Category Archives: Seasons
Joy to the World!
May you be filled with the hope that Jesus’ birth affords, & that we so desperately need. Christmas is God’s gift of love to YOU!! You are precious, worthwhile, & so very loved! I hope you feel it this holiday season. Merry Christmas!!!
(Photo courtesy of: https://sheepyhollow.wordpress.com)
Double Defense Against Heartworm Disease
With mosquito season upon us, remember to protect your dog from deadly heartworm disease. We recommend a monthly heartworm & intestinal parasite dewormer. We ALSO recommend that you protect your dog with a monthly dose of Vectra 3D, which combats fleas, ticks & the mosquitoes that transmit heartworm. Using both methods of protection boosts success at preventing heartworm transmission to 99%!
Click HERE for more information, including studies showing efficacy of Double Defense strategy for dogs.
Photo courtesy of: http://www.fightheartwormnow.com
2017 Vaccination Clinics
Our vaccination clinics offer a closer-to-home option for keeping up on your dog or cat’s routine vaccinations. We visit Oulu, Port Wing, Cornucopia, Maple, Brule, Mason and Mellen annually (just in time for dog licensing). Stop by for annual heartworm and tick-borne diseases testing/prevention, internal parasite treatment/prevention, and discounted vaccinations for your faithful pets!
Click HERE for more information about dates, times and locations, or call our clinic.
(photo courtesy of: http://allcarepetpacifica.com/service/vaccinations/)
May Your Days Be Merry & Bright...
As we move into the Christmas season, we are again reminded of God’s great gift of salvation. It is our sincere hope that as you celebrate the holidays with your family, friends & pets, you may know & understand how very much you are loved, & may experience God’s peace & rich blessings. Have a bright, merry & meaningful Christmas!!
(photo courtesy of: http://wallpapersafari.com/christmas-pets-wallpaper/)
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Can my dog have turkey scraps? My cat likes cranberry sauce; is that okay? If you’re wondering what’s safe for your pets, you are not alone. To get you started, remember to Be Careful of the Bones!! From all of us here at Willow, have a safe & happy Thanksgiving!
(photo courtesy of: http://www.vvcofhamburg.com/thanksgiving-pet-safety-tips/)
God Bless America
Thank you to all our veterans, and their service dogs, who have sacrificed to keep our country free! Enjoy a safe and happy Independence Day.
(photo courtesy of: www.amazon.com)
TICKS: Beyond Lyme Disease & "Ewww!"
If you have lived in northern Wisconsin long enough you probably have run into a tick or two, or hundreds. You may be familiar with the most common risk with ticks as carriers of Lyme disease. Here are some things you may not know about tick diseases:
•The ticks in our area can carry many diseases that can effect both people and pets (Lyme, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever are some of the most common)
•Of the many tick diseases, only Lyme disease has an available vaccine for dogs
•No vaccine (including the Lyme vaccine) is 100% effective at preventing diseases
•A multimodal approach to tick disease prevention is considered the most effective at keeping your pets safe (Lyme vaccine, topical or oral tick prevention products, daily tick checking, avoiding wooded or long grass areas during peak tick season)
•It can sometimes take several months after a tick bite for disease symptoms to develop
•Symptoms of tick diseases can include lethargy, anorexia, lameness, swollen painful joints, high fever
•The classic “bullseye” appearance of a tick bite that is described in people with Lyme disease is not typically seen in dogs
•Many tick disease infections carry a good prognosis if treated promptly and with the entire course of prescribed antibiotics
•Some tick disease infections can cause very serious side effects that may be fatal (ex. Lyme disease in some dogs can lead to a potentially fatal kidney failure)
Call us if you have other questions about tick diseases! Dr. Sarah Myers, Willow Animal Hospital
(photo courtesy of: www.pvguide.org)
Click HERE for 5 ways to protect your pet from Lyme disease.
Click HERE to learn more about protecting yourself & your family from Lyme disease.
Protect Your Horse With Vaccinations
Every spring questions arise regarding equine vaccination. What does my horse need? When should it be given? And others. Let me share some thoughts that may help you vaccinate your horse appropriately:
Many horses carry the Tetanus organism in their intestinal tract where it does no harm. However, their manure then serves as a source of this bacteria, which is dangerous if it enters the body through a wound. Thus, horses are especially prone to exposure to tetanus and all should receive an annual Tetanus toxoid vaccine. It makes no difference if your horse has exposure to other horses.
In like manner, there is a group of three diseases that are carried by birds and then spread from the bird to your horse via mosquitoes. Your horse can be infected by these agents even if it is totally isolated, simply because there are birds and mosquitoes everywhere.
These three agents/viruses are:
1) Eastern Encephalomyelitis (“Sleeping Sickness”)
2) Western Encephalomyelitis
3) West Nile
I recommend that all horses be vaccinated for these three agents, as well as Tetanus.
All the other vaccines out there are not quite so simple and require some decision-making. One question that I ask is, “Will your horse be exposed to other horses?” If you plan to travel to the fair, horse shows, etc. you should protect your horse against the diseases that spread from horse to horse. These include Rhinopneumonitis and Influenza. Immunity to these agents may not be long-lasting, so plan to vaccinate a month before exposure and/or consider a mid-season booster if your show season is long. Young horses (less than 6 years old) are also susceptible to “Strangles” (Streptococcus Equi). Rabies vaccine is also given to a very small percentage of horses in this area, despite our very low risk.
Beyond that, there are a number of other vaccines available (i.e. Equine Arteritis, Anthrax, Botulism, and Potomac Horse Fever) that are not routine at all for local horses, but may be helpful in special situations involving travel.
Dr. Steve Meyer, Willow Animal Hospital (photo courtesy of: www.thehorse.com
I miss you, my friend...
It is completely normal to feel devastated when your beloved pet dies. Everyone grieves differently, so here are some tips to help with your loss.
•The grieving process happens gradually so be patient with yourself and allow yourself to heal at your pace.
•It is normal to feel sad, frightened or lonely in response to the loss of your pet.
•Do not ignore your pain as this will make it worse in the long run. Talk to others about what you are feeling. Professional help is often a good option.
•Reach out to others that have lost pets (online message boards, pet loss hotlines, pet loss support groups).
•Rituals like holding a funeral for your pet can be very helpful for closure and a chance to share feelings with your family members.
•Creating a legacy for your pet can be a way to help remember the fun and love you shared with your pet (ex. preparing a memorial, planting a tree, making a scrapbook of pictures).
•Maintenance of your normal routine will make it easier for you and any other remaining pets. Dr. Sarah Myers, Willow Animal Hospital
(photo courtesy of: www.k9ofmine.com)
Baby, It's Cold Outside!
Its cold weather season! For outdoor pets, adopt the following rules to keep them safe during subzero temperatures:
•Provide a shelter to escape the cold that is clean, dry and insulated (garage, shed, kennel)
•Avoid abrupt temperature changes like bringing pets into a heated facility and then back out into the extreme cold as this can put them more at risk for certain infectious diseases
•Keep your pets dry with regular bedding changes, removing wet blankets or covers, and providing a shelter to avoid getting wet in the first place
•Use a heated water container and check it regularly to ensure there is plenty of liquid water available
•Increase feed by about 10-15% in order to help pets tolerate the cold stress
•Take caution with the products you use to help melt ice and snow as they can be irritating to pets’ feet or GI tract when ingested. Look for pet safe salts or avoid use when possible.
•With outdoor cats and wildlife in the area, make sure to tap on your hood before starting the car to make sure they are not cuddling up next to the heat of the engine
•Keep your pet away from lakes and ponds in the area that could have thin ice
Dr. Sarah Myers, Willow Animal Hospital
(photo courtesy of: theforumnewsgroup.com)
