When you consider what a vet visit entails, you can begin to appreciate why your dog may become so overwhelmed and (sometimes) hard to control.  Not only will he encounter dozens of new smells, but he may also hear barking dogs, meowing cats and strange voices.  He may be handled by vet staff in unfamiliar ways that could add to his apprehension.

Help your dog feel more relaxed and even enjoy his vet visits by following these tips:

• Take the dog to the vet clinic for brief visits prior to your appointment.  Introduce him to the clinic when it’s quiet to get him used to the smells and sounds of the new environment so it won’t be entirely strange to him when you actually go for the exam.  Let him meet the wonderful people who work there; have the staff give him a treat and place him on a scale; and allow him to sniff the exam room.  A few visits like this will help him to associate the vet clinic with a positive experience.
• At home, during quiet times, you can help your dog become comfortable with being handled for a medical examination. Gently pat him on different areas of his body while he is in a relaxed state.  Mimic how the vet will examine your dog–touch around his eyes and ears, gently hold his feet and toes (which also helps alleviate his fear of nail clipping), lift his lips and touch his teeth, gently move his legs, etc.  Take your time with this kind of touch, and do it often so that it becomes an agreeable experience for your dog both at home and at the vet.
• Some dogs never go anywhere in the car except to the vet. Thus, a dog may begin to associate a car ride with visiting the vet and may begin to worry the moment you put him in the car.  To prevent this anxiety, do some practice drives.  Take him somewhere fun, so he learns that a ride in the car can end in a pleasurable destination. 
• Exercise your dog before the vet visit.  A tired dog is more relaxed and easier to manage.
• Throughout the visit, stay relaxed and unconcerned. Your dog can sense your feelings, and you need to remain calm so he can feel calm.  Remember, your dog looks to you for his safety and security.
• Keep your pet on a short leash while in the waiting area, and maintain control of him throughout your visit to avoid any stress, injury or altercations with other pets.  If he shows any signs of aggression toward dogs or humans, be sure to have him muzzled for everyone’s safety.
• If you have a small dog, take him into the clinic in his carrier. He’ll feel more comfortable being in his familiar space, with his blanket, toys, etc.
• After the vet visit, take your dog somewhere fun to play and to reward him.

Your veterinarian and clinic staff will also appreciate you taking the time to ensure your dog is calm and comfortable during his visit.

Thank you to Bark Busters Oakland County for allowing us to republish the above article!

Risk to Children

Leaving bait traps or containers with rat poison in areas occupied by children can lead to disastrous results.  Children are naturally curious, and an unfamiliar object attracts their attention.  Some rat poison comes in the shape of pellets, which looks like candy to children.  Even worse, the rat poison tastes sweet, giving children more reason to try it. 

Risk to Pets

There is a large risk that your family pet will try to eat rat poison that is left unattended.  Pets can often reach objects that you think are out of reach.  There is always the chance that your pet will find the rat poison that you thought was well hidden.

Health Risks of Dead Rats

There are two types of rat poison:  anticoagulant and non-anticoagulant.  Anticoagulant rat poison, such as those made with warfarin, brodificoum, or bromadiolone, work by causing internal bleeding in rats.  This type of rat poison usually takes two to six days to kill a rat.  Non-anticoagulant rat poisons are usually made with zinc phosphide, bromethalin, or cholecalciferon.  These poisons can kill rats within a few hours.

Rat poison does not kill rats instantly, allowing them to travel back to their hiding places.  Sometimes this means they die inside your walls.  After a few days, this will cause a terrible odor.  This also means that you need to remove the dead rat.  Handling dead rats puts you at risk for contracting any number of diseases that the rats are carrying.

http://wdiv.cityvoter.com/berkley-animal-clinic/biz/355671

We’ve compared our prices against several other companies, local and on the Internet, and we’re excited to let you know that our prices are still the best!

Call today to find out how much you can save by purchasing your flea preventative from Berkley Animal Clinic!  Or, click onto the following link to send us a message and receive a price by email.

http://www.berkleyanimalclinic.com/contact.aspx

Officials from the Michigan departments of Agriculture (MDA) and Community Health (MDCH) are urging Michigan citizens to be pro-active and have their pets and livestock vaccinated against rabies after confirmation that a two-year-old female dog in Oakland County tested positive for rabies.  The dog had never been vaccinated against rabies and was kept outdoors in a kennel.  While any mammal can be infected with rabies, the virus is typically carried in skunks or bats in Michigan.  Testing to determine the strain of rabies virus that infected the dog is ongoing.

State law requires that dogs and ferrets be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian.  It is also important to make sure cats, even those kept strictly indoors, be vaccinated against rabies.

“Rabies virus is present in the saliva and brain tissue of an infected animal,” said Corrine Miller, state epidemiologist for MDCH.  “People can be exposed to rabies when they are bitten by a rabid animal.  Other possible routes for exposure include getting infectious material in your eyes, nose, or mouth, or on fresh cuts in the skin.  Making sure pets are vaccinated and avoiding contact with stray or wild animals can reduce your risk of exposure to this potentially fatal disease.”

The family of the rabid dog was not aware of any exposure to a wild or potentially rabid animal.  The family members and several of the veterinary hospital staff were advised to receive rabies Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) as they all may have had contact with the rabid dog’s saliva.  Combined with prompt wound cleansing, appropriately administered rabies PEP is uniformly effective in preventing rabies in exposed individuals.

Common sources of rabies are typically wild mammals like bats, skunks, raccoons, and foxes.  While bats throughout Michigan have the potential to carry rabies and spread it to pets and other animals, skunks have historically only been found to be a source of rabies in the “thumb” area of Michigan extending down to southeast Michigan.  This appears to be changing as cases of rabies associated with rabid skunks have been identified in mid-Michigan.

“Pet and livestock owners must take steps to vaccinate against rabies even in these difficult times because of the possible human exposure to the disease from interaction with horses, cattle, dogs, and cats,” said Dr. Steve Halstead, state veterinarian.  “We don’t know the full extent of the spread of rabies in skunks in Michigan, but it’s important to remind people that rabies is out there, they need to vaccinate their animals – including horses and other livestock, and avoid contact with wild animals.”

For 2010, a total of six rabid animals, including this dog, have been detected in Michigan.  The other cases include three bats, one each from Kent, Clinton and Tuscola counties, a horse from Lapeer County, and a skunk from St. Clair County.

“It is important to make sure animals attending fairs, races, exhibitions, field trials or shows receive additional vaccinations to protect against diseases they may be exposed to in group housing or stressful situations.  Owners should consult their private veterinarian to develop an appropriate vaccination program specific for their animals,” said Halstead.

For more information on rabies, please visit www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases.

http://www.zootoo.com/petnews/gardeningtipsforpetownershowto-1604

Here are a few pictures that were taken at our going away party last Friday at Sila’s Italian Dining & Pizza.

Dr. Theresa Bismack and Dr. Maria Littles

Becky, Liz, and Sharen

Lisa and Judy

Kristi and son Jacob

Karen and Alison

Sharen, Karen, Alison, Julie, and Jacob

We are looking forward to hosting an open house on Sunday May 23rd from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm!

Come visit with our super staff and take a behind the scenes tour of our newly updated facility.  If you have ever been curious as to what goes on in a veterinary clinic, this is the perfect opportunity to find out!

In addition to the informative tour there will be freebies, raffles and refreshments!

Please feel free to bring along as many two legged friends as you would like, however we are asking that our furry four legged friends stay at home this day.

Parking will be available in our parking lot, on Thomas Ave. or behind the building.