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Kimberly Crest Veterinary Hospital |
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Our Single Focus Is Your Companion's Health Care |
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Kimberly Crest Veterinary Hospital is dedicated to keeping you up to date on the latest news regarding the health of your pet. |
WARNING: Don't let your dog's rabies vaccine expire!
The State Veterinarian has made it law that if your dog is overdue, even by 1 day, for his/her rabies vaccination it must be given a 1 year vaccine booster instead of the routine 3 year booster. Check your pet portal account or call one of our Client Care Specialists @ 563.386.1445 to find out when your dog's rabies vaccine is due. Then make an appointment for their booster before the expiration date to continue with the 3 year rabies vaccination schedule. |
2009 H1N1
Until recently, we had no reason to believe pets could be infected with the 2009 H1N1 virus because it is very uncommon for flu viruses to jump between species. However, on October 9, 2009, a USDA laboratory confirmed 2009/H1N1 infection in a ferret. The ferret's owner had recently been ill with the flu. Ferrets are more susceptile to infection with influenza viruses, so this was not altogether surprising. At this time, there are no reports of the 2009 H1N1 flu virus being transmitted from a ferret to a person.
On November 4, the Iowa State Veterinarian and the Iowa Department of Public Health announced that a pet cat was confirmed infected with the 2009 H1N1 flu virus. The cat's owners were ill and the cat developed respiratory symptoms shortly afterward. The cat has recovered and there is no evidence at this time that the cat passed the virus to any people.
Pets that live indoors, especially cats, tend to have close contact with their owners-after all, that's why we have pets-and that increases their exposure to diseases. The best advice is to always follow common sense guidelines when dealing with animals (for example, washing your hands). In addition, it's more important than ever that pet owners keep a good eye on their pet's health and bring your pet in if he or she is showing any signs of illness. Keeping your pets healthy reduces their risk of becoming ill. |
| Jan/Feb 10 - Volume 5 Issue 1 |
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Canine Influenza: a Growing Problem
 As if flu season wasn't rough enough for humans, now some of our four-legged friends are joining us in the misery and adding to our worry. Since at least 2004, when it was first detected, a novel form of dog flu has been making the rounds. Canine influenza virus (CIV) was first reported among dogs (notably racing greyhounds) in Florida. As the disease spread, investigators found that it was a new kind of respiratory illness caused when the equine influenza A H3N8 virus adapted to infect dogs. Equine influenza had been known to cause illness among horses for more than 40 years, but it was the first time it had been found to “jump" from horses to dogs. However, according to Cynda Crawford, DVM, of the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine, canine influenza does not infect people, and there is no documentation that cats have become infected by exposure to dogs with CIV.
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Accreditation Matters
Why Accreditation Matters to You
 Have you seen this plaque in your veterinarian's lobby? Take a look around the next time you are there. If you don't see this plaque — ask about it. All of the hospitals accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) are awarded a plaque signifying their completion of an onsite evaluation. The evaluation is conducted by a trained veterinary professional, an AAHA practice consultant. There are nine practice consultants located across the country. The consultant evaluates the hospital — your hospital — on more than 900 industry standards.
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Domestic Abuse and Pets: a Strong Link
 Domestic violence isn't just about people. In some families, pets suffer, too.
Sometimes, domestic violence starts with hurting family members and grows to include the family pet. Sometimes, it goes in reverse, with a pet abuser expanding his or her repertoire to include people. In both cases, however, helping pets in domestic violence cases is a very real concern, both to the pet owners and to local law enforcement.
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The Big Game Means More Than Football This Year
 Your AAHA-accredited hospital is a proud sponsor of Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl VI.
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Don't Traumatize Your Puppy
 Puppies, with their wiggly tails and floppy ears, look adorable to us. But to veterinarians, they look more like a blank canvas.
"These are really their formative years," says Ashley Hughes, DVM, a veterinarian at Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington, D.C. Puppies form their personality within the first four to six months. "It's our responsibility to teach them how we want them to be."
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Senior Pet Care Spinner Quiz
Do you have a senior pet?
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PetsMatter is provided by the American Animal Hospital Association for educational purposes only. The information should not be used as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. PetsMatter is not intended as a recommendation or endorsement of specific tests, products, procedures, or opinions. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian.
AAHA is an association of veterinary teams that are committed to excellence in companion animal care. It is the only organization that accredits animal hospitals throughout the United States and Canada.
This client newsletter has been sent to you from your AAHA-accredited veterinary practice. We hope you will read and use the information contained within the publication to participate in the health and wellness of your pets. If you choose not to receive PetsMatter in the future, please reply to sender and add the text "Unsubscribe to PetsMatter" to the subject line of your email.
© 2009 American Animal Hospital Association. All rights reserved.
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Accreditation Matters: Who’s Monitoring Your Pet Under Anesthesia?
The ability to trust your veterinarians is important, especially when pets need anesthesia, drugs that numb the senses so that pets do not feel pain during procedures.
Anesthesia is necessary but it can pose health risks, which is why the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) requires accredited clinics to use monitoring equipment.
“Things can happen even with seemingly healthy animals under anesthesia,” said Elise Atkinson, a certified veterinary technician and AAHA accreditation professional. Using monitoring equipment and having a dedicated person to check patients regularly minimizes that risk, she added.
Monitoring equipment tracks a pet’s vital signs— temperature, pulse, heart rate, and blood pressure—while under anesthesia and alerts medical professionals to any changes in a patient’s condition.
Pet vital signs are checked every five minutes at Canobie Lake Veterinary Hospital, an AAHA-accredited practice in New Hampshire. “If there is a problem, we want to catch it right away,” said Danielle Caisse, a licensed veterinary technician and practice manager. Practice members create individual anesthesia plans for each pet, depending on age and the pet’s medical history.
To receive and maintain accreditation, veterinary practices like Canobie Lake must use anesthesia-monitoring equipment and have designated team members monitor the machines.
That level of attention to each patient may, at times, raise surgery prices but it helps protect lives, explained Rachel Carpenter, DVM, who was recently quoted in an article about the importance of anesthesia and the use of monitoring equipment. She encouraged clients to ask veterinary professionals how they safeguard pet health during surgery.
“Your veterinarian should be able to answer questions about how your pet’s vital signs will be monitored … and who will be responsible for monitoring your pet,” said Carpenter, a professor of anesthesia and pain management at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. She advises clients to ask about the level of care pets receive at clinics because not all veterinary clinics provide the same quality of medicine. At AAHA-accredited clinics, however, the use of anesthesia monitoring equipment is mandatory, which provides clients with a level of assurance that their pets are receiving the best care possible.
There are approximately 3,000 veterinary clinics in North America that have earned AAHA accreditation. Accreditation shows clients that the clinic or hospital has met high standards of excellence set by experienced veterinary professionals.
Trusting your veterinary team is easier to do when you know the clinic is accredited. The AAHA plaque is a fast way to identify high-quality clinics. |
Recognizing Warning Signs and Treating Heatstroke Brick-red gums Drooling or frothing at the mouth Exaggerated panting Glazed expression, staring, or glassy eyes Rapid Pulse Temperature higher that 104F Unsteadiness or incoordination Weakness
More severe symptoms include diarrhea, vomitting, and seizures. Pets with suspected heatstroke should be cooled with water immediately and rushed to a veterinarian. |
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