The Whole Pet
News and Tips from Beverly Animal Natural Health Center
2011 is coming to an end with the holidays upon us and hopes for the New Year. Dr. Ricketts, Jenna, Brianna, Tucker, Stuart and I are all very grateful for the chance to work with all of our clients and their pets throughout the year.
2011 saw us take some leaps into technology with our email reminders and birthday cards through PetPortal. New lab equipment and enriching continuing education help us to be ever sharp and vigilant for the best in patient care. Growing relationships with Betty McQueary, reiki practitioner has helped so many. Dr. Geoff Clark of Veterinary Surgery of New England allows us to offer a board certified surgeon to take care of our surgical patients when Dr. Ricketts and I cannot.
There are many patients that have gone to the Rainbow Bridge in 2011 but we are ever so grateful of having them in our lives. Our jobs are such a huge part of our lives and we have fond memories of the pets that have graced us along the years.
As we look forward to 2012, we vow to continue with the high standards of care, communication and compassion for you and your pet.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year. ENJOY!
Please remember these holiday hints for safety
Chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats. In case your pet accidentally eats some, please call Animal Poison Control at 888) 426-4435. A $65 fee may be applied to your credit card. There is also this handy calculator that you may also use but do call us during business hours or ASPCA to double check! http://www.askavetquestion.com/chocolate_toxicity.php
Please also be aware that you should not feed your dog any raisins or grapes as these may cause kidney failure. The exact mechanism is not known but best to be safe.
Xylitol: This sugar free sweetener is in some brands of chewing gum and other products. It can be fatal if ingested so do be aware!
Keep all the curling ribbon and bows away from the curious cats that may eat them and develop severe intestinal issues. No tinsel but I think that style of tree decorating went out back in the 80s!
Ice Melt: Be sure to wash off pet's paws to remove sand and salt/de-ice products. The other option is to get your dog to wear booties in the winter to protect the feet. There is also a product called Musher's Secret that can help protect the feet from winter ice and snow.
Adding vegetables to your dog or cat's meal can help decrease calories consumed yet increase the feeling of fullness after a meal. Ideally, one wants low glycemic fruits and vegetables.
With our dogs and cats, we must stay away from grapes, raisins and onions.
Some easy, palatable veggies are green beans, squashes, asparagus and mushrooms. Some animals love peppers and apples. You can check out a website such as http://www.weightlossforall.com/glyemic-list-fruits-vegs.htm but again, remember to not feed grapes, raisins or onion. There is also the added benefit of antioxidants.
Increasingly over the last few years, we have been faced with multiple drug recalls, back orders and price increases. This has been due to some actions by the FDA as well as issues with raw materials and packaging. Please know that we are working with our drug representatives and sales people to try to stay ahead of these situations. Fortunately, we are always looking for drug-free options to treat many patient conditions!
If you do have to shop at a pharmacy for a prescription item that we do not carry, please always ask about any discount options such as AAA or AARP. Many pharmacies offer huge discounts but do not advertise. We also recommend Costco for many prescriptions as they often have the best price. You do not need a Costco membership at this time to purchase prescriptions there.