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October 2007 
 the Visiting Vet Newsletter
 20th ISSUE
In This Issue


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Welcome to October! This months newsletter will include an article about Flea Allergy Dermatitis, Rabies information, fun facts, and the monthly trivia question. Remember, we love input on the newsletter so any recommendations or suggestions are very welcome. I hope you are enjoying the newsletter and I thank you for your time!

 Flea Allergy Dermatitis
 

dog fad One of the most common skin conditions of dogs and cats is Flea Allergy Dermatitis. Pets with FAD will react strongly to the bite from a single flea. The saliva from the flea triggers the allergy response in the pet. Fleas allergies are worse in the Summer and Fall months.
Pets with FAD scratch, chew, lick and bite their skin to the point of causing skin trauma. They will have patterns of hair loss and rash. Cats with FAD also get lip ulcers.
If your pet is showing signs of a flea allergy, schedule a veterinary exam appointment for your pet. Your veterinarian will be able to determine if the symptoms are caused by fleas or another type of allergy. If your pet has FAD, your veterinarian can initiate therapy that might include antihistamines, antibiotics, steroids, fatty acid supplements, medicated shampoos, or a topical spray. Your veterinarian will also recommend a long lasting, fast acting topical flea control product such as Frontline or Revolution.
Pets with FAD will always be allergic to flea bites. Fleas must be eliminated from the home environment. All pets in the home must be treated for fleas. Consider year round topical flea treatment for all pets if flea problems occur yearly.
The home and yard also need to be treated to keep FAD pet symptoms under control. Your veterinarian can recommend a house spray such as Ectokyl and products available for the yard. An exterminator can also treat the house and the yard for fleas.
Pet owners can help to minimize their pet's discomfort from FAD by working with their veterinarian and eliminating fleas from the home environment.

 


 Did You Know?
 Top 10 Pet Poison Control Calls

poison sign There are many toxic and/or hazardous things in our homes that can be harmful to pets. The top 10 calls to Animal Poison control for poisoning issues include the following:
  1. Human Medications - pain killers, cold medicine, dietary supplements
  2. Insecticides
  3. Pet Medication Over Dose
  4. Plants - Lilies, Azalea, Rhododendron, Sago Palm, Kalanchoe, Schefflera
  5. Rodenticide - mouse and rat poison
  6. Household Cleaners - bleach, detergent, disinfectants
  7. Chocolate
  8. Chemical Hazards - petroleum based products, alcohols, gases
  9. Physical Hazards - choking hazards, intestinal obstruction
  10. Home Improvement Products - paint, solvents, glue

Please keep family and pets safe from potential hazardous materials! A great number to keep handy in case of an emergency is the animal poison hotline # 888- 232- 8870

 


 Promotions
 Trivia!

dog listening The trivia question for October is: What percent of pet owners say that their pets are better listeners than spouses, friends and family? a) 35% b) 45% c) 55% The first client to contact us with the correct answer will receive a $5 credit on their Visiting Vet account. Good Luck! The answer to the September Trivia question: What is the name of the dog movie star of the 1920's who made 24 pictures for Warner Bros. and earned $1000 per week? Answer: Rin Tin Tin. Congratulations to Tom L. who was the first to contact us with the correct answer. He dontated his $5 credit to our Pet Emergency Fund.


 Rabies Alert!

bat Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services and Animal Services are receiving frequent bat calls and reports. There are rabid bats in Kalamazoo County. Assume that all bats are rabid! Call the Kalamazoo County Animal Services at 383-8775 if you find a bat in your home. Call Kalamazoo County Disease Surveillance at 373-5267 for health questions about people and bats. Get dogs and cats vaccinated for rabies. If a pet comes in contact with a bat, call your vet for immediate pet re-vaccination. An exposure is defined as: a)bite exposure- any penetration of the skin by teeth, b)non-bite exposure- saliva of an infected animal coming in contact with abrasions, open wounds, or mucous membranes. The CDC recommends post-exposure treatment if a bat is found in the room of a sleeping person, unattended child, someone mentally or physically challenged, or an intoxicated individual. Raccoons and skunks also carry rabies. For further information, visit http://wwwkalcounty.com/php/Rabies.htm.


Thank you for your time and I wish you a fantastic month! We constantly strive to provide the best care for your family pets and exceptional service to our clients. I offer appointments while parked locally at Discount Pet Store on Gull Rd and also offer individual and neighborhood house calls as available. If I can be of service to you, please give us a call at 269-731-PETS to schedule an appointment today. Also, remember if you refer a friend or family member to our clinic, both of you will be entered in our 2007 referral drawing program for many great prizes. Our next drawing is December 2007. Please see our web site for more info about our prize drawing. Good Luck!! Our previous newsletters can be found on our web page.

Sincerely,


Dr. Seely Rotigel
the Visiting Vet

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