stocking density, etc. This is an area where the veterinarian and nutritionist need to meet together with the producer to come up with a plan of prevention.

Vaccines are often an area that producers may consider cutting during low milk prices. Treatment of disease is often much more costly than prevention. Consider a 100-cow dairy that stops using core antigen (coliform mastitis) vaccination. If the 3 shot protocol is followed, the vaccine will cost the dairy around $500-700 per year. The overall cost of a mastitis case is around $400, and one could argue that a coliform mastitis case costs more than $400 due to increased severity. If the producer stops using the vaccine and has more than 1 additional case of coliform mastitis, the farm has lost money by removing the vaccine from the protocol. Work with your veterinarian to critically evaluate each and every vaccine that you use. Vaccines are typically a good investment when used properly.

Milk price depressions are typically short lived, and prices often rebound to some extent. Trying to cut areas that affect future productivity of your herd may be short sighted. For example, feeding a basic 20/20 milk replacer to calves will reduce weaning weights, which will reduce first lactation milk production two years down the road. Semen purchases will also have an impact on farm profitability even further down the road. Using cheaper bulls may save you money now, but cost money later. Cutting these areas may have at least some impact on the profitability of your farm far into the future.

A key message of this discussion should be that a farm can reduce costs simply by streamlining processes, reducing bottlenecks, and improving health. These changes will make the farm better suited to survive in today’s dairy industry. If you make a cut and it reduces production, understand what that means to your bottom line. There are resources available to look at what a pound of milk or a tenth of fat or protein mean to your milk check. If there is a will to survive in the dairy industry, there is a way.

Daycare Activity Center

Wed, 24 Jan 2018 21:41:00 GMT

Daycare Activity Center

With every new year comes new and exciting opportunities for our canine guests here at the Doggy Daycare Center. This year, we will be adding an ‘Activity Center’ – which is perfect for our fearful, shy, less social, or easily over-stimulated dogs. Based on our yearly evaluations, dogs who are recommended for this program will participate in engaging activities and smaller groups or one-on-one activities with one of our trained staff members. Our focus will be on keeping your dog’s mind and body occupied in a less stressful environment.

We offer this program as an option for any dog that, based on evaluations, would be better off in small group or one-on-one play, as we believe every dog deserves exercise and mental stimulation for good health.

We believe in being fair to our guests, and making their time with us stress- and anxiety-free as possible. The best way to create this is through consistency. A consistent schedule helps your dog understand expectations and routines. When your dog starts to understand these expectations and routines, great progress can be made in regards to stress levels and anxiety issues!

We recommend dogs in this program attend two to four times weekly, with a maximum of three activities per day. As this program is specialized to each specific dog’s needs, sign-up and scheduling is very important. If you are interested in more information, please feel free to contact The Orrville Pet Spa & Resort staff members.

Here are some of the activities that would be involved in your pet’s day with us:

Here are some optional activities that you may add to your dog’s day:

Why Daycare Evaluations are Important

Wed, 24 Jan 2018 16:33:00 GMT

At the Orrville Pet Spa & Resort’s Doggy Daycare we like to follow The Dog Guru guidelines. The following information is to explain why dog evaluations are important and beneficial. The Dog Gurus have been proponents about properly evaluating dogs to attend daycare. The dog evaluation process is an important safety tool that creates a safe off-leash play environment. After all, not every dog enjoys off-leash play.

As dogs mature you will likely observe behavior changes. Some may stop playing, but still enjoy the daily interactions with staff and a few other dogs. Others however, will stop playing and have less tolerance for high energy play in their space.

During the Orrville Pet Spa & Resort’s evaluation process, our goal is to ensure that our group environment is the right fit for your dog. We also want to determine which activities your dog enjoys the most. Our highest priority is the physical safety and emotional well-being of all dogs that attend our play groups.

Each dog has an evaluation on the first day of daycare. These evaluations are also an on-going, daily process. We perform a formal evaluation at least once a yearly for every dog. The evaluations are completed by one of our trained, experienced staff members, and can last anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes.

The daycare evaluations are based on various components, such as:

Each category is broken down to various sub-categories that the evaluator will assess during interactions.

All of our daycare clients receive feedback forms explaining each assessment of their dog’s evaluation, along with our recommendations for the dog and daycare plan. We are always happy to explain these evaluations and help with any questions or concerns you may have. A signed copy of the feedback form will be kept in your pet’s records.

Policy and Procedure Changes for 2018

Fri, 05 Jan 2018 21:22:00 GMT

Policy and Procedure Changes for 2018

Cancellation/No Show Policy Lodging

Cancellation/No Show Policy Grooming

Endosorb/Fortiflora Administration

Bordetella

Bordetella vaccine update

Fri, 08 Dec 2017 21:05:00 GMT

To whom it may concern,

The Orrville Pet Spa and Resort has recently updated their protocol for Kennel Cough (Bordetella) to a yearly vaccine, rather than semi-annually as previously required. For their full protection, it is required that unvaccinated dogs, or those in need of a booster, receive the Bordetella vaccine at least 72 hours before lodging.

The health and safety of each guest is of the utmost importance to the veterinarians and owners of the Orrville Pet Spa and Resort. The latest research is frequently reviewed, allowing our vaccination protocols to provide the greatest level of protection for their dog.

Please contact the Orrville Pet Spa and Resort at 330-683-3335 with any questions about the vaccines required for your dog’s visit to our facility.

Respectfully,

The Orrville Pet Spa and Resort

Furry, Fit & Fabulous

Wed, 06 Dec 2017 21:55:00 GMT

Join Orrville Veterinary Clinic's new weight loss challenge for 2018!

This obesity program for dogs includes:

START DATE IS JANUARY 2, 2018

Registration ends January 1, 2018

ONLY $99.00

Value of $309

Prizes Include:

FURRY, FIT & FABULOUS

Wayne County Farm Tour

Fri, 13 Oct 2017 18:01:00 GMT

Come see us on the 2017 Wayne County Farm Tour! This drive-it-yourself tour of Northeastern Wayne County will be Saturday, October 14th 11:00am - 6:00pm and Sunday, October 15th 1:00pm - 6:00pm.

Canine Influenza Virus H3N2

Wed, 09 Aug 2017 17:16:00 GMT

The previous strain of Canine Influenza Virus H3N8 is no longer seen as a threat to the canine population. However, a new strain of Canine Influenza Virus (CIV) has recently emerged in over 30 states across the country. Labeled CIV H3N2, this new strain is incredibly contagious. It can be spread easily by direct contact (sniffing, licking or nuzzling) with infected dogs, through the air (coughing, sneezing or barking), and by contact with infected objects such as dog bowls, toys, and clothing.

Clinical signs of this disease include coughing, discharge from eyes or nose, loss of appetite and lack of energy. Owners whose dogs are showing any of these signs should not participate in activities or take their dogs to facilities where other dogs can be exposed to the virus. Dogs showing any of these signs are not permitted to come to the Orrville Pet Spa & Resort or return for a minimum of two weeks after treatment.

The veterinarians and owners of Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic, Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic, and Orrville Pet Spa & Resort are concerned about the rapid spread and severity of this virus. In order to provide the best protection and care for your dog, they believe that proper immunization and prevention are important to control this disease. Primary immunization requires two vaccinations given two to four weeks apart.

If you would like to protect your dog against CIV H3N2 please contact any of our veterinary clinics ( www.orrvillevetclinic.com ) to schedule an appointment.

APPOINTMENTS!

Thu, 13 Jul 2017 18:27:00 GMT

APPOINTMENTS! APPOINTMENTS!

We have listened to feedback from our clients, many of whom have been requesting that we add the capability to schedule appointments for their pets. We have decided to begin the process of scheduling appointments and will begin on Monday, July 31st. Please call to schedule during regular business hours. We will see walk-in appointments during the transition from a walk-in only clinic to a clinic by appointment only. Please note that walk-in patients will be worked into the schedule, as time permits, to the best of our ability. Please bear with us during this time as we serve to adapt to meet our clients' needs.

Horse Clinic with Esco Buff, PhD

Thu, 13 Jul 2017 17:33:00 GMT

Esco Buff

Saturday August 5th, 2017

8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M

The Orrville Veterinary Clinic

The Orrville Veterinary Clinic is proud to announce an upcoming clinic featuring Esco Buff, PhD. This equine education seminar is focused on everything hoof related. Esco Buff, PhD, APF, CF is the owner of Esco Buff's Professional Farrier Service, located in Western New York. He is an American Farriers Association(AFA) Certified Farrier (CF), an American Association of Professional Farriers (AAPF), Accredited Professional Farrier (APF), a NYS Gaming Commission Licensed Farrier, a member of the International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame, a Society Only Member of the College of Veterinary Radiology (ACVR), and the Large Animal Diagnostic Society (LADIS). He will be covering a variety of topics. This education seminar is open to farriers, veterinarians, and industry professionals. Early bird registration is open until July 15th, with a cost of $40. The registration fee is $50 after the July 15th deadline. These seminars are currently being reviewed for approval for Continuing Education with OVMLB and AAPF. Please call the clinic for more information (330)682-2971

President of CAST

Thu, 15 Jun 2017 15:02:00 GMT

Dr. Middleton announced as President-elect of CAST

In a recent election at the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST), Gabe Middleton, DVM, was chosen as the President-Elect for 2017-2018. Dr. Middleton has been involved with CAST since 2014 as the board representative for the American Association of Bovine Practitioners. He also serves as the vice chair for the Animal Agriculture and Environmental Issues Work Group and the task force board liaison for the forthcoming publication titled Social and Economic Impact of Misinformation in Agriculture .

Dr. Gabe Middleton began working at a dairy farm in Smithville, Ohio at the age of 12; where he became interested in veterinary medicine and agriculture. The experience on the dairy farm led him to appreciate how difficult making a living in agriculture can be and how farmers need the help of technology to improve the health and productivity of their operations. Following graduation from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008, he joined Orrville Veterinary Clinic in Orrville, Ohio. His area of expertise is in large animal medicine, specifically dairy cattle, with a focus on milk quality, calf health, and proper drug use and residue prevention. He also serves as a calf ventilation consultant, designing systems all across the northeastern United States. Orrville Veterinary Clinic serves farms in the areas surrounding Orrville, including Rittman, Seville, Creston, Wooster, Apple Creek, Mt. Eaton, and many ares within Stark, Wayne, and Holmes Counties.

He has received inspiration for his work with CAST through Dr. Norman Borlaug's vision, as well as the enthusiastic and engaged leadership of CAST and the Board of Representatives. He plans to continue that enthusiasm by implementing the excellent ideas proposed through the Strategic Planning Committees. His vision for CAST also includes not only providing CAST information through social media, but also designing tools to help people improve social media skills and convey messages in a more effective manner.

Middleton will officially assume his responsibilities as President-Elect at the conclusion of CAST's fall board meeting in October. In 2018-2019, he will become the 46th president of CAST, a singular honor and responsibility dating back to 1972, when Charles A. Black and Norman Borlaug, along with other committed scientists, spearheaded the movement to "bring science-based information to policymaking and the public."

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/CAST-Names-New-President-Elect-for-2…

Welcome Our Newest Associate Veterinarians

Tue, 30 May 2017 14:56:00 GMT

Orrville Veterinary Clinic Welcomes Our Newest Associates

Here at the Orrville Veterinary Clinic, we are so excited to announce the arrival of two new associate veterinarians to our practice group.

Dr. Lydia Friend is joining our small animal team of doctors. She is also offering acupuncture to our large animal clients. Dr. Friend enjoys exotics, as well as focusing on feline and canine patients. She hails from the state of New York, but now lives near Kidron. She graduated a few years ago from Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Bradley Dalton is joining our mixed animal practice. He has a vast interest in many aspects of veterinary medicine, including cattle, horses, dogs, cats, and many others. Dr. Dalton is a recent graduate of the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Please welcome them when you get a chance!

Dog Bite Prevention

Tue, 16 May 2017 19:13:00 GMT

Dog Bite Prevention

Tuesday, May 23rd

Spend a fun-filled family evening at

Orrville Pet Spa & Resort

Doggy Daycare Center

6:30pm – 7:30pm

to learn about Dog Bite Prevention with

Dr. Greg Roadruck

·       Presentation

·       Handouts

·       Light Refreshments

RSVP’s appreciated by May 22nd at office@orrvillepetspa.com

1669 North Main Street

Orrville, Ohio 44667

www.orrvillepetspa.com

330-683-3335

Spend a fun-filled family evening at

Orrville Pet Spa & Resort

Doggy Daycare Center

6:30pm – 7:30pm

to learn about Dog Bite Prevention with

Dr. Greg Roadruck

· Presentation

· Handouts

· Light Refreshments

RSVP’s appreciated by May 22nd at office@orrvillepetspa.com

1669 North Main Street

Orrville, Ohio 44667

www.orrvillepetspa.com

330-683-3335

Low Cost Cat Neuter Program

Fri, 10 Mar 2017 17:07:00 GMT

Low Cost Cat Neuter Program

Beginning in March 2017, we are offering a low cost neuter program for male cats. These surgeries will be performed on most Fridays, depending upon doctor availability. We will schedule the surgeries ahead of time. Drop off times will be between 9:00 and 9:30 A.M. and pick up will be the same day between 3:30 and 4:15 P.M. Your cat will need to be fasted the night prior to surgery, so food should be removed after 10:00 P.M. the Thursday night before surgery. You can leave the water bowl available until early morning on Friday, but it should be removed no later than 6:00 A.M. the day of surgery.

We are beginning this program to help limit the pet population and offer great care to our patients and their families. At this time, surgeries are being limited to cat neuters only. We will be evaluating this program, with the intent of expanding our services to routine dog neuters and then cat and dog spays.

If you have questions, please call our Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic at (330)753-4114

Gate Boundary Dog Guru Daycare Games

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 18:16:00 GMT

Congratulations Alex on getting Bronze as an intermediate handler and Cara as an advanced handler in the Gate Boundary competition.

Name Recall Dog Gurus Daycare Games

Fri, 24 Feb 2017 21:22:00 GMT

Congratulations Kortney on Silver as a Novice Handler in the Daycare Games for Name Recall!

Name Recall Medals! Daycare Games

Mon, 20 Feb 2017 17:26:00 GMT

Congratulations to all our Daycare Attendants that placed in the Dog Guru Daycare Games for the Name Recall Event!

Gold: Cara as an Advanced Handler and Kortney as a Novice Handler

Silver: Alex as an Intermediate Handler and Jayla as a Novice Handler

Bronze: Cynthia as an Intermediate Handler and Michaela as a Novice Handler

Diagnostic Ultrasonography

Thu, 16 Feb 2017 17:32:00 GMT

The Orrville Veterinary Clinic is pleased to announce our recent purchase of a state of the art, diagnostic ultrasonography unit. This unit is much needed and will allow us to more accurately "look inside" your pet to try to determine health status of our patients. Oftentimes, X-rays and ultrasound are both needed to better determine the cause of a pet's illness. With our newest addition, we will be able to step up our diagnostic capabilities to better serve you.

What is an Ultrasound?

The ultrasound unit uses sound waves to pass through tissue and fluid. The sound waves create a certain pattern of reflection based upon the type of tissue that the sound waves encounter. These sound waves are both generated and captured by a small probe that is placed in direct contact with the patient's skin. As the sound waves return to the probe, they are sent to the accompanying computer to be interpreted. It is this information that is translated into the black and white image that we evaluate on the screen.

What is the difference between ultrasound and radiographs (X-rays)?

Both x-rays and ultrasound are used to look further into the inside of a patient in a non-invasive manner. The X-rays essentially take a 3 dimensional animal and place the image onto a 2 dimension screen or film. This is then interpreted by the radiologist. X-rays are good at showing size, shape, and positioning of various body organs, bones, and tissues. X-rays essentially show 5 variable shades of gray (from darkest to lightest): air, fat, soft tissue/ fluid, bone, and metal. The x-rays require contrast between adjacent tissues to prevent things from blending in. It is often easiest to think about x-rays as showing the size and shape of organs, but they are limited in the ability to see what is "Inside" the organ itself.

An ultrasound uses the aforementioned sound waves to look at the various tissues in the body. The sound waves can be easily targeted and directed a various structures. On limitation is that an ultrasound is basically taking pie shaped sections of the body, which prevents it from looking at an entire organ at one time. This means that the organ must be "scanned" with the probe to see the entire organ. Unlike X-rays, ultrasound eaves are able to "see" what is located within the organs. This allows the ultrasonographer to see small lesions or defects within an organ. Since the ultrasound waves are in real time, ultrasounds can be used to guide various instruments into the appropriate tissue/ lesion to obtain biopsy specimens.

What types of conditions can the ultrasound help to diagnose?

The answer to this question requires lengthy answer. For the sake of brevity, the ultrasound can be utilized to diagnose a limitless number of medical conditions. These include: neoplastic tumors, benign tumors, urinary calculi (Bladder stones), Kidney stones, gallbladder disorders, splenic masses and lesions, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, potential abscess, cardiomyopathy, liver shunts, diaphramatic hernias, and many, many more conditions.

What should I expect for my pet's appointment?

Your pet should generally be fasted for 12 hours. This allows for sedation, as well as helping to make the testing more uniform in procedure. Generally, you will drop you pet off at the clinic. We often need to administer a light sedation in order to help calm your pet. This will allows us to get him or her into position and perform the procedure. Most often, the ultrasound is used for abdominal ultrasonography; which means that your pet will likely be placed in dorsal recumbence (on his/her back). We will need to shave a large area to allow the ultrasound probe to have direct contact with the skin. The sound waves are actually prevented from traveling through air. The facilitate contact with the skin, a gel or a lot of alcohol is used to eliminate an air between the skin and the probe. The attending veterinarian will contact you after your pet's scan to discuss the findings and make further recommendations.

Group Sit - Dog Guru Daycare Games

Tue, 14 Feb 2017 12:59:00 GMT

This weeks Day Care Games Challenge is Group Sit!

Group sit is an exercise where the staff leader asks multiple dogs to sit at the same time and then releases them. The exercise assists dogs in exhibiting self control, maintaining mental focus and reinforces the leadership role of the staff member. Dogs learn that fun and good things happen when they stop and focus on the leader

Dog Daycare Games

Tue, 31 Jan 2017 14:30:00 GMT

Dog Daycare Games – Fun Competition that Highlights Skills Used to Keep Dogs Safe

Orrville, Ohio, USA – While winter keeps many dogs inside for exercise, Orrville Pet Spa & Resort, will compete for medals in the annual Daycare Games.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to control a large group of dogs off-leash? Most people imagine mayhem and chaos when you put a group of unknown dogs together. Professional pet care businesses, like Orrville Pet Spa, are out to bust that myth. It’s true that dogs can fight and bite, but it’s also true that certain skills used by excellent daycare facilities will keep dogs safe while they play together. The Daycare Games are focused on proving who is the best at providing these skills to the dogs in their care.

“We’re hoping to take home the Gold, just like in the Olympics.” states, Erick Galindo, Team Leader of locally owned, Orrville Pet Spa. “By focusing on the most important skills: getting dogs to sit, having dogs come, and teaching dogs to wait at the gate, we provide a controlled environment where dogs get exercise without stress. And this is accomplished without fear or intimidation!” states Galindo.

Robin Bennett, and Susan Briggs, the co-founders of The Dog Gurus designed the Daycare Games to be a skills-based challenge that keeps dogs safe and happy and recognizes top dog daycare providers for their unique skills.

“The dogs love to play these games and we wanted to recognize the handlers and facilities taking the best care of their pets by having a friendly competition,” explained Briggs.

The Dog Gurus, who have put together industry standards for operating safe daycare in their ebook “The Four E’s of Excellence in Off-Leash Play” detail the exact exercises that help daycares take better care of your pet and have provided them to their online membership at www.TheDogGurus.com . That is where you can learn more about The Daycare Games and monitor the weekly competition.

Daycare has become a growing industry over the past 10 years, but there are still many dog owners who don’t understand how to choose the best facility. Everyone needs to understand the education and training necessary to keep dogs safe.

Orrville Pet Spa & Resort ( www.orrvillepetspa.com ) is dedicated to raising the bar of safety in off-leash play, teaching owners how to know when their dog is happy, and helping to reduce the number of dog fatalities that occur every year in dog daycares and dog parks.

The Dog Guru Daycare Games

Mon, 30 Jan 2017 16:00:00 GMT

The Doggy Daycare Staff will be practicing all week for the upcoming Dog Guru Doggy Daycare Games!

Heart & Paw the Love Day Ball

Tue, 24 Jan 2017 13:27:00 GMT

Heart & Paw the Love Day Ball

Join us on February 10 ^th during our regular daycare hours for our Valentine’s Day Ball! We will have plenty of fun activities! Feel free to bring valentines for your dog to share as well as a decorated box to put them in!

Activities:

Please sign up on our facebook page or under Doggy Daycare Reservations on our website, or feel free to call in! We apologize in advance but we cannot accept new dogs on this day.

1669 North Main Street Orrville, Ohio 44667

www.orrvillepetspa.com

330-683-3335

2017 Horse Owners' Meeting

Mon, 09 Jan 2017 20:08:00 GMT

Our annual Horse Owners' Meeting is Scheduled for Thursday, January 26th at 6:30 P.M. We will once again host the event within the Doggy Day Care center, located inside the Orrville Pet Spa and Resort. Our topic this year is Natural Horsemanship. We will also be highlighting our newest diagnostic tool, onsite radiology.

Missing Pet App for Your Phone!

Fri, 06 Jan 2017 07:44:00 GMT

Missing Pet App for Your Phone! Veterinary Wellness Partners Fri, 01/06/2017 - 2:44am

Top Internet Pet Myths Debunked

Thu, 05 Jan 2017 07:40:00 GMT

Here is a cute and very informative video on some of the common internet misinformation nuggets out there, hosted by a colleague.

We Are the World

Sun, 04 Dec 2016 07:38:00 GMT

We strive at ERAH to provide our patients with the best medical care we can. Yet, across the world, children do not receive the necessary medications they need to survive. We give for free samples for kittens and puppies (in their first visit welcome kit) medicines that kill roundworms and hookworms that children across the world need but cannot get. At ERAH, we try to serve our community. That community now includes Zimbabwe.

Through Dr. Butera's long time friendship (since they were 15!) with minister Rev. Don Campbell and his church's association with Dr. Bungu's Christian mission hospital in Zimbabwe, we have donated medical supplies, scrubs, and medicines to his hospital and other African missions. Dr. Bungu's hospital even has our old xray processor and supplies from when we made the move to digital.

In 2017, we are committing to help Dr. Bungu's mission even more. We are raising funds to send them a piece of equipment on their "Wish List." It may be a digital micrscope, or maybe even an ultrasound machine. It just depends on how much we can raise, but we are going to spend the year collecting funds and them have them choose the item. Each time we see a new patient at our practice, we will donate $2 to our fund, a savings account at Apple Creek Bank earmarked specifically for this fundraiser. We invite our clients to match our efforts whenever they can. Or just support out efforts by purchasing our fundraising items (lke our Baby's Key West Coffee, KONG dog toys, or Dr. Butera's Dillie book.

Turkey Day Buffet Doggy Daycare Party

Fri, 04 Nov 2016 14:44:00 GMT

Turkey Day Buffet Doggy Daycare Party Veterinary Wellness Partners Fri, 11/04/2016 - 10:44am Turkey Day Buffet Doggy Daycare Party Monday, November 14th Party Activities Include: Gobble Gobble Races Turkey Tag Doggy Buffet Take Home Pictures Please sign up on our Facebook page, or under Doggy Daycare Reservations on our website, or feel free to call in! We apologize in advance but we can not accept any new dogs on this day. 1669 North Main St. Orrville OH 44667 330-683-3335 www.orrvillepetspa.com

K9 Fit Club Open House

Wed, 21 Sep 2016 15:18:00 GMT

Please join us for our K9 Fit Club open house on October 8th, 2016 12:00pm-3:00pm at the Doggy Daycare Center (South Entrance). There will be class demonstrations; Begging for Beginners, Sit Stay & Get Fit, Bow Wow Bootcamp, and Just the Dog. We will also have Dr. Marissa Hofstetter, DVM from Orrville Veterinary Clinic attending 1:00pm-2:00pm to share information on canine obesity and weight loss prevention. There will be prizes & healthy snacks for you and your dog. Vaccinated dogs are welcome! (Rabies, Distemper & Bordetella)

Smucker's Strawberry Jelly - Jamboree

Wed, 07 Sep 2016 18:37:00 GMT

Don't miss the Smucker's Strawberry Jelly - Jamboree on Saturday September 10th 11am-4pm. Orrville Pet Spa & Resort and the Orrville Veterinary Clinic will be showcasing their businesses.

Indepawdence Day Doggy Daycare Party

Tue, 05 Jul 2016 16:15:00 GMT

Daycare Dogs, we hope you can join us for our Indepawdence day doggy daycare party July 8th during our regular daycare hours; 7a.m-6p.m. We will have lots of fun activities for all of our fur friends including:

Please sign up on our Facebook page, or under Doggy Daycare Reservations on our website, or feel free to call in!

1669 North Main St. Orrville OH 44667

www.orrvillepetspa.com

330-683-3335

Thank you for understanding we are not able to accommodate new daycare dogs on party days

June Daycare Dog of the Month

Mon, 06 Jun 2016 14:29:00 GMT

Sandy has been coming to Doggy Daycare at the Orrville Pet Spa since May of 2011. She has mastered leadership activities: loose leash walking and sitting at entry ways. Some of her favorite playtime activities are playing on the play structures, chasing bubbles, and spending time with the attendant. Sandy loves playing with her daycare friends. Some of her best friends are Lexi Z, Chester, Bernie, and Beau S. Sandy loves helping new daycare dogs join the small dog group and loves helping them feel comfortable here at the Pet Spa.

Interceptor Plus

Thu, 19 May 2016 19:43:00 GMT

The previous version of Interceptor was a good product, but was removed from production a few years ago due to a problem with the previous company's production facility. Please know that at no time did any of their animal products have a problem, but the issue was actually with a human medication that they manufactured in a separate manufacturing site. It was at that point in time that we began to recommend, and carry, Iverhart Max.

So, you may be thinking: "What is the 'Plus' part all about?" Essentially the Plus indicates and additional parasite and a new formulation. The new formulation is into a little larger chewable tablet. This benefits many pet owners, as Interceptor Plus is more of a treat to their dog than many of the other heartworm medications that come in a tablet form. They have also added an ingredient to target tapeworms.

Interceptor Plus is often marketed as a heartworm pill, but it does much more. In addition to preventing heartworm infections, it also prevents many intestinal parasites. These include: Roundworms, Hookworms, Whipworms and Tapeworms. Though Interceptor Plus is not an all in one medication, it is the most extensive medication for internal parasites.

We still highly recommend some form of flea and tick prevention in addition to the monthly heartworm prevention. Products that treat fleas and ticks include Bravecto, Vectra 3d, and several others. There are also some medications that cross over from category to category, but none of those products target as many things as a combination of Interceptor Plus and Bravecto. That combination is our current top recommendation for fleas, ticks, and internal parasites as of the publishing of this article.

Article written and published by Dr. Jeffrey R. Fink

Lyme FAQs

Thu, 12 May 2016 20:28:00 GMT

What is Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is a complex that is caused by a bacteria, called Borrelia Burgdorfei. This bacteria is a type that is called a spirochete. Spirochetes are shaped like coil or spring and tend to embed their way into tissue. This makes the bacteria challenging to treat.

How does my dog get Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is transmitted by the black legged tick (A.K.A. the deer tick). This tick transmits the bacteria through a bite wound when it goes to take a meal of blood from your dog. The tick must be adhered to your dog for at least 24 hours to transmit the spirochete.

Is Lyme Disease in Ohio ?

Yes, the first case of Lyme disease in Ohio was documented in 2011 and has been on the increase ever since.

Is Lyme Disease Treatable?

The short answer is Yes. This can often be treated using one or more antibiotics. Often times, a combination of two antibiotics is used to clear the bacteria. It usually takes 4 weeks or more to treat the infection.

Can Lyme disease be fatal?

Unfortunately about 2% of dogs get a kidney disorder from the disease. This kidney disease, nephritis, can damage the kidneys very quickly and permanently. This leads to either death or the option of humane euthanasia.

Can Lyme Disease be prevented?

Yes. There are two ways to prevent Lyme disease, neither of which is 100%.

The first way is to prevent the bite in the first place. We recommend year round tick prevention, using a newer generation of flea and tick control. At the time of this article, we recommend Bravecto , which is a three month chewable pill for fleas and ticks. We also recommend Credelio , a one month chewable. There are a number of other good preventatives out there, including Vectra 3d. The Fipronil based products, which include Frontline Plus, have lost the majority of their efficacy in Ohio against fleas. For this reason, we have stopped recommending these products.

The second method used to prevent Lyme disease is through vaccination. We highly recommend protecting your dog with this vaccine.

If there are two ways to prevent it, can I just use one method?

Unfortunately the answer is No. The best vaccines on the market have around a 97% efficacy in controlled studies. This is a good protection level, but not high enough. The regulations for an external parasite prevention is that it must prevent at a level of 94% to get a label claim. This is also not high enough, so we recommend both modes of prevention to best protect your pet.

If you have more questions or concerns regarding Lyme disease, please call our office to set up an appointment or to discuss this issue further.

Article composed and edited by Dr. Jeffrey R. Fink

July Daycare Dog of the Month

Sat, 07 May 2016 16:08:00 GMT

Sadie has been coming to Doggy Daycare at the Orrville Pet Spa since September of 2015. She has mastered some of the leadership activities such as: loose leash walking and sitting at entry ways. Some of her favorite playtime activities are playing on the play structures, playing in the pool, and spending time with the attendant. Sadie loves playing with her daycare friends. Some of her best friends are Mobitz, Dixie, Murphy, Roxie, and Hermes. Sadie is a sweetheart and everyone loves when she comes to daycare!

May Daycare Dog of the Month

Mon, 02 May 2016 14:40:00 GMT

Murphy

Murphy has been coming to Doggy Daycare at the Orrville Pet Spa since December 15th 2015. He has mastered leadership activities: loose leash walking and individual sitting. Some of his favorite playtime activities are catching bubbles, and chasing the laser pointer. He loves playing outside and romping with his friends. Some of Murphy’s close friends are Hermes, North, Sadie, and Gracie. Murphy is our social butterfly of the group; he really enjoys his furry friends and his people friends too!

Food Allergies (Cutaneous Food Reactions)

Mon, 18 Apr 2016 13:34:00 GMT

Food Allergies

Cutaneous adverse food reactions, also known as food allergies, are a very common differential in dogs and cats with skin conditions that present year round. Signs of food allergies can present very similar to another common skin condition, atopic dermatitis (atopy). Food allergies and atopy have many common symptoms such as ear infections, itchy skin, hives, greasy hair coat, and excessive licking of the paws.

The exact pathogenesis is not completely understood and there are multiple classifications of a food allergy. The most common mechanism is from a hypersensitivity to a certain ingredient. Beef, dairy, wheat, lamb, chicken, corn, wheat and soy are the most common allergens and a sensitivity to multiple allergens are common. Food allergies can show up in as early as 5 months of age and as late as 12 years old. Unfortunately, your dog can be on the same food and still develop an allergy to an ingredient 5 years later.

There is no true test to diagnose food allergies, therefore, the prevalence is unknown. A response to a veterinary dietary restriction trial is often incomplete due to poor compliance. An intradermal skin test and blood test are available to diagnose inhalant allergies, but is ineffective for food allergies. Certain dog breeds are predisposed, including the American cocker spaniel, boxer, Shar pei, collie, dachshund, dalmation, English springer spaniel, german shepherd, golden retriever, lhasa apso, miniature schnauzer, poodle, pug, Rhodesian ridgeback, and west highland white terrier.

The dietary restriction trial is recommended for 10-12 weeks with a hydrolyzed protein diet or a diet restricted to one protein and one carbohydrate in which the animal has had no previous exposure. Improvement may be seen sooner but 10-12 weeks is recommended. Treats, chewable toys, and flavored medications (heartworm prevention) must be avoided during the food trial. If the patient improves on the elimination diet, a challenge with his or her old food may be given. If the signs return, that confirms that something in the diet is causing the signs.

If you think your dog may be experiencing signs of a food allergy and could benefit from a food trial, please consult our office.

Tip of the Week - April

Wed, 06 Apr 2016 13:29:00 GMT

Tip of the week with Daycare Attendant Cara- From the book Learning "DOG" by Lynne Swanson, DVM- "Routines are very important to dogs,...good routines can help dogs thrive."

Spring Fling Party Pictures

Wed, 06 Apr 2016 13:23:00 GMT

For more party pictures check out our facebook page online.

Spring Fling Daycare Party

Wed, 30 Mar 2016 15:55:00 GMT

Doggy Daycare Party

Spring Fling

Have your person drop you off for a day of play and pictures!

Monday, April 4th

Pictures and Fun Activities

Tip of the Week - March

Wed, 16 Mar 2016 19:40:00 GMT

Tip of the Week with Daycare Attendant Cara: From the book, Learning Dog by Lynne Swanson, DVM, - Leadership Energy- "...someone who is confident, calm, quiet, consistent, assertive and aware. Those are the traits of leaders...."

Job Opportunities

Fri, 11 Mar 2016 19:17:00 GMT

Currently Accepting Job Applications and Resumes for

Experienced Groomers

Doggy Daycare Attendants

Animal Care Attendants

Please apply in person. If you have any questions please call 330-683-3335 during our normal buisness hours.

Spirit Week at Doggy Daycare

Fri, 26 Feb 2016 21:15:00 GMT

Spirit Week

March 7th – March 11th

Multiple Monday – Bring a furry friend to Daycare and they will get ½ off for their first time and you will get $5.00 off for ruff-ering them.

*Regular Daycare guidelines apply including updated vaccines

Super Hero Tuesday – Wear your favorite cape or super hero costume and get $3.00 off Nail Rounding (Originally $14.00)

Wacky Wednesday – Wear your wackiest outfit and get $1.00 off on Colorful Chalk Art for your hair (Originally $3, $6, $9 depending on size of dog)

Sports Day Thursday –Support your favorite sports team or get $2.00 off a sports team bandana(Originally $5.00)

Fancy Collar Friday – Wear your fanciest collar you own and get $1.00 off a Kong treat for their lunch break (Originally $2.95)

Dog Guru Daycare Games are Here!

Thu, 18 Feb 2016 12:32:00 GMT

Dog Daycare Games – Fun Competition that Highlights Skills Used to Keep Dogs Safe

Orrville, Ohio, USA – While winter keeps many dogs inside for exercise, Orrville Pet Spa & Resort, Doggy Daycare, will compete for medals in the third annual Daycare Games.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to control a large group of dogs off-leash? Most people imagine mayhem and chaos when you put a group of unknown dogs together. Professional pet care businesses, like Orrville Pet Spa & Resort, are out to bust that myth. It’s true that dogs can fight and bite, but it’s also true that certain skills used by excellent daycare facilities will keep dogs safe while they play together. The Daycare Games are focused on proving who is the best at providing these skills to the dogs in their care.

“We’re hoping to take home the Gold, just like in the Olympics.” states, Kristen Caulier, Daycare Manager of , Orrville Pet Spa & Resort. “By focusing on the most important skills: getting dogs to sit, having dogs come, and teaching dogs to wait at the gate, we provide a controlled environment where dogs get exercise without stress. And this is accomplished without fear or intimidation.” states Caulier.

“The dogs love to play these games and we wanted to recognize the handlers and facilities taking the best care of their pets by having a friendly competition,” explained Briggs.

The Dog Gurus, who have put together industry standards for operating safe daycare in their ebook “The Four E’s of Excellence in Off-Leash Play” detail the exact exercises that help daycares take better care of your pet and have provided them to their online membership at www.SafeOffLeashDogPlay.com . That is where you can learn more about The Daycare Games and monitor the weekly competition.

Orrville Pet Spa & Resort ( www.orrvillepetspa.com ) is dedicated to raising the bar of safety in off-leash play, teaching owners how to know when their dog is happy.

Daycare Games

Sat, 13 Feb 2016 04:20:00 GMT

Daycare Games Veterinary Wellness Partners Fri, 02/12/2016 - 11:20pm Emilly Practicing Gate Boundary!

Dog Guru Daycare Games

Thu, 11 Feb 2016 17:07:00 GMT

We are gearing up to participate in the Daycare Games Next Week! Check out more about them at www.safeoffleashplay.com

Friendly Reminder

Wed, 03 Feb 2016 20:41:00 GMT

Just a friendly reminder, it is February and we have reviewed our prices.

Please be aware that the cost of your pet's services may have changed.

Lodging and Daycare prices are available on line. You are welcome to call our office for current grooming/ spa prices.

Leaf Chasing and Shadow Chasing in Dogs

Mon, 25 Jan 2016 17:21:00 GMT

Chasing after items, such as leaves and shadows, can become an obsessive condition in dogs. The instinct to chase a moving object is inherent within dogs, yet it can develop into a problem situation. Your dog sees a moving object as something they have to have. With items like leaves and shadows, they can never really get it.............so they keep at it.

To remedy this behavior, it is important that you practice activities that encourage calm submission.

You also need to condition your dog's brain to react differently to those things they are obsessive over. When on a walk, don't give them the option to look down at any shadows. Keep your dog focused on the walk alone. Instead, make the walk their mental challenge. Always remember that dogs don't multitask well, so concentrating on the walk limits other distractions. You could try putting a dog backpack on your dog with water bottles for added weight. This gets them focused on carrying things instead of chasing objects.

Think of this as a dog discipline ritual. When a dog is fixated and obsessed, his/her brain is closed. This stubborn state of mind makes it difficult to correct the bad dog behavior, so the key here is to snap them out of this state of mind before it escalates into a dog obsession. When a dog is aggressive and bites, we sometimes use a muzzle in the rehabilitation process. There are two main reasons for this. First and foremost, it keeps the situation safe. The second reason for the muzzle is that the muzzle is a device to help convey the message. The redirection or device is what allows the brain to be open and able to be corrected. So, with obsessions, you need to find a device that helps you redirect and convey the message.

A great idea is to try dog goggles. When the dog becomes interested in a shadow, put the goggles on. You can also try an Elizabethan cone collar or a can filled with coins that make a loud noise. Once you place the goggles or E-collar on your dog, say a word like "no" that they can associate with this action. Once your dog is calm again, remove the dog goggles. Repeat this process every time that you dog begins to look at the object or shadow. This teaches them that there is a consequence to this problem dog behavior. Eventually, they will learn that just seeing the goggles and hearing the word "no" means to stop this -- that effectively becomes the redirection. Redirection is a common technique, switching one behavior for another desired behavior.

It is also very important to make sure that you are not condoning the bad dog behavior in any subconscious way. It is important to remember not to feel sorry for your dog. They need a pack leader who can take control of the situation. So encourage a calm-submissive state before engaging in any activity, be it playing fetch, feeding, or giving affection. Be sure that the calm state is not the anticipation state, but totally a level one calmness. Once your dog understands they must be quiet and respectful before any doggy activity, they will not be overexcited and obsessive with the things around them.

Your response when your dog begins to chase or fixate on shadows and light will have a big impact on their behavior. Let your motto be “Interrupt and redirect, but never punish.” Interrupt the behavior and try to redirect your dog to some other behavior. Try to distract your dog with a favorite toy or use a new squeaky toy to get their attention. Consider rattling their leash and heading out for a walk if that works to distracts them. (Don’t do this last one too often or they may learn to chase shadows in order to get you to take them out.) The interruption should distract your dog, but should never scare him. Good options for redirection include tug, fetch, a Kong® toy, a chew toy, outdoor exercise, or a training session. It can be tempting to respond in a negative way to this behavior, but any punishment carries the risk of making the behavior worse.

An hour walk each day is enough for many dogs, but additional exercise for a young, active dog is really important. Off-leash running for an hour or more a day (or better yet, twice a day) can really make a big difference. Other tiring activities, such as fetch and swimming, can also help to rid your dog of excess energy and boredom. The biggest challenge is to find a safe place to let your dog off his/ her leash. Physical exercise can greatly help this problem, but so can additional mental exercise. Giving your dog’s mind more to do may help as much as the physical exercise. Give them toys that tax their brain, teach them tricks daily, or attend classes.

If you feel that his obsession is worsening or is more noticeably affecting the quality of their life (or yours), consider talking to a qualified veterinarian about medicine for obsessive-compulsive behavior and working with adjunctive medical therapy.

This article was written by Greg A. Roadruck D.V.M. for use on the websites of the Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic, Orrville Veterinary Clinic, and Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic.

Article was edited and published by Jeffrey R. Fink D.V.M.

Obsessive and Possessive Behaviors in Dogs

Mon, 25 Jan 2016 16:47:00 GMT

Identifying obsessive dog behaviors

A normal dog plays well with others - it's owner, children, and other dogs. Balanced dogs may like one toy or game more than another, but it's still a game. Playing is not a life or death situation for a normal dog, however an obsessive dog will take such games very seriously. Their play will have a much higher level of intensity and seriousness.

When a dog is becoming obsessive, their face and body language will visibly change. The most noticeable change is that their body will stiffen. Often, a glaze will form over their eyes, their pupils become fixated, and you can't distract your dog's gaze or get their attention. It appears as if they are in a trance. At this point in time, they entered a zone in which there is no lightheartedness, no relaxation, and no joy in play. A good analogy is a gambling addict at a slot machine: mechanically pulling the one-armed bandit over and over again, fixated on it, but clearly not having fun. Obsession is not a happy place to be. It's a zone in which an animal is blind to everything around them that should make them happy.

Why do dogs develop Obsessive/ possessive behaviors

When dogs have fixations and obsessions, it usually means one of two things: that they have unreleased energy they need to get rid of or they have an insecurity of some sort.
This brings two questions to mind:

Methods on Correcting obsessive dog behaviors

Article written by Dr. Greg Roadruck

Edited and published by Dr. Jeffrey R. Fink for use on the websites of the Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic, and Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic.

Early Drop Off Doggy Daycare & Grooming Hours

Wed, 30 Dec 2015 18:33:00 GMT

Our Doggy Daycare and Grooming office will be open for your convenience at 6:30am for early drop off Monday – Friday starting January 4, 2016. A fee of $6.00/day will be charged when dogs are dropped off between 6:30am to 6:59am. For those busy times of three or more times per week, the fee will be discounted to $3.00/day. For your pets safety they will be placed in an accommodation in the lodging facility until our staff arrive. The fee covers the cost of extra staff and kennel use for the early drop off until Daycare and Grooming staff members arrive.

Monster Bash Daycare Party

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 14:39:00 GMT

Monster Bash October 30th

During regular daycare hours

at OPSR Doggy Daycare Center

330-683-3335

Join us for a devilish good time!

Bring your little monster in costume and ready for a freaky photo shoot & costume contest!

You may also bring treats to share for Trick or Treating!

Please let our Daycare Receptionist know if your pup will be attending the party!

Nutrition Series: Why is my dog overweight?

Wed, 14 Oct 2015 16:18:00 GMT

Many of the dogs that we see on a day to day basis are overweight. This weight gain is often obvious to us, but not noticed easily by the owners. This is due to the fact that you see your dog everyday and a gradual gaining of weight is not obvious, yet we can see the weight gain by comparing your dog's previous weight to his/ her current weight. We also compare Body Condition Scores from previous appointments.

So why has your dog gained weight?

There are many reasons for weight gain in dogs. The first is simply that dog's metabolism slows down once they stop growing (somewhere between 12 and 24 months depending on the breed). In addition, neutered (spayed females and castrated males) animals have a lower metabolism than intact animals. There are still many reasons to spay and neuter your pet , so don't let the decreased metabolism affect that decision. It is simply a matter of adjusting the amount that you feed your dog .

So we can see that feeding your dog too much food can result in overweight dogs, but one sneaky thing that also contributes to weight gain is the supplemental feeding of people food and dog treats. People food should not be fed to dogs, as it is often too high in calories and too high in grease and fat for our pets.

As far as feeding treats, this is a hidden source of calories for your dog. It is not uncommon to hear a pet parent state that they feed their dog between 5 and 10 treats a day. Let's put that in human terms for a minute. That would be like you feeding your children 5-10 extra "treats" (in the form of candy or energy bars, depending on the size of the dog treat that we are comparing) every day and then wondering why they gain weight. This phenomenon can be seen a lot with the famous "Freshman 15" that students gain when they go to college. This extra weight is due to a slowing metabolism, a sedentary lifestyle, and often poor dietary choices that young people make when first out on their own. These 18 and 19 year olds are not unlike our middle aged pets; who are done growing, often don't get their needed exercise, and have a slowing metabolism. Many commercial dog treats contain anywhere from 30 to 700 kcal. Keep in mind that an average 45 pound dog will need aproximately 2250 kCal per day in food. Now think about giving this dog 4 large treats that contain 700 calories per treat.....that is 2800 calories in treats alone. Then add in a 300 calorie McDonald's hamburger and you can see where we are headed. Taking a small dog, we often hear that they get 10 treats a day. Sure these treats are lower in calories, say 40 per treat, but that is still 400 calories per day. A 9 pound dog will require a total of of 400-500 calories per day.....so we are still over that amount.

So how can you get your dog to lose weight? In short, feeding the right amount of calories per day and increasing exercise. Sounds simple, right? Well it is not always easy. Some quick steps are to: measure out the amount of food each feeding, offer more feedings per day (2 or 3), and cut out the treats. Removing the treats may be hard, so supplement with something like a baby carrot, an ice cube, or a green bean. These treats are much lower in calories than many of the dog treats. In addition, some of these supplemental treats contain fiber, which helps fill their gut and may help with a few other conditions (anal gland disorders and constipation being the two most common). Check below for other related articles for feeding recomnedations, weight loss, body condition scoring and other nutritional articles.

Canine Nutrition Series: How Much Should I feed my Dog?

Obese Pets

Purina OM Weight management Diet

Nutrition Series: What treats can my dog eat?

Wed, 14 Oct 2015 16:15:00 GMT

This may sound like a simple question, but it is another one that we often address. The quick answer is that most commercial dog treats are suitable to feed your dog. So with that being said, why address this question? The main reason for addressing this question is that many of the dogs that we see in the clinic are overweight.

One of the main factors that contributes to this is over feeding of dogs. Please check out our article on How much to feed your dog by clicking on the hyperlink. So we can see that feeding your dog too much food can result in overweight dogs, but one sneaky thing that also contributes to weight gain is the supplemental feeding of people food and dog treats. People food should not be fed to dogs, as it is often too high in calories and too high in grease and fat for our pets.

This extra weight is due to a slowing metabolism, a sedentary lifestyle, and often poor dietary choices that young people make when first out on their own. These 18 and 19 year olds are not unlike our middle aged pets, who are done growing and have a slowing metabolism.

Nutrition Series: How Much Should I Feed My Dog?

Tue, 13 Oct 2015 15:33:00 GMT

This is another question that is asked a lot during appointments. The scientific answer to this question involves several formulas. First, we must calculate Metabolic Energy Requirements (MER), which is based upon Resting Energy Requirements (RER).

RER can be calculated using a formula of 70 x Body weight (in Kg). This will yield a number of kcal per day.

The MER is then calculated using RER multiplied by another number based upon the signalment of your dog.

So now that we covered the scientific method, here are some general guidelines.

Commercial dog foods will have a feeding chart on the back, which can guide you along in determining how much to feed your dog. The chart will be in one of two formats. The first will simply say __ cups per day. The other will give a scale/ range of ____ to ____ cups per day. In these instances, the feeding recommendations are based upon intact animals. For neutered animals (which includes both spayed females and castrated males), these charts and recommendations are too high. In general, a neutered animal should be fed at the lower end of the scale or about 80-85% of the number of recommended cups per day that is recommended.

I, Dr. Fink, try to keep things simple. I have an 80 pound, neutered dog. He eats roughly 4 cups per day (divided into two feedings). At this level of food, he has gotten just a little overweight, so we cut that amount back to 3 3/4 cups per day. I often use this guideline to advise approximately 1 cup per 20 pounds of body weight, though that is not a hard, fast rule. It should also be noted that I do not give my dog many treats. Treats must be considered in the overall formula/ equation when figuring out total kcal fed per day.

When figuring how much to feed your dog, the cups referred to as a measurement above is a standard 8 ounce measuring cup. If you need one, you can stop in and ask. We often have some that we can hand out. If you have further questions, please give the clinic a call.

Nutrition Series, part one. What should I feed my dog?

Nutrition Series: How do I decide what to feed my pet?

Tue, 06 Oct 2015 20:29:00 GMT

As veterinary professionals, we often get asked for our recommendations on pet food. Clients often ask: "What do you feed your dog/ cat?". With the seemingly endless options that are available, it can be difficult to decide what to feed your pet and what is the best diet.

Here are a few tips when selecting a pet food:

The first statement is: {Brand of Food} is formulated TO MEET the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO DOG (or Cat) Food Nutrient Profile for (Life stages)." This statement indicates the the particular diet was developed to meet the nutritional standards and is simply a food analysis. These foods are based on analytic testing of the finished product.

The second statement is: "Animal feed tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate {Name of Food} provides complete and balanced nutrition for (Life stages)" This statement indicates that not only does the particular diet meet the nutritional levels, but that it has also gone through a rigorous food trial evaluation (often lasting 6 months or more). These have also been tested for palatability (Whether pets will actually eat the food), as well as nutritional adequacy.

* As a general rule, we do not recommend the feeding of raw food diets and homemade diets. These diets are okay to feed on a short term basis, but are often not balanced enough to be a maintenance diet in the long term.

* A quick note if you are looking for a product that is manufactured locally, Buckeye Feeds is produced in Dalton, Ohio and is a reputable company (Their parent company is Mars).

Nutrition Series part twp: How much should I feed my dog?

Feline Inappropriate Elimination

Tue, 22 Sep 2015 18:00:00 GMT

Feline Inappropriate Elimination, also known as house soiling, is a term that incorporates any bathroom behavior that occurs outside of the litter box. Examples include urinating outside of the litter box, defecating in various places, and spraying/ marking behaviors. Unfortunately, this is one of the top reasons that cats are either euthanized or surrendered to a shelter facility. There are many reasons why a cat may stop using the litterbox, including poor litter box management, physiological diseases, painful conditions, litter box aversion, and stress.

Let's talk about some of these conditions:

Dr. Fink Interviewed for OVMA

Fri, 21 Aug 2015 16:46:00 GMT

Dr. Fink's Recent Interview for the OVMA Newsletter

Dr. Fink has been serving on the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association's Board of directors for several years. He is the district representative for our ares, region 8. He was recently interviewed for their newsletter, which is attempting to spotlight those who serve on board. Check it out below if your are interested:

Breakfast Before Business

Fri, 14 Aug 2015 18:51:00 GMT

Check out the Orrville Chamber's Page about Breakfast Before Buisness at the Orrville Pet Spa & Resort We are excited to have everyone!

National Dog Day - Fireman Party

Tue, 11 Aug 2015 19:00:00 GMT

National Dog Day-- Fireman Party

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Orrville Pet Spa and Resort

During regular daycare hours

7am – 6pm

330-683-3335

office@orrvillepetspa.com

Poem Contest Winner

Mon, 03 Aug 2015 15:29:00 GMT

Hank

by Daycare Attendant Carly

The first time I met you my heart sank
I knew right from the start
you'd always have a place in my heart
you never fail to make me smile
you make my job worth while
when I see you it brightens my day
you just can't wait to play!
someday when I have a home
I will have a Hank of my own
but no other dog could compare
or take away the bond we share
you will always be my best friend
forever and ever, until the end
you're the coolest dog around
you pick me up when I'm feeling down
when the day is done and you look at me with those big brown eyes
its hard for me to say goodbye
Hank, you are the best
even when you make a mess
I'll love you forever
our friendship I'll always treasure

Doggy Daycare Center Open Soon

Thu, 11 Jun 2015 14:42:00 GMT

June 11, 2015

Dear Doggy Daycare Parents,

Change is good… especially for your dog!

Soon the new Orrville Doggy Daycare Center will be open for your dog to play, think, and interact with other dogs and attendants in a safe environment.

This new space will enhance the benefits and opportunities of the current daycare program to mentally and physically stimulate your dog each day. By taking a more in depth approach to safe off leash play, the leadership activities recommended by the Dog Guru Community can be more closely followed. Safe, off leash play has and will always be a top priority of the owners, mangers, and staff. The leadership games, such as Name Recall, Group Sit, and Hula-Hoop, are designed to create a trusting bond between your dog and the daycare leaders. Other changes your dog will love and you may notice are more variety during his or her day. There will be rotating play times, quiet times, locations, and daycare leaders. These changes will keep the day fun and entertaining for your dog as well as mentally and physically stimulating.

A change for you as a Doggy Daycare Parent will be the drop-off and pick-up location. The new addition warranted a new entrance for our Daycare and Grooming friends. The new entrance for the Daycare Center is around the back of the Pet Spa past the Large Animal Pharmacy and Bovine Surgery doors. Construction of the entirely new driveway will be completed soon. Once you reach the new entrance, the daycare staff will guide you through minor changes to the drop off and pick up processes.

We truly appreciate your loyalty, trust, and patience with us as we grow and learn how to make better dogs. The owners, management, and staff of the Orrville Pet Spa and Resort and the Daycare Center are excited to open this unique facility to you and your four-legged best friend.

Why do Dogs Bury their bones

Mon, 11 May 2015 15:42:00 GMT

Have you ever seen your dog bury a bone? This is a common behavior that is shown in many TV shows and animal inspired cartoons.

You dog buries his or her bones due to a natural instinct. This is from their "wild side," in which wild dogs need to hide their bones and valuables during certain times. By doing this, they create a "Stash" that they can later find at a later time. This allows those wild dogs to hide valuable things and food stores for when times are more calm. They hide them form other predators and also acces these food stores in times when food sources may be scarce.

So this is basically a survival mechanism, but is also a wise strategy by dogs. By digging deep enough into the ground, the dogs could place food into cooler spots within the soil. They would place the food in there and then cover it up. The dirt covering served two purposes: hiding the food and creating an insulation barrier. The cooler earth would serve as a sort of refigeration for their precious food sources.

Now that you know why your dog exhibits this behavior, check back later to see how you can try to prevent your dog from digging.

Article written for Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic, by Jeff Fink D.V.M.

Do Dogs Dream?

Mon, 11 May 2015 15:03:00 GMT

While nobody truly knows the answer to this question, most experts believe that they do dream. As we continuously discover more and more things about dogs, we find that they have many characteristics in common with humans. Experts have observed the sleep patterns of dogs and find that they share many common things with a sleeping person. This probably includes the ability to dream. We think that dogs begin dreaming about 20 to 30 minutes after falling asleep. As with a person, you may notice shallow, irregular breathing. This will often be followed by muscle twitching and possible vocalization. You will also notice eye movements that are similar to REM sleep cycles in people.

While the topic may still be open to debate, I know that my dog often acts as if he is dreaming. He will act like he is running and often howl or give off a soft bark when he is fast asleep. Does your dog dream?

Written and published by Dr. Fink

For use by Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc.

Safe Travels With Your Pet

Wed, 06 May 2015 13:33:00 GMT

With Summer vacation season upon us, we would like to share with you some valuable tips for you and your pet family to stay safe on the road this year.
Whether you are planning an extensive road-trip with your pooch or just an extended day trip this summer, these tips can help save you some time and stress on your vacation this year.

Keep Records On Hand

Proper Identification

Safety While Driving

Keep Calm and Travel On

Stop Often For Breaks

Packing List

Article written by Samantha Wenger, RVT for use by Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc.

Edited and Published by Jeff Fink, DVM

Pet Photo Contest - National Pet Week

Wed, 29 Apr 2015 14:24:00 GMT

National Pet Week

May 4th - 8th

Pet Photo

Contest!

Email your photo

info@orrvillevetclinic.com

office@orrvillepetspa.com

or drop off your photo at any of our locations.

Our clients will vote for their favorites.

The winners will be published in Orrviews!!

OVC and OPSR Celebrate National Pet Week

Fri, 24 Apr 2015 18:11:00 GMT

OVC and OPSR Celebrate National Pet Week

The Orrville Veterinary Clinic, The Orrville Pet Spa and Resort and satellite clinics, The Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic and The Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic are celebrating the AVMA National Pet Week. National Pet Week is May 3-9, 2015. Always the first full week in May, National Pet Week is dedicated to celebrating the more than 200 million pets that enrich our lives each and every day. National Pet Week was created by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Auxiliary to the AVMA to honor the many important roles pets have in our lives and to encourage responsible pet ownership. Whether companion, comedian, confidant or protector, our pets are always there for us and don't ask much in return. National Pet Week celebrates this bond and encourages pet owners to be certain they provide their best friends with all they need for a happy, healthy life every week of the year.

Celebration activities include a photo contest, special treats for our furry friends, prizes and information on laser therapy and other pet health topics. To enter your pet in the photo contest, email a photo to info@orrvillevetclinic.com or office@orrvillepetspa.com . Photos can also be dropped off at either location. The deadline for entries is May 29,2015. Clients will vote on their favorites and then the winners will be posted in OrrViews. Visit the National Pet Week website for information about how teachers can celebrate the week in their classrooms, information on veterinary careers, resources for pet owners and some fun and games.

Canine Influenza Outbreak

Wed, 22 Apr 2015 01:56:00 GMT

Canine Influenza is once again in the news with media reports of a deadly dog flu outbreak. At this time, all of the details and specifics are not known. There is some misinformation that has floated around regarding the disease itself.

Here are the details at this time:

Risk Factors:

Both Canine Influenza and CIRD are communal diseases. This means that dogs must come into contact with an infected dog to contract the Flu virus or CIRD syndrome. As a result, not all dogs are at high risk for contracting the canine influenza virus, or any other potential component of Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease. Dogs that are at greater risk include those that visit dog parks, kennel facilities, training classes, Petsmart and other pet stores, grooming facilities and daycares. To minimize your dog's risk, keep him or her on a lease and limit nose to nose contact with other dogs. When possible, avoid at the at risk activities and locations listed above. We also recommend vaccinating at risk dogs for both canine influenza, canine parainfluenza and bordetella bronchiseptica (kennel cough).

If you are concerned about your dog being at risk, we encourage you to get educated on the disease/ syndrome. It is advisable to read many sources and note the common themes, rather than the few outliers. We are working on articles to continue to educate our clients. Links to various articles are included below:

Jeffrey R. Fink DVM is the author and publisher of this article.

If you have concerns or questions about your dog and his or her risk, give our clinic a call at (330)336-5823 or click on the embedded links above or links below.

Article written and published by Jeffrey R. Fink D.V.M.

Canine Influenza Vaccine

Mon, 06 Apr 2015 18:29:00 GMT

We Strongly recommend the Canine Influenza Vaccine to all or our Daycare, Grooming and Lodging guests. Here is some information why we think it is important.

Canine Influenza Vaccine

New Cat Vaccination Guidelines and Protocols

Tue, 03 Mar 2015 18:31:00 GMT

American Association of Feline Practitioners

Everyday, ongoing research discovers new things that lead to changes in the way that we do things. One of the newest developments in veterinary medicine is the new American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) cat vaccination guidelines. The AAFP conducting research looking at the duration of immunity of the most common cat vaccines. This is intended to answer the question: how long does that vaccine actually last? They are also looking at the most important vaccinations and risk factors for cats. It is through these efforts that the AAFP has recently announced new vaccine guidelines. These new guidelines are designed to best protect your cat against various diseases. At the same time, it is our goal to give your feline friend the fewest number of vaccinations as possible.

To begin with, the AAFP has identified three groups of cats and designed vaccine protocols for each group. These groups are low risk, medium risk and high risk. There are not exact black and white lines to identify these groups, which makes a thorough history during the annual physical examination all the more important.

Below is an explanation of each group:

HIGH RISK: These are cats that spend a lot of time outside. These cats are often exposed to other cats in the area, making them prone to various diseases. They also tend to fight more often, which makes them vulnerable to additional diseases, such as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). FIV requires a bite wound for transmission, while Feline Leukemia Virus ( FeLV) requires just contact with saliva.

MEDIUM RISK: This is probably the grayest area to categorize cats. They that have a medium or moderate risk of exposure. They include multiple cat households, cats that are outside for short periods of time, and cats that have access to screen doors and screened in porches/ windows. These cats are not likely to get into fights, but can come into contact with stray cats through the screens. These cats are at risk of the "core" cat viruses, as well as FeLV.

LOW RISK: These cats are the ones that have no access to other cats. They are at a very low risk for contracting diseases. The easiest example is a spayed or neutered cat that has been declawed on all four paws and lives in a single cat household within an apartment building.

The AAFP still feels that the most important aspect of feline care and preventive care is the comprehensive medical examination. This is in agreement with our practice philosophy of emphasizing the physical examination above all other aspects of care. The Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic prides ourselves as being the trendsetter for animal care in the Akron, Barberton, Norton, and surrounding areas of Summit and Stark counties. We are constantly remaining on the cutting edge of veterinary medicine and are looked to with respect by other veterinarians in the area. Please check out our additional articles that further explain the new guidelines.

Written by Dr. Jeff Fink on behalf of Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc. for use on the website of Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic.

A Letter to Cat Owners

Tue, 03 Mar 2015 18:06:00 GMT

March 3rd, 2015

Dear Cat Owners,

I've had several cats these last few weeks come in with the history of only being sick a few days yet, these cats were in serious trouble. Unfortunately, they were so sick that we could not save them.

Felines are an incredible species. God created them to be very resilient. Sometimes they do seem to have nine lives. A cat, when sick, will turn down it's energy output and separate itself from outside influences. Since they may go hide for weeks until they recover, you may not pick up that they are sick till it's too late.

As we age, the likelihood of problems increase. In order to catch potential problems early, yearly physicals are encouraged. For aging humans, it is recommended that at the age of fifty they start having regular examinations by their doctor. For a cat, who ages faster that a human; we always recommend yearly examinations. The age we at which recommend twice yearly physical exams and yearly blood work begins at 7 years of age.

Many owners believe their indoor only cats don't necessarily need vaccinated . This is not the case, as it depends on their risk of exposure to the preventable diseases. In addition to disease that may be prevented by vaccination; heart disease, diabetes, renal failure, and liver disease can be caught early and extend a cat's life many years.

I was very saddened to see several cats lose their lives, especially cats that I feel may have been saved if their condition was picked up on a routine senior health screening. At Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic, we are looking into providing some low cost screening tests for our feline friends.

Dr. Gregory A. Roadruck

For more articles, check out our NEWS AND ARTICLES section.

We will also have more articles to follow.

Click HERE for Reasons to take your cat to the veterinarian.

AAFP Guideline to Cat Vaccinations

This letter written by Dr. Greg Roadruck for use on the Websites that are owned and operated by Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc.

Article edited and posted by Dr. Jeff Fink

Why do Dogs and Cats Have Whiskers?

Tue, 03 Mar 2015 04:49:00 GMT

Why do Dogs and Cats Have Whiskers?

You may notice those long, bristly hairs on the nose of your dog or cat. They typically stick out to the sides. Those hairs are called their whiskers, but why do they have them?

The whiskers are a specialize hair that is deeply imbedded (anchored) into your pets skin. These hairs communicate with the muscle tissue and nervous system more effectively than the majority of normal hairs on your pets body. Some liken the whiskers of your pet to your own fingertips, highly sensitive. Whiskers are located on the side of the face, as well as above the eyes. Some cats even have whiskers on the back of their front legs. These whiskers are actually really sensitive organs, serving to tell your dog or cat a lot about his/ her environment. Here are some of the functions that whiskers serve:

Sometimes, your pet may have whiskers shaved due to surgery or grooming. This is generally accepted and sometimes necessary. Most of these animals are no longer dependent on their whiskers for day to day functions. We do not recommend trimming your pets whiskers, no matter how long they may be. To begin with, these whiskers are more sensitive than other hairs. You pet also needs these special hairs in order to function normally.

Why do Dogs Eat Grass

Mon, 02 Mar 2015 16:25:00 GMT

This is a very common question from dog owners. It is often a concern that owners have that something is wrong with their pet. There is not one specific response to the question, but we will review several below:

Whatever the reason that dogs eat grass, there may be cause for concern. Most of the time it is harmless, but it could be an indication of a bigger problem. Always note if there is a new behavior in your dog. If she is all of the sudden eating grass, watch to see what else is changing. Is her appetite increase? What about the amount of water he is drinking? A sudden change in eating habits may be an indication of a GI problem, so watch him/ her as he/she defecates. Is the stool normal? Is it formed, runny or bloody?

Click here to read and article about reasons to take your pet to the veterinarian. (This article is forthcoming and not published at this time)

Why do cats Purr?

Mon, 02 Mar 2015 16:11:00 GMT

This is a common question that we receive during an appointment, as well as in general conversation. There are two ways to answer this question and we will attempt to do so below.

The first approach is to answer with a clinical, or physiologic, response. That simply means to answer the "HOW" portion of the question. What is going on physically with my cat that makes him/ her purr? The easiest way to answer this is that purring is generated by vibrations of the vocal cords. These vibrations cause the audible sound that you hear and the vibration that you are able to feel. The vibration occurs as the result of brain stimulation, which sends a neurologic response to vocal cords.

The second answer to the question is why your cat actually purrs. Another way to state this is "What does it mean when my cat purrs?" One common response is that a cat purrs when she/ he is happy. Cats often purr when they are in contact with their owner. They tend to purr when they are comfortable or content. You may notice that your cat purrs in response to being pet or stroked. Cats also purr when injured or sick. Some people believe that the purring my be associated with greater healing. Cats sometime purr when they are scared. Cat purr when nursing their kittens. Cats also purr when nervous. One additional cause of purring is hunger. Some cats will purr in order to try to get food from their owners.

Changing Diets: A How to Guide

Fri, 27 Feb 2015 16:15:00 GMT

How do I change my pet's food from one to another?

Is the pet store out of your normal pet food? Are you needing to change diets due to food allergies? Are you changing diets for medical reasons or weight management? Scared of a food recall or the recent Beneful Class Action Lawsuit (2015)? Maybe it is time to change to a higher quality pet food. You may be an owner who does not like the idea of feeding your pet the same food all the time. There are many reasons why a pet owner may elect to change their pet's diet. Whatever the reason, it can be dangerous to change from one diet to another abruptly. The only time this is suitable is when changing from a normal diet to some sort of bland diet, which is usually recommended for Gastroenteritis, vomiting and diarrhea cases.

So, what is the best way to transition from one diet to another? Here is a good, simple method:

We recommend a gradual change from one diet to the next. This transition period should cover a period of time of about 10 to 14 days. It is recommended to change slowly, but typically the following easy plan seems to work really well:

Day 1-2: Begin with about 10% of the newer diet mixed in with 90% of the diet that your pet is accustomed to eating

Day 2-4: Begin mixing the diets at a ration of 25% of the new to 75% or the "normal" diet.

Day 5-7: At this point, you can probably change at a slightly more rapid pace. Begin mixing the diets at an equal 50:50 ratio

Day 8-10: Now is when the diet begins to be more of the "new" diet and less of the "old" diet. Give your pet 75% of the newer diet, mixed with 25% of the former diet.

Day 11 and moving forward: You pet should now be ready to start eating the newer diet as his or her only diet.

There are some instances where this formula may be too sudden. There are some dogs that need to be started by adding in one teaspoon of the new diet and removing one teaspoon of the other diet. These dogs can be transitioned by adding an additional teaspoon every 2 days. It is also important to note that a true dietary trial for food allergies does not begin until the point in time that your dog is on the trial diet exclusively.

Written and published by Dr. Jeff Fink on behalf of Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc.

Class Action Lawsuit: Beneful by Purina

Wed, 25 Feb 2015 17:39:00 GMT

Recently there has been a lot of talk on the news and on social media about a class action lawsuit that has been filed against Beneful dog food by Purina. At Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic, we are keeping watch on the situation and will stay up to date.

Here are the facts as they stand right now:

At this time there is a lot to consider:

1) Pet Owners: The pet owners are understandably upset and emotional. The loss of a pet is extremely difficult. Within the lawsuit, there are claims by another pet owner that her dogs died 6 months apart. One passed away from kidney failure, the other from liver complications. What is left out of the report is the signalment; meaning age, breed, sex, etc. This is important and vital because older dogs tend to get sick with various conditions, liver and kidney disease being two of the major ones. We see this a lot with household that get two puppies at the same time. It is not uncommon for these two pets to pass away within 6-12 months of one another.

2) Purina: Purina is denying the claims and fighting the lawsuit. This is certainly understandable, as they are a big business that sells a lot of dog food. Beneful is one of their leading brand names, so they are wanting to protect this as much as they can. I talked to the Purina Veterinary Hotline earlier today and they are standing behind their product 100%. They that Beneful is a high quality, nutirious dog food enjoyed by millions of dogs every day.

3) News Outlets/ Media: The news outlets need to fill time and get viewership. Animal stories are a great way to do this. We all get very over our pets, as they bring us much joy and companionship. This is not the first instance in which out local news affiliate has run with stories of dog deaths. In 2003, there was a report claiming that veterinarians were pushing vaccinations that were killing pets. This story played on a common theme, which is once again rearing its head: the death and sickness of a pet. The vaccines in question at that time were Distemper and Parvovirus. While I have never seen a death that can be directly attributed to one of these vaccinations, I see 6 to 10 cases of parvovirus EVERY YEAR. The average cost of a parvovirus treatment is $800-$1200, a very costly treatment, while the average cost of a vaccination is generally $20-$25. Prevention is critical in fighting both of these disease and is much less expensive than treatment. Of those 6-10 cases per year, 2 to 3 will not survive the virus.

4) Social Media: The internet is a dangerous place, as people react and respond to anything and everything. There are already threads with multiple pet owners who fed Beneful blaming their dog's sickness and passing on Beneful. Most of these claims are extremely vague, with people wanting an explanation for the loss of their beloved dog. One owner states that: "My dog died last year unexpectedly. She was sick maybe 4 hours tops. An inside dog. Went to let her out and found her dead in her bed. She was fed Beneful dry dog food. Now this explains why!!!!" They go on to state that they are so upset. This is very unfortunate, but is very consistent with antifreeze toxicity. The owner does not state that she followed the dog outside and observed the pet's behavior, at which time she could have easily gotten into antifreeze or some other type of toxin. The owner also does not give an age or any other history of underlying medical conditions. Heart disease can be another situation that results in a similar presentation of sickness with rapid decline leading to death.

5) Lawyers: While there are plenty of great lawyers out there, there are also many who will take on class action lawsuits for the fact that there is big money involved. There are lawyers who will file the lawsuits and do the work for no charge, with the stipulation that they receive a large portion of the settlement. In this case the settlement is potentially millions of dollars. All it takes is a quick internet search to find numerous class action lawsuits against drug companies. From personal experience, Google the term "Copyright Troll: and you will find many of these patent and copyright lawyers who copyright pictures and then sue anybody and everybody that mistakenly uses that image. These copyright trolls scare people into settling, when very few cases actually make it to court. The ones that do make it to court are oftentimes lost by the copyright troll or they are awarded a token settlement of less than $100. (This is just an example to show that anybody can sue anyone else for anything.) Class Action lawsuits are common in business thses days, but they do not indicate a direct cause and effect.

6) Internet websites: Websites are a great place for information and a place for people to congregate around similar interests, however websites are often driven to gain "hits," "views," and web traffic. We did a quick search for Beneful and there are multiple articles that cite a "Purina Recall." In none of these articles does it state that Beneful was recalled, however the hint is there and the implication intentional

7) Beneful Brand: This is one of the more popular brands of dog foods that is available today. Like all foods, some dogs do indeed have problems associated with Beneful. These include allergies to specific ingredients (the top five are Beef, Chicken, Corn, Pork and Lamb) and gastroenteritis associated with abrupt diet change. Both of these conditions are reported with every dog food on the market. Many of the vomiting and diarrhea reports are likely due to an abrupt change form one food to another (look at the reports of "they were out of my dog food, so we bought Beneful and then my dog began to vomit.")

8) Antifreeze in the Food: There has not been a dog food that is contaminated with antifreeze from a manufacturer. This stems from confusion over two related substances: Propylene Glycol and Ethylene Glycol. These two sound similar, but are vastly different. Ethylene Glycol is the compound in antifreeze that results in a quick onset of clincial signs, leading to rapid coma and death. Propylene glycol is a simple food preservative that has been used in human food as well as dog food.

In summary, there appears to be little merit to the direct cause and effect in this case at this time. We will monitor the situation, however a settlement is likely and common in situations like this one. Purina is currently disputing and fighting the allegations, but oftentimes settlements are easier and less costly than an actual trial. At this time, we do not believe there to be a problem directly associated with Beneful Dog Food by Purina. There have been no FDA recalls nor any direct links to Beneful.

We feel that we have your pet's best interest in mind, as we all have furry family members too! It is our intention to get the best information into your hands as we can. If you are not comfortable continuing the feeding of Beneful brand pet foods, we understand. Please make sure that you transition your pet to another pet food slowly to avoid GI upsets. We recommend a transition phase that lasts from one to two weeks. You should begin by feeding 75% of the current diet to 25% of the new diet for the first 3 to 4 days. At that point, it is okay to gradually add more and more of the newer diet, while decreasing the former diet (in this case Beneful).

If you have any questions please call the clinic at (330)336-5823

Disclaimer: This is a very fluid situation. These are merely our opinoins at this time. While we can not say that there is no problem with Beneful, we are also not able to find a direct link to death by this food. More information will become available as time goes on. We are not stating that there is no potential of an issue here, but no cause and effect has been established at this time. LIkewise, we have not seen any issues with Beneful recently. We are aware that there have been multiple food recalls within the past several years and constantly try to monitor these recalls that have merit. Beneful is not a pet food that we routinely recommend, as there are some higher quality diets on the market. At the same time, we do not feel that Beneful is a problem.

This article written and published by Dr. Jeffrey R. Fink on behalf of Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic.

Please check out the remainder of the website for information on flea and tick control, heartworm disease, the top medical conditions of dogs and cats and many other articles. Feel free to email us at info@sevillevetclinic.com if you have any suggestions for future articles.

Beneful Class Action Lawsuit

Wed, 25 Feb 2015 16:43:00 GMT

Class Action Lawsuit

Purina Pet Foods

Beneful

Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc.

Recently there has been a lot of talk on the news and on social media about a class action lawsuit that has been filed against Beneful dog food by Purina. At Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc., we are keeping watch on the situation and will stay up to date.

Here are the facts as they stand right now:

At this time there is a lot to consider:

1) Pet Owners: The pet owners are understandably upset and emotional. The loss of a pet is extremely difficult. Within the lawsuit, there are claims by another pet owner that her dogs died 6 months apart. One passed away from kidney failure, the other passed away from liver complications. What is left out of the report is the signalment; meaning age, breed, sex, etc. This is important and vital because older dogs tend to get sick with various conditions, liver and kidney disease being two of the major ones. We see this a lot with a household that gets two puppies at the same time. It is not uncommon for these two pets to pass away within 6-12 months of one another when they are older.

2) Purina: Purina is denying the claims and fighting the lawsuit. This is certainly understandable, as they are a big business that sells a lot of dog food. Beneful is one of their leading brand names, so they are wanting to protect this as much as they can. I talked to the Purina Veterinary Hotline earlier today and they are standing behind their product 100%. They state that Beneful is a high quality, nutirious dog food enjoyed by millions of dogs every day.

3) News Outlets/ Media: The news outlets need to fill time and get viewership. They realize that animal stories are a great way to do this. We all get very emotional over our pets, as they bring us much joy and companionship. This is not the first instance in which out local news affiliate has run with stories of dog deaths. In 2003, there was a report claiming that veterinarians were pushing vaccinations that were killing pets. This story played on a common theme, which is once again rearing its head: the death and sickness of a pet. The vaccines in question at that time were to protect against Distemper Virus and Parvovirus. While I have never seen a death that can be directly attributed to one of these vaccinations, I see 6 to 10 cases of parvovirus EVERY YEAR. The average cost of a parvovirus treatment is $800-$1200 (a very costly treatment) while the average cost of a vaccination is generally $20-$25. Prevention is critical in fighting both of these disease and is much less expensive than treatment. Of those 6-10 cases per year, 2 to 3 will not survive the virus.

9) Consumer Affairs: There are many stories and reports on Cunsumer Affiars regarding Beneful. These stories are similar to the social media aites above, vague and accusatory. Many cite problems that can be associated with any food, such as food allergies and GI upset. If your pet is vomiting or have diarrhea, there can by many reasons. Click HERE for more information.

In summary, there appears to be little merit to the direct cause and effect in this case at this time. We will monitor the situation, however a settlement may be likely and is common in situations like this one. Purina is currently disputing and fighting the allegations, but oftentimes settlements are easier and less costly than an actual trial. At this time, we do not believe there to be a problem directly associated with Beneful Dog Food by Purina. There have been no FDA recalls nor any direct links to Beneful.

If you have any questions please call the clinic at (330)682-2971

Disclaimer: This is a very fluid situation. These are merely our opinoins at this time. While we can not say that there is no problem with Beneful, we are also not able to find a direct link to death by this food. More information will become available as time goes on. We are not stating that there is no potential of an issue here, but no cause and effect has been established at this time. LIkewise, we have not seen any issues with Beneful recently. We are aware that there have been multiple food recalls within the past several years and constantly try to monitor these recalls that have merit. We do not intend this to be a support of Purina directly. At this time these are just allegations, which can be levied by anybody. We also do not mean this article to represent that the food is or is not safe, as we do not know for sure. This is essentially to get the facts into your hands as they stand at this time. There are plenty of high quality dog foods that are available. We would be happy to make a recommendation. (Beneful is not one that we routinely recommend)

This article written and published by Dr. Jeffrey R. Fink on behalf of Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc.

Please check out the remainder of the website for information on flea and tick control, heartworm disease, the top medical conditions of dogs and cats and many other articles. Feel free to email us at info@orrvillevetclinic.com if you have any suggestions for future articles.

Why is my Pet vomiting or having diarrhea?

Product Spotlight: Vectra

Tue, 17 Feb 2015 19:28:00 GMT

Product Spotlight: Vectra

(For Cats)

Vectra for cats is a topical product that is available for prevention of fleas and ticks. It also treats and prevents biting flies, sand flies, lice, mites and mosquitoes. Vectra kills through contact, which means that the parasite does not have to bite in order to die. However, no flea product is able to prevent every bite because fleas are often very hungry, searching out a meal as fast as they can. The good news is that Vectra for cats begins working within 5 minutes and kills fleas within 6 hours.

By killing the adult fleas, Vectra is able to prevent many of the other stages of fleas, including eggs, larvae and pupae. (For more about the flea life cycle, click HERE ). Vectra is waterproof, but can be washed off if soaps or detergents are used during bathing. Most people don't bathe their cats, so this is hopefully a non-issue. If you do elect to bathe your cat, we recommend a soap free shampoo, which typically contains aloe and oatmeal.

Vectra is one of the newer veterinary products that has replaced Frontline. Vectra has a special application tip, which makes it easier to apply the topical product directly to your cat's skin.

Please note that there is another, similar product for dogs, called Vectra 3D. Vectra 3D is NOT FOR USE ON CATS.

Product Spotlight: Vectra 3D

Tue, 17 Feb 2015 19:09:00 GMT

Vectra 3D is produced for use in dogs as prevention of fleas and ticks. Like many products, it is unable to totally prevent a flea bite from occurring. However, Vectra 3D is fast acting, often reducing flea feeding within 5 minutes. A total flea kill will result within 6 hours. In addition to fleas and ticks, Vectra 3D repels and kills mosquitoes, biting flies, sand flies, lice and mites (not the "mange" mites). By killing the parasites, Vectra 3D prevents the development of immature stages of fleas because dead fleas can not produce eggs, growing into larvae and then pupae. (Click here for flea life cycle)

Vectra 3D is a topical product that provides protection from fleas and ticks for one month. It is water proof, but pets should not be bathed with a detergent or soap based shampoo. Suitable shampoos are soap free and often are a combination of aloe and oatmeal. Protection can begin as early as 8 weeks of age. An additional benefit is that Vectra 3D has a specialized applicator tip, which helps to apply the product directly to your dog's skin.

This is a product that many veterinary clinics have chosen to replace Frontline, by Merial. Frontline was a top product for many years, but its efficacy was lost in 2012. This is common to all flea products and not a "knock" on Frontline.

Please note that Vectra 3D is NOT FOR USE IN CATS, but there is a comparable cat product. It is calle simply Vectra.

emergency veterinary care

Tue, 17 Feb 2015 18:05:00 GMT

We are proud to provide a wide range of veterinary emergency services. We serve the Orrville, Wooster, Dalton, Rittman and surrounding regions. Since we are a mixed animal practice, we are able to provide services on the farm, as well as meeting you at the clinic to examine and treat dogs and cats at the Orrville Veterinary Clinic location.

Our large animal doctors are available 24 hours a day.

Small animal emergencies are referred to a fully staffed 24 hour veterinary emergency clinic.

Flea Allergy Dermatitis

Tue, 17 Feb 2015 17:34:00 GMT

Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) is a common medical condition in which an animal's skin overreacts negatively to one or more flea bites. This is due to an allergy to the saliva of the flea. Reactions to flea bites in these cases can cause itching, red skin, hair loss and sores in dogs and cat. You may notice intense itching and scratching as well as scabbing around the neck area in cats. Many reactions will show up on the pet's hind quarters; the base of the tail and back, as well as the stomach area. Many pets come in with a pattern of hair loss that looks like an upside down V just above the base of the tail. This pattern of hair loss is almost diagnostic for a flea problem.

When we see pets with these symptoms, our first question will usually be: "What do you use as flea prevention?" This is in no way meant as an insult to you or your capabilities for taking great care of your pet! We recommend treating both your indoor and outdoor pets. Fleas will hitch a ride on any object they can find: your pants or shoes, your pet's fur, something brought into the house from the garage, etc. They are expert hitchhikers and are always looking for a good meal---you or your pet!

If you have a pet with a severe allergy to fleas, you could use flea prevention year-round and it would still take only a couple bites from a flea to cause an allergic reaction. Flea prevention is a fantastic way of preventing flea infestations in your pet's environment; however, using it does not create a 'force field' effect. There is always a delay, so keeping every pet in your care (inside and out) on a good flea prevention schedule will help keep infestations from invading your house. This will greatly reduce the risk of your pet being bitten.

FAD is a raher common occurrence in the veterinary field, making up almost half of the skin problems that are seen yearly! (according to the Companion Animal Parasite Council) Most commonly, the treatment for flea allergy dermatitis is a course of antibiotics (if the skin is infected), steroid treatment for itching and inflammation, and making sure that the pet is on a proven oral or topical flea prevention.

In most cases, once treatment has been started and fleas have been eliminated, the sores and scabbing will heal and hair will grow back normally.

If you are dealing with a flea infestation, it can take up to three or four months to completely rid the area of fleas, even with all pets on prevention. The reason for this is that there is a life stage of the flea, called the pupae stage, where the flea egg grows an almost impermeable shell (FUN FACT: the flea pupae's shell is so tough that even an atomic bomb would not be able to penetrate it!). It can take up to 3-4 months for the flea to hatch from this phase. So treating your pets for one month will not be enough to cure an infestation. For more on the flea life cycle, click HERE.

In conclusion, it is much easier, and cost effective to prevent fleas that it would be to treat a pet for Flea Allergy Dermatitis and handle an infestation in the home. We have many flea prevention products here at OVC; listed below are the products (with embedded links) that we carry and recommend.

Trifexis

Comfortis

Revolution

Bravecto

Vectra and Vectra 3d

Stop in and see us anytime and we can answer any questions you may have regarding our products!

For More information about fleas, click on the links listed below:

Flea Life Cycle

This Flea Product DOES NOT WORK!

Flea Control and Prevention

Prepare for the Perils of Spring

This article was written and submitted by Robin Evans.

Edited and published by Dr. Jeffrey R. Fink for use on the Orrville Veterinary Clinic Websites.

Laser Therapy

Tue, 17 Feb 2015 17:12:00 GMT

Laser Therapy in Practice

History of Laser Therapy

Laser therapy is a treatment modality that has been around since the 1960's, but is also a recent trend within veterinary medicine. The recent surge in the number of veterinary clinics that offer laser therapy is likely due to the amount of data that is now available to show that it is highly effective---in other words, it works!

Another reason for the the increase is the improvement of laser therapy units, often meaning that units deliver more energy to the tissues. These "stronger" lasers allow us to more effectively treat your animal more effectively, in less time.

It is ironic to learn that laser therapy was actually developed because of a study in mice. Endre Mester noticed that mice that receiving laser treatments were able to grow hair back at a faster rate than those that did not receive laser treatments. This begin the advent of laser therapy, which is now used to treat a wide range of medical conditions.

What is Laser Therapy?

We can use a lot of fancy terms, but what it boils down to is that lasers are light energy. The therapy units target the body tissues and deliver this energy to the level of the cells, particularly the "mitochondria." Mitochondria are basically like the engine of the cell. They produces ATP, which is energy. The light energy improves circulation, which means more oxygen to the tissue that is being targeted. Not only does more oxygen get delivered, but the cells are also more effective at using this increased oxygen. The increase in circulation also means greater ability to remove "bad stuff" from the area. "Bad Stuff" includes things like toxins and oxidative free radicals. These substances cause increased tissue damage, so removing them helps to stop this cycle. Laser therapy essentially helps the body to heal itself, by promoting the natural processes that we were designed with.

What Animals can be Treated?

Using our Class IV laser therapy unit, the doctors of Orrville Veterinary Clinic can deliver light energy to deep tissues. This allows us to perform laser therapy on many types of animals, ranging from small dogs all the way up to large horses . Oftentimes, our older pets can benefit the most from therapy. A conservative estimate is that 20% of animals over age 7 years have some form of arthritis.

What Conditions can be Treated Using Laser Therapy?

Laser therapy is often added into traditional therapies to treat many conditions. In animals these include:

Osteoarthritis

Back Pain

Nerve Pain

Soft Tissue Inflammation

Post-surgical wounds

Generalized wounds

Skin Infections

Ear Infections

Soft Tissue Injuries

Tendonitis

Dental Disease

For more information about Laser therapy click on the following links to our articles:

Laser Therapy in Horses

Mon, 16 Feb 2015 15:15:00 GMT

The Benefits of Laser Therapy in Horses

Laser therapy, also known as photobiomodulation, is growing in popularity among equine veterinarians to promote healing, decrease inflammation, and manage pain. Laser light has a direct action on cells, specifically cellular mitochondria, to produce these desirable effects. As with any treatment modality, an accurate diagnosis is important. For example, if your horse is lame on the left rear leg, it doesn’t make sense to start treating the hock joint unless the lameness has been localized to that area.

After lameness localization, a treatment plan must be developed. Laser therapy is considered an adjunct therapy to other treatment modalities. For example, our veterinarians may decide that your horse needs a joint injection to relieve the pain associated with hock arthritis and prescribe laser therapy to provide an additional method of long-term healing and pain relief to that area.

Another benefit of laser therapy is that it is extremely safe. Overdoses are almost impossible. Laser therapy can also help reduce the number of anti-inflammatory drugs, such as phenylbutazone, that your horse may need. Laser therapy typically starts at 2-4 treatments per week, eventually reducing to once per week or even month. There are instances where such dramatic results occur after just a few treatments that they are no longer necessary and the horse is considered cured.

Laser therapy can be used for a wide variety of issues in horses. A few of these include arthritis, tendon or ligament injury, wounds, back or neck pain, and joint swelling. Laser therapy has been scientifically proven to reduce pain and inflammation and reduce healing time. If your horse has any of these diagnoses that have been discussed, ask about laser therapy as a possible treatment modality.

Horse Vaccinations: Why have my vet do them?

Tue, 10 Feb 2015 16:58:00 GMT

Why Should I have my Veterinarian Vaccinate my Horse?

Have you ever wondered why you should have your horse vaccinated by a veterinarian when you can simply buy the vaccine at the feed store for less money?

Some horse owners may choose have to have their veterinarian design and administer their horse’s vaccination program. Others may purchase the vaccinations elsewhere and administer themselves. Is there a difference? At the Orrville Veterinary Clinic, we think there is.

Our vaccinations were selected because they include the most current and important strains of the viruses that your horse may be exposed to. We also select the safest vaccines. Our vaccines were ultra-purified to remove any of the cellular debris or contaminants that your horse may possibly have an adverse reaction to. We also guarantee that the “cold chain” has been maintained on the vaccines that we sell. If a vaccine sits on the warehouse of the feed store over the weekend and gets warm (or frozen), it is rendered ineffective. We guarantee that doesn’t happen with our vaccines.

Another very important reason that you may choose to have our veterinarians administer your horse’s vaccines is because there is a guarantee of disease prevention. The company that produces your horse’s vaccines will pay up to $3,000 towards treatment and testing if your horse gets sick and it appears there may be a disease present that should have been prevented by the vaccine. This is a very important benefit.

Finally, we feel that the expertise that we offer comes with added value. By visiting your location and performing a physical examination on your horse, we can better select the right protocol for your horse. Is he a heavily ridden trail horse that will be exposed to other horses out on the trails? Is she a breeding mare that is taken in and out of breeding facilities? Is your horse going to training? Is he more of a backyard horse that really doesn't travel? These and many other questions help us to cater a program to your horse's needs. We will also perform an examination, which will likely lead to earlier disease detection and intervention. We also take your horse's specific situation into account when designing other programs, such as an effective and targeted deworming strategy.

Overall, you will also get a piece of mind that our veterinarians have selected the best vaccinations and best schedule tho fit your horse’s needs. We trust that you will find tremendous value in our knowledge and experience.

Article written by Drs. Gabe Middleton and Jeff Fink for use by Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc.

Sweetheart Special

Mon, 09 Feb 2015 20:08:00 GMT

Buy 10 days of Doggie Daycare at the discounted rate of $19.00 and get 1 day free! $20.50 Value!

Offer Good from February

6 ^th – 14 ^th

Canine Behavior: Separation Anxiety (What is it?)

Thu, 05 Feb 2015 20:43:00 GMT

Definition : Abnormal, often destructive behavior, that is present when your dog does not like to be apart from you. The actual separation distance can vary, ranging from you leaving the house to just being left in another room. It is sad when a dog lacks so much self confidence that they can't just enjoy themselves when you walk in another room.

Many pet owners get so frustrated with the behaviors that it strains a once positive relationship. Separation anxiety and inappropriate urinations are two of the top reasons that owners end up relinquishing their pets to places like the Summit County Dog Warden and other local shelters in and around Akron, Norton and Barberton. If your dog exhibits signs of Separation Anxiety, we encourage you to seek help. This will help to deter and modify the behavior before it becomes more difficult to treat.

This is truly an understatement: Separation Anxiety is a major problem. Pet parents complain that their dog is disruptive or destructive when left alone. Separation anxiety can be triggered when a dog becomes upset because of separation from the people that they consider their family unit. Dogs are natural pack animals, running in a social setting that is natural to them. When a dog is left alone, he or she may begin to get anxious. This can occur whether he or she is completely alone in the house or simply alone in an adjacent room. This often is demonstrated by drooling, licking of the lips and anxiety when his/ her parents are getting ready to leave the house. Once left alone, attempts by dogs with separation anxiety to escape are often extreme. These escape behaviors may result in self-injury and household destruction, especially around exit points like windows and doors.

Dogs that suffer from separation anxiety may become agitated when their parents get ready to leave. There are many cues and clues that we give off that tell our dog that we are getting ready to leave. Examples include putting your coat on, getting your shoes on, rattling your keys, opening a specific door and even that morning cup of coffee. Some dogs may go as far as to try to block your attempts to leave by barking or getting under your feet or in the way as you prepare to leave. Most of the time, separation anxiety behavior will begin right after the owner leaves. Your dog may begin barking and showing other distress signs within minutes.

Treating separation anxiety is a complicated issue. There are many layers that are involved and will be covered in a future article. Most of these techniques incorporate behavior modification with medical management. We strive to use the medication as a starting point, but our goal is to discontinue the medication eventually. Regardless the specific treatment methods, the goal is to resolve the dog’s underlying anxiety by teaching him to tolerate, even enjoy, being left alone. Many desensitization methods are available and can be tried as a trial and error to see which ones are most effective for each case.

Published for use on the Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic website along with our others partner clinics: Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic and Orrville Veterinary Clinic.

Article written by Gregory A. Roadruck D.V.M. and Jeffrey R. Fink D.V.M.

Separation Anxiety: What is it?

Thu, 05 Feb 2015 18:13:00 GMT

Definition: When your dog does not like to be separated from you. Ranging from you leaving the house to just being left in another room. It is sad when a dog lacks so much self confidence that they can't just enjoy themselves when you walk in another room.

The biggest issue is that many pet parents will get frustrated with the behaviors to an extent that it strains a once positive relationship. Separation anxiety and inappropriate urinations are two of the top reasons that owners end up relinquishing their pets to places like the Medina County Humane society and other shelters.

Separation Anxiety is a major problem that owners notice with their dogs. Pet parents complain that their dog is disruptive or destructive when left alone. Separation anxiety can be triggered when a dog become upset because of separation from the people that they are attached to. We often get dogs as a companion, which means that we want to be near them. Likewise, dogs are natural pack animals, running in social setting that is natural to them. When a dog is left alone, whether completely alone in the house or simply alone in an adjacent room; he or she may begin to get anxious. This often is demonstrated by drooling, licking of the lips and anxiety when his/ her parents are getting ready to leave the house. Once left alone, attempts by dogs with separation anxiety to escape are often extreme. These escape behaviors may result in self-injury and household destruction, especially around exit points like windows and doors.

If your dog exhibits signs of Separation Anxiety, we encourage you to seek help. This will help to deter and modify the behavior before it becomes more difficult to treat.

Article written by Dr. Jeff Fink and Dr. Greg Roadruck

Published for use on the Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic website along with our others partner clinics: Orrville Veterinary Clinic and Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic.

Communication with Canines: Bark Types

Thu, 05 Feb 2015 18:02:00 GMT

Canine Communication

The Seven types of Dog Barks: Meaning and Management

There are seven basic types of barks that our dogs exhibit, with each having a different meaning and manner is which to manage or correct the behavior.

1) Alarm/ Alert Barking - An example is the dog who saves his family from a fire, tells us that Timmy’s in the well (Think Lassie), scares off the intruder, barks at the dogs on Animal Planet, and goes bonkers every time someone walks past on the sidewalk outside the picture window. Alarm barkers can save lives - but sometimes their judgment about what constitutes an alarm-appropriate situation can be misplaced. The best form of management is to reduce the dog’s exposure to the stimulus.

The Fix: Always investigate. It could just be the UPS driver leaving a package on the porch, but it might be something serious. Sometimes, Timmy really is in the well! Investigate, use a positive interrupt to stop the barking, and then reinforce the quiet. It is also important to "thank" your dog for alerting you to a potential problem.
2) Demand Barking- Unfortunately, this is one of the most common barking behaviors. The good news is that it is often the easiest to correct early. Essentially this is your dog barking a request to get what they want, be it a treat, praise or something else. The longer a dog successfully demands stuff, the more persistent he’ll be if you try to ignore him. Simply ignoring him is the best answer to this behavior. This means tough love: no treats, no attention - not even eye contact. The instant the demand behavior starts, utter a cheerful “Oops!” and turn your back on your dog. When he’s quiet, say, “Quiet, yes!” and return your attention - and treat - to him. There are two complicating factors to be aware of:

Extinction Bursts happen when you are trying to make a behavior go away by ignoring it. Unfortunately, your dog may increase the intensity of his behavior , shouting “I WANT IT NOW!” If you give in, thinking it’s not working, you are reinforcing this more intense behavior, making your dog more likely to get more intense the next time. If you stick it out and wait for the barking to stop, you are well on your way to making it go away. You have to be more persistent - and consistent - than your dog.
A Behavior Chain is a series of behaviors strung together. Your dog may learn to bark once or twice to get you to turn your back, say quiet, and feed him a treat. His short behavior chain is “bark - then be quiet.” To avoid this, be sure to acknowledge and reward him frequently before he even starts barking.
The Fix: It’s easy to derail demand barking when it first starts by ignoring the dog. When your dog barks for treats, attention, or to get you to throw his ball, simply turn your back on him until he is quiet, then say “Yes!” and return your attention to him. His goal is to get you to give him good stuff. Your goal is to teach him that barking makes good stuff go away. At first, you may need to say “Yes!” after just a few seconds of quiet, but fairly quickly extend the period of quiet so he doesn’t learn a behavior chain of “Bark, be quiet for a second, get attention.” At the same time, you’ll need to reinforce quiet when he doesn’t bark first, again, to prevent the behavior chain.
It’s more challenging to extinguish demand barking when your dog has had lots of reinforcement for it. Remember, any attention you give him reinforces demand barking. Eye contact, physical contact, verbal admonishment – all of these give him what he wants: attention!
The process for modifying the behavior of a longstanding demand barker is the same: remove all reinforcement. When first attempting modification, be prepared for an extinction burst; a period when the behavior gets worse rather than better. The behavior used to work, so the dog thinks if he just tries harder, surely it will work again. If you give in during an extinction burst, you reinforce the more intense barking behavior, and guess what happens next time? Right – your dog will offer the more intense behavior sooner, and it gets even harder to extinguish the barking.
3) Frustration/Arousal Barking - Often confused with anxiety barkers, dogs who have a low tolerance for frustration will bark hysterically when they can’t get what they want. Unlike the separation anxiety panic attack, this is simply a temper tantrum similar to demand barking, but with more emotion, and directed at the thing he wants, such as a cat strolling by, rather than at you. Your dog is basically screaming: I WANT IT!

You can use the positive interrupt to redirect a frenzy of frustration barking. If you consistently offer high value treats in the presence of frustration-causing stimuli, you can counter-condition your dog to look to you for treats when the cat strolls by (cat = yummy treats) rather than erupt into a barking fit.
The Fix: Frustration barking is a close relative of demand barking, but is more likely to occur when you are a distance from the dog. It may also occur when it is directed at something other than you. EIther way, management is the same: Ignore the behavior you don’t want (the barking) and reward the behavior you do want (quiet). A reward marker such as the click of a clicker, or a verbal “Yes!” is very useful to mark the quiet, since you are often at a distance from the dog when the barking and the moment of quiet happen.
4) Boredom Barking - This is the dog who’s left out in the backyard all day, and maybe all night. Dogs are social creatures, and the backyard dog is lonely and bored. Boredom barking is often continuous, with a monotonous quality: He is likely thinking: "I have nothing else to do, I may as well just bark.”

The Fix: There is an easy fix for outdoor boredom barking. Most of these dogs, if left inside, are happily quiet in their human’s den. The complicating factor is the length of time a dog can be safely left alone in the house. Crates and exercise pens are good management solutions for dogs who haven’t yet learned good house manners, and dogwalkers can be enlisted to provide midday potty breaks if owners work long hours. (Dogwalkers need not be professionals; you can often enlist the help of a friend, family member, or a neighbor.)
Boredom barking can also be reduced by enriching your dog’s life, by increasing his physical exercise and mind-engaging activities. A good, tongue-dragging, off-leash run or fetch and some interactive games and toys such as stuffed Kongs, Iqubes, and Egg Baby Turtles, daily, can minimize the tedium of a lonely dog’s day.
5) Stress Barking - Stress barkers are fearful, anxious, or even panicked about something that is real or that they anticipated in the environment. This may include the actual approach of a threat, or isolation distress/separation anxiety. Separation anxiety (SA) can be manifested in a number of behaviors, including nonstop hysterical barking and sometimes howling. Sepaation anxiety is such a broad topic that it will not be covered here.

6) Play Barking - This is a common behavior for herding dogs, who are the cheerleaders and “fun police” of the canine world. As other dogs (or humans) romp and play, these play-barkers run around the edges. They will likely be barking and sometimes nipping at heels. If you’re in a location where neighbors won’t complain and the other dogs tolerate the behavior, you might just leave this one alone. With children, however, the behavior’s not appropriate, and the dog should be managed by removing him from the play area, rather than risk bites to children.

If you do want to modify play-barking behavior, use negative punishment - where the dog’s behavior makes the good stuff go away. When the barking starts, use a time-out marker such as “Oops! Too bad!” and gently remove your dog from the playground for one to three minutes. A tab - a short 6 to 12 inch leash left attached to his collar - makes this maneuver easier. Then release him to play again. Over time, as he realizes that barking ends his fun, he may start to get the idea. Or he may not - this is a pretty hardwired behavior, especially with the herding breeds. You may just resort to finding appropriate times when you allow play-barking to happen.
The Fix: This is such a hardwired behavior that it’s difficult to modify. You do have several options:
Accept and allow the behavior. Determine a time and place where the barking is least objectionable, and let the dog do it.

Manage the behavior. Remove the barker from the playing field when others want to engage in rough-and-tumble or chase-me games.

Use “negative punishment,” a gentle, nonviolent form of punishment that can be effective if applied consistently. Negative punishment is the behavioral term for any situation in which the dog’s behavior makes a good thing go away. If your dog is playing (an activity he enjoys) and starts barking (the thing you don’t want), you remove his opportunity to play. Use a cheerful “Oops, time out!” and remove him from the game for a brief (perhaps one to five minutes) session in the penalty box (say, another room).

Teach a positive interrupt (see sidebar below). Use it when he barks to invite him to come to you and briefly stop the barking, then release him to go play again.

Encourage him to carry his favorite toy in his mouth during play. As we discovered with Lucy, a mouth full of highly valued toy makes it difficult to bark. If she does, at least the sound is muffled. Caution: This is not a good option to select if your barking dog also has guarding issues such as food aggression or toy aggression.

7) Greeting Barking - “Yay, Mom’s home! Mom’s home! Mom’s home!” If your dog hails you with hellos when you return after an absence, it’s time to shift into ignore mode. Stand outside your door and wait for the cacophony to subside, then enter calmly; no rousing hug-fests or “I love you! I missed you!” sessions. When your dog is quiet, then calmly greet him. If he starts to bark again, mark the barking with an “Oops!” and ignore him again.

You’ll need that calm response when his loud greetings are directed toward arriving guests, too. If you use loud verbal reprimands you add to the chaos and arousal; your dog may even think you’re barking along with him!

Dr. Greg Roadruck has a high interest in Canine behavior. He has written this article on behalf of Orrville Veterinary Clinic, for use on various materials and websites.

Edited for use on this website and the websites of Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic and Orrville Veterinary Clinic by Jeffrey R. Fink D.V.M.

Canine Communication: 7 Types of Barks

Thu, 05 Feb 2015 17:55:00 GMT

The Seven types of Dog Barks: Meaning and Management

There are seven basic types of barks that our dogs exhibit, with each having a different meaning and manner is which to manage or correct the behavior.

1) Alarm/ Alert Barking - An example is the dog who saves his family from a fire, tells us that Timmy’s in the well (Think Lassie), scares off the intruder, barks at the dogs on Animal Planet, and goes bonkers every time someone walks past on the sidewalk outside the picture window. Alarm barkers can save lives - but sometimes their judgment about what constitutes an alarm-appropriate situation can be misplaced. The best form of management is to reduce the dog’s exposure to the stimulus.

2) Demand Barking - Unfortunately, this is one of the most common barking behaviors. The good news is that it is often the easiest to correct early. Essentially this is your dog barking a request to get what they want, be it a treat, praise or something else. The longer a dog successfully demands stuff, the more persistent he’ll be if you try to ignore him. Simply ignoring him is the best answer to this behavior. This means tough love: no treats, no attention - not even eye contact. The instant the demand behavior starts, utter a cheerful “Oops!” and turn your back on your dog. When he’s quiet, say, “Quiet, yes!” and return your attention - and treat - to him. There are two complicating factors to be aware of:

3) Frustration/Arousal Barking - Often confused with anxiety barkers, dogs who have a low tolerance for frustration will bark hysterically when they can’t get what they want. Unlike the separation anxiety panic attack, this is simply a temper tantrum similar to demand barking, but with more emotion, and directed at the thing he wants, such as a cat strolling by, rather than at you. Your dog is basically screaming: I WANT IT!

4) Boredom Barking - This is the dog who’s left out in the backyard all day, and maybe all night. Dogs are social creatures, and the backyard dog is lonely and bored. Boredom barking is often continuous, with a monotonous quality: He is likely thinking: "I have nothing else to do, I may as well just bark.”

5) Stress Barking - Stress barkers are fearful, anxious, or even panicked about something that is real or that they anticipated in the environment. This may include the actual approach of a threat, or isolation distress/separation anxiety. Separation anxiety (SA) can be manifested in a number of behaviors, including nonstop hysterical barking and sometimes howling. Separation anxiety is such a broad topic that it will not be covered here.

6) Play Barking - This is a common behavior for herding dogs, who are the cheerleaders and “fun police” of the canine world. As other dogs (or humans) romp and play, these play-barkers run around the edges. They will likely be barking and sometimes nipping at heels. If you’re in a location where neighbors won’t complain and the other dogs tolerate the behavior, you might just leave this one alone. With children, however, the behavior’s not appropriate, and the dog should be managed by removing him from the play area, rather than risk bites to children.

7) Greeting Barking - “Yay, Mom’s home! Mom’s home! Mom’s home!” If your dog hails you with hellos when you return after an absence, it’s time to shift into ignore mode. Stand outside your door and wait for the cacophony to subside, then enter calmly; no rousing hug-fests or “I love you! I missed you!” sessions. When your dog is quiet, then calmly greet him. If he starts to bark again, mark the barking with an “Oops!” and ignore him again.

Dr. Greg Roadruck has a high interest in Canine behavior. He has written this article on behalf of Orrville Veterinary Clinic, for use on various materials and websites.

Edited for use on this website and the websites of Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic and Orrville Veterinary Clinic by Jeffrey R. Fink D.V.M.

I Chews You

Thu, 05 Feb 2015 17:23:00 GMT

“I Chews You!”

Doggie Daycare Valentine Party

February 13, 2015

Bring a Valentine Box for all of your Valentines and treats! There will be a prize for the best boxes. The day will be filled with special treats, lots of pictures, the Limbo of Love Game, and there will be a Kissing Booth (so watch your dog breath!) Bring Valentines and snacks to share with your friends. Come ready to play!!

The Seven Types of Dog Barks

Thu, 05 Feb 2015 17:12:00 GMT

What they mean and how to manage them

Did you know that there are basically seven types of barks that our dogs exhibit? Each bark has a different reason and remedy. Without further ado, here are the seven bark types and some information about each type:

1) Alert/Alarm Barking - This is the dog who saves his family from a fire, tells us that Timmy’s in the well (Think Lassie), scares off the rapist, barks at the dogs on Animal Planet, and goes bonkers every time someone walks past on the sidewalk outside the picture window. Alarm barkers can save lives - but sometimes their judgment about what constitutes an alarm-appropriate situation can be a little faulty.

2) Demand Barking - This is one of the most common and easiest to extinguish early. Essentially this is your dog barking a request to get what they want, be it a treat, praise or something else. The longer a dog successfully demands stuff, the more persistent he’ll be if you try to ignore him. Simply ignoring him is the best answer to this behavior. This means tough love: no treats, no attention - not even eye contact. The instant the demand behavior starts, utter a cheerful “Oops!” and turn your back on your dog. When he’s quiet, say, “Quiet, yes!” and return your attention - and treat - to him.

3) Frustration/Arousal Barking - Often confused with anxiety barkers, dogs who have a low tolerance for frustration will bark hysterically when they can’t get what they want. Unlike the separation anxiety panic attack, this is simply an “I WANT IT!” style temper tantrum similar to demand barking, but with more emotion, and directed at the thing he wants, such as a cat strolling by, rather than at you.

4) Boredom Barking - This is the dog who’s left out in the backyard all day, and maybe all night. Dogs are social creatures, and the backyard dog is lonely and bored. Boredom barking is often continuous, with a monotonous quality: “Ho hum, nothing else to do, I may as well just bark.”

5) Stress Barking - Stress barkers are fearful, anxious, or even panicked about something real or anticipated in the environment, such as the actual approach of a threat, or isolation distress/separation anxiety. Separation anxiety (SA) can be manifested in a number of behaviors, including nonstop hysterical barking and sometimes howling.

6) Play Barking - This is a common behavior for herding dogs - the cheerleaders and “fun police” of the canine world. As other dogs (or humans) romp and play, the play-barker runs around the edges, barking, sometimes nipping heels. If you’re in a location where neighbors won’t complain and the other dogs tolerate the behavior, you might just leave this one alone. With children, however, the behavior’s not appropriate, and the dog should be managed by removing him from the play area, rather than risk bites to children.

7) Greeting Barking - “Yay, Mom’s home! Mom’s home! Mom’s home!” If your dog hails you with hellos when you return after an absence, it’s time to shift into ignore mode. Stand outside your door and wait for the cacophony to subside, then enter calmly; no rousing hug-fests or “I love you! I missed you!” sessions. When your dog is quiet, then calmly greet him. If he starts to bark again, mark the barking with an “Oops!” and ignore him again.

In summary:

Alert/Alarm - Remove stimulus
Demanding - Ignore
Frustration/Arousal - Positive interrupt
Boredom - Stimulate
Stress - Remove/Condition (to) stress
Play - Negative punishment
Greeting - Ignore

This article written on behalf of Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc and all associated clinic by Dr. Greg Roadruck.

Edited by Dr. Jeff Fink for use on this website along with the websites for Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic and the Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic.

What is New with Daycare

Wed, 04 Feb 2015 16:39:00 GMT

January 30, 2015

To: OPSR Daycare Parents

From: Anne, Kristen, & Missi

Re: Doggie Daycare

As our expansion of the OPSR Daycare facility continues, we want to keep you informed on the progress of the new building and the adaptations our staff has made to make sure each of our daycare dogs receives the attention they deserve through this time of construction. We are excited for the possibilities with the new building, and the increased climate controlled open space we will have for daycare. It is due to open this spring.

The building and inclement weather have forced us to make several changes to our normal daycare routine. We have several areas available to use for indoor daycare. We rotate the groups of dogs through these locations during the day. We still have outside areas for group play when weather permits, and potty breaks throughout the day. Also, the staff diligently tracks all groups and individual play times to be sure everyone gets their full daycare hours. You can help us by scheduling your dog’s visit in advance so we can better plan their activities for the day. As always, we continue to follow the Dog Guru Guidelines for safe off-leash play.

Thanks for sharing this exciting project with us. We appreciate your patience and understanding for a few more weeks.

Periodontitis (Gum Disease)

Thu, 08 Jan 2015 21:10:00 GMT

One of the top ten diseases of both dogs and cats is periodontitis. Often referred to as Gingivitis, periodontal disease is actually a deeper issue. With periodontal disease, not only are the gums inflammed, but the underlying structures as well. These supporting structures include the gingiva, cementum, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. These structure become damage with worsening periodontal disease, which leads to pain and discomfort. Many animals with periodontitis requie multiple tooth extractions.

Periodontal disease is actually a result of poor oral hygeine. Without proper brushing, a pet's teeth will begin to build up bacteria and a small amount of "biofilm." This "biofilm" allows plaque to adhere to the tooth surface. Once this plaque starts, a viscious cycle is started. This cycle is as follows: bacterial overgrowth --> biofilm --> plaque -->tartar ---> further bacterial overgrowth --> more plaque --> more tartar, etc. Eventually this cycle leads to inflammation of the gingiva and the periodontal pocket. This

Companion Laser Therapy

Fri, 26 Dec 2014 17:15:00 GMT

Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic is excited to announce the purchase of a Companion Animal class IV laser therapy unit. We purchased this new treatment unit, which will be incorporated into many of the treatment plans that we currently utilize. As one of the newest therapy modalities in the veterinary profession, laser therapy gives us the chance to help pets in different ways than we were previously able. It uses infrared laser light to stimulate healing and blood flow to injured areas. The possibilities for use seem endless. This technology is non-invasive, so your pet can experience the treatment with no discomfort. Many veterinarians report that their patients actually relax a lot during the treatment. Though our sample size in small, we have seen our current patients respond very favorably, with great outcomes to this point in time.

Class IV (previously called cold laser therapy) Laser therapy works to decrease pain and inflammation. The infrared light affects the nerve endings and the surrounding tissue to decrease the sensation of pain. Our unit is the most powerful unit available on the market, which allows us to treat animals most effectively. Using a higher power (to an extent) helps reduce the treatment time by delivering a higher amount of energy in a shorter time period. This is accomplished, while remaining safe.

Using a specific wavelength of light, laser therapy stimulates increased blood flow to the region of the body that is being treated. This allows for a greater supply of oxygen, as well as the removal of various waste products (toxins, inflammatory mediators, etc).

Laser therapy also encourages the red blood cells to release more hemoglobin in the treatment area. This increased release of hemoglobin results in increased oxygen to the tissue. Since oxygen is the "nutrition" for cells, these cells are healthier and repair themselves at a faster pace.

Laser therapy also works at the level of the cell. The oxygen from the hemoglobin is picked up by the cells at an increased rate. In addition, the mitochondria (the portion of the cell that turns oxygen into energy) speed up their rate of function. This causes faster and more efficient creation of energy (ATP) for the cell. This is done by speeding up the Krebs' cycle, which is a very intricate system that the body uses to create energy in the form of ATP. More energy means improved healing.

Laser therapy causes dilation (making the tubes bigger) of the lymphatic system. It is easiest to think of the lymphatic system as the sewer system of the body. Lymphatics help to drain fluid and other materials from body tissue. The increased size of the lymphatics makes this removal process faster and more efficient.

Laser therapy results in better collagen formation and faster healing. This limits the amount of scar tissue that forms.

Treatable Conditions:

At this time, we have purchased and used the laser at our Orrville location only. We hope to purchase a unit for each of our three locations to better serve our clients. Unfortunately the cost of the unit is prohibitive at this time, so we have elected to purchase one unit and evaluate the results as time goes by. If you would like to have your pet treated, or want to know if your pet is a candidate, give us a call and we would love to discuss this option with you.

We can be reached via phone at (330)336-5823

Article written and published by Jeffrey R. Fink D.V.M.

Bring Your Cat to the Vet Day (Week)

Mon, 08 Dec 2014 15:00:00 GMT

We want to get the word out that there is a national day focused on your cat: Bring your cat to the vet day. This is a nationwide campaign that is focused on providing cats with much needed care. The trends within the veterinary industry show that cats are often not taken to the vet due to their tendency to lay low and seem to lead the life of ease. Many cats don't go to the vet for their annual exams, as owners don't see the need to vaccinate. That is a topic of discussion all unto itself, but we feel that is it vital to have you cat's annual preventive care exam. Early detection of disease is vital in cats, as they are good at hiding the clinical signs.

As a result of national bring your cat tot he vet day, we are celebrating an entire week: August 18th - August 22nd.

We will be celebrating National bring your cat to the vet day for the entire week. Schedule your cats appointment for that week and you will have your choice of a complimentary nail trim or a toy. You will also be entered into a drawing for one of our grand prizes. Call us today to schedule an appointment (330) 336-5823

Skin Infections in Pets

Tue, 02 Dec 2014 17:07:00 GMT

Pyoderma

Pyoderma, also known as "hot spots", are localized skin infections that are caused by a normal flora (bacterial) overgrowth. Humans and pets have a normal population of bacteria living on their skin that does not cause a problem until there’s an overgrowth. Staph is the most common bacteria that causes these skin infections. Trauma to the skin caused by scratching from allergies, clippers not properly disinfected, swimming, abnormal behavior, and a matted hair coat can all cause hot spots. The most common symptoms are: itchiness (pruritus), redness, scabs, and a foul odor. Surface pyodermas may show as areas of redness and irritation; often developing into raised, round scabs. Deep pyoderma can make pets systemically ill and produce abscesses and oozing; so if you see the wound growing rather than improving after a couple of days, it’s time to seek veterinary care.

It is always important to find the underlying cause of the infection whether it is allergies, recent grooming, an ear infection , or fleas. Taking care of the reason why the pet is scratching or developing hot spots is as important as treating them. The veterinarian will often clip and clean the area, which allows air to dry the skin infection and promote healing. Leaving the hair over the infection will trap moisture and allow the bacteria to have a good environment to multiply.

There are many ways to treat pyoderma, so taking your pet to the veterinarian for an exam is important. The treatment methods can include topical antibiotic or steroids, systemic antibiotics or steroids, or anti-inflammatories. A flea medication may be warranted if that is the root cause. In addition, or antihistamines may be used if the predisposing cause is allergies. It is important to tell the veterinarian if the pet is on any medications and if you have noticed and changes in behavior, activity, pain, or irritability with the hot spots. Keeping your pet from licking, scratching or rubbing the hot spot is vital, so purchasing an Elizabethan collar may be necessary to prevent further trauma.

This article is written for the Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic by Amanda Bell, RVT

Published and edited by Jeffrey R. Fink D.V.M.

Dog & Cat Ear Infections (Otitis Externa): What Ohio Pet Parents Should Know

Tue, 02 Dec 2014 15:28:00 GMT

Ear infections are among the most common reasons dogs and cats visit the vet. At Veterinary Wellness Partners (VWP), we diagnose and treat otitis externa—outer ear canal infections—every day across our Ohio locations in Orrville (44667), Barberton (44203), Canal Fulton/Jackson (44614), Seville/Wadsworth (44273/44281), and Medina (44256).

Good news : Most ear infections are very treatable when addressed early. The sooner we examine your pet, the sooner we can relieve the itch, odor, and pain.

What is otitis externa?

“Otitis externa” refers to inflammation and infection of the outer ear canal , which includes the vertical and horizontal canals leading to the eardrum. While middle and inner ear infections can occur, the vast majority of ear problems we see involve the outer ear.

Common signs of an ear infection

Frequent head shaking or ear scratching
Redness, swelling, or warmth of the ear canal
Odor or brown/yellow discharge
Rubbing the ear on the floor or furniture
Pain when the ear is touched
Holding the head tilted or one ear lower than the other

Call us right away if you notice a head tilt, balance problems, unusual eye movements, or if the ear flap suddenly swells (possible aural hematoma ). These may indicate a more serious infection or complication.

Why ear infections happen

Ear infections in pets typically develop because something triggers inflammation in the ear canal, creating a warm, moist environment where yeast and/or bacteria thrive. Common triggers and risk factors include:

Allergies (environmental or food)—a leading cause of recurrent ear infections
Moisture from bathing or swimming (“swimmer’s ear”)
Anatomy (hairy or floppy ears, narrow canals)
Foreign material (grass awns, debris) or excess wax
Underlying conditions (hormone or skin disorders)
Ear mites —more common in kittens and puppies ; uncommon in healthy adult dogs and cats

How we diagnose ear infections

At your pet’s visit, our medical team will:

Perform an ear exam (otoscopy) to assess the ear canal and eardrum.
Collect a small sample of ear debris for cytology , a quick test that identifies yeast, cocci, and rods
When indicated, especially with chronic or severe cases, we may culture the infection or recommend additional testing to address underlying allergies or skin disease.

Happy Birthday Sparks and Mojo

Fri, 28 Nov 2014 14:27:00 GMT

Happy Birthday Sparks and Mojo!

New Addition to Better Serve Our Patients

Tue, 25 Nov 2014 20:50:00 GMT

Class IV Laser Therapy

11.25.2014

The Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic is excited to announce that we recently completed the purchase of a laser therapy unit. We unit that we selected is one of the top of the line therapy lasers available within the veterinary community. We are thrilled to be adding this new tool into our capabilities to better serve our patients and their families.

Here is a little about the Class IV Laser:

Laser therapy is a device that generate infrared light and delivers it to the tissues. Once the light penetrates the tissue, it has a wide range of effects to stimulate healing. Perhaps the best part is that the laser is non-invasive. This means that your pet will experience no pain during the process. In fact, many vets report that their patients come to enjoy their therapy sessions in cases where the laser is used over multiple sessions.

Conditions Treated:

How does it work?

We eagerly await the arrival of our laser unit and look forward to seeing the impact that it will have in improving the lives of our patients.

Companion Therapy Laser

Tue, 25 Nov 2014 20:31:00 GMT

Companion Laser Therapy

November 2014

The Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc. is excited to announce the purchase of a class IV laser therapy unit. We recently agreed to purchase this unit, which will be incorporated into many of the treatment plans that we currently utilize. Laser therapy is one of the newest therapy modalities in the veterinary profession. It uses infrared laser light to stimulate healing and blood flow to injured areas. The possibilities for use as endless. The best part is that this technology is non-invasive, so your pet can experience the treatment with no discomfort. Many veterinarians report that their patients actually relax a lot during the treatment.

So, how does this technology work?

So, what conditions can be treated using laser therapy?

As of the publishing of this article, we do not have the laser therapy unit in house. It is on order and we are eagerly anticipating the arrival. We will then begin using it, rotating the unit between our three locations in Orrville, Seville and Barberton.

Holiday Hazards for your cat and dog

Thu, 20 Nov 2014 18:39:00 GMT

How to Keep Your Pet Healthy During the Holidays

The holidays are a very busy time of year with gathering and parties very commonplace. Orrville Veterinary Clinic is proud to align with the American Humane Association to remind pet owners about holiday hazards for your pet, mainly focusing this article around things pet may eat during this festive time of year. For a similar resource that discusses more holiday hazards, click HERE.

*Adapted from DVM Magazine staff article "Advice for clients: what not to feed animals this holiday season" for Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc. by Robin Evans.

Edited by Dr. Jeff Fink.

Annual Christmas Donation Drive

Tue, 18 Nov 2014 19:25:00 GMT

2104 Annual Christmas Donation Drive

Benefiting Shelter Animals

Items of need include:

**Laundry Detergent
**Dry and Canned Kitten and Puppy Food (Friskies, Fancy Feast, Science Diet)
**Dry and Canned Adult Cat and Dog Food (Pro Plan, Pedigree, Science Diet)
**Puppy and Kitten Formula and Bottles
**Cat Litter unscented or Pelleted
**Leashes
**Bleach and Hand Sanitizer
** Paper Towels
**Small Paper Boats Available at GFS
**Monetary

Dog and Cat Treats

Clean Blankets and Towels

Pet Carriers

Litter Boxes

Cat and Dog Toys

Dog and Cat Food/Water Bowls

Dish Detergent

Disposable Non-sterile Latex Gloves

Mops, Brooms and Dustpan

Large Garbage Bags

Items that are labeled as ** indicate a higher priority as far as level of need

Questions can be directed to one of our friendly staff at (330)753-4114

Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic

1111 Wooster Rd. N.

Barberton, Ohio 44203

Our other locations are also serving as drop off points. These are www.orrvillevetclinic.com , www.sevillevetclinic.com and www.orrvillepetspa.com

Anniversary Special

Mon, 17 Nov 2014 22:14:00 GMT

Anniversary Special

Buy 10 days of Doggie Daycare at the discounted rate of $18.00 dollars and get 1 day free!

Offer good from November 17 ^th – 21 ^st

Revised Bordetella (Kennel Cough) Protocol

Mon, 17 Nov 2014 17:23:00 GMT

Bordetella Guidelines

Revised November 17th, 2014

Bordetella Bronciseptica is a contagious disease of dogs. It is spread by aerosolized particles, which can spread from dog to dog when they come into close contact with one another. It is a common concern of boarding and grooming facilities, as well as dog parks and other areas where a lot of dogs tend to visit and play. Because it is common in boarding facilities, it often goes by the common name: Kennel Cough.

There is often some confusion as to the need to vaccinate. There is often confusion and discussion about when and how to best protect your dog. Here at the Orrville Veterinary Clinic (OVC), we partner closely with the Orrville Pet Spa and Resort. Through this partnership, we stay on top of the best methods of protection, as well as keeping up with concerns of various boarding facilities. For those unfamiliar with Orrville Pet Spa and Resort, we are a premium boarding and grooming facility. We are getting ready to break ground on an expansion project to further enhance our day care portion of our business.

The doctors at OVC are always monitoring the best methods of protection, as well as the efficacy of the numerous vaccinations that are available to protect dogs. At this time, we are using the following protocol:

Our current vaccination schedule will alternate an intranasal vaccination (which also includes parainfluenza) with an Oral vaccination. We feel that this provides the best immunity for your dog at this time.

Please give us a call if you have any questions of concerns about Bordetella and your dog.

Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc.

1665 N. Main Street

Orrville, Ohio 44667

Dr. Jeffrey R. Fink is the author and publisher of this article on behalf of Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc.

HOWL-O-Ween Daycare Celebration

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 19:53:00 GMT

HOWL-O-WEEN

DAYCARE

CELEBRATION

Bring your pet dressed in a costume & have them bring Halloween treats to share with the other Ghouls & Goblins for puppy Trick or Treat time. The day will be filled with pictures, Bobbing for Bratwursts, costume contests and prizes!

Thursday, October 30th 2014 During Doggie Daycare at the Orrville Pet Spa & Resort

Treating for Fleas

Thu, 23 Oct 2014 20:33:00 GMT

In our region of Ohio, fleas are a recurrent theme and pest. We see a lot of flea infestations, most specifically with increasing frequency in the late summer and fall months.

Treating Your Pet

The first thing in treating a flea infestation is to treat your pet with w product that is recommended by one of our veterinarians. We recommend treating your pet at least twice, with 4 weeks in between each treatment. It is our advice to use flea prevention on animals that go outside from April through the end of Novemember. We sometimes say "Tax day to Turkey day," which seems easy to remember. We will qualify that statement by stating that you will need to watch the weather. In order to shut down flea season, we need two heavy/ killing frosts no more than two weeks apart. We also tell people to keep in mind that it takes a deeper freeze to kill fleas inside of many outbuildings, including barns.

This Flea Product DOES NOT WORK!

Thu, 23 Oct 2014 20:29:00 GMT

"This Flea Product DOES NOT WORK"

This is a common complaint that we get from clients. So.......this must mean that what we recommend is not working, right? To quote Lee Corso of ESPN fame: "Not so fast, my friend!"

There are many products that are available for flea control and prevention of cats and dogs. Many of these are great products and highly effective, while some of them are not so great. In fact, some of the older "great" products have lost their efficacy. This includes the "Brand most recommended by veterinarians," which will go unnamed at this time for various reasons. At the end of this article, you will see a list of products. Most of these are currently recommended by our veterinarians and more information can be found by clinking on the resepctive product links.

So onto the heart of the matter: why is this product not working?

Well I am seeing live fleas?:

How do I make sure my pet is protected to the best level?

What Else do I need to do if my pet has Fleas?

9 Cat Facts (AKA the 9 lies of cats)

Thu, 23 Oct 2014 17:52:00 GMT

The Nine Lies of Cats

You have heard that cats have 9 lives, but did you know that Zoetis Inc. has developed a list of the nine LIES of cats. This is a booklet that we have in the lobby, but we modified it into web content for the purpose of getting as much information to our clients as possible. Many may not know the name: Zoetis, but it is the animal division of Pfizer. Without further comment, here are Zoetis's "Tope nine lies of Cats:"

So what is the point? I am glad that you asked. This content is basically derived from an advertisement promoting Revolution, which is a topical parasite medication. You can read more about Revolution by clicking Here . In a nutshell, Revolution protects your cat from fleas, heartworm disease, ear mites, roundworms and hookworms.

Now that you have seen the 9 lies, what are the truths that go with these lies?

This article is published and written by Dr. Fink. It is adapted from the promotional handout from Zoetis, Inc. entitled The 9 Lies of Cats.

Product Spotlight: Revolution

Thu, 23 Oct 2014 07:01:00 GMT

Revolution (Selamectin)

A common topical medication that is available for both dogs and cats is Revolution. Selamectin is the active ingredient in Revolution, which is produced by Zoetis, Inc.; formerly Pfizer Animal Health. They known for many novel and cutting edge pet medications. In this case, Revolution is a medication that has been available for use in cats and dogs for the past 15 years or so. With that track record, it is one of the more well known topical; yet it remains effective. Many years ago, a generation of parasite medications were released on the market and many of those are no longer effective, but Revolution has remained effective to date. So on to the nitty gritty: what does Revolution do for my pet?

Revolution is a monthly topical product, providing protection against many of the parasites that we see here in the Orrville, Dalton, Wooster corridor of route 30. These parasites include both "bugs" (external parasites) and "worms" (Internal parasites). Revolution should be applied directly on the skin, in the area between the shoulder blades of doggies. In kitties, we recommend applying the product a little higher up on the body (half way in between the top of the head and the shoulder blade area). This is so that cats can not groom any product off within the first few hours following application. An animal should not have had a bath for at least 2 days before having the topical applied. We also recommend using a soap free shampoo for all bathing when any topical medication has been applied.

Canines

Since dogs and cats are different, we have separated these two section by their associated critter classification. Dogs and cats have a different range of protection, even though there is little difference between the feline revolution and the canine revolution. The main difference is the concentration and volume of product. It is dosed by weight because larger animals have a larger surface area to cover. The bugs and worms that are covered is where the main difference lies. In dogs, Revolution is approved for the prevention of fleas, flea eggs and ear mites. It also protects against heartworm disease. Revolution is a good option in dogs, but it is not an "all-in-one." There are no true "all-in-one" medications, we feel that there are some better options for our canine friends.

Felines

Revolution is our top product for monthly parasite control in cats. Like dogs, Revolution protects against these parasites: Heartworms, fleas, flea eggs and ear mites. In addition, Revolution covers roundworms and hookworms, two of the most common internal parasites in cats. The reason for the increased protection is that cats are finicky groomers. They are meticulous in keeping their hair coats clean, so much so that a poor haircoat in an cat is sign of many potential diseases. Since cats groom so effectively, they ingest some of the product into their intestinal tract, resulting in the untimely demise of the internal pests.

Produced for Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc. by Jeffrey R. Fink D.V.M.

For use by Orrville Veterinary Clinic and our partner clinics: Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic and Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic.

National Veterinary Technician Week

Tue, 14 Oct 2014 18:57:00 GMT

National Veterinary Technician Week

October 13th-20th

This week has been designated as National Veterinary Technician Week. We are proud to recognize each of our Registered Veterinary Technicians, along with our veterinary assistants. We feel strongly that our staff is what sets us apart from many other veterinary clinics in the Seville, Wadsworth and Rittman areas. We thank our staff and technicians for the excellence that they exemplify each and every day, treating each pet as though he/ she were their own. Please stop in to say hi and thank our RVT's throughout the week!

You can check out our veterinary technicians by clicking on the staff page under the "About" tab above.

Fruits & Veggies that are safe to Share

Wed, 08 Oct 2014 14:29:00 GMT

Check out Robin K Bennett's blog post on Pet Safe Fruits & Veggies !

Cat Grooming

Wed, 08 Oct 2014 01:25:00 GMT

You probably recognize Levi from his grooming picture almost 10 year ago. Here is Dr. Marissa Hofstetter's Cat getting groomed today. Clearly he still "loves" it! WE LOVE YOU LEVI!

Coughing Dogs

Mon, 25 Aug 2014 14:18:00 GMT

Coughing Canines

August 2014

In Wayne County and and the surrounding counties, there has been a recent outbreak of a cough going around among dogs of our area. The affected dogs break with a cough and upper respiratory signs shortly after coming into contact with other contagious dogs. Fortunately the clinical course appears to be short, with no dogs displaying severely concerning signs. It has been limited to a mild to moderate cough for the most part. Dogs have developed this cough from many local boarding and grooming facilities, as well as local dog parks and other areas where dogs often come into contact with one another.

Orrville Veterinary Clinic has taken a lead role in attempting to discover the reason for this most recent outbreak. Dr. Judy Jackwood has been at the forefront of this investigation. We have submitted some respiratory panels in an attempt to determine the causative agent of the contagious cough. Unfortunately, a cause has not been determined at this time. The possibilities included a strain of kennel cough, parainfluenza virus and canine influenza. Most of the dogs that we encountered with the cough had been vaccinated for kennel cough. Most are also protected against canine influenza. Parainfluenza is typically considered to be a secondary invader, rarely causing clinical signs on its own.

Orrville Veterinary Clinic has partnered with our vaccine manufacturer to not only discover the cause, but to develop a solution or action plan. Boehringer Ingelheim supplies the majority of our canine vaccine, so they have assisted in the investigation. Though parainfluenza is rarely a clinical disease, Boehringer Ingelheim has stepped up to the plate to provide us with a combination vaccine that protects against both kennel cough and parainfluenza. At this point, it does appear that the mild scare is behind us, but we want to protect our patients to the best of our ability. We will begin vaccinating many of our regular day care dogs at the Orrville Pet Spa and Resort with this combination vaccination very shortly.

We pride ourselves on going above an beyond for both our patients and their owners. This is just another example of us delivering on our promise: "For the excellence you've come to expect, we've grown to provide."

Please contact our office at (330)682-2971 if you have any further questions or concerns.

Article and information written by Dr. Jeffrey R. Fink

Cat Winners

Mon, 25 Aug 2014 14:05:00 GMT

2014 Bring Your Cat to the Vet Week

Here are the winners from last week's Take Your Cat To the Vet Day celebration!

Cat's Meow Toy - T-Bone
Cat Treat Maze - Albert
Light-up Speed Circuit Toy - Sasha
Massage station and Laxatone gel - Angel
Water Fountain and Laxatone gel - Tommy
Hammock with Scratching Post - Wyatt
GRAND PRIZE 6 months of Revolution and a $25 credit to account - Beijo

Congratulations to all of our winners!

Bravecto: Oral Flea and Tick Control

Fri, 11 Jul 2014 16:45:00 GMT

Bravecto: Oral Flea and Tick Control

Introducing Bravecto!

We are excited to announce the arrival of a new product for prevention and control of fleas and ticks: Bravecto ! Developed by the Merck Co. this novel unique for flea and tick control was released for dogs at the end of June 2014. This is a product that is unlike any other and provides long-lasting protection against both fleas and (most) ticks for 12 weeks!

Bravecto is a pork-flavored, chewable tablet and is readily eaten by most dogs. It is similar in taste to previous chewable heartworm pills that are availalble on the market. Providing 3 months of protection for fleas, as well as 3 months of protection for most tick species that we encounter in our area; Bravecto is the only pill that can claim such results. The American Brown Dog Tick and the Black legged Tick (Ixodes/ Deer tick) are both controlled under this 12 week duration. The Lone Star Tick, which is present in low numbers in Ohio, is only controlled at effective levels for 8 weeks. That being said, 8 weeks is a long duration of protection for ticks. At this time, the Lone Star tick is not a major species in Ohio.

There has yet to be a flea and tick product that eliminates the biting of the flea or tick. All products that are currently on the market do not offer a rapid enough kill to prevent these parasites from biting. The good news is that a tick need to be attached for 24 hours or longer in order to transmit disease. Bravecto kills fleas within 2 hours and ticks within 4 hours. As you can see, this is fast enough to prevent disease transmission.

Bravecto fills a much needed niche within the flea and tick control market of products. There has never been an oral tick control product, nor has there been a product that lasts for 3 months for flea control. That has changed with the release of Bravecto! There are a certain population of dogs that react negatively to topical medications. Bravecto helps to alleviate this concern.

As with everything, there are side effects that have been reported. These include vomiting and diarrhea. One advantage to Bravecto is the product support that is offered by Merck. If you give your dog this treat and he vomits within 3 hours, Merck will replace the tablet free of charge. If the vomiting occurs after three hours, the product has already been absorbed and is guaranteed to be effective.

Written for Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic, by Jeffrey R. Fink D.V.M.

Bravecto: Product Spotlight

Fri, 11 Jul 2014 16:33:00 GMT

Bravecto: Oral Flea and Tick Control

In 2014, the Merck Co. released this novel product for flea and tick control in dogs and cats. This is a product that is unlike any other and provides long-lasting protection against these annoying parasites.

Bravecto for dogs is a pork-flavored, chewable tablet. Providing 3 months of protection for fleas, as well as 3 months of protection for most tick species that we encounter in our area; Bravecto is the only pill that can claim such results. The American Brown Dog Tick and the Black legged Tick (Ixodes/ Deer tick) are both controlled under this 12 week duration. The Lone Star Tick, which is present in low numbers in Ohio, is only controlled at effective levels for 8 weeks. That being said, 8 weeks is a long duration of protection for ticks. At this time, the Lone Star tick is not a major species in Ohio.

Bravecto for Cats is a topical product, similar to Frontline Plus or Revolution . It is applied to the skin and will also last for 12 weeks, just like the product for dogs.

There has yet to be a flea and tick product that eliminates the biting of the flea or tick. All products that are currently on the market do not offer a rapid enough kill to prevent these parasites from biting. The good news is that a tick needs to be attached for 24 hours or longer in order to transmit disease. Bravecto kills fleas within 2 hours and ticks within 4 hours. As you can see, this is fast enough to prevent disease transmission.

This product truly fills a much needed niche within the flea and tick control market of products. There has never been an oral tick control product, nor has there been a product that lasts for 3 months for flea control. That has changed with the release of Bravecto!

Written by Dr. Jeffrey R. Fink

Product Spotlight: Bravecto

Fri, 11 Jul 2014 16:17:00 GMT

Bravecto

The Merck Corporation recently released a novel product for flea and tick control in dogs. This is a unique product that provides extended protection against these pesky critters.

Bravecto is a pork flavored, chewable tablet that is labeled for control of fleas and ticks. It provides 3 months of protection for fleas, as well as 3 months of protection for most tick species that we encounter in our area. The American Brown Dog Tick and the Black legged Tick ( aka Ixodes/ Deer tick) are both controlled under this 12 week duration. The Lone Star Tick, which is present in low numbers in Ohio, is only controlled at effective levels for 8 weeks. Though this tick is important, it is not the most common tick in our region.

There has yet to be a flea and tick product that eliminates the biting of the flea or tick. All products do not offer a rapid enough kill to prevent these parasites from biting. The good news is that a tick needs to be attached for an extended period of time to transmit disease. This is often 24 hours or longer. Bravecto kills fleas within 2 hours and ticks within 4 hours.

We feel that this product fills a much needed niche within the flea and tick control market of products, as there has never been an oral tick control product, nor has there been a product that lasts for 3 months for flea control

Article written and published by Dr. Jeffrey R. Fink

Fear of Fireworks in Dogs

Thu, 03 Jul 2014 13:58:00 GMT

Canine Firework Phobia

With the Fourth of July holiday upon us, we thought it would be a good time to discuss the fear of fireworks when it comes to our dogs. The fear of the loud noises and flashes in the sky is a common one among dogs. If you think of it from your dog's perspective, the loud noises and bright lights are random, unpredictable and scary. Hopefully this article will provide a few good tips to helping your dog cope with this fear.

We realize that each dog is unique, and each situation presents its own challenges. This article offers several methods to try to help your dog relax. No single one of these options is 100% effective. Oftentimes, it is necessary to combine several of these methods and techniques to help alleviate anxiety in your pets.

Though it may be to late for this year, desensitizing your dog to the sound of fireworks is one of the more practical methods. This can be done by setting off smaller home fireworks, such as bottle rockets, for a time period leading up to the larger 4th of July celebrations. Other things that work well are the cap guns that are commonly loved by young American boys and the small "poppers" that are available for purchase this time of year. Another good idea is to find a video or recording of fireworks. This video can be played at a low level several times. After a few times, the volume can be turned up. As you play the video, offer your dog positive reinforcement, including treats an praise. Throughout this process, you need to monitor your dog's response. If he or she becomes afraid and anxious, you may need to turn the sound back to a more comfortable level.

On the night of the firework display, there are ways to help your dog cope. One of the most important things if for you to remain calm, cool and collected. Your dog looks to you as the leader and thinks that you are the smartest person in the world. If he or she sees that you are anxious and worked up, he/ she will get worked up as well. (This also applies to many other anxiety behaviors that dogs exhibit). Many times, it is your body language that feeds your dog's anxiety. The tendency is to "baby" your dog by petting and codling them prior to, and during, the fireworks. Do not tense up or jump during the fireworks, as this will continue to fuel your dog's fears.

It is a great idea to try to drown out the sound or muffle it by providing some background noise. This can be a fan, a radio, a T.V. or other source of "white noise." Perhaps it goes without saying, but keep the windows closed as to seal off some of the sound with a physical barrier.

If your dog wants to hide, allow him to hide. Do not try to force him out of his comfort zone. Sometimes a crate acts like a comfort zone, or "cave," for a dog. Placing towels over the cage may provide an additional sound barrier to muffle the loud noises.

Another way to deal with the phobia is to provide a distraction. One such distraction is the Kong Toy. Many dog owners will use the Kong toy in the following way:

1) Stuff peanut butter inside the Kong, preferably in the smaller end of the Kong.

2) Freeze the peanut butter and the Kong toy for 6-8 hours prior to wanting to use it

3) About 10 minutes prior to the beginning of the fireworks, give the Kong toy to your dog. Typically, this will provide a distraction for 30 minutes to one hour.

You may find that simply playing with your dog provides enough distraction. If your dog like "Tug of War," play Tug of War. If she like to play fetch in the house, get the ball out and play with her.

The "Thundershirt" provides yet another option. While it is not the answer for every dog, it works well on some. The concept is that the tighter, compression clothing offers comfort and support to your dog. Of course, this should be used off and on prior the the need to calm your pet. If he/ she is always placed into the shirt at the time of anxiety, they begin to associate the Thundershirt with the anxiety, rather than allowing it to have a calming effect.

If none of these tactics work, there are some anxiety medications and sedative that are available by prescription from your veterinarian. Obtaining the prescriptions will often require a physical examination to ensure the overall health of your pet. At this time, your vet can talk to you about the several options. The sedatives are a short term solution, while some of the anxiety medications can help to facilitate the desensitization to the adverse stimulation that the loud, noisy fireworks provide.

Written and published by Dr. Jeff Fink

Lyme Disease In Horses

Tue, 01 Jul 2014 18:15:00 GMT

Lyme disease in Horses

You may be hearing about Lyme disease becoming more common in Ohio this season. There has been a significant increase in the population of deer ticks in Ohio since 2009. The spread of the Black Legged tick has followed a general trend from Southeast to Northwest, with most of our area affected. This are includes Wayne County, Stark County, Summit County, Holmes County and the surrounding areas.This expansion has brought with it the risk of Lyme disease to not only your canine family members but to your equine family as well.

We would like to bring to your attention and hopefully educate you about the basics of Lyme disease as it pertains to your horse. So what is Lyme disease? It is a tick-borne illness named after the town in Connecticut, Old Lyme, where it was first discovered. It is caused by a bacteria, Borellia Burgdorfei. Lyme disease is most common in the Eastern United States, with alarming increase for many states. Unfortunately, Ohio is one of the states that has seen a tremendous increase in the incidence of Lyme disease

.
Signs of Lyme disease in horses may be vague and intermittent in the early stages of infection. Often, Lyme disease symptoms can be mistaken for joint or muscle pain or even symptoms of equine protozoal myelitis (EPM). This is why prevention is key. Some of the signs associated with an infected horse are:

Lyme disease is diagnosed with a blood test to identify antibody levels in horses suspected with the disease. Unfortunately, testing for antibodies can be fairly inaccurate since it is possible for a horse to test positive (having been exposed and developing antibodies) but not yet developed the active disease. There is a newer Lyme multiplex PCR test that is sensitive to the DNA of the disease causing organisms. This test is much more accurate and Lyme disease can be detected as early as 2-4 weeks following infection.

The treatment for Lyme disease in a horse involves oral doxycycline or intravenous tetracycline. The longer that treatment is delayed, the less likely the infection can be cleared. Treatment may be required for months to resolve the infection.

How can we prevent Lyme disease in our horses? There is currently no Lyme vaccine labeled for horses. Although the canine Lyme vaccine has been used it horses, it is not approved for equine immunization and is considered off-label. Using insect repellent is your best defense against ticks on your horses. Use products containing permethrin and cypermethrin which will serve as a repellent and also prevent them from attaching to your horse for several hours.

Another important part of tick prevention is maintaining areas of tall grass and over-growth in pastures and around barns. These areas are favorable habitats for ticks and by clearing these areas you are reducing the risk of ticks on your property. It is advised to check your horse daily during tick season. Be sure to check areas of sensitive skin. Areas such as groin, girth, along the legs and under mane and tail area all places ticks are likely to be found.

If you do find an attached tick, removing it as soon as possible will help lessen the chance of disease transmission. Always take precaution when removing and handling a tick. You should wear gloves to avoid getting blood from the tick on your skin. Grasp the tick at the base of the head, as close to the horse’s skin as possible. Slowly pull the tick out without squeezing the main body. Removing the tick too quickly can leave parts of the tick embedded in the horse’s skin.

This Article was composed by Samantha Wenger, R.V.T.

Edited and published by Dr Fink on behalf of Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc.

Cat Friendly Practice

Tue, 17 Jun 2014 18:26:00 GMT

Cat Friendly Practice

Orrville Veterinary Clinic is proud to raise the standard once again by achieving certification as a Cat Friendly Practice by the American Association of Feline Practitioners. We are one of the only practices in the area to be certified as "Cat Friendly." This program was launched in an attempt to help alleviate stress in cats during their visit to the vet. We hope to better serve you and your kitties by incorporating better practices for our feline friends.

Canine Behavior, How I got started.

Mon, 16 Jun 2014 15:48:00 GMT

How I became Intersted in Canine Behavior Training

A Story by Dr. Greg Roadruck

When I first started at Orrville Veterinary Clinic, there were five Veterinarians. At that time, only one veterinarian split their time evenly between small and large animal. The other four veterinarians primarily spent their time with large animals out on the farms of Wayne and Holmes counties. We would do around 15-20 calls per day, often treating one animal per call. This made for a lot of driving. At the veterinary clinic, there was no technician to help hold animals, so we would ask an owner to restrain their dog. Too many would say, "No he'll bite me." That's when I decided that somebody is probably going to get hurt. I decided it was better for me to stay out in the country.

Along comes Dr. Gabe Middleton who loved large animal work, especially dairy and equine medicine. I was afraid he'd leave if not given more large animal work, so I volunteered to move to more small animal medicine. Due to my past experiences, I had visions of hooks in the walls to tie aggressive dogs for restraint. Luckily, some Caesar Milan DVDS were lent to me and my thought processes changed. Some of my associates may admit they thought this behavior training was, "kooky talk."

Canine behavior has become my passion, so I can talk 24/7 about it. A lot of this you may already do by instinct, so hopefully I will just reinforce what you already do. Be aware I am certainly not an expert and am learning very single day. Below are 5 quick tips that I find helpful as I continue to focus more and more on canine behavior:

To learn more, Dr. Roadruck can be contacted at o2becalm@gmail.com . He is very interested in helping people and their dogs in Norton, Baberton, Akron, Wadsworth and surrounding areas Summit and Green counties.

He can schedule appointements at our other two locations as well: Seville Wadsworth Veterianry Clinic and The Orrville Veterinary Clinic.

Article was written by Dr. Greg Roadruck for use in the Orrville Veterinary Clinic's internal newsletter.

The content was modified from the original article for our websites by Dr. Jeff Fink.

Blue Tip Parade

Mon, 16 Jun 2014 15:15:00 GMT

Blue Tip Parade

2014

On Tuesday, June 17th; the Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic will once again be a participant in the Blue Tip Festival Parade. This is held each year in Wadsworth, Ohio as the kickoff to their annual Blue Tip Festival. The parade and festival are held annually in Wadsworth and both feature local business and organizations. We are proud to once again be a participant. This will mark our 6th consecutive year of participation. We were teh first veterinary clinic to participate in the parade. You will note a few others now that we have once again set the trend for the area!

Be on the lookout for our vet trucks, one is white and the other is red. We will also have many familiar faces, as our staff is usually well represented. You will likely see several of our family members, both two legged and four legged children alike. We hope to see you there!

The Blue Tip Parade steps off at 6:00 P.M.

Tramadol becomes a controlled substance in Ohio

Mon, 16 Jun 2014 15:00:00 GMT

Tramadol

Now a controlled Substance in Ohio

One of the more commonly prescribed medications for pain management, Tramadol, is now considered a controlled substance in Ohio. This means that the supply of Tramadol is now being closely monitored due to the potential for abuse. This means that we will need to be even more strict with prescribing guidelines for this commonly used pain medication.

Fortunately, you will not notice much of a change. Our inventory and controlled substances department anticipated change about two years ago. As a result, we have been treating Tramadol as a controlled substance since that point.

This is just another example of how we remain vigilant and on the cutting edge of veterinary medicine.

Short Faced Friends and the HEAT

Fri, 06 Jun 2014 02:03:00 GMT

As the weather warms all our daycare, kennel and grooming staff worry about our short face dog friends. Here is some helpful tips for everyone to care for their favorite short faced pooch.

Caring for your short-faced dog in the heat.

Heartworm Testing

Thu, 05 Jun 2014 19:49:00 GMT

Screening Your Dog

Heartworm testing is a much needed screening test in our region of Ohio. Not only are we less than 30 miles from Shreve's wetlands, but there are many creeks, rivers and ponds in the Orrville, Smithville, Rittman and surrounding areas of Wayne county. The reason that location to water is so important is that heartworm disease is carried by mosquitoes, who lay their eggs in stagnant and slow moving water.

So what exactly is heartworm testing? A heartworm screening involves a small sample of blood from your dog, most likely drawn from one of his or her front legs. This blood is then tested for the presence of adult female heartworms. The test is a simple, 10 minute test that is performed in the office. The current test also screen your dog for Lyme Disease and Canine Ehrlichiosis, which are both transmitted by ticks.

Why test my dog?

We recommend testing your dog either every year or every other year depending on whether or not he or she is given a monthly heartworm preventative. We test every year in unprotected dogs. This is important because early detection results in a much better cure rate than diagnosing once clinical signs are observed.

What if my dog is on prevention all year round, do I still need to test?

Yes. We still test every other year. This is actually a alight deviation from the recommendations by the Council for Animal Parasite Control (CAPC), who recommends testing every year in every pet. We strive to provide the best care for your pets, while still remaining practical. For this reason, we have elected the every other year schedule. It is important to screen dogs to check for several things including: product failure, resistant heartworms and the possibility that the preventative was either not given or was not ingested properly.

How much does the testing cost?

While we don't publish our fees and pricing online, the in clinic test is a little less than $45. This price can shift due to the cost of the test and other factors, but $45 is a rough indication.

How can I protect my dog against heartworm disease?

There are several ways to protect your dog. These include a 6 month injectable and various monthly pills. There are also some topical preventatives available. Click Here for a link to the article about preventatives. (No article is linked at this time, but please check back as the article should be ready soon)

By Jeffrey R. Fink, D.V.M.

Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc.

Hyperthyroidism

Thu, 05 Jun 2014 15:28:00 GMT

A Common Feline Disorder

Definition

Hyperthyroidism - and overproduction of thyroxine by the thyroid gland. This disease mainly affects our feline patients.

What does a cat with hyperthyroidism look like?

Clinical signs include:

How is this condition detected or diagnosed?

The most common test for hyperthyroidism is the Tyroxine test, often referred to as a T4 screening . In some cases, a thyroid panel may be necessary. This tests not only T4, but free T4, T3 and TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)

Can overactive thyroid in cats be treated?

The simple answer is yes. The more difficult response is that it requires effort on the part of the cat owner. Twice a day medication is necessary for life. The medication is least expensive in a pill format, but specialized pharmacies can compound a medication that can be rubbed onto the ear flap (A transdermal gel). Other options include diet therapy (Hill's y/d diet), removal of the thyroid gland (thyroidectomy) and administration of radioactive iodine (I131). It is recommended to try the medication for at least a month and then to retest both a biochemical profile (to retest kidney function) and a T4 (to monitor the response to therapy).

What does the long term look like for my cat?

Long term therapy is generally successful, but each patient is an individual. Some cats have underlying kidney damage, which is masked by the overactive thyroid hormone. Once the thyroid gland is regulated, the renal failure becomes more apparent. Cats that do not have underlying kidney disease seem to do very well with therapy.

For more information, please contact us at (330) 682-2971

Dr. Jeff Fink composed and published the information above on behalf of The Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc.

Hypothyroidism

Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:21:00 GMT

Low Thyroid Hormone in Equines and Canines

What is hypothyroidism?

Let's start with the basics. The prefix "Hypo" means low. Perhaps obvious, but the thyroidism refers to the thyroid gland. So putting the two words back together, yields the definition of hypothyroidism- low thyroid hormone.

Hypothyroidism is a condition that is mainly seen in dogs and horses. The opposite condition, hyperthyroidism, occurs in cats. (Incidentally, both conditions can occur in humans. I believe that hypothyroidism is more common in people, but we are not a human medical resource)

What are the clinical signs and symptoms?

(Note that the clinical signs that are in italics apply to both species, equine and canine)

How is this condition detected or diagnosed?

The most common test for hypothyroidism is the Tyroxine test, often referred to as a T4 screening . There are additional tests that may aide in the definitive diagnoses. This includes a thyroid panel; which tests T4, free T4, T3 and thryois stimulation hormone (TSH)

Can it be treated?

Since hypothyroidism is a very common condition that we see in everyday practice, it is very fortunate that most dogs and horses respond really well to thyroid supplementation with levothyroxine. This is a twice a day pill for dogs, or a twice a day granule for horses. Animals that respond to treatment typically have a very good quality of life, with most clinical signs resolving completely.

For more information, please contact us at (330) 682-2971

Article written and published by Dr. Fink

(Please note that hypothyroidism in horses is not as common as many would think. the most common screening test, the T4, is a decent screening test. Oftentimes, a more thorough thyroid panel is required)

The T4 Test

Thu, 05 Jun 2014 13:35:00 GMT

Thyroxin (T4) Testing

One of the more common tests that we run is the Thyroxine (T4) screening test. This test is a generalized screening for both hypothyroidism (in dogs and horses) and hyperthyroidism (in cats). Oftentimes, the T4 testing is paired with a complete blood cell test and the biochemical profile. These three tests are often considered a baseline screening, especially in senior pets.

A low value on the T4 test usually confirms hypothyroidism . Occasionally we see a low value in debilitated animals. In this case, the low value may be a condition called Euthyroid Sick Syndrome. This is a condition in which the Thyroxine (T4) levels are low due to the other disease process that is ongoing within the pet. Animals with low thyroid levels can be easily supplemented and typical respond favorably to treatment.

A high value is a confirmation of hyperthyroidism . This condition is common in cats. Cats can be treated with medication to counteract the elevated thyroxine levels. There are several methods to treat and each can be discussed with you, should you cat develop overactive thyroid disease.

For more information about the two conditions, please click on the embedded links, or search our website.

Easy Dose It

Tue, 03 Jun 2014 20:08:00 GMT

Easy Dose It

Do you need an easy and convenient way to order your pet's medications by the month?

Do you need to keep your cat or dog on monthly prevention all year long, but 12 doses all at once is not in your budget?

How about flea and tick control, that adds up, right? Check out the newest feature on our online store: Easy Dose it.

When you go to our online store, you will note a tab that is labeled "Easy Dose It!".

Access that tab to see what medications are available to be shipped to your door every month. If you would likeother monthly prescriptions refilled and shipped to your door, there is an ontion for that under each specific medication, but Easy Dose It is for the mroe common medications. These include:

Heartgard Plus

Revolution

Iverhart Max

Sentinel

Triheart Plus

Certifect

Vectra for Cats

Vectra 3d for Dogs

Trifexis for Dogs

Frontline Plus

By using our onilne store and Easy Dose It, we are able to offer a wider range of products than we can onsite, without the headache of inventory management. The products will ship directly from our distributor's pharmacy to your mailbox. We hope that you find this option valuable.

We do advise that buying in bulk offstill ers greater cost savings over purchasing one pill at a time. We are always happy to give you estimates over the phone. Don't forget to ask for rebates and promotions that may be available from product manufacturers. These are often only valid if you purchase a certain number of a product and purchases need to be made at one of our locations. You can also look through the online store to view your cost options on bulk packaging of items.

Unfortunately there are a few disclaimers:

We are not able to process returns at our physical locations, but returns can be made via the online store. Please check there for terms and conditions of the return policy.

Please note that some of these items are offered for simple convenience, but are not the best product that we recommend. Please look around on our website, or call the clinic if you have questions regarding a specific item or if you want to know our recommendations. (330)336-5823

Written by Dr. Jeff Fink

Using Our Online Store

Tue, 03 Jun 2014 17:57:00 GMT

Using our Online Store

By Jeffrey R. Fink D.V.M.

June 3rd, 2014

Why should you use our online store:

1) Buy buying from our online store, you are supporting your local veterinary clinic, not a distant group of investors.

2) You will receive Trusted, Manufacturer guaranteed products (Not always that case with other online retailers)

3) You can take advantage of Easy Dose It, which allows you to purchase single doses of various preventative medications.

4) Sign up for AUTOMATIC delivery of medications

5) Free Shipping on orders over $38

6) Eligibility for manufacturer rebates on many products (These are not offered through other online pharmacies)

Today is the day that we launch our new online store . We are excited that we can expand the number of products that we offer to you and your pets.

Here are the details on How to use the online store:

Please keep in mind a few things:

How to Shop our New Online Store

Tue, 03 Jun 2014 17:05:00 GMT

How to Shop Our New Online Store

Published June 3rd, 2014

The Orrville Veterinary Clinic has evaluated our online purchasing store for our clients. Through this process, we have discovered some inconveniences in the process. As a result, we have elected to change the format and provider of our online store. We feel that this is in the best interest of our patients, their families and our staff in general. Through this change, we are able to provide an expanded selection of products. These include items for horses, dogs and cats. We are not able to offer online products to our dairy clients at this time, but we do still offer our convenient "drop ship" program for those clients.

So, how do you use the online store?

This process should be relatively easy to use, but it does require some registration. So here is a step by step process:

Please keep in mind a few things:

If you have any questions about the process or need any assistance, please call us at (330)682-2971

By Dr. Jeff Fink

Online Store

Wed, 28 May 2014 16:27:00 GMT

New Online Store

The Orrville Veterinary Clinic is excited to announce the launching of our new online store. This store is a vast improvement over the previous setup. Through the use of the new online store format, we are able to offer a wider variety of products for your pets. Through this store, we are able to offer many products to our feline, canine and equine patients. This means that you can visit our online store for many of your dog, cat and horse needs. This includes things such as leashes and collars, as well as common monthly preventatives for heartworm disease and flea and tick control. We also offer hoof picks, horse dewormers and other items for our horses. We encourage you to check out our online store before buying elsewhere. Not only are our prices very competitive, you are choosing to support your friends at The Orrville Veterinary Clinic rather than some large, far off corporation.

Click Here to enter the store

Whipworms

Fri, 23 May 2014 16:29:00 GMT

Tricuris Vulpis (A.K.A.. Whipworm) is a gastrointestinal worm that affects dogs and cats, as well as many other less common species of animals. The feline whipworm is rare in Ohio and the United States, but the dog worm is seen rather often. A whipworm infestation can result in subclinical disease, as well as a debilitating infection.

The whipworm is transmitted by ingestion of eggs via the feces. Dogs can easily come into contact with the microscopic eggs, which makes the risk to your dog greater than you may think. A leisurely walk through a dog park that had small amounts of residual fecal material scattered around can expose your dog to the eggs. Once your dog contacts the eggs, he/ she picks them up on his or her feet. A small amount of licking/ grooming behavior is all that is needed for them to ingest the eggs. The eggs grow into larva, which then then mature into adult worms in the intestinal tract. (A quick request is to make sure that you always pick up your pet's feces, especially in a public area)

Once the worms mature, they infect the cecum (think appendix) of the dog. They cause irritation on the intestinal tract, which leads to blood in the stool and weight loss. Mucus in the feces is another common clinical sign. Some affected dogs can remain without clinical signs, while other dogs can get debilitated from rapid dehydration. The subclinical shedders are what tend to spread the parasite into the environment.

The scary part of the story is how long that the eggs can live within the soils of Medina county and the surrounding areas. These eggs can live for up to 9 years, NINE YEARS! This is without a dog to contract the parasite and continue the life cycle. When a dog is present in the environment, the parasite will continue to re-infest that dog, leading to more eggs in the environment. This means that the lifecycle can last literally forever. It makes the prevention and detection ever more important. This is one reason that we recommend a yearly intestinal parasite test to screen your pooch for these nasty parasites.

NOW TO THE GOOD NEWS: Whipworms can be both treatable and preventable.

Treatment is achieved in several ways. The most acceptable and most common treatment is Fenbendazole. Panacur is the main trade name associated with Fenbendazole. The treatment regimen is often extensive with the dog starting on a three day course of dewormer. This 3 day course will eliminate all of the adult worms, but not the immature larvae. Therefore, we recommend a second treatment of three days duration be repeated in three weeks. The treatment is once again repeated 3 months from the original treatment period. The reason for the extended treatment is that the worms take 90 days to reach their full maturity and dewormers can only eliminate the adult stage (those that are older than 90 days of age).

Prevention can be achieved through your dog's monthly heartworm preventive. Not all monthly heartworm pills are created equally, as only a few cover whipworms. Prevention is likely a poor choice of words, since the monthly preventatives actually act as once a month dewormers. Rather than preventing the parasite from entering your dog's body, the monthly preventatives actually kill the adult worms each and every time that the pill is administered. The monthly repetition of the heartworm pill serves to keep the number of adult whipworms to a minimum. This, in turn, limits the amount of eggs that are passed into the environment. Currently, there are only two products on the market that target whipworms. The both utilize the active ingredient Milbemycin and are called Trifexis and Sentinnel. At Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic, we recommend the Trifexis over the Sentinnel, as Trifexis is a much more effective flea control product (It actually kills the fleas, while Sentinnel simply makes the eggs unable to hatch).

Please don't hesitate to contact us for more information about Whipworms, or any other internal parasites. We are happy to discuss this gross topic, as we strongly believe in protecting each an every pet. It is also important to note that some internal parasites carry a zoonotic risk , meaning that they can go to people. Yuck!

Written by Dr. Jeff Fink

There's Always Something Happening at the Orrville Pet Spa & Resort

Fri, 23 May 2014 01:07:00 GMT

Dear Doggie Daycare Parents:

As most of you have noticed, the daycare dogs have been working hard at reaching their goals of sitting at each door. We value your participation with the program by being consistent with your dog. Thank you for providing us with any specific commands your dog is familiar with.

The Daycare staff has also been able to increase the number of dogs that are participating in Group Sit during off leash play. Missi, Sarah, Erick and Chelsea have been teaching the dogs to respect the daycare attendants Personal Space. By placing a hula-hoop on the ground, while the daycare attendant stands in the center of the hula-hoop, if a dog tries to cross the hula-hoop the daycare attendant steps toward them claiming the space. This activity helps establish leadership of the staff in off-leash play.

The Orrville Pet Spa & Resort is excited to be a part of professional pet care centers nationwide that are improving the quality of doggy daycare programs by joining The Dog Gurus Community. For more information on the doggy daycare program, visit our facebook page or call the Orrville Pet Spa & Resort at 330-683-3335 during normal business hours and speak with Anne, Kristen or Missi.

Daycare Release Form and Personality Profile

Increasing Water intake in Cats

Wed, 21 May 2014 20:03:00 GMT

Increasing Water Intake in Cats

Water is one of the most important substances on earth. It is vital for the life and health of every person and animal. As we research more and more, we find that water is especially important to our indoor feline friends. Cats seem to live on the least amount of water necessary, which can lead to many problems down the road. It is for this reason that there has been a tremendous shift in the thinking about how we feed cats. We have changed more and more toward incorporating canned food into the diet of indoor cats, simply for the benefit of the water that is contained within the canned food. We even recommend adding a little bit of extra water to the canned food to trick your cat into "eating" a little more water than they would normally. Water is never a bad thing to encourage, as the worst thing that can happen is the production of more urine.

Increasing water intake is one of the best preventions for urinary tract issues in cats. These pesky UTIs and the associated cystitis are one of the more common medical conditions that we treat in cats. It also helps to prevent bladder stones, by continuously "flushing" the system. By increasing the amount of water that your cat consumes every day, you also decrease his/ her risk for chronic kidney disease. This is a condition of older cats, which is manageable, but not treatable. It is much better to prevent these two conditions than to have to treat them. Another tip for both involves litter box management. We have covered that topic in another article, which is available on any of our websites.

Over the past few years, there have been even more developments in the attempt to get cats to drink more water. A lot of these involve running water, often in the form of a fountain. Other methods that may help with water intake is to allow your cat to drink from a running faucet. Many cats like to get up on the sink to drink. Other cats are also the type that like to get into the bathtub following a shower and begin licking the water that is left around the bottom of the tub.

We often recommend the use of tuna into the diet of a cat. This should be on a somewhat limited basis, but cats love tuna. We like to recommend offering your cat some tuna juice with some water added to it. You can also add water to the tuna itself and offer that to your feline friend. This brings out the tuna flavor into the water, encouraging your cat to drink.

Ever hear the term meniscus? That is a scientific word to describe the slight "dome" that forms on the top of a very full water dish. To make a meniscus, slowly add water to your cat's water dish. You should continue to fill it up to the point that it looks like it should be overflowing, but not quite to the point of actual overflow. This will create the dome, which is another slick technique or trick to get a cat to drink more water.

Hopefully, you find one or two tips to help encourage your cat to take in more water every day. If you have any further questions, or thought, please contact our office.

Written by Jeff Fink, D.V.M.

Dog Bite Prevention Week May 18th - 24th

Mon, 19 May 2014 00:17:00 GMT

This is Dog Bite Prevention Week, May 18th -24th. Check out this kick off video of Victoria Stilwell on You Tube.

Looking for a Doggie Daycare?

Sat, 17 May 2014 22:33:00 GMT

Here is some good advice from HomeAgain on what to look for if you are looking for a Doggie Daycare.

When Home Alone Causes Problems.

If you are interested in Doggie Daycare at the Orrville Pet Spa & Resort please feel free to call and talk to Anne, Kristen or Missi. You are also welcome to stop in at any time to see our facility and daycare area.

Dog Behavior, with Dr. Roadruck

Thu, 15 May 2014 16:43:00 GMT

Dog Training

A Story by Dr. Greg Roadruck

When I first started at Orrville Veterinary Clinic, there were five Veterinarians. At that time, only one veterinarian split their time evenly between small and large animal. The other four veterinarians primarily spent their time with large animals out on the farms of Wayne and Holmes counties. We would do around 15-20 calls per day, often treating one animal per call. This made for a lot of driving. At the veterinary clinic, there was no technician to help hold animals, so we would ask an owner to restrain their dog. Too many would say, "No he'll bite me." That's when I said somebody's going to get hurt, and decided to stay out in the country.

If you would like to learn more about Dr. Roadruck's behavior training, please check around on our website. Dr. Roadruck can be contacted via the email" o2becalm@gmail.com . He is very interested in helping people and their dogs in the Orrville, Rittman, Wooster, Kidron, Dalton and surrounding areas.

Article was written by Dr. Greg Roadruck for use in the Orrville Veterinary Clinic's internal newsletter.

The content was modified from the original article for our websites by Dr. Jeff Fink.

Ohio Dairy Health and Management Program

Thu, 15 May 2014 16:27:00 GMT

Ohio Dairy Health Certification

Orrville Veterinary Clinic is very proud to be one of four veterinary clinics across the state to join together with several practices across the country to participate in the Ohio Dairy Health and Management Certificate Program (ODHMCP). The Ohio Dairy Health and Management Certificate Program is a program sponsored by The Ohio State University. The ODHMCP brings experts from across the country to lead education in 10 major areas of dairy production medicine. There are 11 modules in total, with each module lasting 3 days. There are 3-4 modules/year and therefore the program lasts for 3 years. By participating in all modules it allows the dairy veterinarian to be eligible to sit for the board exam to become board certified in the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners with a specialty in dairy practice. Drs. Wenger and Yost will be taking the modules that interest them and Dr. Middleton will be taking all 11 modules (he will take some on-line since he can’t attend them all). Once Dr. Middleton has completed them all, he will then be eligible to sit for the board exam. When he passes the boards, it will mark first time we will have a specialty board certified veterinarian at Orrville Veterinary Clinic. The first module was last weekend, with a specialist from Cornell University Presenting the material.

May is Heartworm Prevention Month

Wed, 14 May 2014 16:53:00 GMT

May is Heartworm Prevention Month

"Heartworms? My pet won't get heartworms!"
"I take care of my pet; it stays home with me and in my yard!"

You know that annoying mosquito flying around in your living room? Did you see the pesky one that got you when you took out the trash? What about the one you just slapped on your arm?

Any one of them could be carrying the potential for Heartworm Disease. Mosquitoes are the only way that pets get heartworms (humans do not get Heartworms). The infected mosquito carries the larvae (A little baby worm) and when the mosquito bites the pet, the heartworm larvae is then transferred to the blood of the pet.

Heartworm prevention is one of the most important tools that you can use to protect your pet's health. It's not just dogs; cats can get heartworms, too. Using Heartworm preventative does not stop the mosquitoes from biting your pet, but can prevent the Heartworm larvae from thriving, becoming adults, and traveling to the heart. Once at the level of the heart, the worms begin to cause damage. This damage will eventually lead to congestive heart failure.

The best way to protect your pet from Heartworm Disease is to keep him or her on prevention all year long. Since most preventative medications have risk of breakthrough, we also recommend testing for heartworm disease annually or biannually. We have a few different options for protecting your pet here at Orrville Veterinary Clinic;

For our canine patients, we recommend:
Trifexis – a chewable tablet that prevents Heartworms, fleas and intestinal parasites
Iverhart – a chewable tablet that prevents Heartworms and intestinal parasites
Proheart – an injectable medication that prevents Heartworms for 6 months

For our feline friends, we recommend:
Revolution – a topical medication that prevents Heartworms, fleas and intestinal parasites

If you have questions about Heartworm Disease, feel free to contact our experienced medical team and we would be glad to assist you in your choice of Heartworm prevention

Article Written by Robin Evans, edited and published by Jeff Fink, D.V.M. for use on the websites of the Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic and Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic.

New Allergy Medication: Apoquel

Wed, 14 May 2014 16:44:00 GMT

There is a new drug available for the treatment of allergic skin disease in dogs. The drug is named Apoquel (oclacitinib). Apoquel works faster than a steroid, with most patients showing some improvement in their itching the very first day. It is better tolerated with fewer side effects than either steroids (prednisone, Depomedrol) or Atopica (cyclosporine). These are examples of two other classes of drugs that are commonly used to help allergic dogs. Another class of medications that is commonly used is Antihistamines. These can often be ineffective.

We envision this drug being helpful in several different scenarios:

Apoquel should not be used in dogs less than 12 months of age or in dogs with serious infections. Apoquel may increase the susceptibility to infection and demodicosis (A type of skin mite) and may exacerbate neoplastic conditions. Apoquel has not been evaluated in combination with systemic immunosuppressive agents such as glucocorticoids or cyclosporine, though its use is thought to be safe. However, the efficacy and safety of Apoquel should make the need for combination therapy a lot lower in these chronically allergic patients. Apoquel should not be used in breeding dogs, or pregnant or lactating dogs. (On a side note, allergies do tend to have a genetic component. This means that these dogs are not likely the best breeding candidates in the first place.)

The most common side effects seen in dogs administered Apoquel were vomiting and diarrhea. Apoquel has been safely used in conjunction with other common medications including antibiotics and parasiticides and with vaccinations.

If you think your dog is a candidate for this new medication, please call (330)682-2971 to schedule and examination and consultation with one of out veterinarians.

Written by Jenn Brown, R.V.T.

Edited by Jeffrey R. FInk, D.V.M.

Product Spotlight: Recuvyra

Wed, 14 May 2014 16:24:00 GMT

Earlier this year, Elanco Companion Animal Health released a revolutionary pain medication called Recuvyra. This is a topical solution that provides post-operative pain control via its new transdermal (through the skin) delivery system. A single dose (1.2 mg/lb) applied behind the shoulder blades of a dog prior to surgery is designed to control pain for four days. Elanco says its new-patented drug delivery technology will reduce the need for home administration of analgesics, misuse and abuse of potent drugs and concerns with client compliance.

Recuvyra has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the control of post-operative pain associated with surgical procedures in dogs. The formulation contains the active ingredient fentanyl, a Class II controlled substance. In clinical trials, 98.4 percent of dogs treated with Recuvyra received effective pain control in orthopedic and soft tissues surgeries.

However, Elanco says dogs treated with Recuvyra should be isolated from children for 72 hours from the time of application. If contact occurs, the exposed area of the child’s body should not come in contact with the child’s mouth or eyes and the exposed area should be washed with soap and water. Adults are also advised to avoid contact with the application site for the 72-hour time span. If exposed to Recuvyra, the area should be washed with soap and water. Most of this is of no concern as a lot of patients that require Recuvyra also require multiple recovery days within the hospital.

Elanco says the use of Recuvyra is not advised for dogs with diseased or injured skin near the application site, dogs expected to have mild or absent perioperative pain, dogs with paralytic ileus and dogs with known hypersensitivity to fentanyl. The most common side effects seen following surgery in dogs were frequent or constant sleepiness, diarrhea, vomiting, low body temperature, abnormal heart rhythms, fever and lack of appetite. The most serious, but rare, potential side effect is gastrointestinal stasis with an increased risk of bacterial overgrowth.

The Orrville Veterinary Clinic is once again proud to be on the forefront of veterinary medicine. As a result, we have begun to use Recuvyra on every serious soft tissue surgery, as well as on every orthopedic surgery that we perform. This is part of our commitment and goal of being the best veterinary clinic in the Orrville, Wooster, Dalton, Rittman and surrounding areas. If you have questions about this medication or its use on your dog, we encourage you to contact our office at (330)682-2971

Article by Jenn Brown, edited by Dr. Jeff Fink

Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis

Wed, 14 May 2014 16:10:00 GMT

Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP) is a genetic disorder originating from the quarter horse breed. The disease is linked to the bloodline of the famous American quarter horse stallion, Impressive. This disease was once primarily limited to the American Quarter Horse and closely related breeds, such as the Appaloosa and American Paint; but cross-breeding has begun to extend this disorder to other breeds as well as to grade horses. The spread of the disease was perpetuated by the favorable placing given to affected horses in halter competition at horse shows. The reason that "Impressive" genetics became so popular is due to a secondary characteristic associated with HYPP: heavy, bulky muscling that is favored by judges.

HYPP affects the sodium channels in muscle cells and the ability to regulate potassium levels in the blood. In the presence of high potassium levels, including those induced by diet; sodium channels fail to inactivate properly. HYPP is characterized by muscle hyper excitability or weakness which is exaggerated by potassium or cold. This can lead to uncontrolled shaking followed by complete paralysis.

Some horses are more affected by the disease than others. Therefore some attacks will be more severe than others, even within the same horse.

Symptoms of an HYPP attack may include:

HYPP attacks occur randomly. The is no rhyme or reason if an attack will occur while a horse is standing calmly in the stall or during exercise. Following the resolution of an HYPP attack, the horse appears normal and is not in any pain.

Horses with HYPP are usually fully conscious during an attack. Horses may suffocate during an HYPP attack due to paralysis of the respiratory system. Horses that collapse during an episode appear clearly distressed as they repeatedly struggle to get to their feet. If this occurs while the horse is being ridden or otherwise handled, the human handler or rider may be at risk of being injured by the movement of the horse.

Horses with HYPP can be treated with some possibility of reducing clinical signs, but the degree that medical treatment helps varies from horse to horse.

Trifexis

Thu, 08 May 2014 19:53:00 GMT

For prevention of Heartworms, hookworms, whipworms , roundworms and fleas

Many products are available to prevent heartworm disease in dogs. The majority of these products also incorporate intestinal parasite control. Check out the information below as we evaluate and explain one such product, Trifexis by Elanco. This is a great product that we highly recommend.

Trifexis is a once a month pill for the prevention of fleas, heartworms, roundworms, hookworms and whipworms. Made by Elanco, Trifexis combines several medications to achieve its broad range of protection. The flea control medicine is called Spinosad. It is now a synthetic, but was naturally derived as a by product of the rum industry. Milbemycin Oxime provides the heartworm and intestinal parasite control. The chewable tablets come in a range of sizes to cover the various sizes of different dog breeds, from the 5 pound teacup Yorkie to the 120 pound Great Dane.

Heartworm disease: Trifexis kills the first stage of the heartworms, called the L1 Larva. This stage lasts for 45 days, which is why there is a little leeway in the administration. This occurs before any damage can be done. It is important to kill this stage, as the other stages can not be treated. The other stages can not be prevented nor detected until 6 months after the original infection.

Roundworms: The most common type of intestinal parasite,roundworms infect nearly every newborn puppy. Roundworms can both cross the placenta and be contained within the mother's milk. These parasites can be contagious to people, especially the young and immunocompromised.

Hookworms: Hookworms are the second most common parasite. Hookworms are another zoonotic risk , which means that they can also infect people.

Whipworms: Whipworms are a little less common than roundworms and hookworms, but prevention is critical. Once whipworms establish themselves in the soils, the worms are difficult to get rid of. Some studies show the parasites living in the soil for up to 9 years.

Fleas: Combining flea control with the other parasite control is what makes Trifexis a very unique product. Unlike Sentinnel, Trifexis actually kills the adult flea. It begins working within 30 minutes and achieves a 100% kill rate after four hours.

Trifexis is administered once a month, all year round. Three are two reasons for this interval and the year round control: The first is that the weather in Medina County and Northeast Ohio is so variable that parasites remain active longer into the colder winter months than one would think. The second reason is that some of the parasites have an extended life cycle. AN example is the aforementioned whipworms, which have a 90 day life cycle from infective stage to mature worm. This means that simply "deworming" at the sign of the first frost is not enough to keep the parasites at bay.

If you have further questions, please call one of our staff members at the Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic. Our phone number is (330)336-5823. Along with our partner clinics, we are proud to be a trend setter in the Medina and Wayne County regions of Ohio. We can also be reached via email: info@sevillevetclinic.com . Check back to this article in the future for links to other products that are similar to Trifexis. We will list those links below as the articles become available.

Written for Seville Veterinary Clinic by Jeffrey R. Fink D.V.M.

First Pool Day of Doggie Daycare

Thu, 08 May 2014 00:57:00 GMT

The first pool day of Doggie Daycare happened this week and some of our new Daycare Puppies couldn't get enough! If your dog is lodging with us and needs some extra fun during the day, consider signing them up for Doggie Daycare!

Personality Profiles for Doggie Daycare are located under our Lodging Forms on our web site.

Doggie Daycare Staff Working on their Off Leash Play Techniques

Sun, 27 Apr 2014 23:14:00 GMT

Doggie Daycare Staff Working on their Off Leash Play Techniques Veterinary Wellness Partners Sun, 04/27/2014 - 7:14pm Practicing Claiming Our Space with a hula-hoop. Still Practicing Our Group Sit. We love putting our new Off-Leash play knowledge to use. To see more of our Daycare Group Sits check out our Facebook page

Cattle Breeding Protocols

Thu, 24 Apr 2014 18:16:00 GMT

At our annual Northwest Dairy Producer's meeting, we discussed breeding protocol. A lot of data and research were presented by our featured speaker, Dr. Stevenson. I will review a few of these protocols and try to sum up what he was presenting as far as conclusions and recommendations. The very first disclaimer that I have iseach and every herd is different in terms of management, facilities, nutrition and many other factors. This makes no one breeding system ideal for every herd. It is always the best idea to talk to your specific herd veterinarian, as he knows your herd very well. He will be able to give you breeding protocols that may work within your herd and an with your management system.

Dr. Stevenson basically was stating that a lot of the success of breeding success comes down to management style. The overriding reason that we rely on timed artificial insemination protocols and programs is due to the inability to adequately detect cows in estrus (Heat). If our heat detection capabilities were 100%, there would be no need for timed AI protocols.

...>TO Be Continued.........

Easter Daycare Party

Fri, 18 Apr 2014 00:28:00 GMT

Easter Daycare Party Veterinary Wellness Partners Thu, 04/17/2014 - 8:28pm We all had a great time at the Doggie Daycare Daycare party. Pictures, Easter Egg Hunt, Group Sits, Fun with Friends!

Hookworms

Thu, 17 Apr 2014 17:07:00 GMT

Hookworms are one of many types of intestinal parasites that your dog or cat can contract. These worms are in the category of nematodes, a classification of worms. The scientific name of the main dog hookworm is Ancyclostoma caninum. The main hookworm of cats is called Ancyclostoma tubaeforma. There are two others that affect both dogs and cats: Ancyclostoma braziliense and Uncinaria stenocephala.

Okay, so enough of the big terms. Here is what you need to know about hookworms:

The good news is that hookworms are easily treated. We recommend standard deworming of puppies and kittens starting at 2 weeks of age. The mother should also be dewormed along with the newborns. The dewormer should be given every two weeks of age until and appropriate preventive can be given.

Hookworms are also easily prevented through the use of a monthly heartworm and intestinal parasite product. There are many out there, including Trifexis , Proheart 6, Iverhart Max, Revolution (cats only), and many others. These monthly products do not actually prevent the hookworms from getting into your pets, but rather kill the adults off. This leads to lower numbers of worms, eventually eliminating them altogether.

By Jeff Fink D.V.M.

Orrville Veterinary Clinic

1665 N. Main Street

Orrville, Ohio 44667

(330)682-2971

Updated Cat Vaccination Guidelines

Thu, 17 Apr 2014 14:55:00 GMT

AAFP Vaccination Guidelines

As with everything in medicine, there are new discoveries that occur as the result of ongoing research. One of the newest changes in veterinary medicine revolves around cat vaccination guidelines. The American Association of Feline Practitioners ( AAFP) is conducting ongoing research looking at the duration of immunity (how long the vaccinations protects against disease) of the most common cat vaccines. They are also looking at the most important vaccinations and risk factors for cats. It is through these efforts that the AAFP has recently announced new vaccine guidelines.

These new guidelines are designed to best protect your cat against various diseases, while at the same time giving them the fewest amount of vaccinations as possible.
To begin with, the AAFP has identified three groups of cats and designed vaccine protocols for each group. These groups are low risk, medium risk and high risk. There are not exact black and white lines to identify these groups, which makes a thorough history during the annual physical examination all the more important. Here is a general description of each group:

• HIGH RISK: This group includes any cat that spends extended time outside. These cats can be exposed to other cats in the area, making them prone to various diseases. They also tend to fight more often, which makes them vulnerable to additional diseases, such as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus.

• MEDIUM RISK: This is probably the hardest area to identify and classify cats. These are cats that have a moderate risk of exposure. They include multiple cat households, cats that are outside for short periods of time with their owners supervising them and cats that have access to screen doors and screened in porches/ windows. These cats are not likely to get into fights, but can come into contact with stray cats through the screens. Cats that often board during family vacations are also in this category.

• LOW RISK: These cats are the ones that have extremely limited access to other cats. They are at a very low risk for contracting diseases. The easiest example is a spayed or neutered cat that has been declawed on all four paws and lives in a single cat household within an apartment building.

The AAFP still feels that the most important aspect of feline care and preventive care is the comprehensive medical examination. This is in agreement with our practice philosophy of emphasizing the physical examination above all other aspects of care. The Orrville Veterinary Clinic is proud to be a trendsetter for animal care in the Orrville, Kidron, Apple Creek, Rittman, and Wooster areas. We are constantly remaining on the cutting edge of veterinary medicine and are looked to with respect by other veterinarians in the area. Please check out our additional articles that further explain the new guidelines.

Writting by Dr. Jeff Fink on behalf of Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc.

Why buy from your veterinarian

Mon, 14 Apr 2014 05:00:00 GMT

Have you ever thought to yourself: "I can buy this medication online for less money?" While we all seek to save money at any point possible, these are our thoughts on why you should purchase your medication directly from your veterinarian. Let's first start by looking at the cost of medications in general. Most likely everyone understands that purchasing in bulk allows the purchaser to save money on their product. This is what larger retailers do when they buy their products.

Horse Botulism

Thu, 03 Apr 2014 18:39:00 GMT

Botulism in Horses

Written By Dr. Bill Yost

With the recent interest in botulism in horses generated by the article in the Wooster newspaper: The Daily Record (March 24, 2014), I thought it would be of interest to review what I have experienced and learned about botulism. I saw my first case of botulism at least 20 years ago in a Belgian horse. Like many practitioners unacquainted with the disorder, I diagnosed the horse with colic because she was acting as if she was in pain and wanted to lie down a lot. She was listless and was not passing much fecal matter. A second horse on the same farm began showing similar symptoms a day or two after the first horse began with symptoms. Dr. Paul Masters looked at that horse and after consulting with veterinarians at Ohio State concluded that this horse had botulism as did the other horse that I had seen. Both horses ended up dying. Since then, I have seen at least 2 other cases, one as recently as last fall. This diseases is not very frequent, but many horses die from this difficult to treat disease.

Dr. Amy L. Johnson, D.V.M from New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine at U Penn presented a session on botulism at the 2013 NAVC in Orlando FL. Most of this report is taken from the proceedings of that meeting.

Botulism is caused by the neurotoxins of Clostridium botulinum, a spore-forming bacterium. There are 8 different known types of C. botulinum, each producing a unique neurotoxin. Though the toxins my be different, each produces the same symptoms as it blocks the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at the site where the nerve ending interacts with muscle fibers. Blocking at this junction produces a progressive muscular weakness. Adult horses most often acquire botulism through the ingestion of preformed toxin in forages. (I have seen it most often in wet-wrapped haylage or “baylage” as it is commonly called) The suspect forage usually is found to contain some kind of carrion or dead animal that was wrapped up in the bale at the time of harvest.
Three types of botulism toxin have been reported in the United States; Types A and B are found in soil and Type C is associated with dead animals. Type B is endemic east of the Mississippi, especially in Kentucky; Type A is often seen in the western part of the country; Type C is seen sporadically across the country.

Initial signs of botulism often mimic colic or esophageal obstruction. Affected horses may not finish their feed (especially grain), will act lethargic, want to lie down frequently or for long periods, will have a nasal or oral discharge of feed and water, may have muscle tremors, and may have poor tone in their tail and anus. To be differentiated from colic these horses usually act quite comfortable while lying down and usually won’t try to roll. Early signs may also resemble episodes of choke.

Two clinical tests will usually help to diagnose botulism; the tongue stress test and the grain test. In the tongue stress test, the tongue is gently pulled from the horse’s mouth. Normal horses will quickly retract the tongue inside the mouth. Horses with botulism will be very slow to retract the tongue and may even chew on their tongue. The grain test simply involves feeding the horse 8 ounces of grain and timing how fast they consume the grain. Normal horses will easily consume 8 ounces of grain in 2 minutes; affected horses will chew and chew but seemingly be unable to swallow. Grain often just falls from their mouth.

Confirmation of botulism may be made in the laboratory but there usually is not enough time for testing. Instituting early treatment is critical, so a diagnosis of botulism is primarily made on clinical signs. The mainstay of treatment is to administer botulism antitoxin as quickly as possible and then to offer supportive care. Anti-toxin is seldom kept on hand at most veterinary clinics due to expense so it must be ordered and shipped. There are two types of antitoxin available in the US, either specific Type A, Type B or Type C antitoxin or a polyvalent antitoxin that contains all three types commonly found in the US. Most clinics in our area would use the polyvalent antitoxin because Type B or Type C would be the most prevalent here, but testing for type requires more valuable time. For best chances of survival antitoxin should be administered immediately. Treatment costs are very expensive with one dose of anti-toxin for an adult horse running in the $800 to $1000 range. Antibiotics are usually of little value because the neurotoxin is pre-formed in the bad/ rotten/ spoiled food and the bacteria itself does not colonize the horse’s body. Supportive care of soft bedding, adequate hydration and nutrition are imperative. Nutrition must be administered by a nasogastric tube so most horses will be best off in a hospital situation, further adding to the cost of treatment. Horses need to be hospitalized for 7 to 14 days. Full recovery is possible but few horses can receive the kind of care necessary to achieve satisfactory results. Most affected horses, especially if unable to stand, should be euthanized.

Type B botulism can be prevented by vaccination but there are no licensed vaccines for either Type A or Type C botulism. Vaccinating for Type B will not cross-protect for Types A or C.

Article written by William Yost, D.V.M. and edited by Jeffrey R. Fink D.V.M.

All Creatures Great and Small

Thu, 03 Apr 2014 17:39:00 GMT

All Creatures Great and Small

Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc. is a mixed animal veterinary clinic serving Orrville and the surrounding areas. Being a mixed animal veterinary hospital, we have the privilege of treating nearly every type of animal. This brings to mind the "All Creatures Great and Small" series of books by James Herriot. Herriot was a veterinarian in Britain, who began practicing veterinary medicine in 1939. His books have become a mainstay series of animal lovers everywhere and likely inspired many to pursue a career in veterinary medicine.

While we do not truly treat and examine all creatures, we are one of very few animal clinics in the Orrville, Dalton, Rittman and surrounding areas who treat more than just cats and dogs. We evaluate the following species: Dogs, cats, horses, sheep, dairy cattle, beef cattle, goats, llamas, alpacas and white-tailed deer. We also perform the occasional (limited) service on chickens, pet birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, pot-bellied pigs and other "exotic" species. When we encounter a species that we are not highly familiar with, we often refer to a local exotic veterinarian, located in Wadsworth and Barberton.

James Herriot was a very skilled writer and story teller. We have many stories to tell as well. Many of our vets have treated farm animals that were down in the frozen creek, helped deliver calves and foals, spent the night in the clinic with sick patients and many more stories that we could share. We will try to include many of these on our interactive website, so please take a look around to see our "tails." Here is a list of stories that we hope to tell to help index them a bit.

Below is the poem that Herriot based the titles of his books upon. We love that it is not only the basis for the series, but also a beautiful poem regarding our Creator.

Maker of Heaven and Earth

By Cecil Frances Alexander

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colours,
He made their tiny wings.

The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
God made them, high or lowly,
And ordered their estate.

The purple-headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset, and the morning,
That brightens up the sky;

The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
He made them every one.

The tall trees in the greenwood,
The meadows where we play,
The rushes by the water,
We gather every day;--

He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.

Article composed by Dr. Jeffrey Fink

Wendy Myers Staff Training

Thu, 03 Apr 2014 17:07:00 GMT

Wendy Myers Educates Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic

March 26th, 2014

Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic prides ourselves on being one of the best veterinary clinics in the Seville, Creston, Rittman, Lodi and surround areas of Medina county. Our best attribute is our highly trained/ expert staff. Many of our staff members have been with us for a long time, a few even preceding the purchase of Animal Hospital of Seville Wadsworth from Dr. Thomas Saurer. We believe strongly that our group of client care specialists, registered veterinary technicians, and practice manager help to make our veterinarians and our entire clinic stand above others animal clinics in the Seville area. We are also close partners with the Orrville Veterinary Clinic and Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic.

Wendy S. Myers of Communications Solutions for Veterinarians, Inc.; presented a two hour seminar on the best methods for client service and patient care. We had a combined staff training session in our Orrville facility, located within the Orrville Pet Spa and Resort. Wendy is highly regarded as one of the best in the veterinary business in terms of client services and staff training. Wendy provided continuing education regarding the best practices that we can add to our clinic to better serve our pets and their families. Some of these ideas include blocking out time slots in our schedule to better handle same day emergencies. In the past, we have always "squeezed" these appointments into our already jam packed schedule. Now we will have more time to better focus on theses cases without interrupting the previously scheduled appointments throughout our day. Wendy also helped us focus on ways to better improve our communication with owners through several other areas. She was able to help us modify our check in procedure, which should help getting new patients registered and checked in a lot faster than in the past.

We often partner with several giants within the veterinary community. This includes Vestreet, who sponsored Wendy's training session. Vestreet also helped us evaluate our online store, our system of reminder cards and other services that they provide to enhance the doctor-client-patient relationship.

Article by Dr. Jeffrey R. Fink

Staff Training: Wendy S. Myers

Thu, 03 Apr 2014 16:28:00 GMT

Wendy Myers Visits Orrville Veterinary Clinic

March 26th, 2014

Orrville Veterinary Clinic prides ourselves on being one of the best veterinary hospitals in the Orrville, Wooster, Rittman, Dalton and surround regions of Wayne county. We know that our best assets are our highly skillful and caring staff members. Many of our staff members have been with us for 10 years or more. It is our group of receptionists, registered veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, client care specialists and practice manager that help to make our veterinarians and our entire clinic shine above and beyond. We elected to achieve voluntary accreditation by the American Animal Hospital Association , which helped to emphasize our dedication to staff training and continuing education of all of our staff, the vets included.

On March 26th, 2014; we were fortunate to be able to welcome in Wendy S. Myers of Communications Solutions for Veterinarians, Inc. Wendy is known as one of the best in the veterinary business in terms of staff training and client services. She was able to spend several hours with us in continuing education regarding the best practices that we can add to our clinic to serve our pets and their families in the best possible manner. Some of these ideas are simple thinking, such as being able to block out time slots in our schedule to better accommodate same day emergencies. In the past, we have always "squeezed" these appointments into our already jam packed schedule. Now we will have more time to better focus on theses cases without interrupting the previously scheduled appointments throughout our day. Wendy also helped us focus on ways to better improve our communication with owners through several tips and tricks. She was able to help us modify our check in procedure, which should help getting new patients registered and checked in a lot faster than in the past.

It was a great time and a joy to host Wendy. We want to thank her for helping us take our services up to the next level. We also want to thank Vetstreet for sponsoring Wendy at no cost to the clinic. We are so glad to be able to partner with such great partners in the veterinary industry.

Article written and edited by Jeff Fink, D.V.M.

Lyme Disease Awareness Month = APRIL

Wed, 02 Apr 2014 20:23:00 GMT

At Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic, we are always staying up to date on the latest information within the dog and cat world. We often one of the first clinics in the region to be advised of new medicines, along with the emergence of new diseases. This is likely due to our affiliation with the Ohio Department of Agriculture, since our Orrville Veterinary Clinic performs large animal services along with providing excellent small animal care. We also have one of our managing partners who is active on the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association Board of Directors.

One of the newest emerging diseases in Ohio is Lyme disease. Lyme disease has been found in our region of Seville, Rittman, Lodi, Medina, Wadsworth as well as the counties that surround Medina and Wayne counties. Lyme disease is carried and transmitted by one species of tick, called the black legged tick. This tick is about the size of a poppy seed. Lyme Disease has seen a dramatic increase in our area, up as much as 50% from previous years.

The clinical signs of Lyme disease include shifting leg lameness and general malaise (not feeling well). The offending bacteria, Borellia Burgdorfei, can attack various tissues of the body. These include the lining of the heart, the interior of the kidneys, the joint tissue and the nervous system.

Though Lyme disease is a scary problem to deal with, it can be prevented. There is a vaccine specifically for Lyme disease prevention. We are now recommending this vaccine. Most of our own animals are protected and we urge all of our dog owners to do the same. Ticks are not only found in wooded areas; they can be found almost anywhere in Medina county. Extra precautions should be taken in higher risk areas, which do include fields and woods.

The Lyme vaccine has two parts. Your dog will come in for a first vaccine and come back for a booster 3-4 weeks later. After this booster, he or she will be protected for a year, regardless of if it is bitten by a tick. Cats are not at risk of the disease, so vaccination is not needed in them.

Lyme disease can be treated, especially if detected early. Some dogs will have lingering clinical signs, with some even dying from the kidney form (Lyme Nephritits). Blood testing is needed to confirm the presence of the bacteria. The blood test is combined with our routine heartworm test. This may be one reason why the detection of Lyme disease is on the rise in Ohio. It is much easier to prevent the problem than to treat it afterwards, as the antibiotics needed to cure Lyme disease are very expensive, along with the blood work needed to diagnose.

Humans cannot catch Lyme disease directly from their pets; however, our pets can bring these ticks into our homes. This brings the potential for a family member to develop Lyme disease from an attached tick. There are a number of products that we can use to prevent ticks on our pets such as tick collars, which, when applied, can last as long as 6 months and repel ticks as opposed to allowing them to attach. You should also check your dog for ticks daily, especially after the dog has been outside. You can also ask your veterinarian to check for ticks at your visits, and find out which preventatives he or she recommends.

Please call us at 330-336-5823 or email us at info@sevillevetclinic.com . We would be more than happy to answer any questions and schedule your pet’s Lyme disease vaccinations.

Article Submitted by Robin Evans

Edited and Published by Dr. Jeff Fink

April is Lyme Disease Awareness Month

Wed, 02 Apr 2014 19:04:00 GMT

April is Lyme Disease Awareness Month
Is your dog at risk?

Lyme disease is a debilitating disease in dogs that, if not treated, can lead to chronic arthritis, neurological symptoms, cardiac problems, and possibly even death due to kidney failure. If there were a way to keep your dog safe from these scary possibilities, wouldn’t you want to do so?

The truth about Lyme disease is that it has been found in our area of Orrville, Rittman, Wooster, Dalton, Marshalville as well as the counties that surround Wayne county. Lyme disease is carried by a particular species of tick, called the black legged deer tick. This tick can be about the size of a poppy seed. The prevalence of this disease has increased in our area by close to 50% from 2012 to 2013, and this number is steadily rising.

Lyme disease is a scary problem to deal with! Fortunately, it can be prevented. There is a vaccine specifically for Lyme disease prevention. We are now offering this vaccine and urging all of our dog owners to have their dogs vaccinated. Ticks are not only found in wooded areas; they can be found almost anywhere in the county. You should remain extra careful in wooded areas, as the prevalence of these and other ticks is much higher.

The Lyme vaccine has two parts. Your dog will come in for a first vaccine and come back for a booster 3-4 weeks later. After this booster, he or she will be protected for a year, regardless of if it is bitten by a tick. Lyme disease is not a disease usually found in cats, so they do not need to be vaccinated.

As scary as Lyme disease is, it can be treated with antibiotics if caught soon enough. Unfortunately , in dogs, it can be very hard to diagnose. Blood tests are needed to confirm the diagnosis. This test is combined with our routine heartworm test, which is one reason why the detection of Lyme disease is on the rise in Ohio. It is much easier to prevent the problem than to treat it afterwards, as the antibiotics needed to cure Lyme disease are very expensive, along with the blood work needed to diagnose.

Humans cannot catch Lyme disease directly from their pets; however, our pets can bring these ticks into our homes. This brings the prospect of a family member developing Lyme disease from an attached tick! There are a number of products that we can use to prevent ticks on our pets such as tick collars, which, when applied, can last as long as 6 months and repel ticks as opposed to allowing them to attach. You should also check your dog for ticks daily, especially after the dog has been outside. You can also ask your veterinarian to check for ticks at your visits, and find out which preventatives he or she recommends.

We would be glad to answer any questions that you may have! Please call us at 330-682-2971 or email us at info@orrvillevetclinic.com . We would be more than happy to answer your questions and schedule your pet’s Lyme disease vaccinations.

Article Submitted by Robin Evans

Edited and Published by Dr. Jeffrey R. Fink

New Cat Guidelines

Wed, 26 Mar 2014 14:15:00 GMT

New AAFP Vaccination Guidelines

As veterinary medicine evolves, there are constant discoveries that are made. One of the newest changes in veterinary medicine is the newest cat vaccination guidelines. The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) is the most respected organization of cat veterinarians in the United States. They have recently concluded a major research project in which they examined both the duration of immunity (how long the vaccinations protects against disease) and the standard recommendations of the most common cat vaccines. They are also looking at the most important vaccinations and risk factors for cats. It is through these efforts that the AAFP has recently announced new vaccine guidelines. These new guidelines are intended to best protect your cat against various diseases, while at the same time giving them the fewest amount of vaccinations that are needed.

The AAFP first identified three distinct groups of cats. Once a cat is categorized, the AAFP designed specific vaccine protocols for each group. The three various groups are termed: low risk, medium risk and high risk. Though there are not exact black and white lines to identify these groups, it is currently the best distinction that can be made for your kitty. This serves to emphasize the importance of a thorough history during the annual physical examination. Below is a general description of each group:

HIGH RISK : This group includes any cat that spends extended time outside. These cats can be exposed to other cats in the area, making them prone to various diseases. They also tend to fight more often, which makes them vulnerable to additional diseases, such as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus.

MEDIUM RISK : This is probably the hardest area to identify and classify cats. These are cats that have a moderate risk of exposure. They include multiple cat households, cats that are outside for short periods of time with their owners supervising them and cats that have access to screen doors and screened in porches/ windows. These cats are not likely to get into fights, but can come into contact with stray cats through the screens.

LOW RISK : These cats are the ones that have no access to other cats. They are at a very low risk for contracting diseases. The easiest example is a spayed or neutered cat that has been declawed on all four paws and lives in a single cat household within an apartment building.

The AAFP still feels that the most important aspect of feline care and preventive care is the comprehensive medical examination. This is in agreement with our practice philosophy of emphasizing the physical examination above all other aspects of care. The Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic prides ourselves as being on the forefront of veterinary medicine and animal care in the Wadsworth, Seville, Lodi, Rittman, Creston and Surrounding areas of Wayne county and Medina County. We are constantly remaining up to date and on the cutting edge of the standard of care for your pets, both cats and dogs alike. We are highly regarded and looked to with respect by other veterinarians in the area. Please check out our additional articles that further explain the new guidelines.

This is part 1 of 2 regarding the newest feline vaccination protocols.

Written by Jeffrey R. Fink D.V.M. on behalf of Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic.

Located on Greenwich Rd in Seville, Ohio (between Rawiga Road and Guilford Road)

Updated Cat Vaccine Protocol

Wed, 26 Mar 2014 13:35:00 GMT

AAFP Vaccination Guidelines

As with everything in medicine, there are new discoveries that occur as the result of ongoing research. One of the newest changes in veterinary medicine revolves around cat vaccination guidelines. The American Association of Feline Practitioners. The AAFP is conducting ongoing research looking at the duration of immunity (how long the vaccinations protects against disease) of the most common cat vaccines. They are also looking at the most important vaccinations and risk factors for cats. It is through these efforts that the AAFP has recently announced new vaccine guidelines. These new guidelines are designed to best protect your cat against various diseases, while at the same time giving them the fewest amount of vaccinations as possible.

The AAFP still feels that the most important aspect of feline care and preventive care is the comprehensive medical examination. This is in agreement with our practice philosophy of emphasizing the physical examination above all other aspects of care. The Orrville Veterinary Clinic prides ourselves as being the trendsetter for animal care in the Orrville, Kidron, Apple Creek, RIttman, and Wooster areas. We are constantly remaining on the cutting edge of veterinary medicine and are looked to with respect by other veterinarians in the area. Please check out our additional articles that further explain the new guidelines.

Written by Dr. Jeff Fink on behalf of Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc.

Doggie Daycare staff practice group Sits

Sun, 23 Mar 2014 01:25:00 GMT

Doggie Daycare staff practice group Sits Veterinary Wellness Partners Sat, 03/22/2014 - 9:25pm Chelsea & Missi practicing a group sit with the Daycare Dogs! After only working with the dogs on this practice for 2 weeks, they are doing a great job! For more pictures visit our facebook page.

Dr. Fink OVMA Board of Directors

Mon, 17 Mar 2014 01:45:00 GMT

Disrtict 8 Representative

OVMA Board of Directors

Seville veterinarian, Dr. Jeffrey R. Fink has served as the district 8 representative on the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association's board of directors for the past 4 years. He is proud to be a voice to the pets and people within our practices and our district. Dr. Fink proudly serves on the board of directors of the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association with duties include attending quarterly board meetings. Dr. Fink has also advocated for the animal industry through various political channels in suppport of several legislative proposals. Dr. Fink has met with several of our area poloticians both representative Ron Amstutz and and the sitting member of the Ohio Senate. Dr. Fink has also had the opportunity to meet with governor John Kasich, as well as talking with Dave Daniels and Dr. Tony Forshey, of the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Dr. Fink was first appointed to this position by former OVMA Board President, Dr. Linda Lord. He has successfully been re-elected to serve another three year term.

Dr. Jeffrey R. Fink is uniquely positioned, serving as one of the true mixed animal practitioners on the board. Dr. Jeff practices small animal medicine/ surgery, equine medicine/ surgery, equine reproduction, small ruminant medicine/surgery, dairy medicine, dairy reproduction and cattle surgery. He is also unique due to the fact that he is the also owner and operator of a small farming operation, focusing on are breeds of cattle and grass fed beef production.

Ohio Veterinary Medical Association

Mon, 17 Mar 2014 01:38:00 GMT

OVMA Board of Directors

Dr. Jeff Fink is proud to be a voice to the animals, livestock, pets, owners, farmers and veterinarians within our district. He proudly serves on the board of directors of the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association. His duties include attending quarterly board meetings, as well as advocating for the animal industry through various political channels. Dr. Fink has met with several of our areas congressmen, both the area House of Representative and the sitting member of the Ohio Senate. Dr. Fink has also had the opportunity to meet with governor John Kasich, as well as talking with Dave Daniels and Dr. Tony Forshey, who both rank high within the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Dr. Fink was first appointed to this position by former OVMA Board President, Dr. Linda Lord. He has successfully been re-elected to serve another three year term.

As the District 8 representative, Dr. Fink is uniquely positioned, serving as one of the true mixed animal practitioners on the board. He practices small animal medicine, small animal surgery, equine medicine, equine surgery, equine reproduction, small ruminant medicine and surgery, dairy medicine, dairy reproduction and bovine surgery. He is also unique in the fact that he is the owner and operator of a small farming operation, focusing on are breeds of cattle and grass fed beef production.

St. Patrick's Day Doggie Daycare Party

Sun, 16 Mar 2014 02:33:00 GMT

Monday, March 17th

Daycare St. Patrick's Day Fun

Let your dog come join us for a daycare get together to celebrate St. Patrick's day! Your four legged family member will enjoy a fun day of play and a special Green Doggie Dessert. Plenty of pictures will be taken and posted to our Facebook page.

Golden Retriever Lifetime Study

Thu, 13 Mar 2014 16:28:00 GMT

Golden Retriever Lifetime Study

The Golden Retriever Lifetime Study is studying why Golden Retrievers may develop cancer and other health problems. For our beloved Goldens, cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs over two years of age. The Morris Animal Foundation Reports that more than 60% of Golden Retrievers will die of cancer. Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular puresbred dogs in the United States, often being utilized as service dogs. Unfortunately, this highly popular breed has a very high incidence of cancer compared to most breeds. This study will not only benefit Golden Retrievers, but all dogs in giving them a brighter, healthier future.

The Golden Retriever LIfetime Study is the largest and longest one ever undertaken to study the health of dogs. Morris Animal Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps animals enjoy longer, healthier lives is the force behind this monumental study.

The study goals are to:

Over the next 10 to 14 years, observational data will be collected from 3,000 Golden Retrievers. This information may help us learn how to prevent cancer and other diseases that take the lives of dogs too soon. Dogs enrolled in the study are examined annually by a participating veterinarian within the local area. According to Dr. Michael Guy, director of the Canine Lifetime Health Project, “Morris Animal Foundation would not be able to complete this study without the participation of dedicated veterinarians and their clinic staff.”

The Orrville Veterinary Clinic is participating in the largest study ever conducted in veterinary medicine. We are happy to join our sister practice, Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic, as a participant in this groundbreaking study. We believe in the importance of this study, and we believe that you and your dog would be valuable participants. This is an observational study, which means no experimentation or invasive procedures are required. If you decide to participate, you would provide information annually about your dog’s lifestyle, diet, travel, exercise, and living environment through an online questionnaire. In addition, each year your veterinarian would perform a physical examination and collect blood, urine, feces, nail clippings, and hair samples for laboratory analysis and long-term storage.

Dr. Jeff Fink is our participating veterinarian in the study, while Dr. Marissa Hofstetter is the participating veterinary at our Seville location. Amanda Bell is participating in the study with her 3 year old Golden Retriever, Hanna. Amanda is our head veterinary technician at the Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic and Hannah was the 2nd dog registered in this study! Amanda takes pride in her involvement with Hanna, She is excited about helping out this great breed, as well as optimistic about the positive results this study will bring over the next two decades.

If you have a healthy golden retriever under the age of 2, with a 3 generation pedigree, you are encouraged to enroll in the study. So far 1100 dogs have been registered to participate. Their goal is to reach 3000 participants by the end of the year. For more information visit www.CanineLifetimeHealth.org or call the Orrville Veterinary Clinic at (330) 682-2971.

Article Written by Dr. Hofstetter and edited by Dr. Jeff Fink

Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc.

1665 N. Main St

Orrville, Ohio 44667

Equine Laminitis/ Founder

Thu, 13 Mar 2014 16:25:00 GMT

Laminitis is the medical description of the condition that is commonly referred to as "founder." Technically speaking, laminitis is inflammation of the laminae.

The basics

Laminitis, or founder, is inflammation within the hoof of the horse. It can also occur in cattle, but is much less common. The laminae are a series of soft tissue structures that literally adheres the hoof wall (toenail) to the underlying soft tissue and bones of the foot. When these structures become inflamed, there is tremendous pain. This is the same type of intense pain that occurs if you hit your thumb nail with a hammer and get a bruise under the nail. The pain is so intense because there is nowhere for the swelling to go, since it is trapped beneath the hoof wall. If this condition progresses, the laminae can begin to separate to the point that the hoof wall detaches from the underlying bone. (I like to think of this as the same thing that happens when a zipper bursts.) The bone then begins to rotate away from the hoof wall, or fall at the tip of the bone. Eventually, this bone can penetrate the softer tissues on the sole of the foot. At this point, there is not much that can be done other than humane euthanasia.

Causes

While the cause of an episode of laminitis if often difficult to determine, there are many things that can cause a horse or pony to founder. Grass founder is likely the most famous cause of founder. This occurs in the early spring when grasses are growing rapidly. The sudden exposure to large amounts of fast growing grasses is the main factor. To prevent this, we recommend gradual increases in pasture time throughout the day. You should slowly build the amount of pasture that they eat each day. This should be done slowly over a period of weeks. Another cause of founders is called: "road founder." This is likely due to the excessive forces of the hooves on the pavement. "Foal founder" is another cause of laminitis, which is experienced by horses that have just delivered a foal. Horses that get into large amounts of grain can also founder as a result. There are some metabolic diseases that also can cause laminitis. These include Equine Metabolic Syndrome, Diabetes Mellitus, Cushings Disease and horses that are insulin resistant.

Signs and Symptoms

The main symptom of founder is tenderness of the feet, which shows up as reluctance to walk. The classic horse looks like they are "walking on eggshells." If laminitis affects the front feet only, the horse may "rock back" to relieve the amount of weight that the front feet are bearing. This limits the pressure on the affected feet and limbs. Likewise, if the back legs are the only ones that are affected, the horse may "rock forward." Other signs may include a decreased appetite and laying down.

Treatment

It is important to treat laminitis as early as possible. If treated at the onset of clinical signs, founder can be very treatable and may even resolve. This depends upon the actual reason for the laminitis episode, as well as the level of damage that has already started within the hoof. The basics of treatment are to reduce the inflammation and decrease the pressure as early as possible. This usually requires a series of intravenous (IV) injections. Oftentimes, one of our doctor will give 4 or 5 injections at the initial examination. We typically treat an uncomplicated founder for 3 days. After the three day point, it is time to consider corrective shoeing and radiographs. A lot can be accomplished through getting the right hoof trimming and the proper therapeutic shoes on your foundered horse.

Cushing's Disease in Horses

Wed, 12 Mar 2014 17:19:00 GMT

Does your horse shed its winter coat slowly in the springtime?

Does your horse have unexplained bouts of laminitis (founder)?

Does your horse have unexplained or excessive sweating?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, your horse may have a condition known as Equine Cushing’s Disease. This is a disease that affects the pituitary gland at the base of the brain to secrete excessive hormones. The pituitary gland releases excessive amounts of ACTH hormone, which in turn causes release of cortisol (stress hormone) from the adrenal glands.

What are the signs of Equine Cushing’s?

The two most common signs of Equine Cushing’s Disease are chronic, recurrent bouts of laminitis and a long, wavy hair coat that doesn’t properly shed in the spring. Other signs are excessive sweating, pot belly appearance, increased thirst and urination, and increased incidence of parasitism, dental disease, and other infections.

How is Equine Cushing’s Diagnosed?

A simple blood test can diagnose the condition. Horses are more likely to test positive during the fall months of the year, so a laboratory must be used that adjusts their reference ranges based on the seasons. Up to 60% of horses with Equine Cushing’s Disease also have Insulin Resistance (Equine Metabolic Syndrome). Typically, insulin levels are also tested at the time of the Equine Cushing’s Disease testing.

Is there a breed predilection?

Equine Cushing’s disease is most common in ponies. Other breeds, such as Morgans, are also prone to the disease. Typically, horses 15 years of age or older are diagnosed with Equine Cushing’s Disease.

Is treatment available?

There is currently an FDA approved treatment for Equine Cushing’s Disease called Prascend® (pergolide mesylate). This is a daily pill that is typically given for the rest of the horse’s lifetime. Dietary changes are usually necessary to facilitate weight loss. Treatment doesn’t cure the disease, rather, helps reduce the clinical signs associated with the disease (especially laminitis).

Article Written by Gabe Middleton, D.V.M. on behalf of the Orrville Veterinary Clinic, located at 1665 N. Main Street in Orrville, Ohio

Edited and Published by Dr. Jeff Fink

What happens during a spay

Wed, 12 Mar 2014 16:23:00 GMT

Many people own pets and are familiar with the term spay (often mistaken as the word: Spading or spaded). There are some misconceptions about what a spay procedure actually is and what it involves. To begin with, the term "Spay" is the common term for the procedure that is used to sterilize a female pet. This procedure, or surgery, makes it so they are not able to breed and do not go into heat. The procedure is more technically termed and ovariohysterectomy. It is similar to a hysterectomy in women, with the difference that the ovaries are removed along with the uterus.

Here is a description of a spay procedure.

We begin with an injectable anesthetic to get the patient prepped for surgery. Once our patient is anesthetized, we place a breathing tube (intubate). Our patient is then connected to an anesthetic machine and administered oxygen, along with a gas anesthetic. We then clip the surgical site and begin fluids in the vein. Once the patient is prepared and draped, the veterinary surgeon makes a small midline incision just behind the umbilicus (think belly button). The linea alba (a region where the abdominal muscles come together) is also incised to allow entrance into the abdomen. We locate a portion of the uterus, which is shaped kind of like a wishbone. Once we locate the uterus, we trace one of the horns up to the point of the pedicle, which attaches the ovary to the body wall. We then clamp off the pedicle (with its large blood vessel) and place two ties (sutures) on it. We repeat this on the opposite side of the uterus. Once both ovaries have been removed, the surgeon traces the uterus back toward the tail and locates the uterine body and the cervix. A hemostat is placed just in front of the cervix and the uterine body is sutured (ligated or tied off). Once we have removed the uterus and both ovaries, we place sutures on the abdominal wall and muscles. We then close the extra tissues and the skin.

Each spayed female should be confined to limit exercise for about 2 weeks following the surgery. Healing is typically remarkably fast, with 90% of strength achieved at 10 days after the surgery. We usually remove the sutures (aka stitches) two weeks after the surgery. We also inspect the surgery site at that time to monitor the healing progress.

Orrville Veterinary Clinic prides itself in adhering to the most up to date standards of veterinary care. This is reflected in our commitment to the voluntary AAHA standards that we must achieve every year in order to be accredited as an AAHA clinic. Not all clinics administer intravenous fluids and mandatory pain medications to their surgical patients. It is our privilege to serve you and your pets with the best of care in our area or Orrville, Rittman, Wooster, Kidron, Apple Creek and the surrounding areas. We are one of three AAHA accredited veterinary hospitals in Wayne County.

You may click here for another article regarding the Spay procedure. This one is entitled Myths About Spaying and Neutering .

Article by Dr. Jeffrey R. FInk

Colic in Horses

Mon, 03 Mar 2014 18:06:00 GMT

Colic in Horses

Colic is a general term that refers to abdominal pain. Horses are the most common species affected by colic due mainly to the anatomy of their digestive tract. In addition some of the practices that humans impose on horses that don’t mimic a horse’s natural feeding behavior contribute to colic episodes. Colic signs can range from mild stomping or pawing at the ground to severe pain, which is accompanied by thrashing and rolling. Your horse may actually lie on its back to help relieve some of the pain in a severe case. Some cases of colic may resolve on their own, while some may cause death fairly rapidly. It is important that your horse be examined by a veterinarian if they show signs of colic.

Only a veterinarian can determine the true severity of colic by different vital sign parameters.

Colic has many different causes. Here are a few common causes seen in the field:

Despite our best prevention measures, colic can still happen. However, there are some common sense steps you can take to try to prevent colic in your horse:

If colic happens, your veterinarian should be contacted. We will assess your horse and determine the underlying cause of colic. Some cases will resolve shortly after treatment, while some may need surgical intervention. Before your veterinarian arrives, it is acceptable to hand walk your horse. This may help stimulate gut motility. More importantly, it prevents your horse from becoming cast in the stall or sustaining injuries due to rolling and kicking.

Veterinarians consider colic one of the most urgent emergencies. We will make every attempt to arrive quickly and examine your horse thoroughly so a treatment plan can be constructed.

Alison Talbott

Sat, 01 Mar 2014 17:16:00 GMT

Please stop by and join us in saying good-bye to our groomer, Alison Talbott, Today, January 3, 2014. She will be available from 12:00 – 2:00 PM in the Pet Spa Conference Room. Come in to wish her good luck as she pursues a new career in occupational therapy.

More Common Cents

Tue, 18 Feb 2014 21:03:00 GMT

More Common Cents

By Mel Wenger D.V.M.

This article is adapted from an article written by Dr. Wenger for Dairy Herd Managemnet Magazine

Following my previous article , I learned that I could do a better job of reinforcing some common sense practices. After reading my article, one producer told me I had never shared some of those things with him. I was reminded that even though things seem so common, they aren’t always put into practice. It is easy for us to forget the significant investment that raising a heifer can be. Not unlike any other monetary investment, the more you put into your investment and the more you care for it the greater the return. This brings to mind more common sense management practices as the heifer calf moves from the maternity pen through the next stage of life.

Previously I shared about the management of the newborn calf. The care that the newborn calf receives in its first few hours of life is crucial for its survival. The care this young calf receives in its first two months of its life is also crucial for its survival in the future milking herd. This period of care is the most labor intensive and, often times, not given the amount of attention that is needed. It is a good management practice to give this task to a dedicated person who knows their calves and recognizes minor changes in each individual calf. As a veterinarian, I am often asked how we diagnose problems when the animals cannot tell us what is wrong. My answer is that animals do tell us, just not by speaking to us. By having a person dedicated to being around the calf and understanding their temperament, slight changes can be detected before they become a problem.

Keeping the calf clean and dry in a well ventilated hutch or pen will prevent many health problems. If you are unwilling to kneel down on your knees in the area the calf is sleeping then it is not clean and dry. While down at the calf’s level, check out the air the calf is breathing. There should be enough air exchanges at that level that no unpleasant odors are detected. I realize it is impossible to always be this clean and dry, but the majority of the time this should be the case. Most viruses, bacteria and parasites require moisture to proliferate. Air that contains high humidity and high ammonia levels will lead to respiratory failures. Many diseases, and subsequent treatments, will be prevented with this common sense practice. Making sure the calf is resting in an environment that you would rest in is ideal for the calf.

The calf should double its weight in the first 60 days of life. Weight tapes can be used to give an estimate of a calf’s weight. The most common reason I see for a calf not gaining enough weight is a combination of a lack of feeding enough milk/ milk replacer and not providing fresh water to encourage more calf starter consumption. Over the past several years, with the new recommendations of feeding higher protein milk replacers and feeding more volume; calf health has increased tremendously. Increasing the amount fed to the calf, feeding the calf three times a day, or utilizing a self feeder has made the biggest positive change in the health of the calf. A healthy, robust calf does not suffer from pneumonia, scours, parasites, or lack of appetite.
Fresh water availability is necessary for grain consumption, which is necessary for continued growth after weaning. Continued growth after weaning is necessary for increased first lactation milk production. A common misconception is that the calf gets enough water in its milk replacer alone. The only way the calf will double its weight and continue growth through weaning is by eating 5 pounds of grain/day by the time of weaning. Fresh water is crucial for this to happen.

Calf survival is one positive change that I have observed over the years. In the past, we were always trying to find the magic scours or pneumonia treatment for calves. I am now convinced that by following these few common sense practices you will no longer need many of these expensive treatments. The next time, before reaching for that bottle of medicine, look over the calves and be sure they have been provided a clean, dry, well ventilated place to rest, given plenty of feed, and that fresh water is always available. I still receive numerous requests for that magic treatment from a bottle. Almost every time it is one or several of these simple management practices that are missing.

If you need to use injections prior to the pre-weaning stage of life check with your herd veterinarian to review your calf raising environment and feeding practices. A calf that weans at 60 days of age and double it's original weight, is destined to lead a productive life in the milking herd.

FOR DR. WENGER'S PREVIOUS COMMON SENSE ARTICLE, CLICK HERE

Article by Melvin D. Wenger D.V.M.

Adapted, Edited and Published by Dr. Jeff Fink

Fecal Egg Reduction Test

Tue, 18 Feb 2014 20:34:00 GMT

This is a test that is most often performed in farm animals. The purpose is to measure the worm burden prior to administering a deworming agent and then again following the deworming agent. This allows the tester to monitor the efficacy of the deworming agent that was used. We are also able to identify those animals (usually 10%) that are the high shedders within a herd. Most farm animals will carry a worm burden all of the time due to the presence of worms in their environment, but some carry a larger burden than others. Pastured animals often pick up immature parasite forms from the pasture itself.

A Fecal Egg Reduction test is actually a series of two tests, performed about 6 weeks apart. A fecal sample is obtained. That sample is tested using a three stage process. First 5 grams of the fecal sample is placed into a special test solution and "mixed up." After being mixed, the sample and solution are strained. The strained sample is then placed in a centrifuge for 10 minutes, where it is spun at a high rate. Once the spinning is concluded, a cover slip is place on top of the sample. This allows the eggs to float to the top of the solution and "stick" to the cover slip. After 10 minutes, the sample is viewed through a microscope and an egg count is performed.

Anal Gland Disorders in Dogs

Tue, 18 Feb 2014 19:59:00 GMT

Anal Gland Disorders in Dogs

Anal glands, also known as anal sacs, are present in dogs, cats, opossum, and skunk. These two glands located on each side of the rectum. They secrete an oily substance that is used to mark territory and identify other dogs. The anal glands can voluntarily empty, especially under times of stress. This creates a very unpleasant odor. Anal glands normally empty when the dog defecates, but can become full and not express if the pet has softer stool. When the anal gland becomes full, it begins to push on the rectum causing discomfort. This is evident by the dog dragging its back end on the ground ("scooting"); licking or biting at the anus, sitting uncomfortably, having difficulty sitting or standing, or quickly turning around like something is biting them. These signs indicate it is time to have the anal glands expressed by a veterinarian.

Infections, obstruction, overfilling (called impaction), and rupture are the most common clinical presentations. It is important to have the anal glands expressed when clinical signs are shown to prevent an impaction and rupture. Anal gland infections result in pain, swelling, and sometimes abscesses and fever. Treatment is by expression of the gland, lancing of an abscess, and oral antibiotics and antibiotic infusion into the gland.

There is no age or sex predisposition to anal sac pathology. Anal sac disease is uncommon in large breed dogs, while infections and impactions are often experienced by small breeds. Dogs that are overweight are at in increased risk of being affected by anal sac difficulties. There are several breeds that are more likely to have anal gland disease, including: Beagles, Basset Hounds, and Cocker Spaniels. Keeping your pet at an optimal weight should help reduce an anal sac problem. Some pets are also helped by adding some fiber to the diet to help bulk up the stools. Fiber sources include canned pumpkin, green beans, and OTC fiber supplements.

If you have any questions about anal gland disorders, please give us a call and we can discuss these concerns. We can be reached at (330)682-2971 or via email: info@orrvillevetclinic.com .

Coggins Testing

Mon, 10 Feb 2014 20:38:00 GMT

Many people are familiar with the term Coggins Test, but what does it actually mean?

A Coggins Test is named after Dr. Leroy Coggins, who developed the testing methods in the 1970s. The test must be performed by an appropriately certified veterinarian, who participates in the APHIS accreditation program. Most large animal veterinarians are certified, while most small animal exclusive veterinarians are not.

A physical examination is often performed. Following the physical examination, a form is filled out to identify the horse as specifically as possible. This involves a written description, a drawing of various markings, the horse's name, the breed, color and registration number (if available). Once this has been completed, a small blood sample is obtained from the jugular vein in the neck of your horse. This sample is then separated and the serum is sent to an approved laboratory for testing.

We often obtain results in about a week. These results are available via fax at that time and the original is available once the forms are mailed back to the veterinarian.

This actually tests for EIA (Equine Infectious Anemia). This is often referred to as "swamp fever." EIA ia a virus that is transmitted via blood, saliva, milk and other body secretions. The main way that this virus is transmitted is through biting flies. (Horse flies and deer flies). It can also be transmitted via shared needles, which occurs when somebody does not use a new syringe and needle to adminster medications. EIA can also be transmitted through "live cover" mating.

Coggins testing is often required for showing and transport. Various regions of the country have various guidleines, with testing required either every 12 months or every 6 months. Breeding facilities may require negative testing prior to approving a mare or stallion for their breeding program.

Puppy Love Daycare Party

Thu, 06 Feb 2014 19:04:00 GMT

You're Invited!

To the Orrville Pet Spa & Resort's

Puppy Love Daycare Party,

February 14th!

Featuring:

Heartwarming Photo Op.

Lost Love Cookie Search

Supervised Speed Dating

Bring your special Valentine Box to enter in a Super Sweet contest, as well as individual Valentines ready to PAWs out to your furry GROWLentine friends.

Intestinal Parasite Testing

Thu, 06 Feb 2014 18:05:00 GMT

At Orrville Veterinary Clinic, we are passionate about the care of our animals. Routine care is vital to the health of each and every patient and animal that is entrusted to our care. One part of the routine animal care is the annual fecal, or Intestinal Parasite Test. Many feel that this is an optional test, but it is very important for many reasons, as you will see within this article.

An Intestinal Parasite Test (IPT) is a vital part of the routine care of a dog, cat, horse, goat, sheep or any other animal. In some animals, it is highly recommended to perform serial testing (testing several times over the course of time) of fecal samples. We often called this paired testing a fecal egg reduction test.

Why is it important?

To begin, parasites often cause clinical diseases. These range from general ill-thrift to more debilitating diseases. Ill-thrift may simply show up as an animal that is growing slowly, is lethargic, or simply one that fails to perform well. Some animals, particularly the younger ones, can carry a large enough parasite load to cause death. Many puppies and kittens suffer from the pot-bellied appearance that is caused by this large worm load. Testing is also important considering the fact that some parasites carry a zoonotic risk (They can be contagious to humans).

Can I just Deworm my animal?

While deworming products are readily available, they are limited in their abilities to treat parasites. There are really only three classes of dewormers available and worms can get resistant to each class over time. For this reason, it is important to identify the specific worms that are present in order to treat them effectively.

What is an Intestinal Parasite Test?

The IPT is a test that we perform on a fecal/ stool sample using a microscope to look for the eggs of each different type of worm. This test involves several steps in order to be performed appropriately. The first step is placing the fecal sample into a special solution. This is often a specialized sugar solution that makes the worm eggs easy to detect once the test is completed. The solution is strained to eliminate larger particles and pieces of debris. Once strained, the solution is placed into a centrifuge and spun at a high speed for about 10 minutes. This helps to separate the eggs from the actual fecal matter (poop). Once the spinning is complete, a cover slip, which is a small piece of glass, is placed on the solution. The parasite eggs float to the top and “stick” to the cover slip. The cover slip is placed onto a slide and then looked at under the microscope.

What Worms do you Detect?

An IPT is a great test to detect several parasites, or worms. For dogs and cats these include Roundworms, Hookworms, Whipworms , Tapeworms (though it is not as reliable for tapeworms), and coccidia. In horses, we test for small strongyles (roundworms), large strongyles, bots, pinworms, coccidia and bloodworms. In ruminants (Cattle, Sheep and goats), the IPT detects mainly strongyles and coccidia.

Why Perform a Fecal Egg Reduction Test?

This is a test that is most often performed in farm animals. The purpose is to measure the worm burden prior to administering a deworming agent and then again following the deworming agent. This allows the tester to monitor the efficacy of the deworming agent that was used. Most farm animals will carry a worm burden all of the time due to the presence of worms in their environment. Pastured animals often pick up immature parasite forms from the pasture itself. This test is performed as described above, with typically a 6 week gap in between testing.

We believe that yearly testing for internal parasite is very important in our area of Orrville, Wooster, Rittman, Creston and the surrounding regions of eastern Wayne and western Stark counties. By testing and treating for these worms, we can reduce the build up of parasite eggs and larva within the environment. This is very important when we consider common areas such as the Orrville Dog Park and the Sippo Valley Trail. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding the importance of the IPT or about routine parasite prevention.

Zoonotic Disease

Wed, 05 Feb 2014 19:59:00 GMT

Zoonotic Diseases

At Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic, we wish to advise you of one potential concern about being in such close contact with our pets: Zoonotic diseases. Zoonotic diseases are those that are transmitted from animals to humans.

Everyone may know Rabies is transmittable from animals to humans, but not everyone is aware there are many other diseases that can be transmitted to humans. Zoonotic diseases can be transmitted from pets to people and can penetrate the skin.

Different types of these diseases include roundworm, hookworm, tapeworm, ringworm, whipworm , Toxoplasmosis, Giardia, and mange. It is important to take preventative measures to prevent this from happening. Regular veterinary checkups and intestinal parasite tests are important in detecting intestinal parasites affecting your pet. Not all over the counter dewormers are effective so it is suggested to only use dewormers from your veterinarian. In our areas of Seville, Wadsworth, Rittman, Lodi and Medina; we recommend year round heartworm prevention, as these products often prevent and treat many different parasites in addition to the potentially deadly heartworms.

One area to be cautious with is your cat’s litter box. It is important to prevent children from touching the boxes. When changing the litter box, you should wear a protective mask and gloves. Pregnant women should avoid changing the litter box altogether. Cats are the only species that can carry toxoplasmosis and transmits it through their bowel movements. Cats often do not show clinical signs. Toxoplasmosis can also be contracted from eating undercooked, or raw meat.

Another area of risk is your yard, parks, and other areas where animals are present. Parasites can live in sandboxes where your kids may play. If you have a sandbox at home, remember to cover the box when not in use. You should scoop feces from your yard daily and thoroughly clean up any accidents in your home to avoid exposure.

Other preventative measures include not letting your pet drink from puddles, wearing socks and shoes outdoors, and not feeding pets raw or uncooked meat.

As stated above, most heartworm preventatives treat and control intestinal parasites, although there are some that are not included in this protection. For this reason, it is important to regularly check a stool sample. Please call us if you have any questions about potentially zoonotic diseases that may be carried by your pet.

Written by: Shelby Weeman

Written for Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic

(330)336-5823

info@sevillevetclinic.com

Contagious Diseases

Wed, 05 Feb 2014 19:01:00 GMT

Contagious Diseases: From Pets to People

At Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic, we to advise you of one potential concern about being in such close contact with our pets: Zoonotic diseases. Zoonotic diseases are those that are contagious from animals to humans.

Many people know that Rabies is transmittable from animals to humans, but not everyone is aware there are many other diseases that can be transmitted to humans. Zoonotic diseases can be transmitted from pets to people and can penetrate the skin.

Different types of these diseases include roundworm, hookworm, tapeworm, ringworm, whipworm, Toxoplasmosis, Giardia, and mange. It is important to take preventative measures to prevent this from happening. Regular veterinary checkups and intestinal parasite tests are important in detecting intestinal parasites affecting your pet. Not all over the counter dewormers are effective so it is suggested to only use dewormers from your veterinarian. In our areas of Akron, Norton, Barberton, Lodi and Fairlawn; we recommend year round heartworm prevention, as these products often prevent and treat many different parasites in addition to the potentially deadly heartworms.

We also recommend that you be cautious with your cat’s litter box. It is important to prevent children from touching the boxes. When changing the litter box, you should wear a protective mask and gloves. Pregnant women should avoid changing the litter box altogether. Cats are the only species that can carry toxoplasmosis and transmits it through their bowel movements. Cats often do not show clinical signs. Toxoplasmosis can also be contracted from eating undercooked, or raw meat.

Other preventative measures include not letting your pet drink from puddles, wearing socks and shoes outdoors, and not feeding pets raw or uncooked meat.

As stated above, most heartworm preventatives treat and control intestinal parasites, although there are some that are not included in this protection. For this reason, it is important to regularly check a stool sample. Please contact us if you have any questions about potentially zoonotic diseases that may be carried by your pet.

Written by: Shelby Weeman

Written for Akron Barbeton Veterinary Clinic

(330)753-4114

info@abvetclinic.com

Vomiting and Diarrhea

Mon, 03 Feb 2014 19:42:00 GMT

Gastrointestinal issues (digestive upsets) are one of the more common reasons that pets present to the veterinarian for sudden onset of illness. These illnesses have a variety of causes and a range of clinical signs and symptoms. Symptoms may include:

Any changes within the digestive system of a pet can impair the animal's ability to digest and absorb nutrients. These changes to the GI tract can be triggered by many factors. Some of these factors include:

The key to determining the reason for GI distress begins with an thorough physical examination. This includes a very in depth dietary history. We also take a history that looks for potential stressors that your pet may be experiencing (new person moved in, somebody moved away, new pet, a party, fireworks, etc). The next step is the actual hands on physical examination. At this point we look for signs of pain, dehydration and try to judge the severity of the situation. We often follow the physical examination with some diagnostics. Oftentimes, this begins with an internal parasite test (IPT). The IPT is an in house test, which we use to screen for intestinal parasites. We may decide that further diagnostics are required. This often includes either imaging (X-Rays) or blood testing (CBC and Chemical Profile).

If a specific cause is identified, we can treat more specifically. This may include medicine to stop the vomiting. We may also need to target the diarrhea, either specifically or non-specifically.

We often have to educate pet owners to withhold food and water for 12 to 24 hours. This sounds concerning to many people, but is necessary to give the GI tract a rest. A lot of times, the stomach and GI tract are irritated, or angry. During this time, the stomach is very sensitive and your pet is likely to vomit anything that enters it. As far as withholding the food and water (NPO), we often explain to people that this is the same process that people often follow themselves, we are just putting the typical plan into words. What we mean by this is demonstrated in the following example: Let's pretend that you contract the influenza virus (the flu). For the first 12 to 24 hours, you may experience GI distress in multiple forms (vomiting and diarrhea). During this time, you do not feel like eating. This inappetance lasts for an additional 12 to 24 hours. This serves the same purpose of resting your GI tract that we talked about with your pet. Once you feel like eating, you begin slowly with either water or another bland drink (Sprite or Ginger Ale). After consuming several small amounts of water, you may proceed to some bland food in small amounts (for people this is often Saltine crackers). Eventually, your diet returns to normal.

An additional key to treating these cases is the feeding of a bland diet. We recommend either a home cooked diet or a specifically formulated diet made by Purina: EN Gastroenteric formula.

Edited on February 27th, 2015. Please Click HERE for information regarding the recent Class Action Lawsuit that has been filed against the Purina brand, Beneful.

Biochemical Profile (Bloodwork)

Mon, 03 Feb 2014 18:57:00 GMT

There are many reasons that a biochemical profile may be recommended for your farm animal or pet. These include:

A biochemical profile supplies us with a "snapshot" of what is going on within your animal's body.

So what is it, exactly?

A biochemical profile is the evaluation of your pet's overall well being. We often combine this test with the Complete Blood Cell Count (CBC). These two tests are the two most basic, but important, tests that we perform on a day to day basis. There are 15 values that are evaluated in the Profile testing.

A basic breakdown is as follows:

Glucose : This is an evaluation of blood sugar, the end product of carbohydrate metabolism and is the primary source of energy for the body. Elevated glucose levels typically indicate Diabetes, but may also indicate stress, Cushing’s disease, pancreatitis, or can be due to certain medications. Low glucose levels may indicate liver disease, insulin overdose, severe bacterial infection, hypothyroidism and Addison’s disease. Low levels can also be due to poor nutrition levels, especially in young animals.

ALT: ALT is most often associated with the liver. High levels indicate liver damage, toxin ingestion, Cushing’s disease and various metabolic disorders. Low levels indicate starvation or malnutrition.

Alkaline Phosphatase (ALKP): ALKP is important in overall metabolism. It is found in liver cells. High levels indicate bile duct obstruction, Cushing’s disease, liver disease, the presence of various drugs(E.G. steroids or phenobarbital). Low levels can indicate starvation or malnutrition.

Total Bilirubin: Bilirubin is a bile pigment and the end product of red blood cell breakdown. High levels of bilirubin are responsible for the yellow. jaundiced look that often accompanies liver disease. High levels can be due to bile duct or gall bladder obstruction, liver disease and rapid breakdown of red blood cells. Low levels are not considered clinically relevant.

Cholesterol: Cholesterol is important in the synthesis of certain hormones. High levels are not as important as in people. Low levels indicate liver disease, starvation, kidney disease, Cushing’s, pancreatitis, diabetes and hypothyroidism.

Total Protein: Total Protein (TP) is an important substance in all parts of the body. High levels can indicate dehydration, inflammation, chronic infection and certain cancers. Low levels may indicate intestinal absorption problems, liver disease, Addison’s disease, severe burns and losses through the kidneys.

Albumin: Albumin is the major protein found in the body. It carries various substances through the blood and is important in maintaining pressure within the vessels. High levels indicate dehydration. Low levels indicate chronic inflammation, liver disease, kidney disease, starvation and blood loss.

Globulin:Globulin is the second of the major blood proteins in the body. It is important for many vital functions. Increases may indicate dehydration, chronic inflammation, chronic infection, an possible cancers. Low levels may be due to poor nutrition, improper absorption (due to intestinal inflammation), or possible kidney disease.

BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen): BUN is the major end product of protein metabolism. High levels may indicate kidney disease, dehydration, shock, high protein diet, certain toxin ingestions, poor circulation to the kidneys orurinary obstruction. Low levels indicate liver disease or starvation (low overall protein in the diet).

Creatinine: Creatinine is the end product of phosphocreatine metabolism, which is important in muscle contractions. High levels often indicate kidney disease, dehydration, shock, certain toxin ingestions, poor circulation to the kidneys and urinary obstruction. Low levels indicate liver disease or starvation.

Phophorus: Phosphorus is often associated with calcium. It is important in all aspects of metabolism. High levels can indicate kidney disease, dietary imbalance, excess ingestion of vitamin D and severe tissue trauma. Low levels may be due to dietary imbalance, some cancers, overdose of insulin, diabetes mellitus, eclampsia or an overactive parathyroid gland.

Calcium: Calcium is a mineral found throughout the body. It is the basis for bones, teeth and muscle contractions. High levels indicate certain forms of cancer, Addison’s disease, excess intake of vitamin D and an overactive parathyroid gland. Low levels indicate eclampsia, severe pancreatitis, dietary imbalance, intestinal absorption disorders, low intact of vitamin D, Cushing’s disease and certain toxin ingestions.

Sodium: Sodium works in combination with potassium to maintain the normal function of muscle and nerves. It is truly important to all cells within the body. High levels indicate dehydration, lack of water, diabetes insipidus, Cushing’s and excess salt intake. Low levels indicate starvation, severe diarrhea, vomiting, Addison’s disease, hypothyroidism and metabolic acidosis.

Potassium: As mentioned above, Potassium works in conjunction with Sodium for healthy nerves and muscles. High levels could indicate diabetes mellitus, toxin ingestion, urinary obstruction, acute kidney failure, severe muscle damage and Addison’s disease. Low levels may indicate vomiting and diarrhea, gastrointestinal cancer, insulin overdose, Cushing’s disease, overuse of diuretics and starvation. In addition, potassium supplementation must be performed slowly when giving intravenouse fluids. Too rapid of administration can result in stoppage of the heart.

Chloride: Chloride is important in maintaining the acid balance in the blood as well as combining with hydrogen to form hydrochloric acid for stomach digestion. High levels indicate dehydration, metabolic acidosis, Addison’s disease and kidney disease. Low levels indicate vomiting and metabolic alkalosis

Sometimes we order additional test that can be included in the profile. Often, the outside laboratory is able to test for more variables than an in house laboratory. These tests are:

AST is important in the breakdown and elimination of nitrogen. High levels indicate muscle damage, heart muscle damage, liver damage, toxin ingestion, inflammation and various metabolic disorders. Low levels indicate starvation or malnutrition.

GGT is also important in nitrogen metabolism and is found within liver cells. High levels indicate bile duct obstruction, liver disease, pancreatitis, Cushing’s and can be caused by high levels of steroids. Low levels indicate starvation and malnutrition.

Amylase is secreted by the pancreas and is important in normal digestion of starch. High levels indicate pancreatic inflammation or cancer, kidney disease, prostatic inflammation, diabetic ketoacidosis and liver cancer. Low levels can indicate malnutrition or starvation.

CK is very important in storing energy needed for muscle contractions. High levels indicate muscle trauma or damage such as due to seizures, surgery, bruises, inflammation, nutritional and degenerative diseases. Low levels are not clinically relevant.

CO2 indicates the current acid balance of the body and is the end product of metabolism. High levels indicate an acidic condition and can be due to kidney failure, vomiting, dehydration or overuse of diuretics. Low levels indicate a basic condition of the blood and can be due to starvation, kidney failure (can also cause acidosis), diarrhea and poor liver function.

Complete Blood Cell Count

Mon, 03 Feb 2014 17:29:00 GMT

The physical examination is the foundation of any visit to the veterinarian. After we have assessed your animal, we determine a treatment plan. If your animal's illness is not readily apparent on a physical examination alone, we may be required to perform additional diagnostic testing. One of the main tests that we perform is the complete blood cell count.

A complete blood cell count is an analysis of a patients unclothed blood. In this test, we are specifically focused upon the cells contained within the sample. There are other tests that look at the serum portion of your pet's blood samples. One of those tests is the chemical profile, including electrolytes. Other tests that can be performed on the serum, include many of the hormone tests for thyroid disease, adrenal gland disorders and many others.

The first step in the process is to obtain the blood sample. This is often accomplished by drawing blood from the neck, front leg or back legs depending on the patient's demeanor and size. We then take the sample and place it into a specific blood tube that prevents the tube (Blue top or Purple top) from clotting. Oftentimes, an additional blood sample is placed into a separate tube to obtain the serum portion for various other tests. The unclothed blood is then tested via a CBC machine, as well as having a microscopic examination performed. These two portions of the tests pair to form the complete blood cell count.

We interpret the test by comparing to the normal ranges that have been determined for that breed and species. These ranges include 95% or normal animals, which means a slightly low or high number may be normal for your specific pet.

Red Blood Cell Tests

Within the CBC, we look at the red blood cells. They are evaluated for number, percentage of total sample, size and shape. They are also evaluated for red blood cell parasites. These are often noted on the microscopic evaluation.

White Blood Cells

There are many different types of cells that fall under the category of "White Blood Cell." We are able to get an idea of the immune system/ immune status of the patient. There are roughly 6 types of cells including:

Platelets

Platelets are very important in the clotting process. Their presence is needed to form the initial clot of small and minor disruption of the blood vessels. The platelet count can be elevated due to thrombocytosis and polycythemia vera. A decrease in Platelet numbers can be an artifact due to clumping or an indication of another process. Low numbers are due to either decreased production (due to infection), increased destruction (Immune mediated disease), sequestration (in the spleen), or increased consumption (hemorrhage, DIC).

The Stages of Puppy Socialization

Thu, 30 Jan 2014 21:23:00 GMT

What Age Is Best for Puppy Socialization?

Most behavior experts consider three important time periods when it comes to puppy socialization. These stages are 3-12 weeks, 12-18 weeks and older thean 18 weeks of age.

Here are how the stages breakdoan and what they may mean:

3 to 12 weeks : Puppies are the most accepting of new experiences during this time period. They like to explore their environment. This is the most formative stage.

12 to 18 Weeks : As Puppies enter this new stage, they become much more skeptical of new experiences. This includes new pets, people and places. At some point during the time period from 12 to 18 weeks of age, the opportunity to socialize your puppy ends. With each passing week, it becomes more and more difficult to get him or her to accept new experiences. He or she becomes more wary with time.

Older than 18 weeks : It may be difficult to teach a dog to like something new, or help him become comfortable with something he finds frightening.

Within the entire socialization period, your dog will have periods where they appear fearless, yet others times he or she may be very cautious at other times.

If you look closely at the time period above, it is interesting to note that puppies easily accept all new experiences when they are around their mother and littermates. As time goes on, your puppy ages, gets bigger and is often moved into a new home; they tend to be more cautious.

Dr. Gregory Roadruck is very interested in behavior and training. He can be contacted via the following email address: O2Bcalm@gmail.com .

Written for the Orrville Veterinary Clinic.

Puppy Socialization

Thu, 30 Jan 2014 20:23:00 GMT

What Age Is Best for Puppy Socialization?

As you look closely at the following information, you will see that puppies are geared to easily accept all new experiences when they are around their mother and littermates. As puppies age, get bigger and go out on their own; they then tend to be more cautious. It is best to expose your young puppy to as many different stimuli and situations as possible. It is important to balance this with the fact that his/ her immune system is not fully developed.

Here is a breakdown of three stages of your puppy's early life as it relates to their socialization:

3 to 12 weeks : Puppies are very accepting of new experiences during this time period.

12 to 18 Weeks : As Puppies enter this new stage, they become much more cautious. During the time period from 12 to 18 weeks of age, the opportunity to socialize your puppy ends. It becomes more difficult to get the pup to accept and enjoy something that he’s initially wary of with each passing week.

After 18 weeks old : It may be difficult to teach a dog to like something new, or help him become comfortable with something he finds frightening. Some examples include fireworks, thunderstorms and other common phobias.

Within the entire socialization period, your dog will have periods where they appear fearless, yet others times he or she may be very cautious at other times.

This represents just a brief example of Dog behavior. Dr Roadruck is very interested in behavior and training. He enjoys helping out our clients in the Seville, Wadsworth, Rittman, Medina and surrounding areas. Dr. Roadruck is available for consultations and behavior training on a scheduled basis. He can be contacted via the following email address: O2Bcalm@gmail.com .

Written for Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic by Jeffrey R. Fink D.V.M.

Cat Food Recall

Thu, 30 Jan 2014 17:21:00 GMT

Cat Food Recall of Lots Sold in Ohio

Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic is passionate about you and your pets. As a result, we try to update you as much as possible about potential problems that may exist. There have been multiple food recalls in the past several years. The most recent is in regard to Red Flannel Cat Formula, made by PMI Nutrition.

Pet food maker PMI Nutrition on Saturday voluntarily recalled selected 20-pound bags of Red Flannel Cat Formula cat food because of possible salmonella contamination.

The recall involves food manufactured for PMI by another company and distributed in 23 states. The affected states are Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

The recalled food has a best-buy date and lot number of 05 06 14 096 13 SM L2 1A. The code is printed on the lower back side of the bag in a white box on the right-hand side. The product’s UPC code is 7 42869 00058 5.

No pet illnesses have been linked to the Red Flannel food, which the company reported was recalled "out of an abundance of caution” after routine testing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration revealed possible salmonella contamination.

Symptoms of salmonella poisoning in pets include lethargy, diarrhea, fever and vomiting. People who handle contaminated pet products may exhibit similar symptoms.

PMI Nutrition, which is based in Arden Hills, Minnesota, urged customers to stop using the recalled food and to return it to the place of purchase for a refund or replacement.

The company is answering customers’ questions at 800-332-4738 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST Monday through Friday.

Click Here for the company's website: http://www.pminutrition.com/rf_cat.html

Released on January 30th, 2014

Pet Food Recall: Red Flannel Cat Food

Thu, 30 Jan 2014 16:22:00 GMT

Recall of Pet Food Sold in Ohio

As always, Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic is passionate about you and your pets. As a result, we try to update you as much as possible about potential problems that may exist. There have been multiple food recalls in the past several years. The most recent is in regard to Red Flannel Cat Formula, made by PMI Nutrition.

Pet food maker PMI Nutrition on Saturday voluntarily recalled selected 20-pound bags of Red Flannel Cat Formula cat food because of possible salmonella contamination.

The recalled food has a best-buy date and lot number of 05 06 14 096 13 SM L2 1A . The code is printed on the lower back side of the bag in a white box on the right-hand side. The product’s UPC code is 7 42869 00058 5 .

Symptoms of salmonella poisoning in pets include lethargy, diarrhea, fever and vomiting. People who handle contaminated pet products may exhibit similar symptoms.

PMI Nutrition, which is based in Arden Hills, Minnesota, urged customers to stop using the recalled food and to return it to the place of purchase for a refund or replacement.

The company is answering customers’ questions at 800-332-4738 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST Monday through Friday.

Click Here for the company's website: http://www.pminutrition.com/rf_cat.html

Released on January 30th, 2014

By Jeffrey R. FInk D.V.M.

Pet Food Recall

Thu, 30 Jan 2014 16:13:00 GMT

Some Red Flannel Cat Food Recalled

Released on January 30th, 2014

As always, the Orrville Veterinary Clinic is passionate about you and your pets. In that spirit, we try to update you as much as possible about potential problems that may exist. There have been multiple food recalls in the past several years. The most recent is in regard to Red Flannel Cat Formula, made by PMI Nutrition.

Pet food maker PMI Nutrition on Saturday voluntarily recalled selected 20-pound bags of Red Flannel Cat Formula cat food because of possible salmonella contamination.

Symptoms of salmonella poisoning in pets include lethargy, diarrhea, fever and vomiting. People who handle contaminated pet products may exhibit similar symptoms.

PMI Nutrition, which is based in Arden Hills, Minn., urged customers to stop using the recalled food and to return it to the place of purchase for a refund or replacement.

The company is answering customers’ questions at 800-332-4738 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST Monday through Friday.

Click Here for the company's website: http://www.pminutrition.com/rf_cat.html

Supporting Future Veterinarians

Fri, 24 Jan 2014 18:06:00 GMT

Orrville Veterinary Clinic

Support of the Veterinary Profession

We are proud to be a partner with many veterinary students, as well as other aspiring veterinarians who may be yet to enter the formal schooling process. You may see people around our clinic from time to time that you do not recognize. A lot of times, students from veterinary schools come to shadow our unique practice. The number of mixed animal veterinary clinics is decreasing across the country. The size and scope of our practice allows these veterinary students the ability to see both companion animal medicine and farm animal medicine. Our doctors are a great resource to discuss the unique challenges that are presented when being a mixed animal practitioner.

We typically sponsor a veterinary student each summer in a partnership with Zoetis (formerly Pfizer Animal Health). We also partner with the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association to sponsor a summer large animal internship.

Please welcome these students to your farm and into the exam room when you see them. They are the future of our profession!

Supporting FFA

Fri, 24 Jan 2014 18:00:00 GMT

Our clinic is heavily involved in supporting the community, as well as up and coming veterinarians. One local group that we support is the Future Farmers of America (FFA). FFA is a nationwide group, that was organized in 1928. Their goal had always been to prepare future generations for the challenges of supplying food to an ever expanding population. They focus on farming as a business, an art and a science. We are proud to partner with our local FFA groups.

Water For Cats

Fri, 24 Jan 2014 17:44:00 GMT

The Importance of Water for Cats

Increasing water intake is one of the best preventions for urinary tract issues in cats. These pesky UTIs and the associated cystitis are one of the more common medical conditions that we treat in cats. It also helps to prevent bladder stones, by continuously "flushing" the system. By increasing the amount of water that your cat consumes every day, you also decrease his/ her risk for chronic kidney disease. This is a condition of older cats, which is manageable, but not treatable. It is much better to prevent these two conditions than to have to treat them. Another tip for both involves litter box management . We have covered that topic in another article, which is available on any of our websites.

Hopefully, you find one or two tips to help encourage your cat to take in more water every day. If you have any further questions, or thought, please contact our office.

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Fink

2014 Horse Owners Meeting a Success

Fri, 24 Jan 2014 15:14:00 GMT

2014 Horse Owners Meeting

We are excited to report the last night's Third Annual Orrville Veterinary Clinic Horse Owners Meeting was a great success. We had approximately 50 in attendance. A special thanks goes out to Todd Rediel, who joined us to discuss foot care and shoeing. He addressed many topics, includes natural shoeing, laminitis/ founder and the history of the farrier trade. Todd and his wife, Emily, are clients of ours, who run a farm where they currently care for 21 horses. They mainly breed, train and raise Shires, but also have a few other rescue horses and one Percheron.

We also would like to thank our sponsers, who provided a lot of support to make our meeting a success. In attendance last night were Liz Myers of Midwest Veterinary Supply. Liz has been a great friend to our clinic for many years. She helps to support by supplying a lot of our veterinary needs, as well as a lot of information regarding ne products and therapies. Also in attendance was Lauren Pfister, our Zoetis equine representative. She recently moved to the area after focusing on horses in Kentucky. In addition, some door prizes were provided by MWI, who is yet another veterinary distributor that we often use. Finally, Boehringer Ingelheim provided financial support, as well as some door prizes. They are currently the manufacturer of our horse vaccination line.

We also want to thank our staff, who came through in a big way. Without them, our doctors would be lost. We have such a great team, that words can not express. It was also great to have Dr. Paul Masters in attendance. Dr. Paul retired from practice about 4 years ago. Prior to that time, he was our main equine veterinarian. It is upon his shoulder that we stand. All of our doctors have trained under Dr. Paul. He is one of the original owners of The Orrville Veterinary Clinic, working at the clinic for over 30 years!

Thank you to all who attended. Keep the 4th Thursday evening of January 2015 open. We will likely try to hold our Fourth Annual meeting that night!

Obese Pets

Tue, 21 Jan 2014 21:02:00 GMT

Pet Obesity: Tips For Weight Loss

As many as 53% of adult dogs and 55% of adult cats are overweight or obese, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. With this growing trend, we want to discuss the risks of pet obesity, including: osteoarthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and respiratory disease, cruciate injuries, kidney disease and cancer. One of the most important risks is a decreased life expectancy. Purina conducted a 14-year study and dogs fed to a lean body condition throughout their lives had a median life span nearly two years longer than overweight dogs.

We recommend judging body condition by using the Body Condition System (BCS) instead of body weigh, which is just a number. The rating system is based on a 1-9 point scale. On this scale, a body condition score of 1 indicates that the pet is too thin and a 9 indicates that the pet is too heavy. A BCS of 5 is ideal, as the ribs are easily palpable with little fat covering. An ideal pet will have a normal hour glass waist line from above. In addition, their abdomen is tucked upwards as the pet is standing. It is ways important to monitor your pet’s body condition to ensure your pet is as healthy as they can be. If you think your pet may be at a BCS of a 6 or higher, they are considered overweight. It is important to talk to your veterinarian about ways to lower their score.

If you believe that your pet needs to lose weight, it is not always recommended to decrease the amount of food you are feeding because this can also lead to a decrease in important vitamins and minerals that are included in your pet’s balanced diet. This will cause malnourishment over time. Though there are a lot of weight loss and weight management diets on the market, it is still important to make sure you are measuring the food with a proper measuring cup. We can provide an 8 ounce measuring cup at our office free of charge. We recommend that you follow the back of the food label for instructions and amounts to feed your pet. You should make sure that you are feeding toward the lower end of the range, with the total amount split into two feedings daily. OM is a prescription, weight management diet that can be purchased at our office that is designed for weight management. Purina OM has been tested and approved for proper weight loss. The OM diet provides balanced nutrition, ensuring accurate and effective weight loss for your dog or cat. A proper feeding guide and nutritional plan can also be provided by one of our trained staff members. This plan will show the projected weight loss per week and list healthy treats with their caloric content.

Decreasing or eliminating high caloric treats can also improve the success of weight loss. Instead of giving treats, you may reserve some of the kibble to use as treats. You may also supplement something healthier, such as baby carrots, green beans, apples, canned pumpkin, and cauliflower or broccoli as replacements. Purina also offers Lean Treats, an alternative to the high calorie milk bone treats. Allowing your pet to eat twice daily vs. only once daily will help with increase your pet's metabolism, leading to weight loss. If you are switching your pet’s food, it is always important to slowly mix the old food in with the new diet, slowly transitioning in a week’s span, to prevent digestive upset. To accompany the diet changes, we recommend increasing your pet’s exercise at least 15 minutes daily.

Another area that is often overlooked by pet owners is that of "people food." We all love our pets and want to treat them in the best manner as possible. Unfortunately, or pets are not geared to handle the types of foods that often accompany the American diet. These foods tend to be too high in fat and other nutrients that may be harming your dog. Some people foods are even toxic. In order to help your pet lose weight, it is vital to discontinue any and all people food that they are receiving.

A weight loss percentage of 2% weekly is ideal. If your pet loses weight at a faster rate than 2% per week, he or she may be at risk in other ways. Regular weigh-ins are also recommended. These weigh-ins should be performed every 3-4 weeks to show progress and indicate a change in feeding plan or exercise. Once you’ve reached your weight loss goal for your pet, it is important to continue to use the low calorie treats and scheduled feeding to prevent your pet from regaining weight.

Article Submitted by Amanda Bell, R.V.T.

Pet Obesity

Tue, 21 Jan 2014 20:35:00 GMT

Pet Obesity: Tips For Weight Loss

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 53% of adult dogs and 55% of adult cats are overweight or obese. With this growing trend, it is necessary to discuss the risks of pet obesity. These risks include: osteoarthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and respiratory disease, cruciate injuries, kidney disease and cancer. One of the most important risks is a decreased life expectancy. Purina conducted a 14-year study and dogs fed to a lean body condition throughout their lives had a median life span nearly two years longer than overweight dogs.

The proper way to measure body condition is by using the Body Condition System (BCS). The rating system is based on a 1-9 point scale. A body condition score of 1 indicates that the pet is too thin. 9 indicating the pet is too heavy. A BCS of 4-5 is ideal, as the ribs are easily palpable with little fat covering. In addition, an ideal pet will have a normal hour glass waist line from above and the abdomen is tucked upwards as the pet is standing. It is always important to monitor your pet’s body condition to ensure your pet is as healthy as they can be. If you think your pet may be at a BCS of a 6 or higher, they are considered overweight. It is important to talk to your veterinarian about ways to lower their score.

If you believe that your pet needs to lose weight, it is not always recommended to decrease the amount of food you are feeding because this can also lead to a decrease in important vitamins and minerals that are included in your pet’s balanced diet. This will cause malnourishment over time. Though there are a lot of weight loss and weight management diets on the market, it is still important to make sure you are measuring the food with a proper measuring cup. We can provide an 8 ounce measuring cup at our office free of charge. We recommend that you follow the back of the food label for instructions and amounts to feed your pet. You should make sure that you are feeding toward the lower end of the range, with the total amount split into two feedings daily. OM is a prescription, weight management diet that can be purchased at our office that is designed for weight managemnet. Purina OM has been tested and approved for proper weight loss. The OM diet provides balanced nutrition, ensuring accurate and effective weight loss for your dog or cat. A proper feeding guide and nutritional plan can also be provided by one of our trained staff memebers. This plan will show the projected weight loss per week and list healthy treats with their caloric content.

Decreasing or eliminating high caloric treats can also improve the success of weight loss. Instead of giving treats, you may reserve some of the kibble to use as treats. You may also supplement something healthier, such as baby carrots, green beans, apples, canned pumpkin, and cauliflower or broccoli as replacements. Purina also offers Lean Treats, an alternative to the high calorie milk bone treats. Allowing your pet to eat twice daily vs. only once daily will help with increase your pet'smetabolism, leading to weight loss. If you are switching your pet’s food, it is always important to slowly mix the old food in with the new diet, slowly transitioning in a week’s span, to prevent digestive upset.

If your pet begins to lose weight, it is important that they do not lose weight too quickly. A weight loss percentage of 2% weekly is ideal. Increasing your pet’s exercise at least 15 minutes daily is recommended for weight loss in conjunction with diet food. Regular weigh-ins are also recommended. These weigh-ins should be performed every 3-4 weeks to show progress and indicate a change in feeding plan or exercise. Once you’ve reached your weight loss goal for your pet, it is important to continue to use the low calorie treats and scheduled feeding to prevent your pet from regaining weight.

Article Submitted by Amanda Bell, RVT

Your Dog and Running

Tue, 21 Jan 2014 20:02:00 GMT

With the popularity of running and jogging increasing, we have been asked about the specifics of running with a dog. Let's begin with the basics.

AGE:

Did you know that many marathon races have a minimum age requirement of 18 years old for people? There is an increased risk of injury to younger runners because the impact of running is high. In the young, growing population; this can lead to excessive joint pressures. This is all the more important to consider when active growth plates are involved. This same principle applies to our dogs. As they grow, the growth plates are very sensitive to damage, which can lead to abnormal growth patterns. Premature closure of part or all of the growth plate, can lead to bowed legs. These bowed legs often lead to further orthopedic problems as time goes on. For these reasons, we recommend waiting until a small dog is at least 12 months old. Larger dogs continue to grow, so should be eased into running at a higher age. Giant breed dogs, who are probably not the best running candidates, continue to grow until 24 months. During these younger ages, it is very important to teach her how to be obedient when on a leash (teach her leash manners). You will want your dog to be obedient and easy to control when you decide to begin your canine running plan.

Just like it is not a good idea to run with a dog that is too young, it is advisable to retire your dog from running once he or she is 7 years old. Once a dog hits this magical age, he or she is considered a senior pet. Many larger breeds will start to experience osteoarthritis as they age. This condition worsens over time. It is true that some exercise is beneficial for arthritis, but too much running can be detrimental. Avid runners log enough miles that taking their older dog a long my overwhelm their dog's heart.

TAKE IT SLOW:

The next thing to consider can also be adapted form human running circles. That is the rule of the "toos." This rule of "toos" states that doing TOO much, TOO Fast and going TOO far will lead to an increase in the likelihood of injury. Many runners need to start out with the run/ walk method. This is good for our dogs as well. Simply taking a dog and going for a 10 mile run is TOO much for them to handle. Dogs do tend to get better exercise on a routine basis than we do, so they may be able to start out at a half of a mile, up to about a mile in distance. Taking it slow, allows their body to slowly adapt to deal with the increased forces and demands of running. It is not a good idea to start with your dog on your weekend long run. Most runners who are training, will perform their long runs over the weekend. Perhaps, you could get your long run in and then return home to get your dog. He or she can then go with you for a 10 minute cool down period. Another god idea is to simply incorporate some running into your pets daily walk. You may even begin with on or two blocks at a time.

Most runners tend to follow (or at least have heard of) the 10% rule. This rule leads you to only increase weekly mileage by 10% per week. This is another a good rule of thumb for our canine athletes out there. Again, their bodies need some time to adapt to the increase in activity. It is best to run with your dog 3 or 4 days a week, as consistency is the key to increasing the exercise levels and the development of all of the support structures within the body. The cardiovascular system will need to time to adapt to the increased demand for blood. The respiratory system needs time to learn to capture more oxygen in order for the heart to move that oxygenated blood around the body.

Your dog does not have to worry about buying running shoes every 300 miles, but he does have to worry about the effects of his minimalist running style. The pads of the feet are the main surface that contacts the ground directly when your dog runs. This contact causes friction and the potential for small abrasions. This is yet another good reason to start out slow to allow your god's body to adapt to the rigors of running.

SAFETY CONCERNS:

Do not run with dogs on blacktop or pavement in the summertime. Their paw pads are very delicate and can easily get burned on the hot surfaces. There are some dog boots and shoes that are commercially available to help limit the risk of burnt and scalded pads. It is also a good idea to avoid trails that have small, potentially sharp, gravel. This gravel may cut the pads, but is irritation at the very least when landed upon by your dog's sensitive pads.

Another thing to consider is that of safety. Dogs should always be kept on a leash. This will prevent him from running off, possibly into the road. It also keeps other runners safe. Other runners may not be comfortable with a loose dog running around. It is a good idea to be courteous to your fellow runners. There are several leashed available that are an expandable leash, which is contained on a belt to keep your hand free. The expandable, bungee-like, rope allows your dog some freedom without pulling you over if he or she decides to suddenly pick up the pace. Having your dog on a leash also helps you to guide him/ her where to run on the trail. This is most beneficial if there is broken glass or other debris on the trail or path. The final reason is that in most areas there are leash laws. Following the law for local areas is always the best advice.

In addition to keeping your dog on a leash, it is a courtesy to clean up after him if he happens to go to the bathroom along the route. It is very easy to carry a baggie along for this purpose. Many trails have garbage cans at the beginning and end. Some even have them along the route.

Do not run in high traffic areas. This is a good tip for all runners, as the more traffic there is, the higher the risk of getting injured by a car or other debris being thrown up from a moving vehicle. Dogs may experience a lot of anxiety by running with a lot of traffic around. They are also more likely to get injured if they tend to run on the side of traffic.

What about hydration? Unlike you, your dog is not able to hydrate over the days preceding a race or a run. This means that he or she may get dehydrated faster than you may think. There are various options for you to provide your pet with a drink on the run. There are some water bottles for dogs that are similar to the ones that we carry, yet modified for your dog. These often have a ball valve in the end, similar to the water bottles that are often seen in gerbil and rabbit cages. By licking the ball valve, the ball is elevated. This allows some water to flow to the end, where your dog is licking. Short runs on cool days do not require water. Runs that are longer in duration than 45 minutes require water. These longer runs also require extra fuel for the body. There are some treats that are higher in protein and contain much needed fat for energy.

If you are considering running with your dog, be advised that you need to watch for signs of overexertion. The first sign may be that your dog simply begins to lag behind. A fit dog that is in no distress will be panting steadily, with his tongue mostly inside his mouth. Excessively heavy panting often with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. He may also have the corners of his mouth drawn up tight. If you notice any of these signs, slow down or begin to walk. Even 30 seconds to a minute of walking can help to cool you and your dog down a little bit. This allows the heart rate to begin to slow as well.

BREED CONSIDERATIONS:

One additional point to consider is the breed of your dog. Many brachiocephalic dogs (those with the shorter noses) are not good candidates for running. These breeds, such as the Pug and Bulldog, are very susceptible to heatstroke/ overheating. They also can easily get oxygen deprived during any strenuous exercise. Any dog that has ben diagnosed with a heart murmur should not be taken along for a run. The heart murmur indicates abnormal bloodflow, often the result of an underlying heart condition. Some of our smaller breeds are also not the best of candidates. For example, Miniature Dachshunds are great dogs, but their short legs make running excessively difficult on them as they try to keep up.

These are just some simple guidelines to consider if you plan to run with your dog. These are not applicable to every situation. It is best to have your dog examined prior to starting into a running habit with him or her.

Running with Your Dog

Tue, 21 Jan 2014 18:32:00 GMT

Running with Your Dog

Many runners spend a lot of time out on the trails, and many have dogs. This leads them to wonder about running with their dog in order to spend extra time with their canine friend. Running with a dog can provide many benefits, some as simple as the companionship along the way. Running is obviously beneficial exercise for us, but it is also beneficial to our dogs. This benefit comes with some risks, so there are many things for us to consider before taking our best friend for a run.

AGE:

It is not a good idea to run with a puppy. Did you know that many marathon races have a minimum age requirement of 18 years old for people? The longest competitive race distance for high school track competitions is the 5k (3.1 miles) This may seem odd, but there is an increased risk of injury to younger runners. The impact of running is high, which can lead to injury. In the young, growing population; this can lead to excessive joint pressures. This is all the more important to consider when active growth plates are involved. This same principle applies to our dogs. As they grow, the growth plates are very sensitive to damage, which can lead to abnormal growth patterns. Premature closure of part or all of the growth plate, can lead to bowed legs. These bowed legs often lead to further orthopedic problems as time goes on. For these reasons, we recommend waiting until a small dog is at least 12 months old. Larger dogs continue to grow, so should be eased into running at a higher age. Giant breed dogs, who are probably not the best running candidates, continue to grow until 24 months. During these younger ages, it is very important to teach her how to be obedient when on a leash (teach her leash manners). You will want your dog to be obedient and easy to control when you decide to begin your canine running plan.

TAKE IT SLOW

SAFETY CONCERNS

BREED CONSIDERATIONS

It is important to point out that there are exceptions to every rule. These are simply the most reasonable rules and guidelines to follow when running with your dog.

Body Condition Scoring

Fri, 17 Jan 2014 18:47:00 GMT

Body Condition Scoring for Dogs

Unfortunately, we see a lot of dogs that are in need of weight loss. Sometimes, but on rare occassion, we examine dogs that are actually in need of gaining weight. One of the tools that we use to determine your dog's status is the body condition scoring system. This system uses a grading scale of 1 to 9, with 5 being ideal.

The picture shown within this article is that official body scoring system, as demonstrated by the Purina company. The overall scoring system is based roughly on the concept of BMI (Body Mass Index), which is commonly used in people. Unlike the BMI system, we do not use calipers or a percentage of body fat, instead relying on our observations of sight and touch. We begin by looking at your pet from a distance and developing a rough idea of a body condition score. This is based upon the ideal score of 5, meaning that your dog or cat has "waistline" and a "tucked up" abdomen. Essentially, the area behind the ribs should be taperded in an hour glass shape when viewed from above. Likewise, the abdomen should be tucked up in relation to the deeper portion of the chest when viewed from the side. If we can count each and every rib from a distance, the score is low. If there is no evidence of a waistline and tucked up abdomen, the score is a higher number. This first estimate is usually very accurate, although long hair coats can make the initial score inaccurate.

We then place our hands on your pet to try to confirm or adjust our visual findings. Gentle palpation over the ribcage should allow us to easily feel the ribs by using light pressure. If heavy pressure is needed, the body condition score is adjusted to a higher number. If we are able to easily palapte (feel) each and every rib, as well as the regions in between the ribs, the score will be adjusted down.

We are able to use the body condition scoring system to assist us, and you, to getting your pet to the ideal body condition. We take the body condition score and make recommendations on feeding for weight loss (at least in most cases). We also recommend increasing exercise to increase the amount of calories that are utilized every day. This is relatively easy to do with dogs, as they can be taken on walks. Fortunately, there are many convenient places to walk your dog in the Orrville, Wooster, Dalton, Rittman and surrounding regions. These include the many paved sidewalks, dog parks, several wilderness trails and the Sippo Valley Trail.

In those very few cases, we advise adjusting the amount of calories that are being consumed, as well as the amount of protein. Oftentimes, pets with a body condition score of 3 or less require a further workup. There are many disease processes that can cause a body condition score to be too low. These include parasites (worms), thyroid disorders, kidney disease, heart disease and many other chronic conditions. If a disease process is identified, we can treat your pet accordingly.

You may often hear us say that you should take a mental picture of your pet when he or she is in for one of their puppy or kitten visits. We do this because Puppies and kittens are often at an ideal body condition. It is once their metabolic needs decline that we often see them on the heavier side, or higher on the body condition scoring system.

Please note that up until this point, we have not talked about your pet's weight. We look at weight as just a number, so we place the emphasis on the body condition of your pet. We try to give you a guideline as to your pet's ideal weight once a body condition score of 5 has been achieved.

Overweight Management: Purina OM

Fri, 17 Jan 2014 18:37:00 GMT

Pet Overweight Management

Unfortunately, we see a large number of cats and dogs that are in need of weight loss. A lot of pet owners rationalize their pet's obesity to just being fluffy or having his or her "winter weight."

Weight loss for pets can be a very daunting task for many owners. Added to the difficulty of trying to get their pet to lose weight is the need for changing our own habits. Along with this comes some guilt that we are not giving our pets our full love because we have to cut out various foods, such as treats and table scraps.

To try to make weight management as easy as possible, we recommend Purina OM diet. This is a weight reducing diet sold through our clinic. We have several weight management counselors on our staff to help customize a feeding plan for your pet's diet.

If you would like to have us design a customized diet plan for your pet, please give us a call at (330)682-2971 or email us via info@orrvillevetclinic.com .

You may also click here to access our contact page.

Bland Diets: Purina EN

Fri, 17 Jan 2014 18:36:00 GMT

Purina EN is one of our featured diets, both at the Orrville Veterinary Clinic and the Orrville Pet Spa and Resort. Purina EN is the main diet that is fed to dogs and cats who chose to board with us within the hospital or at the Orrville Pet Spa and Resort. Boarding and extended stays create two increased risks for possible gastrointestinal problems: stress and diet change. The stress is due to the change in environment and the lack of familiar routines. The diet change is from their normal diet at home, to our main diet of choice: Purina EN. We chose EN because it is a bland diet. While we don't recommend any abrupt diet changes, it is generally okay to change a pet more abruptly to a new diet that is bland, just like Purina EN. There are a variety of other reasons that we recommend Purina EN, which we will outline below.

Purina EN is specifically designed as a bland diet to assist in recovery of intestinal distress. While EN is not the only treatment for GI distress, it does aide in the recovery process. Oftentimes further therapies and treatments are required. The main principle behind EN is that a bland diet is easier to digest than some of the main commercial pet foods that are available at local pet stores and retailers.

Here is some more detail about the benefits of EN Gastrointestinal Formula:

If you have questions as to why we select EN for any reason at all, do not hesitate to ask us. We can be contacted via phone at (330)682-2971 or via email at info@orrvillevetclinic.com .

Canine Probiotics

Fri, 17 Jan 2014 17:53:00 GMT

Canine Probiotics Veterinary Wellness Partners Fri, 01/17/2014 - 12:53pm

Canine FortiFlora

Fri, 17 Jan 2014 17:51:00 GMT

Canine FortiFlora: Probiotics for Dogs

Many people are familiar with the concept of probiotics. Probiotics have been in the forefront of nutritional supplements in recent years. The most common form of probiotic for people is the common bacteria that is found in yogurt, Lactobacillus Acidophilus. Let's answer some common questions about probiotics:

What is a probiotic?

Probiotics are living organisms, oftentimes bacteria. This may seem odd, but a probiotics are a "good" form of bacteria that have health beneifts within the body. The most common area that probiotics are used is to benefit gastrointestinal (digestive) health and to support a healthy immune system. These "friendly" bacteria occupy areas within the intestinal tract, aiding in the normal digestive process. They also help to balance out or prevent the establishment of "bad" (pathologic) bacteria, which oftentimes can cause disease symptoms. These symptoms include cramping, vomiting, diarrhea and a general feeling of being overly run down. Probiotics are labeled in units of CFUs, or colony forming units.

What is Fortiflora?

FortiFlora is the main form of probiotics that we recommend for use in dogs. FortiFlora comes in a convenient once a day packet containing a powder. It is very easy to just sprinkle over the food. Like many of Purina's products, FortiFlora has gone through many palatability stuidies, to see if dogs will prefer the taste. In addition to a guaranteed level of viable colony forming units, FortiFlora contains antioxidants. These antioxidants are beneficial to the body in other ways, providing another beneift in addition to the probiotic content. Many people recognize these antioxidants, which include Vitamin E, Vitamin C and beta carotene. Purina has also added in several trace minerals, such as selenium, Magnesium and Potassium.

Why should I use it?

There are many reasons to consider using probiotics in your dog's diet.

These include:

Diarrhea
Young puppies
Poor Fecal quality
Excessive Flatulence (Gas)
Use of Antibiotics
To Promote a strong immune system
Diet Changes (which often result in an upset stomach)
Boarding

Can I just give my dog Yogurt, or Lactobacillus tablets, like I take?

As noted above, the main probiotic that is used in people is called Lactobacillus Acidophilus. This comes in many different forms and is also the main beneficial bacteria that is contained within yogurt. One simple reason to not give yogurt is that some dogs can actually have an allergy. Others have a hard time digesting the lactose that is in the yogurt. This can actually lead to, rather than prevent, many of the signs that FortiFlora benefits. The other, perhaps more important, reason to use FortiFlora is that dogs do not utilize Lacobacillus Acidophilus. Though this common probiotic will not hurt your dog, it will have no benefit. When we take our veterinary oath, we vow to "above all else, do no harm." This principle applies to the use of Lactobacillus in dogs. FortiFlora contains the beneficial canine bacteria, Enterococcus faecium.

Probiotics in Dog (Canine FortiFlora)

Fri, 17 Jan 2014 16:53:00 GMT

Probiotics in Dogs

Canine FortiFlora by Purina

Many people are familiar with the concept of probiotics. Probiotics have been in the forefront of nutritional supplements in recent years. The most common form of probiotic for people is the common bacteria that is found in yogurt, Lactobacillus Acidophilus . Let's answer some common questions about probiotics:

What is a probiotic?

Probiotics are living organisms, oftentimes bacteria. This may seem odd, but a probiotics are a "good" form of bacteria that have health benefits within the body. The most common area that probiotics are used is to benefit gastrointestinal (digestive) health and to support a healthy immune system. These "friendly" bacteria occupy areas within the intestinal tract, aiding in the normal digestive process. They also help to balance out or prevent the establishment of "bad" (pathologic) bacteria, which oftentimes can cause disease symptoms. These symptoms include cramping, vomiting, diarrhea and a general feeling of being overly run down. Probiotics are labeled in units of CFUs, or colony forming units.

What is FortiFlora?

FortiFlora is the main form of probiotics that we recommend for use in dogs. FortiFlora comes in a convenient once a day packet containing a powder. It is very easy to just sprinkle over the food. Like many of Purina's products, FortiFlora has gone through many palatability studies, to see if dogs will prefer the taste. In addition to a guaranteed level of viable colony forming units, FortiFlora contains antioxidants. These antioxidants are beneficial to the body in other ways, providing another benefit in addition to the probiotic content. Many people recognize these antioxidants, which include Vitamin E, Vitamin C and beta carotene. Purina has also added in several trace minerals, such as selenium, Magnesium and Potassium.

Why should I use it?

There are many reasons to consider using probiotics in your dog's diet. These include:

Can I just give my dog Yogurt, or Lactobacillus tablets, like I take?

As noted above, the main probiotic that is used in people is called Lactobacillus Acidophilus. This comes in many different forms and is also the main beneficial bacteria that is contained within yogurt. One simple reason to not give yogurt is that some dogs can actually have an allergy. Others have a hard time digesting the lactose that is in the yogurt. This can actually lead to, rather than prevent, many of the signs that FortiFlora benefits. The other, perhaps more important, reason to use FortiFlora is that dogs do not utilize Lactobacillus Acidophilus. Though this common probiotic will not hurt your dog, it will have no benefit. When we take our veterinary oath, we vow to "above all else, do no harm." This principle applies to the use of Lactobacillus in dogs. FortiFlora contains the beneficial canine bacteria, Enterococcus faecium .

FortiFloria, a probiotic supplement

Fri, 17 Jan 2014 15:17:00 GMT

We have had a lot of success using FortiFloria at the Orrville Pet Spa & Resort. If you would like to find out more information on the product click on this link to the Purina Page .

Caring for Pets in Cold Weather

Thu, 02 Jan 2014 18:38:00 GMT

Caring for Pets During Cold Weather

In Akron, Barberton, Norton and the surrounding regions of Ohio, the weather can turn brutally cold. This extreme cold presents additional risks to our pets, especially those that are outdoor pets. Below are some key areas to keep your pet safe during this cold weather in Ohio.

Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic is here for you: We strive to provide relevant and helpful pet care tips to our clients and their beloved pets.

Click HERE for Thanksgiving tips for your pets.

We are always available for animal emergencies through our Orrville Veterinary Clinic. You can reach us after hours by calling (330)682-2971.

This article is written for Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic by Dr. Jeff Fink

Cold Weather Tips for Pets

Thu, 02 Jan 2014 17:56:00 GMT

COLD WEATHER TIPS FOR PETS

When the weather turns cold, our pets can be at risk for additional cold weather related issues. Here are some practical guidelines to keep your pet safe during this cold weather in Northeast Ohio.

Click HERE for Thanksgiving tips for your pets.

Click HERE for cold weather tips for Horses

Tips for Winter Horse Care

Tue, 24 Dec 2013 16:53:00 GMT

Winter Horse Care

In Northeast Ohio, winters can be rough. The Ohio counties of Summit, Stark, Wayne, Holmes and Tuscarawas counties can have some nasty stretched of winter. These winters can produce bitterly cold temperatures, heavy snow, rain, ice and other conditions that present challenges to outdoors animals of all sizes and species. While we have some articles that highlight our companion pets, we feel that it is important to focus on our equine friends. We help horses ranging from Wooster to Massillon, Creston to Winesburg and many points in between. Horses are well adapted to live outside, even in the colder temperatures that we see during Ohio winters. The care for your horse does change with the seasons. Here are some guidelines to help with horse care during these winter months.

Shelter
There are many types of shelter for horses and livestock. These vary from a nice stall to a simple lean to. It is important to provide an area that is out of the wind and out of the rain. We recommend a three sided shelter with a roof. Most of these small shelters in Ohio face toward the east, as our predominant winds tend to come from the north and the west. Horse can even seek refuge from the wind by ducking in behind trees and other obstacles, such as bushes and even round bales. The shelter should be large enough to accommodate all of your horses comfortably. In larger herds there is a pecking order, therefore more than one shelter may be required.

Blankets
Horses that are raised outside year round prepare themselves for the cold months by growing a longer hair coat. With many show horses and other pleasure horses, their hair coats are clipped to remain short or they don’t grow out their hair coats due to being inside the warmer barns. For this reason, many horse owners choose to blanket their horses during the winter months. Horses that don't have enough access to shelter also benefit from a proper turnout blanket during inclement weather.
As noted above, make certain that your horse is clean and dry before applying a blanket. There are various sizes and weights of blankets. Some are rated at 40 degrees, whereas thicker blanket are required for sub-zero temperatures. Keep in mind that a turnout blanket is water proof/ water resistant and a stable blanket is not. This is important for horses that are turned out. A stable blanket will get soaked if placed on a horse that is out in the rain or snow.
It is a good idea to check the blankets over periodically. Check for rips and other damage once a week. It is also recommended to double check all snaps and fittings to make sure that they are in good repair and in good order.

Mud, Mud Everywhere
Frozen ground is nice, but there are days where mud is a big issue on every farm in the Wayne county area. Ohio is known for our freeze-thaw cycles, heavy snow and variable amounts of rain. Areas that tend to be muddy include around water sources, around feeders and near gates. We advise keeping horses inside if there is not an adequate area form them to get out of these muddy regions. In general, horses will avoid these muddy areas for prolonged periods of time, but only if provided with adequate space for the number of animals.
Obviously, this mud can build up on your horse’s legs and inside their hooves. This excess mud can lead to bacterial and fungal infections such as “scratches” and “mud fever” and should be removed as soon as possible. We recommend “picking” your horses feet out at least twice a day.

Ice
Just like humans, horses can slip on icy patches. It helps to sprinkle these areas with sand or gravel to provide extra traction. These areas can also be broken up with a shovel, a spade, or any other tool that is suited to this task. If you have an extremely icy area, we recommend fencing that area off to prevent access.
As with the mud issue above, ice should not be allowed to build up on your horse’s hooves or lower legs. Again, “picking” the hooves twice a day will help to prevent issues. Always check for small lacerations on the lower legs that are often caused by ice in the field.

Feed Modification
When we talk about metabolic rate and basic needs, the average horse requires roughly 2% of his body weight in feed per day. Some horses will require more, including stallions, pregnant mares and some older horses. A 1,000 horse will eat about 20 pounds of hay per day (the average square bale is roughly 40 pounds, but varies depending upon the type of hay and the density.) During the colder temperatures, horses need a larger amount of hay because their body has the increased demand for energy to keep warm. The same 1,000 horse may need 30 or 35 pounds of hay per day during extreme cold.
Horses are hindgut fermenters. This means that a large amount of digestion takes place in the intestinal tract, which is highly modified to accommodate their dietary needs. Fiber digestion results in excess energy production (energy equals heat). So when bad whether comes, your horse will benefit from additional hay meals throughout the day.
It is actually recommended to feed low nutrient grass hay during the winter months. The reason for this is that the increased amount of hay will not result in extra calories. By utilizing the low nutrient grass hay, the bacteria in the digestive tract are forced to work harder. This results in excess heat production, keeping your horse warm.

Water
One potential problem that could develop with the increase in hay consumption is the risk for impaction colic. The most important prevention for this is simple water. We advise checking the water sources several times per day to make certain that they are not frozen. Heated water sources are best, but even these can fail. The heated water also provides the horse with a little extra internal warmth.

Salt
We recommend free choice access to trace mineral salts. These can be in the form of additives and/ or salt blocks or bricks. The trace minerals are important, as our grasses in hays in Ohio are deficient in vitamin E and selenium. The trace minerals help to balance out these deficiencies, and the salt helps to increase water intake.

Other considerations
There are a few things that are easy to do, but often forgotten during the winter months. If you are riding your horse, or using him for work, plan for a little extra time for proper care. One easy thing to do is to warm the bits prior to placing them in your horse’s mouth. You can either warm the bit in your car, in a heated tack room or place it inside your jacket. Once it is not cold to the touch, it is warm enough.
Any horse that has been worked to the point of sweating, should be dried as soon as possible. Once the horse is dry, fluff up his or her haircoat. A blanket can then be placed on your horse, but only after he is completely dry. A thick, bulky coat will actually hold moisture, rather than keeping a wet horse warm.

Summary

Click HERE for a link to our cold weather article for other pets.

Preventing Pet Overpopulation

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 20:26:00 GMT

Preventing Pet Overpopulation

By Tara Monahan

For Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic

Do you plan to add a furry friend to your family? Did you just bring a new pet into your life? Did you know that one of the most important health decisions you will make is whether or not to spay or neuter your cat or dog. At Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic, we are animal lovers ourselves and we see the negative effects of unaltered pets far too often. These negative effects include overpopulation, uterine infections, enlarge prostates and various reproductive cancers.

In Ohio, there are homeless animals in nearly every community. This includes our local communities of Akron, Barberton, Norton and all portions of Stark and Summit Counties. For comparison, there are 10,000 humans born in the United States versus the approximately 70,000 puppies and kittens that are born on a daily basis. As long as these birth rates exist, there will never be enough homes for all of the animals. As a result, millions of healthy, loving cats, dogs, kittens and puppies face early deaths as a form of animal control. Others are left to fend for themselves against automobiles, the elements, other animals and cruel humans. How can you help to stop the suffering? Spay and neuter your pets!

What is spaying and neutering? Spaying is a surgical procedure where the ovaries and uterus are removed from a female pet. Neutering is a surgical procedure where the testicles and spermatic cord are removed from a male pet. When done by a licensed veterinarian, routine spay/neuter surgery is actually less dangerous than the stress and complications possible in pregnancy.

Not convinced yet? Here are some more benefits of spaying/neutering your pet. The number one benefit is that your pet will live a happier, longer life. Spaying your female helps prevent uterine infections and breast cancer. Spaying your pet before the first heat cycle offers the best protection from these diseases. Neutering your male pet eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and greatly reduces the risk of prostate cancer, prostatitis and perianal tumors. Altered pets have less desire to roam, therefore making her/him less likely to be injured in fights or auto accidents. It also eliminates or reduces spraying or marking in males neutered before six months of age or before the onset of these behaviors.

Contrary to popular belief, spaying or neutering does NOT lead to Obesity. The factors of increased age and neutering/ spaying your pet does decrease the baseline metabolic rate. This can be dealt with by giving the right amount of food and exercise. Due to the decrease metabolic rate, he/she will require fewer calories to maintain a proper weight and should be fed less. This means that he/she will be less expensive to feed! Altered pets are still good watch dogs. If anything, they are more content with home and family and are more devoted. An altered pet does not feel deprived by being spayed or neutered but an unaltered pet when in heat or when they sense a female nearby will feel extreme frustration. This frustration often leads to behavior problems and aggression.

Think it is too expensive? The cost of spaying or neutering is minor compared to the cost of feeding and raising litters. In addition, problems during labor and delivery could lead to a costly Caesarian section. An altered pet often requires fewer veterinary bills. The capture, care and eventual destruction of unwanted animals costs taxpayers and private humanitarian agencies over a billion dollars a year.

At our facility on Wooster Road, we are unable to perform surgery. We prefer to refer to one of our two sister clinics that are located in Seville or in Orrville. These locations are approximately 20 minutes from our front door. By using one of our own clinics, you continue to receive the top level of care that you have come to expect. In addition, we are able to provide follow up care at our office, since it was one of our doctors who performed the procedure.

At Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic our staff members can answer your questions about spaying or neutering your pet or any other procedure your pet may require. Please don’t hesitate to ask. Contact us at (330)753-4114 or info@abvetclinic.com .

For more information, visit our website at www.sevillevetclinic.com .

Pet Population Control

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 20:09:00 GMT

Population Control of Pets Starts With You!

By Tara Monohan

For The Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic

Have you recently added a furry friend to your family ? Are you considering adding one? Did you know that one of the most important health decisions you will make is whetehr or not to spay or neuter your cat or dog. At Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic, we are pet lovers ourselves. We see the negative effects of intact animals, which include overpopulation, uterine infections, enlarge prostates and various reproductive cancers.

In Ohio, there are homeless animals in nearly every community. This includes our communities such as: Seville, Wadsworth, Rittman, Creston, Lodi and Medina. There are 10,000 humans born in the United States. This compares to the approximately 70,000 puppies and kittens that are born on a daily basis. As long as these birth rates exist, there will never be enough homes for all of the animals. As a result, millions of healthy, loving cats, dogs, kittens and puppies face early deaths as a form of animal control. Others are left to fend for themselves against automobiles, the elements, other animals and cruel humans. What can you do to stop the suffering? Spay and neuter your pets!

Contrary to popular belief, spaying or neutering does NOT lead to Obesity. The factors of increased age and neutering/ spaying your pet does decrease the baseline metabolic rate. This can be dealt with by giving the right amount of food and exercise. DUe to the decrease metabolic rate, he/she will require fewer calories to maintain a proper weight and should be fed less. This means that he/she will be less expensive to feed! Altered pets are still good watch dogs. If anything, they are more content with home and family and are more devoted. An altered pet does not feel deprived by being spayed or neutered but an unaltered pet when in heat or when they sense a female nearby will feel extreme frustration. This frustration often leads to behavior problems and aggression.

At Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic our staff members can answer your questions about spaying or neutering your pet or any other procedure your pet may require. Please don’t hesitate to ask. Contact us at (330)336-5823 or info@sevillevetclinic.com .

For more information, visit our website at www.sevillevetclinic.com .

Preventing Unwanted Pets

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 19:53:00 GMT

Stopping Pet Overpopulation Starts With You!

Written by Tara Monohan

For The Orrville Veterinary Clinic

Whether you have recently added a furry friend to your family or you are considering it, one of the most important health decisions you will make is to spay or neuter your cat or dog. As animal lovers who value our pets, it is important to understand the impact of this decision.

In every community, in every state, there are homeless animals. Each day 10,000 humans are born in the U.S. and each day 70,000 puppies and kittens are born. As long as these birth rates exist, there will never be enough homes for all of the animals. As a result, millions of healthy, loving cats, dogs, kittens and puppies face early deaths as a form of animal control. Others are left to fend for themselves against automobiles, the elements, other animals and cruel humans. What can you do to stop the suffering? Spay and neuter your pets!

Not convinced yet? Besides preventing unwanted litters, here are some more benefits of spaying/neutering your pet. The number one benefit is that your pet will live a happier, longer life. Spaying your female helps prevent uterine infections and breast cancer. Spaying your pet before the first heat cycle offers the best protection from these diseases. Neutering your male pet eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and greatly reduces the risk of prostate cancer, prostatitis and perianal tumors. Altered pets have less desire to roam, therefore making her/him less likely to be injured in fights or auto accidents. It also eliminates or reduces spraying or marking in males neutered before six months of age or before the onset of these behaviors.

Contrary to popular belief, spaying or neutering will NOT make your pet fat. With the right amount of food and exercise, your pet will not become overweight. He/she will require fewer calories to maintain a proper weight and should be fed less meaning he/she will be less expensive to feed! Altered pets are still good watch dogs. If anything, they are more content with home and family and are more devoted. An altered pet does not feel deprived by being spayed or neutered but an unaltered pet when in heat or when they sense a female nearby will feel extreme frustration. This frustration often leads to behavior problems and aggression.

At the Orrville Veterinary Clinic our staff members can answer your questions about spaying or neutering your pet or any other procedure your pet may undergo at our clinic. Please don’t hesitate to ask. Contact us at (330)682-2971 or orrvet@earthlink.net . For more information, visit our website at www.orrvillevetclinic.com

Christmas Day TLC

Thu, 12 Dec 2013 17:01:00 GMT

Don’t forget to pack your pets Christmas presents and sign them up for a Christmas Day TLC. The staff will spend a 10 minute one on one session with your pet helping them open their gifts and making sure all tags and stickers are removed for safe play the rest of the day. Forgot your pet’s toy at home? Don’t worry, sign them up for the Christmas Day TLC and we will make sure your pet gets a 10 minute one on one time with a Homemade Christmas Biscuit.

$6.00

Heartworm Disease: Answers to Common Questions

Fri, 06 Dec 2013 20:19:00 GMT

Article submitted by Tara Monahan

Written for Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic

In our area of Ohio (Akron, Barberton, Norton, Wadsworth, and the surrounding areas of Summit and Stark counties), insects can be both a nuisance and a problem. Though these insects have a purpose, they can be very annoying and harmful to people and animals?

When we think of common insects in our ares, it does not take long to focus on that annoying little bug, the mosquito. Mosquitoes are carriers of heartworm larvae. When transmitted to your pet, heartworm can cause serious complications and eventually results in death of your dog or cat.

When a mosquito that is infected with the parasite Dirofilaria immitis, bites your dog, the infective larvae enter your dog’s bloodstream and grow into adult heartworms. More than 20 species of mosquitoes are known to spread heartworm. These mosquitoes carry the infected larvae for miles, even transmitting the disease from wild animals (such as coyotes) to dogs and cats. It takes a little over six months for the infective larvae to mature into adult worms that may live for five to seven years. Heartworms live in the right side of the heart and the arteries of the lungs, causing inflammation and interfering with blood flow. This leads to blood clots in the lung and congestive heart failure.

Here are the answers to questions that we commonly hear about heartworm disease:

Is heartworm contagious from dog to dog?

No, heartworm can be transmitted from dog to dog only by the bite of a mosquito carrying the infective stage of the larvae.

Can my cat get heartworm disease?

Yes, but for once it is a benefit to be imperfect. Cats are susceptible but are imperfect hosts to heartworm. This makes cats more resistant to infection than dogs.

My dog only goes outside to go to the bathroom, is he/she still at risk?

Yes, your dog can even be infected indoors. Mosquitoes frequently follow us indoors or squeeze in through cracks in doors or windows.

Do I need to worry about heartworm disease during the fall and winter months?

Yes, mosquitoes infected with heartworm can still be found when the weather becomes colder. In addition, Ohio is prone to mild winters, which allows mosquitoes to be more prevalent.

How do I know if my dog has heartworm disease?

A simple blood test can be done at your veterinarian’s office with results in about 15 minutes. The test that we use also tests for some tick-bourne diseases, such as Lyme disease.

When should heartworm testing be done?

Annual testing is the best way to have peace of mind that your dog is heartworm free. Testing should start when your dog goes to the veterinarian for their one year wellness exam. Any adopted adult dog should be tested right away. Even if your dog is on heartworm prevention every month, it still needs to be tested at least every other year. Testing is also important because giving heartworm preventives to dogs having heartworms can lead to severe reactions that could be harmful or even fatal to the dog.

Can heartworm disease be treated?

Yes, heartworm disease can be treated. The outcome of the treatment depends on the overall health of the dog and the stage of the heartworm disease. The treatment involves a series of injections which kill the heartworms. Cage rest or limited exercise is vital during treatment to prevent injury to the heart and lungs. Repeat heartworm testing and blood work are required to monitor the dog’s progress and health. This treatment is painful for the dog and very costly for the owner.

How can I prevent my dog from being infected with heartworm disease?

Giving your dog monthly heartworm prevention all year round and testing for heartworm disease are the best ways to keep your dog heartworm free. Heartworm prevention is a prescription medication that comes in oral tablets (Heartgard Plus, Iverhart Max, Trifexis, Interceptor and various others) that are given monthly or an injection (Proheart 6) that is given every 6 months. Giving the heartworm prevention on the same day every month is best, so make sure to mark it on your calendar. A single missed dose could put your dog at risk. Injectable heartworm prevention must be administered by a veterinarian. Prevention is a fraction of the cost of treatment and is much easier on your pet. Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic carries several of the more commonly recommended heartworm preventatives, including the 6 month injection (Proheart 6).

Why do I need a prescription for heartworm medication?

Heartworm preventives are “legend” drugs, which by federal law require a prescription. A veterinary-client-patient relationship must be established before a prescription can be written.
For more information, check out our links page or click on the hyperlinks that we have embedded above. You may also search "Heartworm disease" in the search tab.

Only a veterinarian can truly ensure that your pet is getting optimal protection from heartworm disease. Call our office if you have further questions or concerns about your dog’s heartworm testing and prevention needs. The Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic is here to help prevent illness in your pets. We are always available and happy to answer any questions or concerns that you may have about your pet. Please call us at (330)753-4114 if you have any questions or concerns.

This article was modified and adapted for the website www.abvetclinic.com by Jeff Fink DVM Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc.

Protecting Your Pet from Heartworm Disease

Fri, 06 Dec 2013 19:23:00 GMT

Article submitted by Tara Monahan

Written for Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic

In our region of Ohio (Seville, Wadsworth, Rittman, Creston, Medina, etc), insects can be both a nuisance and a problem. Though it may be hard to admit, insects have a purpose. For the most part they can be very annoying, but did you know that they can also be harmful to people and animals?

One insect that causes us concern in regards to our pets is the mosquito. Mosquitoes can be carriers of heartworm larvae. When transmitted to your pet, heartworm can cause serious complications and eventually results in death of your dog or cat.

When a female mosquito that is infected with the parasite Dirofilaria immitis, bites your dog, the infective larvae enter your dog’s bloodstream and grow into adult heartworms. More than 20 species of mosquitoes are known to spread heartworm. These mosquitoes carry the infected larvae for miles, even transmitting the disease from wild animals (such as coyotes) to dogs and cats. It takes a little over six months for the infective larvae to mature into adult worms that may live for five to seven years. Heartworms live in the right side of the heart and the arteries of the lungs, causing inflammation and interfering with blood flow. This leads to blood clots in the lung and congestive heart failure.

Here are the answers to questions that we commonly hear about heartworm disease:

Is heartworm contagious from dog to dog?

No, heartworm can be transmitted from dog to dog only by the bite of a mosquito carrying the infective stage of the larvae.

Can my cat get heartworm disease?

Yes, but for once it is a benefit to be imperfect. Cats are susceptible but are imperfect hosts to heartworm. This makes cats more resistant to infection than dogs.

My dog only goes outside to go to the bathroom, is he/she still at risk?

Yes, your dog can even be infected indoors. Mosquitoes frequently follow us indoors or squeeze in through cracks in doors or windows.

Do I need to worry about heartworm disease during the fall and winter months?

Yes, mosquitoes infected with heartworm can still be found when the weather becomes colder. In addition, Ohio is prone to mild winters, which allows mosquitoes to be more prevalent.

How do I know if my dog has heartworm disease?

A simple blood test can be done at your veterinarian’s office with results in about 15 minutes. The test that we use also tests for some tick-bourne diseases, such as Lyme disease.

When should heartworm testing be done?

Can heartworm disease be treated?

How can I prevent my dog from being infected with heartworm disease?

Giving your dog monthly heartworm prevention all year round and testing for heartworm disease are the best ways to keep your dog heartworm free. Heartworm prevention is a prescription medication that comes in oral tablets (Heartgard Plus, Iverhart Max, Trifexis , Interceptor and various others) that are given monthly or an injection (Proheart 6) that is given every 6 months. Giving the heartworm prevention on the same day every month is best, so make sure to mark it on your calendar. A single missed dose could put your dog at risk. Injectable heartworm prevention must be administered by a veterinarian. Prevention is a fraction of the cost of treatment and is much easier on your pet. Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic carries several of the more commonly recommended heartworm preventatives, including the 6 month injection (Proheart 6).

Why do I need a prescription for heartworm medication?

Only a veterinarian can truly ensure that your pet is getting optimal protection from heartworm disease. Call our office if you have further questions or concerns about your dog’s heartworm testing and prevention needs. We are always available and happy to answer any questions or concerns that you may have about your pet.

Protect Your Pet from Heartworm Disease

Fri, 06 Dec 2013 19:13:00 GMT

Protect Your Pet from Heartworm Disease

Insects have a purpose, but can be very annoying and harmful to people and animals. One insect that causes us concern in regards to our pets is the mosquito. Mosquitoes can be carriers of heartworm larvae. When transmitted to your pet, heartworm can cause serious complications and eventually results in death of your dog or cat.

Here are the answers to questions that we commonly hear about heartworm disease:

Is heartworm contagious from dog to dog?

No, heartworm can be transmitted from dog to dog only by the bite of a mosquito carrying the infective stage of the larvae.

Can my cat get heartworm disease?

Yes, but for once it is a benefit to be imperfect. Cats are susceptible but are imperfect hosts to heartworm. This makes cats more resistant to infection than dogs.

My dog only goes outside to go to the bathroom, is he/she still at risk?

Yes, your dog can even be infected indoors. Mosquitoes frequently follow us indoors or squeeze in through cracks in doors or windows.

Do I need to worry about heartworm disease during the fall and winter months?

Yes, mosquitoes infected with heartworm can still be found when the weather becomes colder. In addition, Ohio is prone to mild winters, which allows mosquitoes to be more prevalent.

How do I know if my dog has heartworm disease?

A simple blood test can be done at your veterinarian’s office with results in about 15 minutes. The test that we use also tests for some tick-bourne diseases, such as Lyme disease.

When should heartworm testing be done?

Can heartworm disease be treated?

How can I prevent my dog from being infected with heartworm disease?

Giving your dog monthly heartworm prevention all year round and testing for heartworm disease are the best ways to keep your dog heartworm free. Heartworm prevention is a prescription medication that comes in oral tablets (Heartgard Plus, Iverhart Max, Trifexis , Interceptor and various others) that are given monthly or an injection ( Proheart 6 and Proheart 12 ) that is given every 6 months or 12 months depending on which product is utilized. Giving the heartworm prevention on the same day every month is best, so make sure to mark it on your calendar. A single missed dose could put your dog at risk. Injectable heartworm prevention must be administered by a veterinarian. Prevention is a fraction of the cost of treatment and is much easier on your pet.

Why do I need a prescription for heartworm medication?

Only a veterinarian can ensure your pet is getting optimal protection from heartworm disease. Ask your veterinarian about your dog’s heartworm testing and prevention needs today.

May 2014 has been designated as Heartworm Prevention Month . Please get your pets protected.

Unleash the Holiday Cheer

Mon, 02 Dec 2013 17:24:00 GMT

Unleash the Holiday Cheer!

Bring your pet to the Orrville Pet Spa's Doggie Daycare HOWL-iday party on December 11th!

Festivities include:

A visit from Santa's elves!,

Holiday Gingerbread Dog Cake,

The Night Before Christmas Story time,

Presents from Santa-Paws

Your Pet at Thanksgiving

Tue, 26 Nov 2013 20:52:00 GMT

As we get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving, we want to provide you with some tips to keeping your pet safe during this time of food, fun and family. Did you know that trips to the animal emergency room tend to increase during the holiday season. The reason for this is typically due to vomiting and diarrhea. These are often triggered by a change in diet (or feeding table scraps).

The AVMA’s top tips for keeping pets healthy on Thanksgiving are:

Quick action can save lives. If you believe your pet has been poisoned or eaten something it shouldn’t have,
call our after hours emergency line provided by Orrville Veterinary Clinic:

(330)682-2971

Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic is devoted to providing the best care to our pets and their owners. It is our desire to prevent illness and diseases before they begin.

Thanksgiving and Your Pet

Tue, 26 Nov 2013 20:46:00 GMT

Thanksgiving is a time of family, feasting and festivities. We celevrate this time with you and your pets! At the same time, we realize that trips to the emergency clinic tend to increase at this time of year. The main problem associated with Thanksgiving and pets shows up in the form of vomiting and diarrhea.

The AVMA’s top tips for keeping pets healthy on Thanksgiving are:

Quick action can save lives. If you believe your pet has been poisoned or eaten something it shouldn’t have,
call Orrville Veterinary Clinic for 24 hours emerencies:

(330)682-2971

We hope that you find these tips to be beneficial. It is our desire to prevent illnesses in animals, which allows them to live longer, more productive lives!

Father/ Son People First Meeting

Tue, 26 Nov 2013 16:28:00 GMT

PeopleFirst™ Father/Son Informational Luncheon
When: December 13th 10:00am - 1:00pm
Where: The Barn Restaurant, Smithville
“Increased COMMUNICATION – Consistent PERFORMANCE – High ENGAGEMENT”

A group of interested fathers and sons met at the Orrville Veterinary Clinic last winter to share some concerns about the challenges of working together and transitioning the farm from one generation to the next. From this meeting, PeopleFirst designed a program to meet these challenges in your operation. PeopleFirst understands the generational dynamics and significant changes agriculture organizations have endured the past 10 years and how this impacts the leadership, communication, and engagement of operations.

Join PeopleFirst for an informational luncheon to learn more about their new program specially geared toward your concerns from our winter meeting. PeopleFirst Business Solutions Manager, Charles Contreras, will describe the new 2014 program that incorporates the dynamics and generational differences of father/son organizations. Other topics covered in the program include:

To reserve your place at the luncheon, please call the Orrville Veterinary Clinic by Friday, December 6, 2013.

Contact Charles Contreras, Business Solutions Manager, Orrville Veterinary Clinic, or Tom Esselburn, your local Zoetis Representative with any questions.

Charles Contreras Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc Tom Esselburn
(260) 417 – 7749 (330) 682-2971 (330)201-1318

New Excenel RTU EZ

Fri, 15 Nov 2013 18:34:00 GMT

Excenel RTU EZ

Zoetis (formerly Pfizer Animal Helath) has recently released a new formulation of Excenel. This newer form is called "Excenel RTU EZ." Zoetis has improved the formulation to make the product 40% easier to syringe.

This newly formulated Excenel RTU EZ is still indicated for the same diseases that it was previously approved for use in animals. The major change is to the meat/ slaghter with hold. This with hold time has increased to 4 days (96 hours) from the previous 3 day hold.

Milk hold is still "0" and Zoetis recommends 15ml/inj site.

Calf Barn Tube Ventilation

Fri, 15 Nov 2013 15:12:00 GMT

Tube Ventilation in Calf Barns

Calf hutches remain the gold standard for providing optimal environment for calf health. Recently, calf barns have been gaining popularity, mainly because they provide a much more comfortable working environment for humans. Ventilation can be a challenge in calf barns and respiratory disease can be a result. Respiratory disease has several effects on the calves and dairy herd as a whole. These include death in calves, higher drug costs, and reduced milk production in the coming years.

Supplemental positive pressure tube ventilation systems are designed to provide fresh, outside air at the level of the calf. Multiple studies have concluded that fresh air, with a lower bacterial count, will result in a lower incidence of respiratory disease in calves. The dairy veterinarians at Orrville Veterinary Clinic can design these tubes specifically for your calf facility so that your calves receive fresh air without a draft. These systems are also very inexpensive given the costs of respiratory disease in calves. There is no calf facility that wouldn’t benefit from supplemental tube ventilation systems. Don’t let respiratory disease hold back the profitability and health of your dairy calves.

Emerging Disease Threat: Lyme Disease

Thu, 14 Nov 2013 21:32:00 GMT

Emerging Disease Threat: Lyme Disease

Ohio is seeing a shocking increase in the number of deer ticks that can carry Lyme disease, according to the AP(Associated Press). The specific reason for the rapid rise in Ohio is unknown, but the lack of harsh winters over several of the past few years has failed to kill off a portion of the tick population. The increase in the population of the white footed mouse, which is also a result of the unusually warm winters of 2011 and 2013, is a more likely reason. More than 1,800 black-legged ticks were found on deer heads collected from hunters last year, and 183 more submitted to the state for identification were confirmed. This is compared with 29 that were found on deer heads the year before and 45 that were submitted and confirmed, according to (ODA) the Ohio Department of Health. The ticks, some carrying Lyme disease, have especially shown up in eastern and southern Ohio.

Ticks are small, eight-legged parasites that must drink blood in order to survive and reproduce. Ticks don’t fly and they can’t jump (unlike fleas). In fact, ticks are more closely related to spiders and mites than to “insects” like fleas. Ticks can feed on a variety of hosts including birds, dogs, cats and people. Despite a very popular myth, ticks do not fall or jump out of trees onto a host. However, ticks can climb, and they tend to attach themselves to shrubs and blades of tall grass. When a host walks by and brushes against the grass or shrub where the tick is waiting, the tick climbs onto the host. Once on a new host, the tick eventually finds a location to attach and feed.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread through the bite of a black-legged tick. The black-legged tick picks up the bacteria by biting a mouse or deer that has been infected with Lyme disease. A tick must be attached for 24-36 hours to spread the bacteria to the blood of the host. This means that if you check your pets and yourself daily, you have a chance of finding and removing any ticks before they can transmit Lyme disease. However, the black-legged tick is so small that detection within this time period is highly unlikely.

How to Remove a Tick from your Pet:

Do grasp the tick firmly with tweezers as close to the head as possible.
Do pull the tick straight out with a steady, even pressure.
Do disinfect the site of the bite and wash your hands.
Do preserve the tick in alcohol for proper classification. Don’t twist or jerk the tick.
Don’t use petroleum jelly, grease, a hot match or other methods that may irritate skin or cause other injuries to you or your pet. When in doubt ask your physician or veterinary care team for assistance removing the tick.
What do I do if my pet or I have been bitten by a tick?

Call your healthcare provider if you have: a large, red, expanding rash that may look like a bull’s eye or develop weakness, numbness, or tingling, or heart problems. Call your veterinarian if your dog exhibits the following symptoms: lameness, a stiff walk with an arched back, sensitivity to touch, difficulty breathing, fever, lack of appetite and depression.

How can you keep yourself and your pet(s) safe from ticks?

Keeping your pet out of wooded or bushy areas, tall grass and leaf litter is a good way to reduce the exposure. Spraying all exposed skin and your clothing with insect repellant and walking in the center of trails can reduce the risk. However, this can be difficult for many pet owners, especially if they share an active outdoor lifestyle with their pet. Effective flea and tick control products can be used on pets to help protect them from ticks. Your veterinarian can recommend a safe and effective product for your furry friend. If you feel that your dog is at significant risk talk to your veterinarian about including a vaccination for Lyme disease to your dog’s annual preventative vaccinations. If you are not sure if your dog is at risk, talk it over with your veterinarian who can do a risk assessment and recommend the best preventive care for your dog.

What about cats?

Cats are less likely to be diagnosed with Lyme disease. However, there are still reasons to be concerned about your cat coming in contact with ticks. If a cat is heavily infested with ticks, the parasites can drink enough blood to cause anemia (severe blood loss). Keeping your cat indoors reduces the risk of your cat bringing ticks inside to you and your family.

Be cautious but do not be alarmed, most people who are bitten by a tick do not get Lyme disease. If diagnosed in the early stages, Lyme disease can be cured with antibiotics. Without treatment, complications involving the joints, heart, and nervous system can occur. However, these symptoms are still treatable.

We are able to screen your pet easily with a in house test. This test is in combination with the common heartworm test that we perform in the clinic. As a result, we have been screening many of our canine patients for the past few years. We are no recommending Lyme vaccination to our canine patients who seem to be a greater risk. Lyme vaccination is rapidly becoming a "core" vaccination and is regarded as "recommended for use only in dogs with a known risk exposure or where disease is known to be endemic," according to the American Animal Hospital Association . In addition to vaccination, tick preventives are key to preventing disease transmission, though no one product is 100% effective for preventing ticks.

The ODA has shown that the state of Ohio is rapidly becoming and endemic area for Lyme disease, with Seville, Wadsworth, Medina, Lodi, Rittman, Creston and the nearby regions on the edge of the most affected areas.

Written by Tara Monahan

Why Choose an AAHA Accredited Practice

Thu, 14 Nov 2013 21:03:00 GMT

Why to choose a veterinary clinic that is accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association

The American Animal Hospital Association ( AAHA ) was established in 1933 as the only accrediting body for veterinary clinics within the United States of America and Canada. Accreditation by AAHA is on a voluntary basis, with over 3,200 clinics participating. In order to qualify, a veterinary practice must go through a series of evaluations, in which they are evaluated based upon roughly 900 standards that have been established by AAHA. In addition, a veterinary clinic must be reevaluated every two years and consultants from AAHA regularly perform visits to ensure compliance with the standards.
How does a veterinary clinic that is accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association benefit you? Here are a few examples:

AAHA Accreditation helps veterinary hospitals stay on the leading edge of veterinary medicine. We also provide the quality and range of services you and your pet deserve.
By participating in the voluntary accreditation program, the Orrville Veterinary Clinic is in an elite category of veterinary clinics in the United States. We were the first in Wayne County, Ohio to undergo the initial AAHA accreditation process and are one of three accredited Hospitals in our area. We are proud to be the first Wayne county practice to undergo evaluation, setting the example for the other two local AAHA practices, which are located in Wooster and in Rittman. We are proud to be a standard bearer as advocates for the human animal bond by providing the best of care to you and your pet.

Lyme Disease on the rise in Ohio

Thu, 14 Nov 2013 17:48:00 GMT

Lyme Disease on the Rise in Ohio

According to a release from the Associated Press, the State of Ohio is seeing a shocking increase in the number of deer ticks that can carry Lyme disease. It is unclear what has caused this increase, though researchers suspect one factor is favorable weather conditions that helped more of the tick population survive. Another, more likely reason, is the overpopulation of the white footed mouse in the state, which is also a result of the unusually warm winters of 2011 and 2013. More than 1,800 black-legged ticks were found on deer heads collected from hunters last year, and 183 more submitted to the state for identification were confirmed, compared with 29 found on deer heads the year before and 45 that were submitted and confirmed, according to the Ohio Department of Health. The ticks, some carrying Lyme disease, have especially shown up in eastern and southern Ohio.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread through the bite of a black-legged tick. The black-legged tick picks up the bacteria when they bite mice or deer that are infected with Lyme disease. In most cases, a tick must be attached for 24-36 hours to spread the bacteria to the blood of the host. This means that if you check your pets and yourself daily, you have a chance of finding and removing any ticks before they can transmit Lyme disease. However, the black-legged tick is so small that detection within this time period is highly unlikely.

Do’s and Don’ts of tick removal:

What do I do if my pet or I have been bitten by a tick?

How can you keep yourself and your pet(s) safe from ticks?

Keeping your pet out of wooded or bushy areas, tall grass and leaf litter is a good way to reduce the exposure. Spraying all exposed skin and your clothing with insect repellant and walking in the center of trails can reduce the risk. However, this can be difficult for many pet owners, especially if they share an active outdoor lifestyle with their pet. Effective flea and tick control products can be used on pets to help protect them from ticks. Your veterinarian can recommend a safe and effective product for your furry friend. Some of our favorite products are Bravect, Credelio , Simparica, and Vectra 3d. If you feel that your dog is at significant risk talk to your veterinarian about including a vaccination for Lyme disease to your dog’s annual preventative vaccinations. If you are not sure if your dog is at risk, talk it over with your veterinarian who can do a risk assessment and recommend the best preventive care for your dog.

What about cats?

Article by Dr. Jeffrey R. Fink

Horse Owners Meeting

Thu, 14 Nov 2013 16:38:00 GMT

Did you know that many of our veterinarians also provide farm animal services? Check out below to see about our partner clinic's equine services. We schedule all of our farm calls through our Orrville office and Seville is at the Northern edge of our practice area. We are always happy to discuss the possibility of providing your with large animal services. Click here to be redirected to the Orrville Veterinary Clinic website, or call them at (330)682-2971. Our practice area includes southern Medina county, Wayne County, Holmes County and portions of Stark and Tuscawaras counties in Ohio.

The veterinarians at the Orrville Veterinary Clinic strive to practice medicine using the most current research and information. We also strive to pass this information onto our equine clients through our annual Horse Owner’s Meeting. We have previously covered topics such as deworming and nutrition with guest speakers who are considered experts in their fields. We also have refreshments, informative pamphlets, and door prizes which include a free power float for your horse! The meeting takes place in late January at Heartland Pointe in Orrville. Watch our Facebook page and website for more information. You do not need to be a current horse client to attend. We look forward to seeing you there.

3rd Annual Horse Owner's Meeting

Thu, 14 Nov 2013 16:13:00 GMT

3rd Annual Horse Owner's Meeting Veterinary Wellness Partners Thu, 11/14/2013 - 11:13am The veterinarians at the Orrville Veterinary Clinic strive to practice medicine using the most current research and information. We also strive to pass this information onto our equine clients through our annual Horse Owner’s Meeting. We have previously covered topics such as deworming and nutrition with guest speakers who are considered experts in their fields. We also have refreshments, informative pamphlets, and door prizes which include a free power float for your horse! The meeting takes place in late January at Heartland Pointe in Orrville. Watch our Facebook page and website for more information. You do not need to be a current horse client to attend. We look forward to seeing you there. Tags Horse Care Horse Health Horse Owners Horse Information

Sarah's Pause Paws for a Cause to the Rescue!

Fri, 08 Nov 2013 16:53:00 GMT

Sarah’s “Paws for a Cause” to he Rescue

On September 17, 2012, Max Brumfield found himself in a situation where he needed help from Sarah’s “Paws for a Cause” fund. Max was going on a car ride with his pal Abe. Max got a little over excited and decided to try and jump in the car window. Max fell backwards landing on his hip. Max was taken to a satellite branch of The Orrville Veterinary Clinic, the Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic. Dr. Marissa Hofstetter, DVM examined Max and took x-rays of his hip. The x-rays showed that Max’s hip was displaced. Dr. Hofstetter was able to put his hip back in place but because of a shallow hip joint it was not likely to stay in place. The next step for Max was a surgery called a femoral head osteotomy. This is when the head and neck of the femur are removed and a new false joint is formed. Max’s family was not prepared for the cost of such a surgery. Thanks to a generous private donor and multiple donors at Smith Dairy in Orrville, Ohio, in remembrance of a beloved pet named Murphy Holmes, there were funds available in Sarah’s “Paws for a Cause” Fund. The orthopedic surgeon at OVC, Dr. Melvin Wenger, DVM, was able to proceed with Max’s surgery.

Max Brumfield is a three year old, German Shepherd and Husky mix. Max lives in Medina, Ohio with his family, Robert, Sara and Jennifer Brumfield. Max was rescued as a puppy with his brothers and sisters who were found in a dumpster. The Brumfield family fell in love with Max right away. His family was especially taken by the fact that his one eye is half brown and half blue. Max is a very special dog. He is not only a loving member of his family, he can also detect when his owner is going to have a seizure. One day, Sara was home alone and she started seizuring. The police arrived at her house and said they had received a 911 phone call and all they could hear was a dog barking. When the police went into the house to investigate, they found the phone off the hook and chewed up. Since Max’s amazing ability was discovered he has been training with Angela from Canine Social Time to further develop his skills.

Max’s surgery was a success and after weeks of resting as much as possible he is back to using his injured hip. Now Max can get back to his important job of alerting his owner of an oncoming seizure. The Brumfield family is so thankful that Sarah’s “Paws for a Cause” Fund was available to help finance Max’s surgery. The Orrville Veterinary Clinic is thrilled to be able to help Max and honor their beloved Sarah. If you have a special friend that you would like to remember by donating to Sarah’s “Paws for a Cause” Fund you can do so by contacting the Orrville Veterinary Clinic by phone (330)682-2971, email at orrvet@earthlink.net or mail to c/o Sarah’s “Paws for a Cause” Fund 1665 N. Main St Orrville, Ohio 44667.

Care of Newborn Foals

Fri, 08 Nov 2013 16:36:00 GMT

By the time that your mare goes into labor, you have a lot of time, money, and emotion invested. The doctors at the Orrville Veterinary Clinic realize how important the first 24 hours of life are to the future health of your foal, as well as the current health of your mare. We have designed new foal injections that supplement necessary trace minerals and provide a preventive vaccination. In addition to these foal injections, the physical examination of your foal is very important. Perhaps just as important is a complete examination of the placenta and that is why we recommend that you save the placenta as soon as possible after it has passed from the mare. We will also examine the mare to ensure she has a sufficient volume of colostrum (first milk) in her udder.

Most horse owners know how important colostrum is to the foal’s well being in the months to come. Foals are born with no immune system and rely on colostrum to provide them with immunity from the mare. How do you know if your foal nurses enough colostrum? A blood test can tell you what the blood level of Immunoglobulin G (IgG) is in your foal. A low IgG level indicates your foal did not nurse enough colostrum or the colostrum may have been too dilute. Low IgG predisposes your foal to future diseases such as diarrhea or pneumonia or even weakness, septicemia, and death.

Before 24 hours of age your foal’s gut can still absorb immunoglobulins from the colostrum. If the foal is not nursing well we may decide to tube feed the foal several times to optimize immunity transfer from the mare. After 24 hours of age, the foal’s gut cannot absorb any more immunoglobulins. If IgG levels are low in the foal’s blood at that time, we recommend intravenous administration of hyperimmune plasma to your foal. Plasma provides very immediate immunity and prevents weakness and death in the short term as well as provides immunity to fight off diseases in the months to come.

We are as passionate about foal care as you are, and we look forward to working with your mare and foal to ensure health and wellness for years to come. If you are new to breeding and are expecting a foal, we also provide consultation in regards to nutrition, vaccinations for your mare, and what to expect in the foaling process.

Flea Treatment and Prevention

Tue, 05 Nov 2013 20:28:00 GMT

The cat flea is a leading cause of itching and scratching in dogs and cats that we evaluate at Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic. All fleas survive by jumping onto an animal, biting their skin, and feeding on the blood. As a result you, will observe the animal scratching and chewing. This causes irritability, hair loss, and skin infections. In addition, some pets are not only irritated by the flea bite, but they are allergic (hypersensitive) to the bite itself. Pets with flea allergy dermatitis have a much more dramatic skin reaction than pets that are simply irritated by the flea's saliva. Often there can be large amounts of hair loss, severe skin infection, and the pet may be itchy and irritable from only a few fleas. We recommend checking your pet for fleas by buying a fine tooth comb and running it though your pet's coat. It is important to focus around the ears, neck, and tail head. If there are any black specks present, test them by applying hydrogen peroxide. The black flecks that turn red when sprayed are flea dirt, which is the digested blood of your pet defecated onto the skin. The scary part is that live adult fleas are only 5 % of the problem, with the rest of the stages including eggs, larvae, and pupae. One adult flea can lay 500 eggs in its lifetime. The pupated stage is essentially a cocoon and can live in the environment up to a year. It is stimulated to hatch if it is interrupted by movement, heat, and carbon dioxide indicating the animal is in the vicinity causing it to hatch into an adult flea.

Animals get fleas from other flea-infested animals. These include stray dogs or stray cats, some other neighbors’ dog or cat, urban wildlife (mainly opossums and raccoons). At some point, a contaminated went through your neighborhood, your yard, and the female flea is laying eggs and the eggs fall off into the environment your pet walks through. The best way to manage fleas and ticks is go to your veterinarian and find out what products they recommend for your area. The issue with many of the over-the-counter products is that many are what we call pyrethroids, or synthetic pyrethrins. Fleas are commonly resistant to this class of insecticides, so one of the reasons over-the-counter formulations don’t work very well. Be sure to use the correct size made specifically for your pet, as your pet can have a serious reaction to an overdose. Never use dog flea prevention on a cat, as a cat's nervous system can only handle feline flea preventative.

In order to prevent fleas we recommend that you keep your pet on a monthly preventative that is recommended by your veterinarian and using the product according to their recommendations. It is important to use a recommended preventive every month during flea season. Flea season is typically when the temperatures are above 50 degrees Fahrenheit with 50% relative humidity. This allows them to breed and for the adult fleas have a blood meal. Because of climate-controlled homes, fleas easily breed inside all year long if homeowners don't eliminate fleas, flea eggs and flea larvae.

The best way to treat a flea infestation is by starting with a monthly preventative recommended by your veterinarian. Of course, the product should be used product according to the recommendations. In the face of an outbreak or infestation, an effective flea prevention is recommended once monthly for a minimum of 3 months. This method and duration is required for full kill of the flea life cycle. This also includes vacuuming your home, washing all bedding in hot water, and using an approved flea insecticide spray or bomb in the home. This environmental treatment should be repeated in two weeks. It is important to remove all animals, including fish and birds, from the home while using any insecticides. Spray your carpets, rugs, furniture, baseboards, along walls and on your pet's bedding. Make sure to follow the directions on the can. It is important to make sure that you don't forget door edges, corners, floors with cracks and underneath furniture and furniture cushions. Flea larvae love to hide in dark places even if your pet is too large to crawl under your furniture. If you use a fogger, you still need to spray the areas that the fogger can't reach. Be sure to throw away the vacuum bag or all contents of the container if the vacuum is bag less. This should be disposed of immediately after vacuuming. If your pet goes outside it is recommended to continue to use the flea preventative monthly during flea season. If your pet spends more than 5 percent of its time outdoors, it may be necessary to treat the yard as well. You should remove debris like fallen leaves, grass clippings or other organic items before treating your yard. Also, mow your lawn before you spray. Make sure to spray all shaded or partially shaded areas; such as inside dog houses, beneath trees, shrubbery and bushes or beneath your deck or porch.

There are many myths about the use of natural or organic flea preventatives and their efficacy. There really aren’t any that are very effective from a natural standpoint. Many people resort to using garlic and/or brewer’s yeast, yet the research shows none of that stuff works. We feel that if these home remedies have worked for you, then there are likely no fleas in the environment your pet has been in.. But remember, the way animals get fleas is by some other flea-infested animal - a stray dog or stray cat, or some other neighbors’ dog or cat, or urban wildlife coming into the environment and leaving flea eggs, larvae, pupae, or adult fleas behind. It’s better to protect your pet the correct way and safe way the first time, as this will save you and your pet a lot of headache and save you a lot of money in the long run. At our animal hospital, we carry a full line or recommended and effective preventives. We are located at 1111 Wooster Rd. N in Barberton, Ohio. Our location is conveniently accessible from Akron, Barberton, Norton and the surrounding areas of Summit and Stark counties.

Submitted by Amanda Bell, R.V.T. Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic

Flea Prevention and Control

Tue, 05 Nov 2013 20:14:00 GMT

How to Prevent and Treat Fleas

At Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic, Inc; the ordinary cat flea is a leading cause of itching and scratching in dogs and cats. These fleas survive by jumping onto an animal, biting their skin, and feeding on the blood. As a result you will observe the animal scratching and chewing causing irritability, hair loss, and skin infections. Some pets are not only irritated by the flea bite, they are allergic (hypersensitive) to the bite itself. These pets have a much more dramatic skin reaction than pets that are simply irritated by the flea's saliva. Often there can be large amounts of hair loss, severe skin infection, and the pet may be itchy and irritable from only a few fleas. We recommend checking your pet for fleas by buying a fine tooth comb and running it though your pet's coat. It is important to focus around the ears, neck, and tail head. If there are any black specks present, test them by applying hydrogen peroxide. The black flecks that turn red when sprayed are flea dirt, which is the digested blood of your pet defecated onto the skin. The scary part is that live adult fleas are only 5 % of the problem, with the rest of the stages including eggs, larvae, and pupae. One adult flea can lay 500 eggs in its lifetime. The pupated stage is essentially a cocoon and can live in the environment up to a year. It is stimulated to hatch if it is interrupted by movement, heat, and carbon dioxide indicating the animal is in the vicinity causing it to hatch into an adult flea.

There are many myths about the use of natural or organic flea preventatives and their efficacy. There really aren’t any that are very effective from a natural standpoint. Many people resort to using garlic and/or brewer’s yeast, yet the research shows none of that stuff works. We feel that if these home remedies have worked for you, then there are likely no fleas in the environment your pet has been in.. But remember, the way animals get fleas is by some other flea-infested animal - a stray dog or stray cat, or some other neighbors’ dog or cat, or urban wildlife coming into the environment and leaving flea eggs, larvae, pupae, or adult fleas behind. It’s better to protect your pet the correct way and safe way the first time, as this will save you and your pet a lot of headache and save you a lot of money in the long run. At our full service animal hospital, located between Seville and Wadsworth on Greenwich Rd.; we carry a full line or recommended and effective preventives

Submitted by Amanda Bell, R.V.T. Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic

Internet

Mon, 04 Nov 2013 21:00:00 GMT

We are sorry for the inconvenience but the internet at the Orrville Pet Spa & Resort is currently down. It should be fixed by the end of the day. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Flea Control and Prevention

Fri, 01 Nov 2013 21:02:00 GMT

At Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc; the ordinary cat flea is the leading cause of itching and scratching in dogs and cats. Fleas survive by jumping onto a host animal, biting their skin, and feeding on the blood. As a result you will observe the animal scratching and chewing causing irritability, hair loss, and skin infections. If the pet has a hypersensitivity to the flea saliva there can be a dramatic difference in appearance from one that does not. Often there can be large amounts of hair loss, severe skin infection, and the pet may be itchy and irritable from only a few fleas. We recommend checking your pet for fleas, which is done by buying a fine tooth comb and combing the pet well. It is important to focus around the ears, neck, and tail head. If there are any black specks that turn red when sprayed with water this is flea dirt that is the digested blood of your pet defecated onto the skin. Live adult fleas are only 5 % of the problem, with the rest of the stages including eggs, larvae, and pupae. One adult flea can lay 500 eggs in its lifetime. The pupated stage is essentially a cocoon and can live in the environment up to a year. It is stimulated to hatch if it is interrupted by movement, heat, and carbon dioxide indicating the animal is in the vicinity causing it to hatch into an adult flea.

Proper ways to prevent fleas are to keep your pet on a monthly preventative that is recommended by your veterinarian and using the product according to their recommendations. It is important to use a recommended preventive every month during flea season. Flea season is typically when the temperatures are above 50 consistently with 50% humidity. This allows them to breed and for the adult fleas have a blood meal. Because of climate-controlled homes, fleas easily breed inside all year long if homeowners don't eliminate fleas, flea eggs and flea larvae.

The best way to treat a flea infestation is by starting with a monthly preventative recommended by your veterinarian. Of course, the product should be used product according to the recommendations. Giving flea prevention once monthly for a minimum of 3 months is required for full kill of the flea life cycle. This also includes vacuuming your home, washing all bedding in hot water, and using an approved flea insecticide spray or bomb in the home. This environmental treatment should be repeated in two weeks. It is important to remove all animals, including fish and birds, from the home while using any insecticides. Spray your carpets, rugs, furniture, baseboards, along walls and on your pet's bedding. Make sure to follow the directions on the can. It is important to make sure that you don't forget door edges, corners, floors with cracks and underneath furniture and furniture cushions. Flea larvae love to hide in dark places even if your pet is too large to crawl under your furniture. If you use a fogger, you still need to spray the areas that the fogger can't reach. Be sure to throw away the vacuum bag or all contents of the container if the vacuum is bag less. This should be disposed of immediately after vacuuming. If your pet goes outside it is recommended to continue to use the flea preventative monthly during flea season. If your pet spends more than 5 percent of its time outdoors, it may be necessary to treat the yard as well. You should remove debris like fallen leaves, grass clippings or other organic items before treating your yard. Also, mow your lawn before you spray. Make sure to spray all shaded or partially shaded areas; such as inside dog houses, beneath trees, shrubbery and bushes or beneath your deck or porch.

There are many myths about the use of natural or organic flea preventatives and how they work. There really aren’t any that work from a natural standpoint. Many people resort to using garlic and/or brewer’s yeast, yet the research shows none of that stuff works. If these home remedies have worked for you, then there are likely no fleas in the environment your pet has been in. At our full service animal hospital, located south of Ritmman along S.R. 57 in Orrville, Ohio; we carry a full line or recommended and effective preventives. But remember, the way animals get fleas is by some other flea-infested animal - a stray dog or stray cat, or some other neighbors’ dog or cat, or urban wildlife coming into the environment and leaving flea eggs, larvae, pupae, or adult fleas behind. It’s better to protect your pet the correct way and safe way the first time, as this will save you and your pet a lot of headache and save you a lot of money in the long run.

Article Submitted by Amanda Bell, R.V.T.

Barktober Fest in Doggie Daycare Today!

Thu, 31 Oct 2013 19:59:00 GMT

Barktober Fest in Doggie Daycare Today! Veterinary Wellness Partners Thu, 10/31/2013 - 3:59pm Lots of fun is being had by all at Barktoberfest in Doggie Daycare today! Check out all the fun on our Facebook page!

Holiday Safety for Pets

Thu, 31 Oct 2013 18:07:00 GMT

Holiday Safety for Pets

As we turn the calendar from October to November, our thoughts turn to the upcoming holiday seasons. Within a few weeks, it will be Thanksgiving, followed by Black Friday. We then enter the Christmas season, along with other religious holidays that are celebrated. These holidays are exciting and a great time of spending time together as a family. We are excited about the decorations and the celebrations that will occur. It is our desire to keep all pets safe during this time period. The following article was written by our own Tara Monahan for the Orrviews.

Dangerous Plants

Poinsettias, once the poster plant for toxic holiday decorations, are still considered poisonous, but are probably not deadly in most cases. Other plants and flowers that should be kept away from pets include mistletoe, some evergreens, holly bushes and berries, aloe, and some plants that are commonly found in floral arrangements, such as lilies, baby’s breath, bird of paradise, daisies and chrysanthemums. You can decorate with these types of plants, just be sure they are out of your pet’s reach.

Dangerous Foods

Chocolate is quite dangerous for pets and should be avoided, but the good news is most people already are aware of that. Just remember that darker chocolate is more toxic than milk chocolate or white chocolate. Also, the smaller the dog and the larger the amount of chocolate, the more likely there will be problems.

Other potentially hazardous foods include sugar-free candy or gum (which may contain xylitol), raisins, macadamia nuts, grapes, bread dough, coffee and alcohol.

Regular Foods

Yes, even chicken, turkey, beef, ham, and other “regular” foods, including those containing onions or garlic can cause illness in pets. Bones are a very dangerous thing to give to pets. However, your pet does not have to eat bones or get into the garbage to be in trouble. Often, well-meaning guests give your pet table food, thinking that sharing is a good thing. Unfortunately, even a small amount of table food can cause vomiting or diarrhea, and some foods can cause pancreatitis (a life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas). If your pet is a food beggar, consider keeping him or her in a separate room when everyone is eating.

Decorations

Tinsel, angel hair, tree ornaments, ribbons, string, garlands, and other decorations can be irresistible to pets, but very dangerous. Intestinal damage and blockages are among the potential problems if your pet eats something in one of these categories. Even Christmas trees can pose a danger. Pets may eat the needles (even from artificial trees) or drink water from the base of the tree, which can be toxic (especially if there are preservatives in it). Make sure your tree is secured to a wall to prevent tipping over. Also, do not decorate your tree with food such as cookies, candy canes, cranberries and popcorn these can be too tempting for a pet to resist.

Electrical Cords, Heaters and Open Flames

A pet can suffer electrocution, mouth burns, and life-threatening injury to the brain and lungs if he or she chews on an electrical cord. Keep cords out of the way and cover unused electrical outlets. Also do not leave batteries on a table or counter where “counter surfers” can find them. Fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, candles, and portable heaters are just a few hazards to keep your pets away from (or at least monitor when they are nearby). Not only can pets be burned, but candles and heaters can be knocked over and start a fire. Also, don’t forget to check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are functioning properly.

Cold Weather

Even pets that are used to being outside are susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia. Pets that live outdoors need adequate shelter from wind, rain and cold. If it is too cold for you to be comfortable outside then it is too cold for your pet as well. Fresh, unfrozen water must be available at all times. Heated water bowls can be purchased at pet supply stores or online. If your pet has a dog house or igloo, make sure that the inside is insulated. Heated pet mats, along with a good layer of straw, are an option to keep your pet warm and comfortable. It is important to use heated products that are approved for pets. Old or sick pets should be kept inside when possible and monitored closely for signs of illness. If weather alerts are issued in your area recommending that humans stay indoors, it is a good idea to bring your pet indoors too.

Antifreeze, Windshield Wiper Fluid and Alcohol

Also known as ethylene glycol, antifreeze is probably one of the most common and dangerous toxins. Antifreeze has a sweet smell and taste which can attract pets. Once the pet drinks antifreeze, the toxin is rapidly absorbed. Clinical signs of antifreeze toxicity include vomiting, loss of coordination, and depression. These clinical signs can develop rapidly, often within 1 hour. The kidneys are the most severely affected by antifreeze, and even if signs start to improve with treatment, the kidneys may have already started to shut down. It is important to take your pet to the vet immediately if you suspect he or she has drunk even a small amount of antifreeze. Methanol, found in windshield wiper fluid, is also toxic to pets. So is isopropanol, commonly found in hand sanitizer, windshield de-icing agents and rubbing alcohol.

Salt and Chemical Ice Melts

Pets that walk on sidewalks that have been de-iced can have chapped, dry, painful paws. Also because pets tend to lick their paws, they can be exposed to toxic chemicals found in some ice-melts. Pet-safe ice melt products can be purchased at most home improvement and pet stores. However, not everyone in the neighborhood may use these products, so it is important to wash your pet’s feet with a warm cloth after he or she have been outside.

Giving a pet as a gift is not recommended. Although this seems like the perfect festive gift, it should be avoided. The holidays are not ideal for introducing a new pet into a family. New pets require a stable environment and plenty of extra attention and time to bond with their new family. The bustle and travel associated with the holidays does not provide the sort of environment a new pet needs to succeed with a new family. If a new pet is part of the family plan, give a variety of pet toys or books on pet care.

By all means, go crazy sprucing up your home and wrapping presents. But make sure you do it in a way that is safe for your pet(s) this holiday season. The holidays are both a wonderful and a stressful time. The constant stream of visitors, parties and traveling can take a toll on both you and your pet. Make sure to spend quality time alone with your pet every day. This will allow you to observe your pet for any unusual behavior or symptoms, as well as to enjoy the tranquility the season can bring. Happy Holidays!

Additional tips to keep your pets safe when friends and family come to visit:

Orrville Veterinary Clinic offers after hour emergency services on an as needed basis. We provide support for minor emergencies prior to 10:00 P.M. Major emergencies and those after 10:00 P.M. are referred to local 24 hour veterinary emergency clinics that are fully staffed a prepared for such emergency situations.

Please call the clinic at (330)682-2971 if you are experiencing and emergency with your pet.

This article submitted by Jeff Fink

The Cat Flea Life Cycle

Thu, 31 Oct 2013 16:06:00 GMT

The Flea Life Cycle

In Seville, Wadsworth, Creston, Medina, Rittman and the areas surrounding the Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic; the most common flea problem is actually Cetenocephalides Felis (A.K.A. the cat flea). The cat flea is responsible for approximately 80% of the flea outbreaks in Ohio. The adult fleas tend to spend their mature lives on the host, although adult fleas can survive for several days in the environment. Hosts can include just about any animal that is warm blooded and covered in hair. This includes wildlife, such as squirrels, racoons and possums. Survival in the environment is dependent upon the relative humidity and temperature. The pupae are stimulated to hatch by the presence of vibrations on the ground and carbon dioxide. After emerging from the pupated (think cocoon) stage, adult fleas migrate toward light and locate hosts through visual cues.

Adult fleas begin to feed on the host's blood very rapidly ( within seconds to minutes). Within 1-3 days of the first blood meal, the adult flea begins to lay eggs. Female fleas can lay 50 eggs per day. She may continue to lay eggs for up to 100 days. Flea eggs fall into the environment, mostly being found where the dog or cat spends a lot of time. These areas include bedding and play areas, but may also involve rooms wuch as the family room or living room.

The flea eggs will hatch starting at 24 hours and continuing over a period 10 days. Once the eggs hatch, they enter their larval stage. These emerging larvae feed on flea feces and organic debris (things like dust particles). The larvae tend to prefer dark areas, so they migrate away from light into carpets, bedding and soil. Flea larvae will go through 2 molts over the next 5-11 days before entering the pupae stage. While the flea larvae are quite susceptible to heat and desiccation, flea pupae are relatively resistant. Likewise, there are many available products to target the larval stage, but not the pupated stage.

The adult fleas begin to emerge from pupae in 5-9 days, contributing to the viscous cycle. If they fail to hatch, these pupae can remain dormant for several weeks to months until a host is found. Once again, these pupae emerge when they sense vibrations and carbon dioxide (two of the cues that a blood meal is in the area). A main reason that flea infestation can be difficult to control is due to the persistence of these dormant pupae in the environment.

The entire life cycle, from egg to adult flea, is completed in 3 to 8 weeks in most cases. In certain instances, the life cycle may extend to nearly 6 months if the temperature and ambient humidity are ideal. In our area, we do benefit from the cold season. These extreme temperatures help to control the flea life cycle because none of the flea life stages can survive prolonged (greater than 10 days) exposure to freezing temperatures. Unfortunately, this only extends to the environment, as it is thought that fleas can "over-winter" on urban wildlife (opossums, foxes, skunks, raccoons) and feral cats in northern climates. These pets then serve as sources of re-infestation for pets.

Here is a scary thought: the adult fleas that you can see only represent 5% of the entire problem. The breakdown of the life cycle is as follows:
Adult fleas: 5%
Pupated Stage: 10%
Larval Stage: 35%
Eggs: 50%

We will try to have a subsequent article to discuss how to treat a flea infestation. We will also likey cover flea allergy dermatitis in an additional article.

Litter Box Management

Thu, 31 Oct 2013 15:22:00 GMT

Litter Box Management to Prevent Problems

One of the more common problems that we see with our feline patients is that of urinary tract issues. Whether the issue is simply stress, a urinary tract infection, or bladder stones; many conditions can be prevented with proper litter box management. A lot of urinary tract conditions are the result of prolonged retention of urine (holding it too long). This is often the result of the cat not wanting to use the litter box. Below are some guidelines to properly managing your cats litter box to give him or her the best chance to avoid urinary tract issues.

Keep it Clean :

It is best to scoop the litter box at least once a day. The odors from the urine or feces will invade the rest of your house the longer that it sits in the box. If you are able to smell any odors, your cat has been smelling them for a longer time and at more intense levels. To avoid the build up of odors, scoop your litter box early and often. We recoommend that our cat owners scoop the litter box at least once a day.

A general guideline for replacing clay litter is once a week. You should scrub the litter box every time that you change the litter, using a mild dish detergent to clean it. Other cleaning products that contain ammonia or citrus oils can make the litter box undesirable to the cat. In addition, some cleaning products are toxic.

Replace the litter box once a year. Over time, your cat’s claws and your scooper can make small scratches in the bottom and sides of your litter box. These grooves are harder to sterilize and can hold onto odor. Avoid this by donating your used litter box to a shelter or rescue group yearly and treating your cat to a new box. Avoid covered litter boxes, not only are they more expensive, but they serve as another method to trap odors.

Scented Litter vs. Unscented :

Scented is not as it seems. Many people used scented litter to mask litter box odors, but those scents can put off many cats. For the same reason, it's not a good idea to place a room deodorizer or air freshener near the litter box. Placing a thin layer of baking soda on the bottom of the box will help absorb odors without repelling your cat. In addition, if you scoop the box daily, and replace the litter once a week, the litter box should not smell.

If you find the litter box odor offensive, your cat, with his keen sense of smell, probably finds it even more offensive and won't want to use the litter box. Try to find a brand of litter that smells best to you (and your cat). To do this, try using a different litter in each litter box in your home and seeing: (a) which litter your cat prefers and (b) which litter controls the odor the best. You might just find that you and your cat have a litter preference in common.

Where to Place Litter Boxes

Keep the litter box in a well-ventilated area. One of the biggest mistakes cat owners make is putting the litter box in a tiny, dark and hidden space. This allows the odor to build up. Plus, if it’s unpleasant for your cat to use, he’ll be more likely to find somewhere else to go — perhaps on your clothes. Keep your litter box in a well-ventilated spot where the scent can easily disperse. There should also be enough room for your cat to get in, move around and come out comfortably.

For kittens or senior cats. Avoid locations requiring stair access or litter boxes with higher sides. Arthritis is very common in older cats and owners may not be aware of the arthritis in their cats. Arthritis pain can show up as unwanted urinations next to the litter box or around the house.

Avoid noisy areas. Avoid placing litter boxes next to noisy or heat-radiating appliances, like the furnace or the washing machine. The noise can make a cat nervous, while the warmth of a dryer or furnace can magnify the litter box smell, which could make him stay away from it. Cats may also not want to travel through certain areas in order to use their litter box. These areas may be louder areas or high traffic areas within your home, such as the living room or family room.

Avoid food sources : Put the box far away from his food and water bowls. Cats don't like that smell too close to their food and may not use the box.

Avoid Dog areas : Many cats can be scared away from the litter box by the presence of a dog. Dogs sometimes will get into the litter box to eat the cat feces, which is a problem in and of itself. At that time, the dog may scare your cat, making her less likely to want to return to the litter box.

How many?

The rule of thumb: It is recommended to have one box for each cat plus one more. This avoids a situation with a pre-occupied litter box and a cat with nowhere to go.
It's not possible to designate a personal litter box for each cat in your household, as cats may use any litter box that's available. That means a cat may occasionally refuse to use a litter box after another cat has been in it. In this case, you'll need to keep all of the litter boxes extremely clean, and you might even need to add additional boxes. It is not recommended to place all of the boxes next to each other or in one single room because your cats will think of them as a single litter box.

Covered vs. Uncovered

Covered : Covered boxes can decrease the amount of litter that flies from the box when your cat scratches the litter. A covered litter box may also provide some privacy. For these reasons, people prefer to provide their cats with a covered litter box, but doing so may introduce some potential problems. These issues are listed below and can lead to medical problems that result from urine retention.

Uncovered : With the cover removed you are able to see if the litter is dirty and needs changed. If the cover is present the dirty litter is "out of sight, out of mind." A covered litter box traps odors inside, so you'll need to clean it more often than an open one. A dirty, covered litter box is to your cat what dirty a port-a-potty is to you! A cover may not allow a large cat sufficient room to turn around, scratch, dig, or position himself in the way he wants. Lastly the cover may make it easier for another cat to lay in wait and "ambush" the user as he exits the box.

Solving problems

If your cat begins to go to the bathroom outside the litter box, your first call should always be to your veterinarian. Many medical conditions can cause a change in a cat's litter box habits. If your veterinarian examines your cat and gives him a clean bill of health, your veterinarian can discuss a behavior problem that needs to be solved.

Hopefully you found this article to be informative and helpful to preventing urinary conditions in your cat. It is our goal to continue to provide the best information to our pets and their owners as possible. Please look for more articles over the course of time. If you have any suggestions for topics, we are always open to hearing from you. You can email us at info@orrvillevetclinic.com or contact us on the contact page .

Submitted by Amanda Bell, R.V.T.

The Flea Life Cycle

Thu, 24 Oct 2013 19:14:00 GMT

The Flea Life Cycle

Did you know that the most common flea problem in our area is actually the cat flea (Cetenocephalides Felis)? The cat flea is responsible for approximately 80% of the flea outbreaks in Ohio. The adult fleas tend to spend their mature lives on the host, although adult fleas can survive for several days in the environment. Survival in the environment is dependent upon the relative temperature and ambient humidity. After emerging from the pupated (think cocoon) stage, adult fleas migrate toward light and locate hosts through visual cues. The pupae are stimulated to hatch by the presence of vibrations on the ground and carbon dioxide.

Once on the host, adult fleas begin to feed on blood very rapidly (seconds to minutes). They begin to lay eggs within 1-3 days of the first blood meal. Female fleas can lay 50 eggs per day, and may continue to lay eggs for up to 100 days. Flea eggs fall into the environment, with the highest concentrations being found where the dog or cat spends the most time. These areas include bedding and play areas.

Flea eggs will hatch staring at 24 hours and continuing over a period 10 days. Once they have hatched, they enter their larval stage. These emerging larvae feed on flea feces and organic debris. They also migrate away from sunlight, often into carpets and soil. Flea larvae will go through 2 molts over the next 5-11 days before entering the pupae stage. While the flea larvae are quite susceptible to heat and desiccation, flea pupae are relatively resistant. Likewise, there are many available products to target the larval stage, but not the pupated stage.

With the addition of our new veterinary website, we are striving to provide as much information to our clients as possible. We suggest using the search function to look for other informative articles within out website. We also suggest looking at the " News and Articles " section to see more information and to check on upcoming events. For an additional article discussing the prevention and control of fleas , please click here .

Our Akron Barberton Veterinary clinic was one of the first to see a heavy and persistnet resistance to many of the more common and popular topical flea control products. For that reason, we have transitioned to new, more effective flea control products. There are topicals and oral pills that now last up to 30 days to kill and prevent fleas. Please call us to discuss these options, as many are not as familiar with the product names as they were with many of the past products.

This article was adapted from a variety of sources, though it is based upon and article about “FLEA BIOLOGY”
by Christine L. Cain DVM, Diplomate ACVD University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine.

Article published and editied by Jeffrey R. Fink D.V.M.

Smart Calf Care: Practical Tips for Raising Healthy Dairy Calves

Tue, 22 Oct 2013 19:27:00 GMT

COMMON SENSE MAKES GOOD CENTS
The following is an article written by Dr. Wenger for the magazine: Dairy Herd Management

As a new contributor to this column allow me to introduce myself. My name is Mel Wenger DVM, a dairy practitioner from Ohio’s #1 dairy county, Wayne County, in northeast Ohio. I am a co-owner of the Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc., a seven-doctor mixed animal practice. It will be a pleasure for me or my partners to share some thoughts on a regular basis.

We often think there is more value and comfort when we purchase a preventative product than there is when we use common sense management practices. There are many management practices we can do that cost nothing or very little. All we have to do is pay attention to details. There are numerous companies trying to sell us antibiotics, vaccines, or products and convincing us that the only way to improve management is by using these products to solve a problem. But there are many small things we can do ourselves to improve management and it doesn’t cost us a thing. In fact it will often pay a huge return.

The care of the newborn calf comes to mind. The calf is born into a strange environment, often times with no assistance. The calf is then left for several hours for the mother to take care of all its needs. It is not uncommon for a newborn calf to be ignored for many hours until the other cows are milked or other chores are finished. Some calves are ignored by their mothers and will lay in a corner shivering until someone decides to care for it. These first few hours are some of the most important hours of a calf’s life. Whether it is a bull or heifer calf, all calves need similar attention in these first few hours.

It only makes common sense and costs very little to make sure the calf is delivered into a clean, dry, sheltered environment. Unfortunately this is not always the case. It is acceptable to allow the mother to lick dry the calf and the calf should be sitting with its head up in 5 minutes or you should intervene. If necessary, intervene by using clean, dry towels to vigorously dry the calf. Use a handheld hairdryer to dry and warm the calf. The sooner the calf is warm and dry the sooner it will be ready to drink. The licking action of the mother or the vigorous drying of the calf with towels will stimulate and encourage deep breathing, defecation, and sucking.

After the calf is dry it should be standing within one hour and ready for some nourishment. If the mother’s milk is used for the calf’s first feeding there must be one gallon of high quality colostrum milk available and it should be taken from the mother within 1-3 hours of giving birth and immediately fed to the calf. Feed the milk by allowing the calf to nurse from a bottle if possible but esophageal tube feeding is an acceptable method of delivering the colostrum milk to the calf. Use a thermometer to be sure the colostrum is warmed up to 102 degrees. Many times I observe stored colostrum removed from the refrigerator or freezer and warmed in hot water. It is almost never warmed enough to reach body temperature and is often fed lukewarm. Even colostrum milked from the mother often sits around and cools until it is fed. Properly warm the colostrum and feed a gallon within 1-3 hours of birth and then another 2 quarts within 8 hours. This will ensure adequate antibodies and nutrition and will give the calf a great start in life. The calf is now ready for a clean straw bedded hutch. In cold temperatures below 30 degrees a calf blanket is a real plus to keep the calf nice and warm.

These are some simple common sense practices that are often ignored but will do wonders for the calf. And it costs next to nothing. Trust me; you will be purchasing many fewer health products for the calf and have a much healthier and robust calf as it moves on to the next stage of life. Ask your veterinarian to help write a protocol and provide worker training for each calf that is born. Your veterinarian is not on your farm to sell a product but there to help you improve your management.

Each area of the calf’s life has common sense management practices that make huge differences in the growth and productivity of that calf. In future issues we will look at a few more of these “cheap” ideas.

Mel Wenger DVM, Orrville, OH

Edited for Orrville's Websites by Dr. Jeff Fink

Bovine Reproductive Protocols

Fri, 11 Oct 2013 19:11:00 GMT

Bovine Reproductive Protocols

Our veterinarians realize that without a successful reproductive program, a dairy cannot be profitable. We will tailor a reproductive program for your dairy based on your individual needs. We follow the latest research on estrus synchronization and reproduction to determine how to choose the appropriate protocol for your farm. This program might involve the use of a synchronization protocol or simply using a prostaglandin and heat detection techniques.

Examples of estrus synchronization protocols are:
Ovsynch 56

Day 0 GnRH

Day 7 Prostaglandin

Day 9 (56 hours later) GnRH

Day 10 (12-18 hours later) AI

This protocol is the basis for many other synch protocols, including Presynch, G6G, Double Ovsynch, CIDRsynch, and Cosynch.

We also provide dairy records consulting services for your farm to determine the current state of your reproductive program as well as set goals for future improvement. Even if you are not enrolled in DHIA testing services and PCDART, we provide excel spreadsheets to gather reproductive data for your herd.

We also offer ultrasound pregnancy diagnosis, ovarian structure determination, and fetal gender determination to add value to your reproductive program. This technology will help open cows be enrolled in a program to help get them pregnant on the next service. After all, a “pregnancy check” should really be called an “open check.”

Spaying and Neutering: Myths Debunked

Fri, 11 Oct 2013 19:03:00 GMT

Myth Busters: Spaying and Neutering Your Pet

Myths Answered About Spaying and Neutering Your Pet

Myth #1: It is better for my female dog to have a litter before I spay her

This is an absolutely not true. All the medical evidence states that a dog should be spayed before her first heat (see Myth #2 for more on this). It is much easier for a young female to undergo this procedure rather than undergoing the same procedure at an older age. Due to the size of the pet and the decreased amount bloodflow to the uterus and ovaries, it is an easier surgery in a younger animal. Another reason to spay or neuter your pet is due to the #1 problem in nationwide pet shelters and humane societies: overpopulation. By spaying or castrating your animal, you have chosen the responsible thing to do, given the magnitude of the problem in this country. An additional reason to spay your pet is to limit the incidence of mammary gland cancer. Research shows that spaying prior to the first heat cycle virtually eliminates the risk of you dog developing mammary cancer at an older age.

Myth #2: I should I let my dog have a heat before I spay her

Medically, it’s better to spay your dog prior to her first heat cycle. It greatly reduces the risk of mammary tumors. With every heat cycle, the chances of developing mammary tumors increases. In older, intact females; this risk is as high as one out of four. Another health risk is a pyometra, which can happen at any age, whether she has been bred or not. Pyomtera is an infection of the uterus, which can lead to an extremely serious condition, even resulting in death. With a pyometra, the cervix closes after the heat cycle. At this point, any bacteria that has migrated into the vagina begins to overgrow, filling the uterus with infection. Pyometra is an important disease to be aware of for any dog owner due of the sudden nature of the disease and the severe consequences if left untreated. It is truly a medical emergency.

Myth #3: Dogs and cats get lazy or gain weight once you spay or neuter them.

The real reason that pets gain weight is that their owners feed them too much or don't give them enough exercise, not because they are altered. The weight gain that people may witness after a spay/neuter surgery is likely caused by continuing to feed a diet that is formulated for a growing animal to a pet that is reaching its adult size, which decreases the need for fat and energy. Just like in people, exercise is vital to the well-being of animals. Exercise, in the form of play, can help encourage activity to keep the weight off and the muscles strong. Exercise also increases the quality time spent with your pet along with socialization. This socialization helps your puppy to develop into a calmer, more assertive dog. There is some medical evidence to show that a dog's metabolism will also slow down once he or she is altered. To account for this, we recommend feeding your pets at a level equal to 80% of the recommended amount on the packaging. (Like all rules, this is not an across the board rule, simply a generality)

Myth #4: My pet needs to be at least 6 months old to be spayed or neutered

Once they are fully vaccinated, we recommend spaying or neutering your pet. At about 4 1/2 months of age, your pet has a very high level of immunity due to the vaccinations. It is also true that puppies and kittens recover a lot faster than adults dogs and cats. The surgical procedure is also easier to perform and carries slightly less risk when performed in younger animals. There is no medical evidence to support waiting until the animal is 6 months or older to alter. The six month age was an arbitrary number that was followed as a guideline many years ago and is no longer the recommended standard.

Myth #5: My pet will have a behavioral change once spay or neutered

Spaying or neutering will not affect your dog’s desire or ability to protect your home or your family. In order to be a guard dog, your pet needs to be trained as a guard dog. Their behavior is a function of genetics, instinct, environment, and training. Male pets do not have any concept of sexual identity or ego, so neutering will not change a pet's basic personality. He doesn't suffer any kind of emotional reaction or identity crisis when neutered.The decreased hormone levels do cause neutered pets to have less desire to roam, mark territory, or exert dominance over other pets. Sterilized pets are proven to have some negative behaviors minimized such as: roaming, irritability, aggression, frequent urinations, and bleeding.

The facts are simple—spaying and neutering saves lives.

There are simply too many pets and not enough homes. It is one of the most important decisions you can make for your pet. Not only does it help him or her live a happier, healthier life; it will save the lives of many others.

This article was submitted by Amanda Bell, R.V.T.

Myth Busters: Spaying and Neutering

Fri, 11 Oct 2013 18:29:00 GMT

Myths Answered About Spaying and Neutering Your Pet

Myth #1: It is better for my female dog to have a litter before I spay her.

This is an absolutely not true. All the medical evidence suggests a dog should be spayed before her first heat (see Myth two for more on this). It is much easier for a young female to undergo this procedure rather than undergoing the same procedure at an older age. Due to the size of the pet and the decreased amount blood flow to the uterus and ovaries, it is an easier surgery in a younger animal. Another reason to spay or neuter your pet is due to the #1 problem in nationwide pet shelters and humane societies: overpopulation. By spaying or castrating your animal, you have chosen the responsible thing to do, given the magnitude of the problem in this country. A third reason to spay your pet is to limit the incidence of mammary gland cancer. Research shows that spaying prior to the first heat cycle virtually eliminates the risk of you dog developing mammary cancer at an older age.

Myth #2: I should I let my dog have a heat before I spay her.

Medically, it’s better to spay your dog prior to her first heat cycle. It greatly reduces the risk of mammary tumors. With every heat cycle, the chances of developing mammary tumors increases to one out of four. Another health risk is a pyometra, which can happen at any age, whether she has been bred or not. With a pyometra, the cervix closes after the heat cycle. At this point, any bacteria that has migrated into the vagina begins to overgrow, filling the uterus with infection. Pyometra is an important disease to be aware of for any dog owner due of the sudden nature of the disease and the deadly consequences if left untreated. It is often compared to acute appendicitis in humans.

Myth #3: Dogs and cats get lazy or gain weight once you spay or neuter them.

Myth #4: My pet needs to be at least 6 months old to be spayed or neutered.

Myth #5: My pet will have a behavioral change once spay or neutered.

Spaying or neutering is not going to affect your dog’s desire or ability to protect your home or protect you. Guard dogs are trained to be guard dogs. Their behavior is a function of genetics, instinct, environment, and training. Male pets do not have any concept of sexual identity or ego. Neutering will not change a pet's basic personality. He doesn't suffer any kind of emotional reaction or identity crisis when neutered. It is a fact that the decreased hormone levels cause neutered pets to have less desire to roam, mark territory, or exert dominance over other pets. Sterilized pets are proven to have some negative behaviors minimized such as: roaming, irritability, aggression, frequent urinations, and bleeding.

The facts are simple—spaying and neutering saves lives.

There are just too many pets and not enough homes. It is one of the most important decisions you can make for your pet. Not only does it help him or her live a happier, healthier life, it will save the lives of many others.

This article was submitted by Amanda Bell, R.V.T.

Dispelling Myths about Spaying and Neutering

Fri, 11 Oct 2013 18:14:00 GMT

Myths Answered About Spaying and Neutering Your Pet

Myth #1: It is better for my female dog to have a litter before I spay her.

This is an absolute no, absolutely not. All the medical evidence suggests a dog should be spayed before her first heat. To begin with, it is much easier for her to undergo this procedure at a younger age and it is an easier surgery at that time. A second reason to spay or neuter your pet is due to the #1 problem in nationwide shelters is overpopulation. By spaying or castrating you animal, you have chosen the responsible thing to do, given the magnitude of the problem in this country. A third reason to spay your pet is to limit the incidence of mammary gland cancer. Research shows that spaying prior to the first heat cycle virtually eliminates the risk of you dog developing mammary cancer at an older age.

Myth #2: I should I let my dog have a heat before I spay her.

Medically, it’s better to spay your dog before her first heat. It greatly reduces the risk of mammary tumors. With every heat cycle, the chances of developing mammary tumors increases to one out of four. Another health risk is a pyometra, which can happen at any age, whether she has been bred or not. With a pyometra, the cervix closes after the heat cycle. At this point, any bacteria that has migrated into the vagina begins to overgrow, filling the uterus with infection. Pyometra is an important disease to be aware of for any dog owner due of the sudden nature of the disease and the deadly consequences if left untreated. It is often compared to acute appendicitis in humans.

Myth #3: Dogs and cats get lazy or gain weight once you spay or neuter them.

The truth is that pets gain weight because their owners feed them too much or don't give them enough exercise, not because they are altered. The weight gain that people may witness after a spay/neuter surgery is most likely caused by continuing to feed a high-energy diet to a pet that is reducing its need for energy as it reaches adult size. It is true that a pet's metabolism will slow a bit after being spayed or neutered, but this is anticipated and can easily be accounted for when figuring out how much to feed your pet. Exercise, in the form of play, can help encourage activity to keep the weight off and the muscles strong. Exercise can increase the quality time spent with your pet along with socialization. This helps to develop a calmer, more assertive dog. There is some medical evidence to show that a dog's metabolism will also slow down once he or she is altered. To account for this, it is recommended to feed approximately 80% of the recommended amount on the packaging.

Myth #4: My pet needs to be at least 6 months old to be spayed or neutered.

We recommend spaying and neutering dogs and cats at 4 ½ months of age, once they are fully vaccinated. Puppies and kittens recover a lot faster than adults. The procedure is also easier to perform and carries slightly less risk when performed in younger animals. There is no medical evidence to support waiting until the animal is 6 months or older to alter. The six month age was an arbitrary number that was followed as a guideline many years ago and is no longer the recommended standard.

Myth #5: My pet will have a behavioral change once spay or neutered.

Spaying or neutering is not going to affect your dog’s desire or ability to protect your home or protect you. Guard dogs are trained to be guard dogs. Their behavior is a function of genetics, instinct, environment, and training. Male pets do not have any concept of sexual identity or ego. Neutering will not change a pet's basic personality. He doesn't suffer any kind of emotional reaction or identity crisis when neutered. One thing that is true in regard to the decreased hormone levels is that neutered pets have less desire to roam, mark territory, or exert dominance over other pets. Sterilized pets are proven to have negative behaviors eliminated such as: roaming, irritability, aggression, frequent urinations, and bleeding.

The facts are simple—spaying and neutering saves lives.

This article was submitted by Amanda Bell, R.V.T.

edited by Jeffrey R. FInk D.V.M.

On behalf of Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc.

In addition, you may click on the embedded hyperlink to read more about " What Happens During a Spay? "

Fun at the Pet Spa

Fri, 04 Oct 2013 18:10:00 GMT

Fun in Daycare!

Pet Safety During Hunting Season

Thu, 03 Oct 2013 16:49:00 GMT

Pet Safety during Hunting Season

As that calendar turns to October, we enter into a time of year that can be a very dangerous time for pets: Ohio hunting season. There are many hunters and hunting areas in an around Akron, Barberton, Norton, Rittman, Wadsworth and the surrounding areas of Summit and Stark counties. Even though one of the most basic fundamentals of hunting is to identify and know the target before actually shooting, mistakes and accidents happen.

Though there are many hunters in the area, there are also many non-hunters. Non-hunters are often not aware of the timing of hunting seasons. Below is a chart of common Ohio hunting seasons. Most Ohio hunting seasons run during the fall and winter (IE: Bow, Muzzle loader, Rifle or Shot gun). It is not simply safe to assume all hunters follow the rules and guidelines.

There are many areas that are open to hunting, as well as numerous areas where hunting is excluded. Unfortunately, some hunters have been known to proceed into non-hunting areas despite the posted warning signs.. If you live in a developed areas on the outskirts of Akron, Medina, Rittman, Norton, Copley and Kenmore; check on your pet often if they are outdoors for any length of time. In the more rural areas, it is safest to use a leash or run to prevent your pet from running loose or escaping during a walk. Some dogs are frightened by loud noises and may get easily frightened by a loud gunshot nearby. This may be enough to scare them into running away if not contained.

Like Hunters, pets can wear protective gear, such as colorful bandanas, fun sweaters, a bell or a fluorescent collar. Many collars come in bright colors, such as the well-known “hunter Orange.” This helps to identify your pet as a non-game species very readily, hopefully preventing the chance of an accidental injury. If you should happen to see or hear a hunter while out and about with your pet, try to make it known you are in the area. It is simple to speak up or blow a whistle periodically to alert the hunters to your presence.

For our hunting dogs, extra precautions need to be made. First and foremost, each hunting animal should have a thorough, healthy pet examination prior to the hunting season. It is imperative that you have the dog examined by your veterinarian to insure that they are healthy enough to take on the activity involved in hunting. Just like the human hunter, hunting dogs should also wear protective gear. “Hunter orange” vest, and reflective collars.

At Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic, we are always striving to provide information to keep pets safe. While this article is not intended to be a discussion in favor or against hunting activities, we recognize the fact that hunting is a popular past-time in out area. We are here to help should an injury occur. After hour emergency veterinary services are available through our Orrville Veterinary Clinic location by calling (330)682-2971.

Article Submitted by: Becki Steele

Protecting your Pet During Hunting Season

Thu, 03 Oct 2013 15:32:00 GMT

Protecting your Pet during Hunting Season

As we enter the Autumn season, we enter into a season that can unknowingly be a very dangerous time for pets: Ohio hunting season. There are many hunters and hunting areas in an around Seville, Wadsworth, Wooster, Rittman, Creston and the surrounding areas of Wayne county. Even though one of the most basic fundamentals of hunting is to identify and know the target before actually shooting, mistakes can be made.

Though there are many hunters in the area, there are also many non-hunters. Non-hunters are often unaware of the timing and knowledge of hunting seasons. Below is a chart of common Ohio hunting seasons, when they start and end. Most run through the fall and winter (IE: Bow and Arrow, Rifle or Shot gun). Do not assume all hunters always follow the rule books.

White-Tailed Deer: September 28th, 2013 - February 2nd, 2014
Turkey (Fall): October 14th, 2013 - December 1st, 2014
Turkey (Spring): April 21st, 2014 - May 18th, 2014
Squirrel: September 1st, 2013 - January 31st, 2014
Grouse: October 12th, 2013 - January 31st, 2014
Rabbit: November 1st, 2013 - February 28th, 2014
Pheasant: November 1st, 2013 - January 15th, 2014
Quail: November 1st, 2013 - December 1st, 2013
Fox/ Raccoon/ Skunk/ Weasel/ Possum: November 10th, 2013 - January 31st, 2014
Coyote/ Wild Boar: No Closed Season
Groundhog: All year except November 23rd, 2013 to December 8th, 2013

There are many farms and wooded areas in which hunters are permitted to hunt. There are also numerous areas where hunting is excluded, yet some hunters have been known to ignore posted signs that state the property is off limits for hunting purposes. If you live in a developed area (Seville, Rittman, Creston, Medina, Lodi, etc.), check on your pet often if they are outdoors for any length of time. This helps to identify if your pet has gotten out even if they are commonly kept in a fenced area, or on some sort of tie-out. In the more rural areas, it is safest to use a leash or run to prevent wandering. Keep in mind that some dogs are frightened by loud noises. A loud gunshot nearby, may scare them into running away if not contained.

At Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic, we are always striving to provide information to keep pets safe. While this article is not intended to be a discussion in favor or against hunting activities, we recognize the fact that hunting is a popular past-time in out area. We are here to help should an injury occur. After hour emergency veterinary services are available through our Orrville Veterinary Clinic location by calling (330)682-2971.

Article Submitted by: Becki Steele

Canine Influenza

Wed, 02 Oct 2013 17:35:00 GMT

Canine Influenza (H3N8) An Emerging Canine Disease

First isolated in 2005 in Florida, Canine Influenza Virus, H3N8, is an emerging disease that places all dogs at risk. Like the H1N1 Influenza virus, the H3N8 strain has jumped from one species (horses) to another (dogs). Because this strain of the Influenza virus is new to the canine species, dogs have not had a chance to develop the protective antibodies required to fight off the disease. In the Florida epidemic, many dogs did not survive. Since the initial outbreak, studies have shown that approximately 8% of dogs that get the virus will not survive. This is an extremely high mortality rate. Now endemic in Pennsylvania, New York, Florida, and Colorado, affected dogs have been identified in 30 states and Washington D.C.

In 2008, the virus entered into Ohio. At that time, we did see several cases that we believe to be caused by this new flu strain. Of these dogs, all recovered after 3 to 6 weeks of therapy and treatment. The initial death rate in Florida was as high as 8%, but that appears to be high. There are many factors why the initial death rate was that high. Of those factors, many believe that the high rate was due to the fact that this first crossed from horses to racing dogs at the race track. This was a specific population of dogs that were all of one breed that may have had some weakened immune system due to their use as racing dogs.

The Canine Influenza Virus spreads rapidly from dog to dog. Dogs shed the virus up to a week before demonstrating any clinical signs. This means that an otherwise healthy dog may be shedding the virus, placing all other dogs at risk. Clinical signs include coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, low grade fever, and secondary pneumonia and can persist up to 21 days despite attempted treatment. There is no specific treatment available, merely supportive care.

The good news is that a vaccine has recently been developed to protect dogs. Initially, a two shot series is required followed by an annual booster for immunity.

Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic, and Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic offer the Canine Influenza Vaccine. A booster is required in 2-4 weeks to insure immunity. This vaccine is highly recommended for dogs older than 12 weeks for boarding, grooming, showing, daycare, dog classes, and dog parks.

Article written and published by Dr. Jeff Fink

Please note that this article is from 2013, prior to the canine influenza outbreak being reported in the media during the Spring of 2015.

A Dairy Cow's Blog

Tue, 01 Oct 2013 15:05:00 GMT

By Dr. Gabe Middleton

Hello! I am a newly formed bovine embryo inside my mother. I was created as a result of artificial insemination using the very popular Holstein bull named Advent. I will move into my mother‘s uterus around 4 days after conception. When I’m 40 days old, a veterinarian will sweep an ultrasound over my mother‘s uterus and tell the farmer the good news: his cow is pregnant. One month later, the same veterinarian will ultrasound my mother’s uterus again, and the news will be revealed that I am going to be a heifer (female) calf. The farmer is thrilled when he hears this, and he also knows that I might be a red and white Holstein, which is a rare recessive trait. Around 280 days after I was formed, I am born into the world at a hefty 110 pounds. I am indeed a red and white Holstein heifer calf, and everyone jumps for joy because I am a rarity in cow circles.

After birth, I am taken into a clean, dry calf hutch that I have all to myself. I am fed one gallon of my mother‘s first milk (colostrum). Pretty soon I start growing like a champ. I’m getting milk replacer and starter grain to eat. At this point, I am gaining over 2 pounds per day. When I’m 2 months old, I am placed in a pen with 10 other calves my age. I like the socialization time with my peer group. We aren‘t fed milk anymore, but I’m ok with that, since I was starting to get a little bored with the kiddy diet. Instead, we are fed grain and hay. A few months later, I will be taken to another barn.

The farmer gives me and my friends specific vaccinations that will prevent illnesses like pneumonia and ensure my reproductive health. I don’t really like needles, but the shots were quick and painless. Before you know it, I‘m over a year old, I weigh 800 pounds, and I’m moved to a different barn with a large group of heifers. I‘m given my yearly vaccinations by the farmer. Soon, I’m artificially inseminated just like my mother was. A few weeks later, the veterinarian discreetly uses that high-tech ultrasound machine and tells the farmer that I‘m pregnant.

Fortunately, since I’m a cow, I don‘t really get mood swings, morning sickness, and cravings. I just go about my business for the
next 9 months. I’m starting to feel big as a cow (ha ha) when I‘m moved to a bigger barn with a group of other expectant mothers. Finally, the big day comes, and I have my first calf. It seems like my baby was born on the clean straw before I could blink. The farmer takes my beautiful heifer calf into a clean dry pen and feeds it my first milk. I’m happy to know she will be well taken care of.

Soon they take me into the milking parlor for the first time. Being a little nervous, I kick the milking machine off because it is a very unusual, although painless, sensation. In a few days, I‘m used to it and I won’t kick the milker off anymore. I‘ve heard through the grapevine that not getting milked in a timely manner feels a whole lot worse! I’m placed in a big pen with 80 other cows. I‘m given my yearly vaccinations again. We are given big clean stalls to lie down in. I get all the water and feed that I care to consume. In just a few weeks, I’m
milking 85 pounds of milk every day. I‘m happy and fulfilled, because that is what I was born to do.

After I’ve been milking for 3 months, I get pregnant again. They keep on milking me until I‘m 7 months pregnant. At that time, I get to relax for 2 months without getting milked. After the two months is up, I have another calf and I’m getting milked again. It‘s a good thing, because I was starting to get tired of just lying around all day like a barn potato. This time around, I’m milking over 100 pounds per day. I‘ve never felt better.

The farmer takes very good care of me, because his family depends on me to provide their livelihood. I have a pretty good life. I even get to go to the Wayne County Fair once a year where I dazzle the crowds and win a ribbon or two. People come from Wooster, Orrville, Rittman, Seville and even as far as Columbus and Cincinnati to see me at the fair. Too bad they won’t let me eat any of those Lerch‘s Donuts.

Mystery Canine Illness Update

Wed, 25 Sep 2013 22:21:00 GMT

Mystery Dog Illness in Ohio

Many people have called with concerns about the "mystery dog illness" that has been reported in the state of Ohio. Please read the following information to better understand the state of the investigation at this present time. We have placed some key points in bold lettering to highlight some important areas. Fortunately there have been no new cases within the past four weeks as of the publishing of this article. Hopefully the scare is in the past.

Here is the latest information on the recently reported "Mystery Illness" that was seen in 8 dogs in Ohio. This information comes directly from the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association and the Ohio Department of Agriculture:

We feel that routine, common sense should prevail in this case. Perhaps the media, in an attempt to inform people, has created a panic that is premature and unnecessary. We are of course concerned about any and all animals that become sick. Preventive measures include keeping your pet out of unsanitary conditions and away from the excrement (feces) of other animals. Many infections can be contracted from direct contact with the fecal matter of other animals. This includes canine parvovirus and intestinal parasites, some of which can also be spread to humans (zoonotic disease).

We recommend that any animal that is experiencing signs of illness be evaluated by one of our veterinarians as soon as possible. Early detection and early treatment always provide your pet with the best chance of recovery. As always, we are proud to offer the best in veterinary care to our patients and their owners in the Orrville, Dalton, Marshallville, Wooster, Rittman and surrounding areas. We look forward to helping you and your pet.

For the Excellence You've come to Expect, We've grown to Provide

People First - Staff Training and Education

Wed, 11 Sep 2013 15:42:00 GMT

People First - Staff Training and Education Veterinary Wellness Partners Wed, 09/11/2013 - 11:42am The veterinarians and staff at the Orrville Veterinary Clinic have a deep love and appreciation for the animals we work with. We have increasingly come to realize how important the people who work in our organization are for providing the top quality veterinary services that you have come to expect. That is why the Orrville Veterinary Clinic has taken part in an ongoing human resources training program called People First®. A renowned human resources expert visited our clinic several times over the past year to provide avenues for improvement in the areas of leadership, recognition and feedback, teamwork, communication, and direction of our company. We have begun trying to live the People First® principles that we have learned through this experience. We hope that our investment in this process provides you with an even friendlier staff, better communication, and better care for your animals at the Orrville Veterinary Clinic. Tags People First Veterinary Staff Training Orrville vets Rittman Vets Seville Vets

Guests in exclusive rooms

Sat, 24 Aug 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Pet Cams

Sat, 24 Aug 2013 12:40:00 GMT

Our Pet Cams will be updated and should be working by Sunday afternoon. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility.

Prepare for the Perils of Spring

Thu, 22 Aug 2013 18:05:00 GMT

With the warmth comes fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and parasites. Each group presents a particular health risk to our canine and feline companions.

Fleas

Fleas can present a variety of problems. They serve as an intermediate host in the life cycle of tapeworms (look like grains of rice near your pet's rectum). Flea prevention typically results in tapeworm prevention.

Your pet may also be allergic to the saliva of fleas, which can cause severe pruritus (itching). This reaction can result in hair loss and a severe skin rash/infection. Not all flea prevention products are created equal. There is much skepticism around many of the over-the-counter flea products. Consult one of our veterinarians to determine what flea product is best for your pet.

Ticks

Ticks are capable of transmitting diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichiosis, and Lyme Disease just to name a few. Repelling ticks is particularly important for dogs involved in hunting or those that spend time near wooded areas or tall grasses. Tick control is usually achieved by using flea control products.

Internal Parasites

Roundworms, hookworm , and whipworms are the most common internal parasites in our pets. Puppies and kittens are especially susceptible to these parasites, but dogs and cats of all ages can become infected. Our veterinarians typically deworm puppies and kittens several times during their series of initial vaccinations.

To keep your pets parasite free, we recommend monthly deworming in the form of heartworm prevention (Revolution, Interceptor, Heartgard). It is also important to perform a yearly fecal flotation test to ensure no parasites are present.

Mosquitoes and Heartworm Disease

Heartworm disease is a potentially fatal disease that is spread to dogs and cats by mosquitoes. When mosquitoes feed on dogs and cats, their saliva spreads the larval stages of heartworms into the animal's tissues. Our heartworm prevention products (Revolution, Interceptor, Heartgard) kill these larval stages so they are not able to grow into adult worms that invade the heart and lungs. Even though mosquitoes are only present seasonally, we recommend year-round heartworm prevention because these products also prevent infection with common intestinal parasites.

Our feature flea product for dogs, Vectra 3-D, has the benefit of being a mosquito repellent in addition to flea and tick repellency for up to 30 days.

Intestinal Parasite Test FAQ

Thu, 22 Aug 2013 16:12:00 GMT

WHAT IS AN INTESTINAL PARASITE (FECAL) TEST?

A fecal examination is the microscopic evaluation of feces. The test is indicated for pets with diarrhea, straining, lack of appetite or vomiting. Annual fecal examinations are recommended on all animals as part of a yearly health exam. Fecal examinations are also recommended on all puppies and kittens.

There is no contraindication to performing this test. Negative results help determine health or may exclude the presence of disease and gastrointestinal parasites.

WHAT DOES A FECAL EXAMINATION REVEAL OR DEMONSTRATE?

Fecal examinations are primarily performed to detect microscopic gastrointestinal parasites, such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, Giardia, coccidia and tapeworms. Some abnormal parasites known as spirochetes or flagellates can also be detected.

A positive test result indicates gastrointestinal parasitic disease. Negative results from one fecal sample may be misleading. Some parasites do not shed eggs consistently so some samples may be negative even though the animal actually has a parasitic infection. Repeated fecal examinations may be necessary to detect some elusive parasites.

How Is a Fecal Examination Done?

In order to perform a fecal examination, a fecal sample needs to be obtained. The easiest way to do this would be to pick up a sample of feces after the pet has eliminated. Fresh samples will give the most information.

Fecal samples can also be obtained by other means. There are special fecal loops commercially available. This long narrow wand with a loop at the end is inserted into the rectum. If feces is present, a sample will be obtained in the loop. Another method of obtaining a fecal sample is for the veterinarian to use an exam glove and place a finger in the rectum. Fecal material will adhere to the glove and can be evaluated under a microscope.

After obtaining a fecal sample, the feces is placed in a tube or commercially manufactured fecal container. Special fecal flotation fluid is then added to the tube with the feces and the combination is stirred. This is then allowed to sit for about 20 minutes. The hope is that any parasitic eggs present in the feces will float to the top of the fluid.

After 20 minutes, the top layer of fluid is placed on a microscope slide and examined under a microscope. Each parasite has a characteristic appearance that can be detected by an experienced technician or veterinarian.

The fecal examination generally takes about 30 to 40 minutes and is often performed in your veterinarian's office. Some veterinarian’s choose to submit the fecal sample to a veterinary diagnostic laboratory. In these situations, tests results may take 1 to 2 days to obtain.

IS A FECAL EXAMINATION PAINFUL?

A fecal examination is not painful. If a fecal loop or digital exam is used to obtain the sample, discomfort may be involved.

IS SEDATION OR ANESTHESIA NEEDED FOR A FECAL EXAMINATION?

Sedation or anesthesia is not needed for a fecal examination.

Pregnancy in Cats

Thu, 22 Aug 2013 16:10:00 GMT

OVERVIEW

Pregnancy is the period of gestation when the young are developing in the mother’s uterus. Normal gestation in cats is 58 to 68 days (the average is 63 days).

The litter size in cats varies from one kitten to more than 10. Litter sizes are often smaller in young and old animals and largest when the mother is around three to four years of age.

Conditions that may be confused with pregnancy include mastitis (inflammation of the mammary glands), mammary gland neoplasia (cancer), abdominal enlargement due to fluid accumulation or organ enlargement, or pyometra (infection of the uterus).

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

DIAGNOSIS

Your veterinarian may perform some diagnostic tests to confirm your cat’s health and to determine if she is pregnant. These include:

Your veterinarian may recommend other tests (not typically done with a normal pregnancy) based on a case-by-case basis. Tests may include:

TREATMENT

HOME CARE

Good nutrition is essential for healthy kittens and mothers so feed your pet a high-quality diet formulated for pregnant or nursing cats.

QUEENING

The more that you can learn about queening (birth of the kittens), the better prepared you will be for any difficulties that might occur. Once you know that your cat is pregnant, you should begin preparing for the birth.

Provide a queening box for the mother to begin sleeping in to ensure that she gives birth to the kittens in an area that you have chosen (but this does not always happen). Allow her access to the box so she can become accustomed to it before delivery. The box can be covered and placed in a quiet (secluded) area where she will feel comfortable and protected. Newspapers or a soft blanket or towel can also be used.

Gastrointestinal Parasites in Dogs

Thu, 22 Aug 2013 16:09:00 GMT

WORMS

Most people are aware that their pets have worms, but just what are these worms, where do they get them and how do you get rid of them? When pet owners talk about worms, they are really talking about all gastrointestinal parasites. And there are several gastrointestinal parasites that commonly affect our dogs and cats.

ROUNDWORMS

Roundworms are visible in your puppy’s stool or vomit. They are long and thin, similar to thin spaghetti. This parasite can pass through the placenta (only in puppies), through the milk (puppies and kittens) or be ingested (puppies and kittens). Some animals become infected after ingesting another animal with roundworm eggs. It is thought that nearly all puppies are born with roundworms since they pass through the placenta. In kittens, most become infected after nursing.

The roundworm that affects dogs is Toxocara canis. The roundworm that affects cats is Toxocara cati. The roundworm Toxascaris leonina is shared between dogs and cats. The roundworm eggs are very resistant to chemicals and weather and remain infective in the soil for years, which can result in repeated reinfection.

Typically, the eggs are found on the soil or grass. As the dog or cat walks by, the eggs are picked up on the animal’s fur. During normal grooming, the animal then ingests the eggs. After reaching the stomach, the eggs hatch. The developing larvae continue to mature in the small intestines and become adults in about three to four weeks. At this point, the mature worms are able to reproduce and shed more eggs. These eggs pass out the intestines in the feces. Once in the soil, the eggs will become infective in about one week.

WHIPWORMS

Whipworms are another type of gastrointestinal parasite that affects dogs. The most common whipworm is Trichuris vulpis and it is a significant cause of large bowel diarrhea. The whipworm eggs are quite resistant and can live in the environment for up to five years.

Typically, a dog becomes infected after ingesting eggs from the environment. The eggs then hatch once they reach the stomach. It takes about three months for the eggs to mature to adults and being shedding eggs. The adults then burrow into the small intestine and feed on blood and tissue. The eggs are intermittently passed in the feces and become infective in about one month. Since the eggs are not shed all the time, repeated fecal examinations may be necessary to diagnose whipworm infection.

HOOKWORMS

Ancylostoma caninum is the most common hookworm in the dog. Ancylostoma tubaeforme is the most common hookworm in the cat. The eggs are relatively susceptible to cold weather and the eggs are usually destroyed after a hard freeze. Hookworm infection can occur as the worms pass through the placenta, are spread during nursing, penetrate through the skin or are ingested.

After ingestion, the eggs hatch in the stomach and develop into adults into about two weeks. If the larvae penetrate the skin, it takes about four weeks for the larvae to mature. Once mature, the worms begin reproducing and shed eggs in the feces. It then takes two to eight days until the eggs are infective. The adult worms attach to the lining of the small intestine and feed on blood. In a severe infection, profound anemia can occur.

GIARDIA

Giardia are pear-shaped, one-celled organisms that infect the small intestine of dogs and cats. Most cases of Giardia in young animals cause explosive, watery diarrhea, dehydration, weight loss and an unkempt appearance. Adult animals are capable of harboring the infection without showing clinical signs.

The eggs are susceptible to chemical disinfection. Once ingested, the infective cysts develop in the small intestine. Diarrhea can begin as early as five days after exposure and cysts can appear in the feces one to two weeks after exposure. Most domestic animals contract Giardia from drinking contaminated pond or stream water.

TAPEWORMS

Tapeworms are very common in dogs and cats and, despite what you may think, rarely cause illness. Most people see the tapeworm egg packets as they pass out the rectum and crawl on the animal’s fur. These egg packets, referred to as proglottids, contain multiple eggs and appear about six to eight weeks after ingestion of an infective tapeworm egg. In order to become infective, the tapeworm egg is either ingested by a rodent, rabbit or flea. The egg then matures and becomes infective. Eggs or egg packets eaten after they pass out in the stool are not infective and do not result in more tapeworms.

There are two types of tapeworms, Taenia and Dipylidium. Taenia tapeworms are acquired when an animal ingests an infected rabbit or rodent. Dipylidium tapeworms are acquired when an animal ingests an infected flea. Once the tapeworm egg is ingested, it hatches in the stomach and begins to invade the walls of the intestines. The worm then matures to a larva and then to an adult. About 35 to 80 days later, the adults begin to shed egg packets, which pass in the stool. The adult tapeworm can survive in the intestine for about seven to 34 months.

Animals infected with tapeworms may scoot on the floor since the egg packets tend to crawl on the skin, causing itchiness.

COCCIDIA

Coccidia are intestinal protozoa that invade and infect the lining cells of the small intestine. There are many species of coccidia and almost all domestic animals can become infected. Of the numerous types that infect dogs and cats, Isospora is the most common. Coccidia spread when an animal eats infected fecal material or an infected host, such as a small rodent. Many researchers maintain that virtually all dogs and cats have been infected with the organism at one time or another during their life.

Most coccidial infections are harmless, cause minimal symptoms and are eliminated by normal body defense mechanisms. More serious coccidial infections cause severe watery or bloody diarrhea and are often seen in high-density confinement situations such as kennels, catteries and pet shops.

Obesity in Dogs

Thu, 22 Aug 2013 16:08:00 GMT

OVERVIEW

Obesity is defined as the excessive accumulation of body fat. Between 25 and 40 percent of dogs are considered obese or are likely to become obese. It is the most common nutrition-related health condition in dogs in our society.

The primary causes of obesity are overeating and lack of exercise. When regular caloric intake exceeds the energy burned, the excess is stored as fat. As little as an extra 1 percent caloric intake can result in a 25 percent increase over ideal body weight by middle age.

Most owners don’t recognize that their dogs are overweight until they take them to the veterinarian for another reason. Most pets begin slowly gaining weight and only a historical review of body weight reveals the insidious nature of this condition.

Dogs that are overweight may experience difficulty breathing or walking or they may be unable to tolerate heat or exercise. Carrying too much weight will also serve to increase the burden on joints, which can further aggravate dogs that have underlying osteoarthritis.

DIAGNOSIS

Veterinary care should include diagnostic tests to determine overall health and to provide recommendations for weight loss.

Diagnostic tests may include:

TREATMENT

Treatment of any concurrent or underlying disease that affects obesity is recommended.

HOME CARE

Weight loss should be a family effort. All members of the family must admit the animal is overweight and commit to a weight loss program. It may be helpful to maintain a log of intake (food and treats) and weight to monitor progress. It might be most effective if one person takes charge of feeding your dog, but all members can help exercise him.

To achieve significant weight loss, the diet must be changed to a therapeutic veterinary diet specifically designed for weight loss. Simply feeding less of your dog’s regular food is rarely, if ever, successful. Owners must be willing to measure exactly the amount of food offered and minimize treats. If treats are necessary, offer low calorie snacks such as air popped popcorn or a piece of vegetable (such as a carrot).

Re-check visits are essential every 4 to 6 weeks to monitor the weight loss since adjustments to the feeding plan are often needed. As your dog approaches ideal body weight, caloric intake must be reduced further to maintain weight loss.

Most dogs require an 8 to 12 month weight loss plan to reach their ideal weight. Most dogs do achieve ideal or near ideal body weight when the owner and family members are committed to improving the pet’s health. Most owners continue feeding the weight loss diet, only at a higher food dose, to maintain their pet’s ideal weight.

Specific recommendations depend upon the underlying disease. For obesity due to:

DIET RECOMMENDATIONS

PREVENTION

There are several veterinary diets that are developed to aide in weight loss in pets. One of these diets is Purina OM. We have several certified weight coaches on staff that would be happy to discuss weight loss in your pet. We can evaluate and then make dietary recommendations that are tailored specifically to your pet.

INFORMATION IN-DEPTH

There are several causes of canine obesity, but whether your dog is overweight because of overfeeding or because of a disease process, he is still taking in more calories than he is using.

Obesity in pets is more commonly due to over-eating (excessive caloric consumption) than disease. The most common cause of obesity is a chronic consumption of calories greater than actual daily energy requirement. Excessive dietary calories are stored as body fat.

Other causes of obesity are due to an altered energy metabolism. Some diseases and conditions can contribute to obesity. These include:

DIAGNOSIS:

Your veterinarian will want to determine the cause of your dog’s obesity before deciding upon treatment. Diagnostic tests that your veterinarian may wish to perform include:

Additional diagnostic tests may include:

TREATMENT IN-DEPTH

Therapy recommendations are dependent upon the underlying cause of the obesity. Take your dog to your veterinarian for a complete work-up before beginning a weight loss program to rule out major diseases.

Recommendations for obesity due to excessive caloric consumption:

- less than 340 kcal per 100 grams of food on a dry matter basis

- between 5 to 10 percent fat

- between 10 to 30 percent crude fiber

- greater than 25 percent crude protein

Recommendations for obesity due to diabetes mellitus:

Recommendations for obesity due to hyperadenocorticism:

Grooming Your Dog

Thu, 22 Aug 2013 16:05:00 GMT

A GUIDE TO GROOMING

Although it's often overlooked, grooming is an important part of your dog’s health program. Routine brushing and combing removes dead hair and dirt and prevents matting. Because it stimulates the blood supply to the skin, grooming also gives your pet a healthier and shinier coat.

WHEN TO START

Start regular grooming when you first bring your dog home and make it a part of his routine. Purchase a good-quality brush and comb and get your dog used to being handled. Praise your dog when he holds still and soon he will come to enjoy the extra attention. Some breeds have special grooming needs, so ask your vet or a professional groomer for advice on particular equipment necessary for your pet.

BRUSHING

Your dog’s skin and hair coat reflect his overall health and nutritional status. Many dogs maintain a healthy skin and hair coat with minimal assistance; others – especially some long-haired or curly-haired breeds – require regular brushing. For most dogs, a good brushing once or twice a week will do the trick.

BATHING

The need for bathing depends on the breed of dog, his skin type and hair coat, owner preference and just how dirty your pet gets. Bathing your dog every month or two isn’t unreasonable, but some dogs will need more frequent cleanings. A good rule of thumb is to bathe your pet only when his coat gets dirty or begins to smell “doggy.”

When bathing your dog, make sure to rinse all the soap out of his coat. If he has persistent problems with scratching or flaky skin, he may need a special medicated shampoo or have a skin problem that your veterinarian should examine.

SKIN PROBLEMS

Skin problems – including fleas, ticks and mites or allergies and infections – are common among dogs. Most conditions are manageable with early detection and treatment. If you notice excessive scratching, hair loss or flaky skin, contact your veterinarian. If your pet is continuously exposed to fleas and ticks, speak to your veterinarian about products to minimize the impact of these parasites on the skin. Remember that a consistently poor hair coat with lots of skin flaking may indicate a deeper medical problem.

EARS

Ears may also require cleaning, especially in dogs with oily skin or allergies. This is a delicate task and is probably best left to your vet. However, if your dog is easy to handle (and there is no chance that you will be bitten), you can learn to do this chore yourself. To remove excessive wax and debris from the ears, consider an ear cleaning every two to four weeks. Ask your veterinarian about products you can use at home, and be sure to ask for a demonstration of proper ear cleaning techniques.

NAIL TRIMMING

While clipping nails is a painless and simple process, it takes practice and patience to master the skill. Ask your vet to show you the correct technique, then get started by getting your pet used to having his paws handled. Once you start using the clippers, go slowly: Try clipping just a few nails in one sitting. Maintain a regular schedule and be persistent. Your pet will eventually develop patience and learn to cooperate.

Feeding Your Adult Dog

Thu, 22 Aug 2013 16:02:00 GMT

WHAT SHOULD YOU FEED?

Your dog knows that what’s on your plate is infinitely better than what he’s eating at the moment – and you may be tempted to prove it by giving him some. Before you do, remember that good nutrition and a balanced diet are essential elements for good health in a dog. And that means watching your canine’s caloric intake carefully.

Your dog needs plenty of fresh water and should be fed good quality food in amounts just right to meet his energy requirements. Inadequate or excess intake of nutrients can be equally harmful.

Most dry dog foods are soybean, corn or rice based. Some of the better brands have meat or fish meal as the first listed ingredient. Although higher priced, they are worth looking into. Dogs eat less of the higher quality products, thus reducing the cost. Dry dog foods also have greater "caloric density" which means simply, there is less water in a cup of food as compared to a canned food diet. This is not a big issue for our smaller canine friends, but large dogs may have difficulty eating enough volume of canned food to fulfill their caloric needs (because they also get a lot of water in that food). Overall, the choice of "dry" vs. "canned" vs. "semi-moist" is an individual one, but larger dogs (such as those greater than 30 pounds) should be fed a dry or semi-moist food in most circumstances

Proteins, fats and carbohydrates are necessary for energy. Dietary requirements for dogs can vary according to activity and stress levels and medical history. Dogs expend energy in many different ways. For example, outdoor dogs are likely to experience increased levels of exercise and thus require a higher percentage of protein and fat for energy production than a dog who stays indoors most of the time. Dogs in various life stages [including puppy ("growth"), adult and senior ("geriatric")] require different amounts of nutrients. Special situations such as pregnancy and nursing puppies can dramatically affect nutritional needs. Working dogs need more calories, while the "couch potato" needs less (just like us!).

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is an organization that publishes regulations for nutritional adequacy of "complete and balanced" dog and cat foods. Your pet’s food should conform to minimal AAFCO standards. Diets that fulfill the AAFCO regulations will state on the label: "formulated to meet the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profile for…(a given life stage).

RECOMMENDATIONS

CONSIDER YOUR DOG'S AGE

CONSIDER YOUR DOG'S BODY WEIGHT

MEDICAL PROBLEMS

Always consult your veterinarian first regarding any specific foods or dietary adjustments required for a dog with heart, kidney, intestinal or liver disease, or for a dog with cancer. Special dietary measures may also be important for dogs with allergies, certain metabolic diseases, or other medical conditions.

PREFERRED FOOD

There are a number of prominent manufacturers of high quality dog foods, including Iams® (Eukanuba®), Hill’s® (Science Diets®), Nature’s Recipe® products, Nutra Max®, Purina® and Waltham®, among others. Follow the label recommendations, but use your own judgment in determining how much to feed.

Exercising Your Dog

Thu, 22 Aug 2013 16:00:00 GMT

DAILY EXERCISE RECOMMENDED

Exercise is as important for your dog as it is for you. Young dogs and healthy adults alike need lots of it, and even senior pets need a regular daily workout to maintain their health. The type of exercise you choose depends on the age and fitness of your dog and your own lifestyle. Dogs are adaptable and are happy to play Frisbee in the park or take long walks in the neighborhood.

Exercise is one of the best ways to spend time with your pet. It's especially important for large breed, working, and active breed types. Dogs are wonderful athletes and most adapt to even strenuous exercise, provided they have had adequate opportunity to "train" and the environmental conditions are not too extreme.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Daily exercise is recommended unless the weather is especially dangerous or a medical problem limits your dog's activity. If there is a medical problem, consult your veterinarian about exercise limitations. Keep in mind that obese dogs and those with heart and lung diseases may have a problem, and be sure to consult your vet before starting a new regime.

Be certain your dog has plenty of water available at all times, and provide a place to cool down out of the sun. When the temperature drops below freezing, exercise should be limited, unless your dog is really used to this weather. This will often vary with the breed and hair coat. If the wind picks up to more than 10 mph, be careful to prevent hypothermia or frostbite. If your dog is shivering, get him back indoors or in some form of warm shelter. If you live in an area that gets cold and icy, remember that road salt can burn your dog's feet. Don't forget: even in cold weather, an exercising dog needs plenty of water.

Almost all dogs, especially those with heart and lung problems and those with thick hair coats, are likely to have trouble with hot and humid conditions. It's better to exercise in the early morning or evening when the heat is less than 80 degrees and the humidity is less then 30 percent (avoid hot and humid conditions).

Flea Season

Thu, 15 Aug 2013 15:25:00 GMT

It's Flea Season. Make sure to have your pet on preventative. For tips and advice on how to take care of fleas on your pet, check out the US EPA website .

4th of July Orrville Parade

Thu, 04 Jul 2013 03:04:00 GMT

Check out all our parade pictures on facebook!

just click on the link on the left of the page

Lola, Cheech & Mooey's

Wed, 26 Jun 2013 13:22:00 GMT

Home Grooming Basics

with Courtney Casey

Lola, Cheech & Mooeye's

133 N. Vine Street, Orrville

Saturday, June 29th

10am-11am

FREE

For more information call 330-682-6820 or e-mail, Steph@YourNaturalPetMarket.com

Summer Doggie Daycare Party

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 00:54:00 GMT

Check out all our Party pictures by clicking on our Facebook link on the left side of your page

Slobbery Summer Shindig

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 02:37:00 GMT

Doggie Daycare Dogs!

Come spend a fun day at Doggie Daycare to kick off Summer, We will have the pools out, blocks of ice with toys and treats hidden inside, pictures and videos will be taken. If your doggie mom and dad say you can participate in the painting project have them sign you up. Paintings will be on display for all to see!

Wednesday, June 12th

Doggie Daycare

7:00am-6:00pm

Pet Portraits

Thu, 02 May 2013 14:41:00 GMT

Pet Portraits

Your Pet Adored Pet Portraits

at the Orrville Pet Spa

May 11th 7am-12pm

Your family is welcome to join your pet in pictures!

1- 5x7

2- 4x6

4- Wallets

$20.00 includes tax & Shipping

Call the Pet Spa to make your appointment today

330-683-3335

Walk ins welcome

Pet Spa Commercial

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 19:28:00 GMT

Pet Spa Commercial Veterinary Wellness Partners Wed, 04/24/2013 - 3:28pm Have you seen our Orrville Pet Spa & Resort Commercial? Check it out on YouTube! Click the link on the left of your screen.

Give Pets a Chance 5K run and dog walk in Wooster

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 21:31:00 GMT

Saturday April 27th at the OARDC in Wooster, Ohio

Check out Give Pets a Chance website for details!

Dental Health and Your Pet

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:26:00 GMT

Dental health is an integral part of overall pet care. It is recommended to brush your animal's teeth once a day, using a pet-approved toothpaste. We recommend C.E.T. brand toothpaste because it contains an enzyme that helps by cleaning the teeth even after you have completed the initial brushing.

Unfortunately, only 2% of pet owners brush their animal's teeth. This eventually leads to tartar, plaque and gingivitis. The earliest sign is usually halitosis (bad breath). This odor comes from the buildup of bacteria in the mouth. Once the gums become irritated (gingivitis), this bacteria can enter the blood stream and settle out in regions where vascular beds exist. Vascular beds are common in most of the major organs of the body, meaning that the bacteria eventually settle on the heart, in the liver, in the kidneys or within the lung tissue. This can lead to multisystemic organ failure if left untreated.

We emphasize the importance of dental and oral health during our examinations. Many times, the tartar and gingivitis have progressed to the point of requiring a complete dental prophylaxis and cleaning. During this procedure, we scale the teeth, probe the periodontal pockets, polish the teeth and extract any teeth that have deteriorated to the point of requiring extracting. We can also use the newest dental technology to evaluate the tooth root (that portion located beneath the gum tissue). Our dental x-ray unit produces the highest quality images and guides us in the decision of the best care for your pet. Please call our office if you have noticed a bad odor to your pet's breath or if your pet is either losing weight or not eating well. We would be happy to perform an examination and consultation. At that time, we can recommend the optimum care for your pet.

Orrville Veterinary Clinic is expanding

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 15:27:00 GMT

Orrville Veterinary clinic was able to expand to include three different locations to better serve your pets needs. In 2007, we were able to purchase two veterinary clinics from the late Dr. Thomas Saurer.

The Seville Wadsworth Veterinary clinic is located at 3898 Greenwhich Rd. in Seville, Ohio. We are glad to serve Seville, Wadsworth, Rittman, Lodi, Creston, Medina and the surrounding areas. Please visit our new location's website at www.sevillevetclinic.com . You may also reach us by calling (330)336-5823.

The Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic is located at 1111 Wooster Rd. N. in Barberton, Ohio. We provide services for pets located in the Akron, Barberton, Norton, Wadsworth and surrounding areas. For more information, please call (330)753-3114 or visit our website at www.akronvetclinic.com .

Our Orrville Veterinary Clinic is located at 1665 N. Main St. Orrville, Ohio. We have proudly served the Orrville, Wooster, Rittman, Kidron, Apple Creek, Marshalville and surrounding areas for over 50 years.

The Orrville Veterinary Clinic is proud to be able to expand our ability to better serve you and your pets, living up to our high standard of care:

"For the Excellence You've Come to Expect, We've Grwon to Provide."

New Software

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 05:41:00 GMT

We are excited to have a newer software system, which enhances many of our capabilities to better serve you and your pets. The Clientrax system provides us with a better scheduling system and a better way to organize your information. We are able to readily identify ongoing medical problems and can create a list of differential diagnoses as we try to work up various medical conditions. Our new software also allows us to create better electronic medical records. We can directly e-mail records to referral centers and specialists. Unfortunately with our new system comes some growing pains. Please bear with us as we learn this new system and its intracacies.

Written by Jeffrey R Fink D.V.M.

Celebrate! - Veterinary Wellness Partners

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 02:57:00 GMT

Stop by before Thanksgiving and celebrate our 8th Anniversary with us!

Don't forget the front office will be closed on Thanksgiving. We will be back at 7am on Friday.

Grooming

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 16:32:00 GMT

Thank you Deb for coming and giving a yorkie grooming demonstration. Everyone had a great time!

Video! First Pet Spa & Resort Client Testimonial

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 03:08:00 GMT

Video! First Pet Spa & Resort Client Testimonial Veterinary Wellness Partners Wed, 07/11/2012 - 11:08pm Check out the First Pet Spa Video!! (Click on link)

Customize Your Pet's Vacation

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 18:11:00 GMT

Customize Your Pet's Vacation Veterinary Wellness Partners Fri, 06/01/2012 - 2:11pm Customize their own vacation with Daily Play Times , relaxing walk through the Nature Trail , and Beggn & Eggs delivered to their room by our caring staff. For more ideas check out our Customize Your Dog or Cat's Vacation page under Lodging Forms on our web site

Vacation for your Pet

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:57:00 GMT

Vacation for your Pet Veterinary Wellness Partners Fri, 05/25/2012 - 9:57am Don't leave your dog bored at home while you are on vacation. Give your pet their own exciting getaway at the Orrville Pet Spa & Resort. Your four legged family member can stay in a plush Exclusive Room Private Suite Park Room with a view or a comfortable Woods accommodation!

Pet First Aid Awareness Month

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:09:00 GMT

It is the National American Red Cross's PET FIRST AID Awareness Month

visit their web site www.redcross.org to check out their first aid kits for your PET!

Lily Poisoning in Cats

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 06:23:00 GMT

The beautiful Easter Lily and other "Asiatic Lilies" are deadly to cats. Chewing on the flowers or leaves can induce acute kidney failure. Only prompt veterinary treatment can save your kitty's life. Read more about this here: from the ASPCA
http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/poison-control/Plants/easter_lily.aspx

See the Light !! Cold Laser Therapy Eases Pain at the Speed of Light

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 07:16:00 GMT

Cold Laser Therapy is a relatively new technology that uses low-level light energy (not enough to burn or cut) to energize cells and counteract inflammation and pain. In both human and veterinary medicine, thousands of patients have found nearly instantaneous relief from pain from arthritis, injuries, wounds, or disease. It is a completely painless procedure-- completely. There are no known side effects. It causes the treated area to "flush" with circulation, but this is a pleasant feeling, not painful. Most people and animals (depending on the type of problem) will feel some partial relief almost immediately, but need to have another treatment in 5-7 days. Usually it takes 4-6 treatments to achieve a lasting effect.

For Further information: Try these helpful links
Videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wdXYA_0f7E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSXzEf30fAk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyoCSc-xpik&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TsKiROVrOo&feature=related

Pet Adoption Day

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:55:00 GMT

Pet Adoption Day at Premier GMC

Check out this Video on YouTube to find out more about the Pet Adoption Day! We hope to see you there!

Dog Flu

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:25:00 GMT

If you are thinking about boarding, grooming, or taking your dog to daycare? Please check out this short article to see why we require the Canine Flu Vaccine. http://www.woio.com/story/16365930/puppy-cough-dog-flu-cases-on-the-rise

Fox 8 News- Family Shares Warning About Treats After Dog's Death

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:31:00 GMT

http://www.fox8.com/news/wjw-westlake-dog-death-waggin-train-treats-mr-…

Check out this story on Fox 8 News yesterday

Pet Pictures at the Spa with Captured by Kerri Photography

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:49:00 GMT

Get your pet's pictures taken before the holidays. Kerri, of Captured by Kerri Photography, will be at the Orrville Pet Spa & Resort on Saturday, November 5th. Sittings for pets will be held every 20 minutes. She will be offering 3 Packages to choose from at a discounted rate on the 5th.

Package A- $20.00 (1: 8x10, 1: 3" magnet)

Package B- $30.00 (1: 8x10, 1: 5x7, 1: 3" magnet)

Package C- $34.00 (1: 8x10, 1: set of 8 wallets, 1: 3" magnet)

Please call the Orrville Pet Spa & Resort to set up a time to bring your pet.

330-683-3335

WayneQuest Dog Walk at Quailcrest Farm

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 11:28:00 GMT

Come out and see us at the WayneQuest Dog Rescue Walk this Saturday, September 17, 2011. It will be held at Quailcrest Farms in Wooster, Ohio from 10:00am - 2:00pm. The event will be hosted by Therapy group Paws to Pet. There will be contests, prizes, fun and MORE.

Massillon Dog Boarding

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:51:00 GMT

Do you live in the Massillon area and need somewhere for your pet to stay? The Orrville Pet Spa & Resort would like to offer any new Massillon client's dog a Free day in the Park accommodations. Cats will be treated to a Free day in the Kitty City Condos. Make a reservation for your pet to stay with us before March 15th 2012, and let our front office staff know you saw this special on our web site!

Moochie & Co.

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 19:49:00 GMT

Stop by and see our Groomer and Massage Therapist, Diane, at Moochie & Co. this Sunday, August 28th. She will be at the Moochie's store in the Summit Mall for Yappy Hour from 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Therapy

Tue, 03 May 2011 19:26:00 GMT

Diane Schaffter is a certified Canine Massage Therapist here at the Orrville Pet Spa & Resort. Massage Therapy is beneficial to all types of dogs, especially, aging arthritic dogs, emotionally stressed, young growing dogs, sick and injured dogs. Diane meets with each of her clients individually in order to create a massage geared for your pet's specific needs. Our lodging, daycare and grooming guests are encouraged to schedule a massage while they are here at the Spa.