Seville Wadsworth Vet Clinic

Are Counterfeit Flea and Tick Products Harming Pets?

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 01:41:00 GMT

Earlier this month, USA Today published in article in which it was stated that the Environmental Protection Agency issued a report about potential problems with one of the more popular flea and tick products, the Seresto collar by Elanco Animal Health. According to the USA Today article, Seresto collars have been associated with the death of close to 1700 animals. In addition, the article claimed that tens of thousand of pets were injured, along with several hundred human injuries.

Many veterinarians were skeptical about the initial report, as the Seresto Collar has gone through several trials prior to reaching the market. It has also been on the market for several years. This skepticism is also based in the fact that there are numerous factors at play in the life and health of an animal. The mere fact that a pet had a collars in place does not mean the the adverse effects were directly attributed to the collar itself. The saying goes that correlation does not equal causation.

While most veterinarian likely feel that the collar are safe, there is some cause for concern. The high numbers of complaints and issues is enough to draw concern. Additionally, and perhaps the greatest cause for concern is that counterfeit flea and tick products can show up through various sources. In May of 2020, the US Customs and Border control confiscated a large shipment of counterfeit Seresto collars from overseas. These collars show up mainly through non-veterinary channels.

As of now, the FDA and EPA have not been able to confirm whether or not the majority of problems are coming from the brand name product or from counterfeit collars that have entered the US. These products can easily be purchased without knowing if they are the real deal or the fake product. Elanco distributes directly through veterinary channels, which avoids the potential of receiving a counterfeit product when purchasing directly through your veterinarian.

Veterinary Wellness Partners offers many products through direct veterinary channels. The easiest way to purchase is at one of our clinic locations. In addition, we offer an online store , that still guarantees that the product is delivered through proper channels to avoid the risks associated with potentially counterfeit products.

How to Use our Online Store

Sportmix Pet Food Recall

Thu, 31 Dec 2020 18:35:00 GMT

2020 has one more surprise for pet owners: A FOOD RECALL

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, 2020

Mon, 18 May 2020 20:25:00 GMT

Curbside Care

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!

Farm Animal Coronaviruses

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 01:27:00 GMT

Species-specific coronaviruses and the diseases they cause

Many pet and farm animals have their own version of coronavirus by which they can be infected. They usually cause mild gastrointestinal illness, but some can cause respiratory disease.

Cattle

Bovine coronaviruses (BCoV) have been associated with calf diarrhea, winter dysentery in adult cattle, and the bovine respiratory disease complex. None of these diseases can be transmitted to humans.

Winter dysentery is characterized by the presence of acute watery diarrhea and decreases in milk production in adult cows. Cows may also exhibit mild respiratory signs such as nasal and eye discharge or a cough.

Diarrhea caused by bovine coronavirus is usually self-limiting and lasts a few days to a week; however, milk production may take weeks to months to return to normal. Often, treatment is not necessary as long as cows continue to have access to fresh water, feed, and mineral. Some cattle affected by more severe dehydration may require additional intravenous fluid support.

Neonatal calf diarrhea caused by bovine coronavirus is most often present in calves 5-15 days old, but can also affect older calves. Infected calves will have soft to liquid manure with mucus, sometimes only lasting a few days. These calves will usually still drink milk but may be moderately depressed.

Treatment is supportive care; calves will likely be dehydrated and require fluid therapy. This may mean oral electrolyte solutions with or without additional IV support. It is important that calves still receive nutritional support, and milk should not be withheld for more than 24hrs.

A vaccine for pregnant cows against coronavirus is available, but has yielded variable results.

Swine

There are several coronaviruses that cause disease in swine. These include porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCoV), porcine hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus (PHEV), and porcine coronavirus (PorCoV). All of these, with the exception of porcine respiratory coronavirus cause gastrointestinal disease in pigs and will show signs of diarrhea, vomiting, and sometimes sudden death, especially in younger pigs.

Horses

Equine coronavirus causes fever, decreased appetite, colic signs, and sometimes diarrhea and is most commonly diagnosed in the winter. Disease is usually mild, and supportive care is treatment of choice. Sometimes dehydrated horses will need IV fluid therapy. Maintaining excellent hygiene is the best method of prevention and transmission.

Poultry

Chickens can be infected with a coronavirus that causes infectious bronchitis (IBV) in poultry. This is a rapidly acting and highly contagious disease affecting the upper respiratory tract in chickens. Clinical signs include respiratory problems and a decrease in production for 10-14 days. This virus only causes disease in chickens.

Chickens with infectious bronchitis will have mucus and foamy liquid in the trachea, sinuses, and nasal passages. They will often experience secondary bacterial infection. Viral infection can also affect chickens' reproductive system and kidneys.

Bluecomb, or transmissible enteritis is a disease affecting turkeys that is caused by a coronavirus. The virus causes a decreased appetite and lethargy, plus diarrhea, weight loss, and a darkening of the head or comb. Treatment for this disease is largely supportive care, and strict hygiene, biosecurity, and good management are the most important factors for prevention.

Vaccinations

While there are vaccines for some animal coronavirus, they are NOT licensed for protection against respiratory infections or COVID-19, and there is no evidence that they can provide any cross-protection.

COVID-19 Update 3/23/2020

Mon, 23 Mar 2020 23:47:00 GMT

COVID-19 Update

March 23rd, 2020

As of yesterday, Governor DeWine has issue an order to shelter in place beginning at 11:59 P.M. tonight that is statewide for Ohio. As a result, Veterinary Wellness partners continues to adjust to the guidelines and restrictions.

Like many clinics in the State of Ohio, we are beginning a protocol of not permitting public personnel/ clients into any of our buildings. This is being done to further protect our staff and our own families. Please read below for the changes and how we are going to be implementing them. In addition, please click on any of the links below to see what we have already instituted along the way. These new changes build upon those that we have previously implemented. Thank you for your understanding during these turbulent times. Our clinic doors will be locked to prevent clients from entering. We will get signage up on each door explaining our procedures.

Strict Curbside Patient Protocol

We are going to a strict curb-side service protocol effective at 11:59 P.M. tonight in conjunction with the onset of Governor DeWine's orders to shelter in place. When you arrive at one of our clinics, please call in and let us know. A staff member will come out to your vehicle to get your pet for their visit. We will use a clinic leash to bring them into the clinic. Please try to hand dogs off at arm's length. Cats should be in a carrier and the carrier can be placed on the ground prior to transfer. Once your pet is safely in the room and the doctor comes in, we will call you from a restricted number to discuss the reason for your visit. A thorough history can be taken via the phone, then a verbal description of the examination and findings will be relayed. The pet will be taken back to the car and any medications dispensed. Payment will also be via the phone or Cash/ check taken at the car window

Pick up of Medication and Food

Please call ahead with your desire to pick up a medication or a food for your pet. When you arrive at the clinic, please call. A staff member will take a payment via the phone and then deliver the food or medication outside. We will place the item at a predetermined location and then you can come pick up the item. This will help to limit contact between our staff and the many clients that we come into contact with every day.

Pet Euthanasias

This policy will apply to euthanasias in the following manner. Please call upon arrival and we will bring paperwork out to your vehicle. A staff member will take you pet inside and we will place an IV catheter. Once the catheter is in place, we will return to your vehicle or an outside location. Our staff will be wearing personal protective gear for their safety. At that point, the euthanasia solution can be administered, causing your pet to gentle experience an anesthetic effect prior to the completion of the euthanasia.

Services

We are still performing most services, as they are each designed to either prevent disease or relieve pain and suffering. There are some services that are truly elective and will need to be delayed. These include very basic dental cleanings, castration procedures, minor lump and bump removals, and a few other things. If you are unsure, please call one of our clinics to discuss. We appreciate your understanding and respect of our doctors' decisions on these matters.

Farm Calls

For large animal, we are asking techs to hold horses and the owners to step back 6 feet. If necessary, horses can be tied temporarily, or the lead rope handed off at arm's length. For bovine farm calls, please respect the leading of our technicians and veterinarians. If we ask you to stand back, please understand our reasoning.

Personal Protective Equipment

There have been questions in various outlets regarding our usage of personal protective equipment (PPE). We do need to utilize PPE, in order to best protect ourselves. Most of the PPE that we use is slightly different from that of human hospitals. In addition, we are able to easily utilize reusable PPE (reuseable gowns, masks, etc.) without compromising any of our patients. We have had a staff member sew us cloth masks that we can wash and reuse to cut down on the masks that we typically use in the event that they would be needed by a local hospital or local first responders.

For Staff

We are still requiring you to take your temperature twice a day. Please call us if your temperature is above normal. In addition, if you are sick AT ALL, STAY Home. Call Missy (then Misty if Missy not available) to report your illness. We greatly appreciate each and every one of you working through these trying directives. There is a lot of time and effort that is begin spent upon every decision that is being made. You guys make us great!

To all, thank you for your understanding and patience during this time. We are blessed to continue to be able to provide exceptional service to our clients and their animals, our patients!

COVID-19 Policy 3/19/2020

COVID-19 Policy 3/16/2020

COVID-19 Policy 3/15/2020

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.

COVID-19 Update 3/19/2020

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 20:48:00 GMT

COVID 19 UPDATE

March 19th, 2020

As many of you know, things are changing by the day with the COVID-19 virus and government's directives and guidance. We will continue to update via Facebook and various articles on our website. If you haven't already done so, like us on Facebook and encourage your friends to follow us as well. We plan to continue to provide helpful articles and links as we can get them developed.

Shortage of Personal Protective Equipment

Across the nation, there are concerns about veterinarians utilizing resources that are desperately needed for the human health aspect of this disease. We want to make sure that everyone is aware that we are not compromising the human health capabilities to respond to this situation should the need arise. We adhere to some of the most strict guidelines for veterinary medicine, however our equipment is not the same grade as that needed i human hospitals. We reuse our masks for several surgeries and have recently begun saving them from day to day to conserve. Our surgical gowns and caps are reusable, being washed and sterilized in between reuse. We change gowns and gloves in between every procedure to maintain a sterile environment within the surgical suite. This is for the best care of our patients. The disposable gloves that we wear are not required to be as impermeable as that of human hospitals. We are doing the best we can to help support local hospitals and first responders by keeping an eye out for supplies that we may be able to order and donate.

Veterinarian Role During this Time

We are considered essential services as veterinarians are on the front lines of public health through the care of animals. Our large animal team is the first step outside of the producers to ensuring safe and healthy food production. They will continue to operate as normal until otherwise directed.

Policies for Staff and Clients

At yesterday's news conference, the governor announced some increased measures that are affecting the way that we do business. The first is that all employees are to take their own temperature prior to coming to work. We have asked our employees to do this twice a day and keep a log on their phones. We are asking all clients to take their temperature prior to entering our clinic. Please do this at home prior to coming in. We do not have staff waiting at the doors to do this for you (and we mainly have thermometers that have been used on animals in our hospitals....eeeewwww)

We are limiting appointments to one person per appointment due to the size of examination rooms and the need for appropriate social distancing (6 feet). We realize this may be an inconvenience and thank you for understanding the need for these precautions at this time.

Schedule Changes and Updates

As a result of the increasing need for social distancing, we have made the following changes to our office schedule:

1) Orrville Pet Spa and Resort has discontinued grooming and Daycare services at this time. For boarding, we are open for:

ARRIVALS ONLY Monday through 7:00 A.M. to 9:00 A.M.

DEPARTURES ONLY Monday through Friday 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. and Sunday 5:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. (Prepaid only on Sundays)

2) All veterinary clinics will be closed on Saturdays beginning March 22nd and moving forward. We are currently scheduling Saturday appointments on May 1st, realizing that things may open up earlier or be restricted for longer than we anticipate.

3) There is no change to our large animal department, as we are the frontlines for animal health.

4) We will be shortening the evening hours at our Orrville location, by closing at 5:00 P.M. every day until further notice.

5) Our Elm Ridge Animal Hospital is currently planning to remain open until 6:00 P.M. on Tuesdays and Thursdays

Ongoing Services

As far as services that we are providing, we are still allowed to operate as normal as far as caseload, however we have been asked to minimize elective surgeries. There is a vast gray area of what this means, so we are establishing what we feel is best for our patients and within the spirit of the state's announcements. So please check below for out best "black and white" guidelines as of today:

Spays and Neuters: Spays are a very important surgery in the battle against overpopulation of pets and overloading of the rescue groups and shelters. In addition, it prevents mammary gland adenocarcinoma (breast cancer) in dogs. The final consideration is the prevention of pyometra, a severe condition that is the result of a uterus infection. For puppy spays, we are suggesting waiting until closer to six months, rather than at 20-24 weeks. For castration procedures, these are slightly less pertinent and can most likely be delayed for the time being.

Vaccinations: We feel that it is important to stay up to date on vaccinations. This means staying on schedule. Puppies and kittens are the most vital, as their full immunity has not developed. We need to try to keep these pets on their schedules. Pets that have recently been in and need a booster of a new vaccine need to remain on schedule to gain immunity. Rabies vaccinations are to prevent the risk of human exposure to rabies and are also very important.

Dentals/ Oral Surgery: Prophylactic dentals will need to be delayed. Dental procedures that are scheduled due to pathology is vital to preventing pain and the progression of gingivitis and oral disease.

Orthopedic Procedures: These are necessary to prevent the progression of osteoarthritis and pain in our pets.

Client Actions

Steps we suggest that you take:

Look into your current inventory of medications. Be sure to call in to see about refills at this time. Some things may be in short supply due to other veterinary clinics stocking up around the country.

If we are out of something, or you are currently using a big outside pharmacy, we highly encourage people to order through our online store. This is the easiest way for us to approve any online orders and helps support our clinic over larger, distant corporations. It is essentially along the lines of SHOP LOCAL and you get products that are guaranteed through the manufacturers. You are also eligible for rebates. The outside online pharamacies are unable to offer the manufacturer support. In addition, the outside pharmacies require a lot of staff time dealing with their representatives. With us being short on staffing, we appreciate the streamlining of the process, as we can approve needed prescriptions with the click of a button. For information and instructions on how to use our online store, click HERE.

We advise purchasing ahead for pet foods, whether prescription or a regular maintenance diet.

Thank you for understanding and helping to make this as easy as possible on our staff at this time. We realize that some of these decisions may not be convenient, but we feel that they are necessary to keep our staff healthy and here to continue to serve our clients and their pets.

Covid-19 Policy 3/16/2020

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 03:14:00 GMT

Our offices are continuing to monitor the Coronavirus situation and listening to the leaders of our state and nation. Currently we are taking the following steps;

1) We are wiping down door handles and areas every hour

2) We are offering car side delivery of medications with a call ahead and credit card payment via phone

3) We are limiting the number of clients in each room to one per appointment. If you have multiple family members, they will be asked to remain in your car. We can take your pet in if there is a reason to remain in your car

4) We are requesting that anybody with respiratory signs cancel their appointments.

5) Our staff is washing hands regularly

6) We are abiding by the social distancing rules of no handshakes and trying to keep personal space of 6 feet whenever possible.

7) We recommend that you call to get 60 day supplies of any needed medications

8) We highly recommend using our online store if you order online. As things get more and more limited, we can continue to supply medications via this route. If offices need to limit staff, we will only be able to service online orders through our online store. IN addition, this supports us directly, sticking with the spirit of BUYING LOCAL.

9) We are limiting our usage of facemasks by reusing disposable face masks as often as we can. We are also ordering fabric, washable, reusable masks to replace the disposable ones.

Please call our office and ask if you have any questions or concerns.

Coronavirus statement

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 14:00:00 GMT

CORONAVIRUS vs COVID 19

Veterinarians and human health workers have dealt with coronavirus for many years. The old coronavirus was a fairly common infection that caused mild common cold symptoms. Veterinarians often diagnosed this virus in younger animals including puppies and calves and it also showed mild symptoms and illness. Vaccines and antibodies have been used off and on to control the old coronavirus. The canine coronavirus is so mild, that standard vaccination was discontinued by most veterinarians over 15 years ago.

The new virus, or Novel Coronavirus, has been named COVID-19. This virus is a completely new strain and acts differently than the previous coronavirus, so there are very few similarities other than the name. This new virus originated in China and has been rapidly spreading around the globe. It is highly contagious, much more so than the common flu. Transmission is most likely to occur when there is contact with a person’s bodily secretions, such as droplets from a cough or a sneeze. The best way to avoid the disease is to limit being around crowds, limit touching each other by handshake, wipe down commonly touched areas with sanitizers, and wash your hands often. For most people the risk of being infected is low but the virus is a very serious public health threat due to its ability to spread quickly.

Fortunately, multiple international and domestic human and animal health organizations agree that there is no evidence at this point to indicate that pets become ill with COVID-19. There is also no evidence that animals spread the disease to other animals including humans. There are currently no documented cases of COVID-19 virus in animals. As with any virus, if you are sick, it is good to isolate yourself from other humans and pets as much as possible to eliminate the spread of the disease.

There are no drugs or vaccines licensed by the FDA available to treat COVID-19. If a person feels sick, please stay home and take care of yourself much the same as a cold or other flu virus.

Veterinary Wellness Partner veterinary clinics will remain open to take care of the needs of our patients. We are taking the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. We are taking steps to limit the use of supplies and keeping our staff separated into smaller working groups. We continue to monitor the situation and will respond accordingly. We ask that you limit the number of people coming to each pet's appointment to one. Please call us if you have concerns about your pet or have any questions regarding the need for your pet to be seen.

Coronavirus in Dogs

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 01:42:00 GMT

Canine Coronavirus

There are two forms of coronavirus that infect our domesticated dogs: Intestinal and Respiratory

Intestinal Canine Coronavirus (CCV)

The first is an intestinal disease that can be found worldwide. It is specific to dogs, not transferring to any other animal or human. The virus infects the upper two thirds of the intestinal tract, as well as the local lymph nodes. It is limited to the upper two thirds of the GI tract and replicates here, where it can cause the clinical signs listed below. Most dogs experience very mild GI signs of diarrhea, with many not having any clinical signs or symptoms. When this virus occurs along with another GI disease, such as parvovirus or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, the signs and symptoms can be much worse, including death.

Signs and Symptoms

The symptoms of a canine coronavirus vary from dog to dog. In the majority of adult dogs, the signs will be very negligible, to none at all. Occasionally a dog may have a vomiting episode followed by a few days of diarrhea. Fever is rare in older dogs. Most dogs will simply seem “off” for a bit, with decreased appetite and mild depression. Puppies may experience prolonged periods of vomiting and diarrhea, which can result in dehydration. These puppies need supportive care and will often fight the virus off.

Causes

As many know, this is a coronavirus. The term corona refers to the appearance of the virus when viewed under an electron microscope. This view gives the appearance of a crown, or corona, which is made up of protein particles on the shell of the virus. The most common source of infection is from contact with the feces of an infected dog. The virus can remain in the dog’s intestinal tract for a prolonged period of time, resulting in shedding of the virus to be picked up by other dogs. Stress and overcrowding can make some dogs more likely to come into contact with coronavirus.

Respiratory Canine Coronavirus

Differing slightly from the intestinal canine coronavirus (CCV), the respiratory virus is a type 2 coronavirus. It is called canine respiratory coronavirus, or CRCoV. It is genetically closely related to the bovine coronavirus, though the virus is not contagious to cattle. It is also closely related to the human coronavirus that causes the common cold (NOT COVID-19) and is also not share from dog to human.

Canine respiratory coronavirus first occurred in England in 2003. It has also occurred in Japan, Italy, Greece, Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.

Clinical Signs

CCRoV can cause and acute respiratory infection. Most dogs have a mild disease consisting of cough, sneezing, and nasal discharge. Some dogs have a subclinical infection with no clinical signs, yet they shed virus that can infect other dogs. A small minority of dogs infected with CRCoV have progressed to pneumonia, especially is they are complicated by CIRD (see below). The clinical signs usually resolve after 1-2 weeks, depending on whether co-infection with other pathogens is involved.

Causes

Once again, this is caused by a coronavirus. It is most commonly associated with the complex known as canine infectious respiratory disease (CIRD). CIRD is made up of several viruses and bacterial invaders. Some of these include canine parainfluenza, Canine influenza, and Bordetella bronchiseptica (kennel cough). This complex can get very complicated if a bacterial pneumonia develops with mycoplasma being the primary concern.

The virus is spread through nasal secretions and particles. The most efficient transmission occurs by direct contact with infected dogs and by aerosols generated by coughing and sneezing. The risk for CRCoV infection is highest when large numbers of dogs are housed together in close confinement, such as boarding/training kennels, shelter facilities ,and dog shows. Dogs of all ages and breeds are susceptible to infection. The incubation time from CRCoV exposure to clinical disease is unknown, but may be a few days. The number of days that virus is shed is also unknown.

Treatment

There is no known treatment for CCV or CRCoV. Both of these are treated by supportive care, which is basically fluid therapy and treatment of secondary infections. Isolation of infected dogs is the best way to contain the virus. Quarantine time is unknown, but two weeks is suggested.

Prevention and Vaccination

Quarantining of affected dogs in the best preventive measure. The coronavirus does not last very long in the environment. General principles of cleaning and sterilizing of areas also helps to prevent the spread. Once thoroughly cleaned, areas should be completely dried. There is currently no vaccine for CRCoV.

There is a vaccination for the intestinal form, CCV. However, this vaccine is no longer commonly used or recommended due to the mild nature of the disease.

Animal Coronaviruses Overview

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 00:39:00 GMT

At the time of this writing, the World Health Organization has deemed the coronavirus outbreak an official pandemic. There have been approximately 121,000 cases worldwide, with just over 1,000 in the United States. Those numbers are likely to increase due to the fact that this is an emerging virus. This article is not meant to address the COVID-19 issue in people, but rather focus in on coronavirus in animals. At this time, COVID-19 has not been identified in animals, though it’s beginnings are not determined. If this were a zoonotic disease, which means transferring between people and domesticated animals, there would be reports of infected animals along with the daily updates on the number of people that are infected.

There are several viruses that affect animals that are within the coronavirus family. The term corona means crown and is given to this family of viruses due to the shape of the virus’s outer shell. The viral surface is surrounded by a ring of projecting proteins that cause it to appear "crownlike" when viewed under an electron microscope. Dogs , Cats, Horses, Turkeys, Bovine, and Pigs are several of the species that have had coronaviruses detected in them. Click on the hyperlinks embedded above to read more about coronavirus in each species.

In general, coronaviruses tend to cause very mild disease in most animals. Coronavirus in dogs used to be considered a core vaccine, but was removed from that status over 15 years ago. The vaccine was removed because it is mainly a virus of puppies that causes such mild clinical signs as to not warrant the risk of vaccination. Coronavirus in cattle is termed winter dysentery and is also generally mild. Perhaps the cat coronavirus, known as FIP, is the most aggressive form.

COVID-19 UPDATE 3/15/2020

Coronavirus in Dogs

COVID 19 Update 3/15/2020

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 00:12:00 GMT

Amid the rapidly-evolving news regarding Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19), we wanted to take a moment to share some helpful information and answer some common questions regarding this virus, domestic animals and pets, and what you can do to continue to stay safe.

At this time, major world health organizations are emphasizing that the current primary concern is for human health. It is also important to know that, at this time, there is no concern regarding transmission to or from animals, and animals are not at risk for contracting COVID-19.

What is a coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses named for their structure, which resembles a crown, or “corona”

There are many different types of coronavirus which can infect people and animals; historically, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV are types of coronavirus that have caused disease in humans

COVID-19 is the name for a new coronavirus that originated in China and causes respiratory disease, fever, and pneumonia in people

Can my pet get COVID-19?

COVID-19 appears to have emerged from an animal source. However, it is now spreading from among people.

At this time, there is no evidence that your pet can contract COVID-19 or that they may be a source of infection.

While there has been recent news about a dog testing “weak positive” for COVID-19 in Hong Kong, it does not mean this dog is truly positive, and no dogs in the US have been identified with the virus. It stands to reason that if pets were able to be infected, we would be hearing about it.

Are coronaviruses in other animals related to COVID-19? What about vaccines?

Many pet and farm animals have their own version of coronavirus by which they can be infected. They usually cause mild gastrointestinal illness, but some can cause respiratory disease.

Canine and bovine coronavirus cause diarrhea, and feline coronavirus can cause feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). These diseases are NOT associated with the current COVID-19 outbreak.

What can I do to keep myself and my pet safe?

Keep cats indoors, and keep pets with you if you are self-quarantined.

Excellent hand hygiene is the bottom line: always wash hands as much as possible, especially before and after handling any animals or pets.

Here are some practices we are enforcing to increase everyone’s safety during this time:

The lobby and all exam rooms are sanitized and wiped down thoroughly between appointments

All of our doctors and staff wash hands before and after each pet’s appointment

We are limiting the number of people accompanying a pet to the bare minimum. This keeps the number of people entering the clinic to a minimum. If you have kids with you due to the school closings, please call when you arrive and we can come out to your vehicle to get your pet.

Here are some practice you can implement to help everyone stay safe during this time:

For more from VWP on Coronavirus, check out the links below

/blog/coronavirus-statement

Animal Coronaviruses, an overview

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.

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

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

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

Expanded Appointment Hours

Fri, 24 Jul 2015 18:42:00 GMT

Expanded Appointment Hours

August 2015

Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic is excited to announce that we are expanding our appointment times to include Friday afternoons. The office has been open during the afternoon to allow for dispensing of medications. We will now be able to schedule appointments between 1:30 and 4:30 on Friday afternoons. In the past, our appointments ended at 11:30 on Fridays.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ear Infections (Otitis Externa)

Tue, 02 Dec 2014 16:01:00 GMT

Otitis Externa

Inner Ear Infections

Dogs and cats often come to the vet due to ear infections. In fact, this is one of the top ten reasons that a cat or dog comes to the veterinarian for an appointment outside of his or her yearly wellness examination. "Otitis" is the medical term for an ear infection. We typically separate otitis into three subsets: outer, middle and inner ear disease (otitis externa, otitis medialis and otitis interna). The majority of ear infections in animals are outer ear infections (Otitis externa). Sometimes pets present with skin infections ( pyoderma ) along with the infected ears.

The outer ear is made up of the ear that is on the outside of the ear drum (Tympanic membrane). This portion is divided into three parts: the ear pinna (ear flap), the vertical ear canal and the inner ear canal.

It is not uncommon for a pet to present to us after the owner has tried to treat him or her for several weeks at home for ear mites. It is actually a misconception that ear mites are a major factor in ear infections. In fact, ear mites are almost exclusively limited to young animals, often resolving by 20 weeks of age.

Outer ear infections are most often a symptom of allergies, rather than water in the ears or another risk factor. Other risk factors can contribute to ear infections, but it is often the underlying allergy that sets up the right situation for an ear infection to develop. These risk factors include floppy ears, narrow ear canals, repeated exposure of the ears to water and certain breeds.

At Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic, we strive to provide you with the most information available for your pet. Listed below are clinical signs, how we diagnose ear infections, treatment information and prevention tips.

Clinical Signs : Many of the symptoms are related to the discomfort that is experienced in the ear canal itself. Animals experience a itching sensation, as well as pain and warmth at the site of infection. This itching and pain leads to the most common clinical signs: rubbing the ear, shaking the head, crying when touched near the ear, favoring the head in a low position and pawing at the ears and face. In addition, owners may notice redness/ inflammation of the ear. Oftentimes a very distinct odor can be detected.

Additional problems and symptoms can be present, including major swelling of the ear flap (called an aural hematoma). This requires surgery. Abnormal head positioning or weird eye movement is a sign of a middle or inner ear infection. Inner and middle ear infections require immediate attention and more aggressive treatment.

Diagnosis: A physical examination will be performed, including the use of a otoscope. This lets us evaluate the severity of the infection, as well as viewing the ear drum. We may need to clean the ear canals so that we are able to better see the tympanic membrane (Ear drum). We will also place a cotton swab into the ear canal to gather a sample. This sample will be stained and evaluated to see which type of infection is present. This helps us choose a good treatment for the specific infection.

Typically we classify an ear infection into three broad categories:

1) Yeast Otitis Externa: Ear infections caused by yeast are the most common type of ear infection. Fortunately, these infections also tend to be the easiest to treat. (Notice we did not say that they are "easy to treat," simply that they are the least complicated and generally resolve with appropriate treatment)

2) Small bacterial Infection (COCCI): This is a very broad category, which we call cocci. We lump these bacteria into one category because they tend to be treated with the same medications. This is the second most common type of infection that we see in the clinic. It is more difficult to treat than a yeast infection, but not as concerning as the third category.

3) Rods: These large, elongated bacteria tend to be aggressive and more severe than the other two categories. Fortunately, this is the least common type of infection. It may take several rounds of therapy to resolve an infection with rods. We will recheck these pets two weeks into the treatment and repeat a test to see if the infection is going away. Our goal is to clear up the infection as soon as possible, however we often see these more aggressive infections change over to a less aggressive type. At this point, we modify our treatment and target the changed infection.

Treatment : Treatment for the specific ear infection will vary depending on the results of the physical examination and the cytology testing that we perform in the clinic. Most treatments involve some form of ear cleaning and then a treatment that is placed into the ear. Our technician or veterinarian will demonstrate the proper way to clean the ear canals. Generally, we recommend cleaning the infected ears once a day for one week and then every other day for the second week. We then give you instructions on when to apply the ear medication, which is either once a day or twice a day for two weeks. Some ear infections can also be treated using a medication that we can place into the ear canal. This treatment will stay in the ear canal and treat the infection for 2 to 3 weeks depending on each case.

Animals that have a more aggressive infection may be placed on additional medications. These include oral antibiotics and NSAIDs. NSAIDs are medications that target both inflammation and pain.

Prevention : There is not really way to prevent all ear infections, but there are things that can be done to help. We recommend cleaning the ears periodically, up to twice a week in chronic infected patients. This helps to keep the ear canal free of debris, as well as removes a lot of yeast and bacteria from the ear canal. Routine cleaning also helps with early detection of an ear infection.

Only clean your pet's ears with an approved ear cleaner for animals. These are available over the counter at pet stores and also here in the clinic and on our online store. For most animals, a general ear cleaner is recommended. Depending on the infection and history, we may recommend a specialized ear cleaner. These ear cleaners may be more effective at dissolving the ear debris or may change the pH levels within the ear canal. We do not recommend a home remedy in the ears for various reasons. These include inefficacy (they simply don't work) and they may cause harm to your pet. These home remedies are not approved for use in pets, including hydrogen peroxide and vinegar. It is always best to have you pet examined to see if the ear drum is ruptured or not.

Written and published by Dr. Jeff Fink

Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic (330)336-5823

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.

2014 Bordetella Vaccine Guidelines

Fri, 21 Nov 2014 19:26:00 GMT

2014 Bordetella Guidelines

11.21.2014

Kennel Cough (AKA Bordetella Bronciseptica) is a contagious respiratory disease of dogs. It is spread though the air, spreading from dog to dog within close contact of one another. It is a common concern of boarding and grooming facilities. It is also commonly found and contracted in dog parks and other areas where a lot of dogs tend to visit and play. It is commonly referred to as kennel cough, since it is a common concern of many boarding and grooming facilities.

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.

Our vets are always monitoring the best methods of protection, as well as the efficacy of the numerous vaccinations that are available to protect dogs. We just reviewed all of the information available and have developed the following guidelines and protocols:

High Risk dogs will receive a Bordetella vaccination every 6 months. These are dogs that frequently visit doggy daycare, grooming facilities or are boarded often.
Medium Risk dogs need to receive a kennel cough vaccination within the 6 months prior to their stay. These are dogs that board periodically.
Low Risk dogs will be evaluated at their annual physical examination to assess the needs and risk of that particular pet.

At this time, we recommend alternating an intranasal Bordetella vaccine with on oral version of the vaccine. The current intranasal vaccination also includes protection against parainfluenza virus.

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

Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic

3898 Greenwich Rd.

Seville, Ohio 44273

Pet Health During the Holidays

Fri, 21 Nov 2014 17:17:00 GMT

Keeping Your Pet Healthy and Safe this Holiday Season

This time of year we all like to enjoy parties and gatherings with friends and family. Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic is proud to align with the American Humane Association to educate pet owners about many holiday hazards. This particular article stresses things that a pet may eat during this time of year. We have another article that stresses some other Thanksgiving hazards , as well as some cold weather tips .

Candy and Sweets : Chocolate is a well known toxin, but did you know that one of the ingredients that is in a lot of sugarless gums is also highly toxic?

Christmas Tree Water . Be aware that there are some tree water preservatives and additives that are not pet friendly. Always read the label and look for pet friendly products. Better yet: limit access to the tree water altogether.

Batteries . Batteries are very common this time of year, with all the toys and devices that require their power. Believe it or not, this is also a common item that is ingested by pets. Adverse effects include acid burns and gastrointestinal upset. Some batteries may even block the intestinal tract all together, requiring surgical removal.

Car Antifreeze . Sweet, but deadly, animal exposure to antifreeze tends to increase during the cooler months. Keep all antifreeze away from pets at all times. It doesn’t take a lot to cause severe and permanent damage to the kidneys.

Medications . Always keep all prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs out of reach. Many of the common cold remedies can negatively affect our pets. Likewise, many common anti-inflammatory medications (Ibuprofen, Naproxen) can be toxic to pets.

Stringed Popcorn and Tinsel . These items are very tempting, especially to cats. The result of ingestion is often a linear foreign body, a blockage with the added risk of perforating the intestines.

Pretty plants : Here are some common holiday plants that can be harmful to your pet: poinsettias, holly, amaryllis, mistletoe, and pine needles. To avoid any risk, we encourage the use of fake plants that serve the same decorative purpose as the live ones.

Table food . It is never a good idea to feed human food to pets. Though it is tempting to share some mashed potatoes or turkey with our furry friends, even a small change in diet can mean huge problems. Diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain are just a few issues that may arise. Poultry bones (For Turkeys, especially) pose a unique risk. These bones are hollow and splinter into pieces easily. This can lead to sharp pieces that poke through the intestines. Gravy is another food that we tend to love, but it is too fatty for most animals.

Edited by Dr. Jeffrey R. Fink.
*This article was adapted from DVM Magazine staff article entitled: "Advice for clients: what not to feed animals this holiday season" for Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic by Robin Evans.

Christmas Donation Drive 2014

Tue, 18 Nov 2014 17:01:00 GMT

Animal Shelter Drive 2014

Christmas Donation List

Donations are accepted at any of our 4 locations. This includes Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic, Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic and the Orrville Pet Spa and Resort.

** Indicates Urgent Needs

Please call the clinic at (330)336-5823

Our Office is located at:

3898 Greenwich Rd

Seville, Ohio 44273

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.

Product Spotlight: Revolution

Thu, 23 Oct 2014 18:31:00 GMT

Revolution Topical Parasiticide

Revolution is a topical parasiticide that is available for both dogs and cats. It is produced by Zoetis, Inc.; formerly Pfizer Animal Health. Zoetis is 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 common topical medications; yet it still is effective. There are many parasite medications of that are not longer effective, but Revolution has remained effective to date. So what does it do?

General

Revolution is a monthly topical product that provides protection against many of the parasites that we see here in the Seville, Rittman, Lodi and Wadsworth areas. These parasites include both "bugs" and "worms." "Bug" is an easy way to classify external parasites and includes fleas. "Worms" is a way to say internal parasites, including heartworm disease . This product should be applied directly on the skin, in the area between the shoulder blades of both dogs and cats. In cats, we actually recommend applying the product half way in between the top of the head and the shoulder blade area so that cats can not groom any product off within the first few hours.

Dogs

We separated this product spotlight into dogs and cats. The reason for this is that dogs and cats are different. With this difference comes different protection, even though there is little difference between the "Cat" revolution and the "Dog" revolution. The main difference is the concentration of the medication. 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.

Cats

Cats and dogs are different in many, many ways. The main focus for purposes here is that cats are extensive groomers. This ultra-grooming behavior gives cats more protection than dogs from Revolution. This is the reason that Revolution is our most recommended monthly parasite control for cats. In cats, Revolution protects against the same parasites as in dogs: Heartworms, fleas, flea eggs and ear mites. In addition, Revolution covers roundworms and hookworms, two of the most common internal parasites in cats.

Written by Dr. Jeff Fink for use by Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic and our partner clinics: Orrville Veterinary Clinic and Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic.

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.

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.

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

Online Scheduling Now Available

Fri, 20 Jun 2014 16:44:00 GMT

Online Scheduling

Did you know that Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic now offers easy, online scheduling? Not only that, be we are the only animal hospital in the Seville, Wadsworth, Rittman, Medina and surrounding areas that we have found that offers this valuable service.

As one of the premier veterinary clinics in the area, we are constantly trying to make owning a pet as easy and convenient as possible. We believe strongly that we are here to provide the best possible care to our furry friends and their families.

As a result, we are excited to be partnering with Appointmaster Online Scheduling system. Appointmaster is a program that has been designed to partner closely with our electronic medical record system, Clientrax. We will have several other new capabilities through Appointmaster, but we want to focus on the online scheduling portion for the moment. Online medical records will be coming soon, so stayed tuned.

We feel the allowing our clients the capability to schedule an appointment from their computer or smartphone is just another way in which we can make pet care as easy as possible. We are all busy people too, so we find that the hustle and bustle of daily live doesn't always calm down until late in the evening. Now you can schedule that pet appointment at any time! We see the future of technology shifting more and more to portable devices, such as the IPhone and Android smartphones that are so common these days. We will continue to come out with more and more "tech savy" practices as times goes on.

To access our online scheduler, click on the link at the bottom of the home page, or click HERE .

Once you have scheduled the appointment for your pet, you should receive a confirmation e-mail. We will also likely give you a call to confirm the appointment, or may call if the proper amount of time has not been allowed to properly assess and care for your pet in the most thorough manner possible.

Electronic Medical Records

Fri, 20 Jun 2014 15:14:00 GMT

Eletronic Medical Records

Coming Soon!

Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic prides ourselves on continuous excellence. We pursue this in all that we do in order to provide the best care and support for our patients and our clients. We are always reevaluating what we do and how we do it.

It is in this light that we are pleased to announce that we have a better "pet portal" system coming soon. A "Pet Portal" is the current industry term for online access to your pet's medical records. The portals allow you to access various information and easily print out things like vaccination records. Our previous "pet portal" system was nice and many of you may have used it. With our many updates to our operating systems and client management software, it became evident that we need a newer format that integrates better with our system. This system is provided by Appointmaster, the same company that now provides our online scheduling capabilities. Please check back on the website periodically, as we hope to have the new system up and running within the next several weeks.

Until that time, you will be directed to this article when clicking on the link on our homepage.

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.

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 17:14:00 GMT

Shopping Our New Online Store

06.03.2014

Over the past few months, the Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic has been evaluating our online store to better serve you, our clients. Through this process, we determined that the format and ease of use of the previous store was not up to our standards. As a result, we have changed the provider of our online store, going with a more trusted source and easier to use format. 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. Our new store will feature products and prescriptions for Dogs, Cats, and Horses.

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 or need help with any portion of the process, please contact our office at 330-336-5823

By Jeffrey R. Fink D.V.M.

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

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.

New Pain Medication: Recuvyra

Wed, 21 May 2014 19:36:00 GMT

In 2014, Elanco Companion Animal Health released Recuvyra. Rucuvyra is an unique medication designed to provide pain relief for our canine patients. This topical solution is used to provide post-operative pain control. It has a specialized new transdermal (through the skin) delivery system, which provides extended pain management and relief. In fact, a single dose (1.2 mg/lb) applied to a dog prior to surgery will control and manage pain for approximately 96 hours (four days). Elanco says its new-patented drug delivery technology will reduce the need for home administration of pain medications. This helps to deal with concerns about misuse and abuse of various pain relief drugs and concerns, as well as the need for diligent client compliance.

Earlier this year, Recuvyra was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the control of post-operative pain that is often associated with surgical procedures in dogs. The active ingredient is fentanyl, which is a Class II controlled substance. In Elanco's clinical trials, 98.4 percent of dogs treated with Recuvyra received effective pain control following extended and involved surgeries.

As a precaution, Elanco says that dogs that have been treated with Recuvyra should be isolated from children for 72 hours from the time of application. Should any contact occur, 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.

Like most medications, there are restrictions on the use of Recuvyra. For instance, Elanco says the use of Recuvyra is not advised for dogs with diseased or injured skin near the application site. It is also reserved for the most serious cases and not for dogs expected to have mild or absent perioperative pain. We also need to be concerned about dogs with paralytic ileus and dogs with known hypersensitivity to fentanyl. The most common side effects seen following surgery in dogs were: drowsiness, sedation, diarrhea, vomiting, low body temperature, abnormal heart rhythms, fever and lack of appetite. The most serious, but rare, potential side effect is decreased gastrointestinal motility with an increased risk of bacterial overgrowth. If we have treated your pet with this medication within the last 96 hours, please contact us with concerns.

Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic is proud to be a trend setter in our area for veterinary medicine. Because of our desire to do the best thing for each of our patients, we have begun to use Recuvyra on every serious soft tissue surgery, as well as on every orthopedic surgery that we perform. (Orthopedic procedures are performed at our Orrville Veterinary Clinic location) If you have questions about this medication or its use on your dog, we encourage you to contact our office at (330)336-5823

Written by Jenn Brown, R.V.T.

Edited and Revised by Jeffrey R. Fink D.V.M. for use on the websites of The Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic and Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic.

May is Heartworm Prevention Month

Wed, 21 May 2014 19:18:00 GMT

May 2014 is Heartworm Prevention Month

"My pet is not at risk for heartworms?"

"He or she is not around other pets, so I don't have to worry about heartworms, right?"

BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ. Do you hear that? It is a pesky old mosquito.

Ouch, did you just get bit by a mosquito taking out the garbage or while camping with your pet?

Fortunately, you are not at risk of contracting heartworm disease, but any one of those nasty mosquitoes could be carrying Heartworm Disease. Mosquitoes are the only way that pets get heartworms. An infected mosquito carries the larvae. When that infected mosquito bites your pet, the heartworm larvae is then transferred to the blood of the pet.

Heartworm prevention is one of the most important thing that you can use to protect your pet's health. It is considered a common prevention, as important as annual vaccinations. It's not just dogs; cats can get heartworms, too. Using Heartworm preventative does not stop the mosquitoes from biting your pet, but prevents the Heartworm larvae from growing into mature adults. The mature adults travel to the pulmonary artery, causing increased stress on the heart. Once at this level, the heartworms eventually lead to congestive heart failure. Some common signs of heartworm disease are coughing and exercise intolerance.

The best way to protect your pet from Heartworm Disease is to keep him/ 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 Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic;

For dogs, there are a number of options that we recommend:
1) Trifexis – a chewable tablet that prevents Heartworms, fleas, roundworms, whipworms and hookworms.
2) Interceptor Plus– a chewable tablet that prevents Heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms.
3) Proheart 6 and Proheart 12 – a 6 month or 12 month injection for heartworm and hookworms.

For cats, we recommend:
Revolution Plus– a topical medication that prevents Heartworms, fleas, ticks, roundworms and hookworms.

If you have questions about Heartworm Disease, please contact our team and we would be glad to assist you in protecting your family pet against this potentially serious threat of heartworm disease.

Edited by Dr Jeff Fink. Original content written by Robin Evans.

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.

Top Dog Breeds 2013

Mon, 07 Apr 2014 14:22:00 GMT

2013 Top Ten AKC Breeds

We just received our latest copy of the AAHA publication, Trends. This monthly magazine highlights many trends within the veterinary industry. One article highlighted the latest report from the American Kennel Club: the top ten dog breeds for 2013.

Below is the top ten:

Labrador Retriever
German Shepherd
Golden Retriever
Beagle
Bulldog
Yorkshire Terrier
Boxer
Poodle
Rottweiler
Dachshund

This is interesting in that large breeds dogs not only dominate the list of top ten, but several large breeds saw large increases in registration numbers. These breeds, such as the Great Dane and Doberman Pinscher, may lie outside the top ten, but their popularity in increasing rapidly. Another breed that has shot up the list is the French Bulldog.

For the 23rd year in a row, the Labrador Retriever is Americas' top dog.

Adapted from Trends Magazine, April 2014.

Article adapted for Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic and Published 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

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

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)

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.

Golden Retriever Lifetime Study

Mon, 24 Feb 2014 03:09:00 GMT

The Golden Retriever Lifetime Study is pioneering the way in studying why Golden Retrievers may develop cancer and other health problems. Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs over two years of age. Golden Retrievers were selected as the subjects of this study because, in addition to their abilities as service dogs and their popularity, they unfortunately have a high predisposition to cancer compared to most breeds. This study will not only benefit Golden Retrievers but all dogs in giving them a brighter, healthier future.

This is the largest and longest study ever undertaken to study the health of dogs. It’s managed by Morris Animal Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps animals enjoy longer, healthier lives. Goals of the study include determining the occurrence of cancer in Golden Retrievers in the United States, to identify genetic differences, environmental and nutritional factors, and the occurrence of other health disorders that can increase or decrease a dog’s risk for cancer. Over the next 10 to 14 years, observational data collected from 3,000 Golden Retrievers will 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 Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic is participating in the largest study ever conducted in veterinary medicine. 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. Hofstetter is a participating veterinarian in the study. Registered veterinary technician, Amanda Bell, is participating in the study with her 3 year old Golden Retriever, Hanna. It’s exciting that Hanna was the 2nd dog entered into the study. Amanda takes pride in her involvement with Hanna and is 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 1000 dogs have been registered with a goal to reach 3000 by the end of the year. For more information visit www.CanineLifetimeHealth.org or call the Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic at (330) 336-5823.

Complete Blood Cell Count

Tue, 18 Feb 2014 20:16:00 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).

Anal Sac Disorders in Dogs

Tue, 18 Feb 2014 19:56:00 GMT

Anal Sac Issues in Dogs

Anal sacs, also known as anal glands, are present in dogs, cats, opossum, and skunk. These glands are paired and 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 spontaneously 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 Metamucil.

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)336-5823 or via email: info@sevillevetclinic.com .

Intestinal Parasite Test

Thu, 06 Feb 2014 17:26:00 GMT

Intestinal Parasite Test

At Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic, we are passionate about the care of our animals. We believe that routine care is vital to the health of each and every patient for which we care. One part of the routine animal care that we will discuss below is the annual fecal, or Intestinal Parasite Test.

An Intestinal Parasite Test (IPT) is a very important 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?

An IPT is vital to the well-being of animals, as 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. It 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 Seville, Wadsworth, Lodi, Rittman, Medina and the surrounding regions of Wayne and Medina 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, Hubbard Valley and River Styx parks. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding the importance of the IPT or about routine parasite prevention.

Written by Jeff Fink D.V.M.

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

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.

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 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

By Jeffrey R. FInk D.V.M.

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.

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.

Cold weather tips for Cats and Dogs

Thu, 02 Jan 2014 18:19:00 GMT

COLD WEATHER TIPS FOR PETS

In Seville, Lodi, Medina and the surrounding regions of Ohio, the weather can turn brutally cold. With extreme cold our pets are at high risk to weather related issues. We have highlighted some key areas to keep your pet safe during this cold weather in Ohio.

Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic is here for you: We are proud to provide excellent animal care and educational resources to our pets and their owners.

Click HERE for Thanksgiving tips for your pets.

Click HERE for cold weather tips for Horses (you will be redirected to our partner clinic, The Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc. )

As always, we are available for emergencies through out Orrville Veterinary Clinic. Please call us at (330)682-2971 should you have a pet-related emergency.

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!

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 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 .

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.

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.

Animal Shelter Chritmas Donations

Fri, 15 Nov 2013 16:38:00 GMT

Animal Shelter Christmas Donations

Christmas means many things to many it people. There are many precious family traditions that occur during this time of year. One of our favorite traditions has become our annual Christmas drive to help local animal shelters. We feel that taking time to remember the pets in shelters without homes is important during this season of giving. We are once again taking donations of supplies at each of our locations in Seville, Barberton, and Orrville for local animal shelters. There is a substantial need for these supplies including food, office and cleaning supplies, litter, trash bags, and detergents. We are also accepting monetary donations to support these shelters. We have had a great response in the past. Please join us in providing area shelters with a Christmas donation this year. You may drop off any donated supplies leading up to Christmas day and they will be taken the week after Christmas. Thank you for your support!

Our offices are located at the following addresses:

(For areas near Seville, which include: Lodi, Norton, Wadsworth, Creston, Rittman, Medina, and many other areas surrounding southern Medina County and northern Wayne County)

Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic

3893 Greenwich Rd.

Seville, Ohio 44273

www.sevillevetclinic.com

(For areas Near Orrville, which include: Rittman, Doylestown, Marshalville, Smithville, Apple Creek, Kidron, Dalton, Wooster, Mt Eaton and many other areas surrounding Orrville in Wayne County)

Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc

1665 N. Main St

Orrville, Ohio 44667

www.orrvillevetclinc.com

(For areas near Barberton, including Norton, Wadsworth, Barberton, Akron, and areas of Summit and Stark County)

Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic

1111 Wooster Rd. N.

Barberton, Ohio 44203

www.abvetclinic.com

We are always amazed at the generosity of our clients as they provide valuable donations to help those animals that are less fortunate than the ones that have loving homes.

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

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.

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.

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 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

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 Basics

Thu, 24 Oct 2013 16:17:00 GMT

Tips for Preventing Litter Box Problems

Keeping it clean:

Scoop the litter box at least once a day. The urine and feces smells will invade the rest of your house the longer it sits in the box. If you are able to smell any odors, your cat has been smelling them for a longer period of time and at higher levels. Scoop your litter box early and often to cut down the odor. It is recommended to scoop the litter box a minimum of 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. Use mild dish detergent to clean it, as products with 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.

Article Submitted by Amanda Bell, R.V.T.

Adapted to website by Jeff Fink D.V.M.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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

Mystery Dog Illness Update

Thu, 19 Sep 2013 15:41:00 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. Please note that there have been no new cases within the past four weeks as of the publishing of this article. We are hoping that 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:

The point to emphasize is 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 in sanitary conditions and away from the excrement (feces) of other animals. There are many other infections that 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.

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.

New Website

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:26:00 GMT

The Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic is very excited to launch our newly redesigned website. We hope to provide you with many resources to help aid in the care of your companion animals. Please let us know what you think. You may contact us with any ideas for subjects that you would like to learn more about. This way, we can get articles and information posted that is relevant to your needs. We plan to launch online scheduling soon, but are still evaluating our options for formatting and services.

It is our hope that this new website further enhances our ability to provide the best possible veterinary care to our clients and their pets in Northern Wayne and Southern Medina counties of Ohio.

Online Store

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 15:27:00 GMT

We feature an online store, which is available to all of our clients. Through this store, we are able to offer an even better selection of products to our clients. These products will be delivered to your door, making the process as convenient as possible.

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.

Celebrating Pet Wellness Month: July 2013

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 09:21:00 GMT

July is National pet wellness month

Every year for a dog or cat is equivalent to five to seven human years so it is important that your pet receives a wellness exam every year. Similar to people, pets need to visit the veterinarian more often as they get older in order to prevent and treat illnesses that come with age. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) recommends that a healthy pet should visit the veterinarian once a year for a complete physical examination and any relevant laboratory testing. During the wellness visit, we will review a complete history of your pet’s health. This is the perfect time to discuss any concerns about any unusual behavior that you have noticed in your pet such as coughing, diarrhea, change in appetite, excessive drinking, panting, scratching or urination, vomiting, and weight gain or weight loss. The veterinarian will also perform a complete physical examination, reviewing many of your pet’s body systems. Your veterinarian will feel your pet’s abdomen for abnormalities, including enlarged organs, masses or painful areas, to detect problems with the stomach, intestines, kidneys, liver and other organs. Through this examination many disease can be detected earlier in their course, resulting in a better quality of life for you and your pet. Depending on your pet’s lifestyle and age, we may also ask about your pet’s exposure to fleas, ticks, heartworms and intestinal parasites. Our veterinarian and staff will develop an individualized treatment and/or preventative plan to address these issues. Vaccinations are one of the most important preventive measures you can take for the health of your pet. Dogs can be immunized against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, parvovirus, bordetella, rabies, and lyme disease. Cats can be immunized against feline panleukopenia (distemper), rabies, feline rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and feline leukemia. Do not underestimate the importance of taking your pet to the veterinarian for regular wellness examinations. These regular examinations will help your pet live a longer and healthier life, so do your part to care for your furry friend!

For More details, visit www.healthypet.com

Canine Allergies

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 13:51:00 GMT

Allergies and Atopy

Did you know that your pet can experience allergies to many of the same things that you do? Atopy is the veterinary medical term that is used to describe the allergic response to environmental allergies. Dogs can also experience food allergies. Some dogs are even allergic to insect bites and bee stings.

Allergies in dogs show up in different ways than allergies in people. People often experience respiratory and periocular (around the eyes) signs when reacting to allergens. Allergens are the substance that triggers the allergic response by the body. In dogs, allergies typically show up as skin infections , licking at the feet and recurrent ear infections (otitis externa) .

Allergies in dogs are often treated using a corticosteroid, such as prednisone. While diagnostic and treating your pet, we also need to try to determine exactly what is triggering the allergic response by your dog. This is often the challenging part. Allergies are acquired to substances that the body has seen before, meaning that it is not a new substance that is triggering the allergy, but rather something that has likely been present in their environment for a prolonged period of time.

The areas Southern Medina and Northern Wayne counties are a "hot spot" for allergies. The Seville, Rittman and Medina areas are known for high pollen counts and a lot of agricultural activity. This agricultural activity (plowing) serves to stir up pollens from previous seasons, making allergies even more prevalent. Please call the clinic to schedule an appointment to discuss your pet's condition if he or she is showing any of the above signs.

He Has Bad Breath

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 15:26:00 GMT

Does your cat or dog have a bad odor? Is that odor coming from the mouth (bad breath or halitosis)? There are many reasons why an animal may develop bad breath. Most of these conditions are related to dental health. Pets can develop chipped teeth. They also can get a bad odor due to gingivitis, inflammation of the gum tissue. The most common oral condition is due to the buildup of plaque, tartar and bacteria.

Many dental problems can easily be prevented by simply brushing your pet's teeth. This may sound difficult, but it is usually much easier than most people anticipate. It is very important to use a toothpaste that is labeled specifically for animals, mainly because the fluoride in human toothepaste can be toxic to animals. We are happy to provide you with intructions and more information during a routine oral examination and check-up.