Lone Mountain Animal Hospital
August 2008 Newsletter

Clinic Drive Thru
Many of our clients are aware of the recent damage to the clinic exterior after a van drove into the south wall of our clinic. Fortunately no people or pets were injured in the event and there was minor damage to the facility. Soon after the event, the jokes about the Lone Mountain Drive Thru were well in the works! Repair of the clinic wall will begin in the first week of September. Please pardon any noise and dust during the repair process. Then look forward to the coming year as we freshen up our face and remodel our front office!

Dog Ball Causes Tongue Injury
Please be alerted to a recent accident that a New York dog sustained after chewing on a ball. The ball is a Pimple ball with bell and is made by Four Paws, Inc. When chewed, the ball created a vacuum like effect and the dog's tongue got stuck in the ball. The ball was removed after sedation, but unfortunately the damage to the dog's tongue was extensive and the tongue had to be amputated. The manufacturer recognizes a problem with the product and is working to correct it. For the full story, Click Here

Saving Money on Veterinary Care
There is no doubt that with many demands on the checkbook, pet owners today are looking for quality veterinary care, with great value. Today's veterinary medicine offers new advances and technology offering pets longer and healthier lives. But we all know that ultimately there will be a price tag with any veterinary care. Beyond medical care, pet owners will encounter costs for their pet's food, toys, and pet care items. Current industry estimates state that the average annual cost to keep a cat is $800 and $1200 for a dog. With this in mind, how can pet owners save money on pet care? The best recommendation to save money on veterinary care is to embrace preventative measures. Read on to learn what you should do to keep the dollars low and keep your pet safe!

Wellness exams are important every 6 months to evaluate health status, illness, and to advise on proper diet and care. Too often pet owners opt out of important pet wellness exams in the hopes to save money. In the long run this leads to more serious pet illness.and ultimately greater costs for veterinary care.

Vaccinations are a low cost method of preventing costly hospitalization and heartache due to infectious diseases such as canine parvovirus, canine distemper, and feline panleukopenia. Ask your veterinarian which vaccines are most appropriate for your pet's lifestyle. Some pets may require fewer vaccinations, while others may be more at risk for infectious disease and need expanded protection.

Routine preventative dental care can not only help prevent future dental infections and tooth loss, but also decrease the need for more costly dental extractions and root canals. Over 80% of dogs and cats over 3 years of age have some form of dental disease. And we know untreated dental disease can lead to heart disease, kidney disease, and liver problems. Use home dental care steps such as teeth brushing, dental chew toys, and dental sealants like Oravet..

Keep your pet in fit condition! Studies have shown that more than 25% of pets seen by the veterinarian are obese. This extra weight may lead to problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and worsen arthritic problems such as hip or back problems. Proper exercise and the right diet can do wonders for pets. Many pets with osteoarthritis could discontinue pain medications if the extra weight was eliminated! As for diets, be cautious of low cost diets that are often low in energy, causing the pet to eat more to meet their needs. That cheap bag of food will run out faster than a similar sized high quality diet.

Keep your pets indoors. This may seem like a common sense tip, but it is very true. Pets that roam at large run the risk of hit by car injuries, attacks by other animals, and accidental poisonings.

Pet of the Month
All eyes are on LMAH's Guinea Pig candidate for Pet of the Month. Meet "Chocolate," our small but mighty winner for September's Pet of the Month at www.lmah.net
 

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