Welcoming a new pet into your home

If you’re thinking about adding a new pet to your family, it is a time with many questions and much excitement.  There are many things to consider when choosing your new furry family member, such as size, your  lifestyle, your housing environment, your budget for pet care, and how different pets will fit in with your family and any pets you already have.

  We would like to offer some hints and tips to help you make the best choice when bringing a new pet into your family.

Where to find your new pet:

Adopt a shelter pet:

Benefits:

• Most shelter pets are already spayed or neutered
• Already permanently identified(microchipped)
• Have started their vaccinations and deworming series
• Offers you the opportunity to meet and get to know the pet before adoption and bring other pets or family members to meet them too
• You are rescuing a pet that many otherwise not have a home

What to expect your new pet will need:

• Follow-up vaccinations (dependent on your pet’s age). If your new pet is less than 4 months old, they will need a vaccination booster every 2-4 weeks until they are at least 16 weeks old
• Screening for parasites, most shelters will have administered at least one broad spectrum deworming to treat the most common parasites.
• Heartworm/ parasite prevention
• Food, toys, bowls, and a leash or litterpan
• A crate or kennel for dogs/ a bed and carrier for cats
• A collar with an identification tag
• Training classes(dogs) and/or socialization(dogs and cats)

Purchase from a breeder:

Benefits:

• Registration with a kennel club if you plan to show your pet or compete in breed competitions(check with your breeder, not all pets are able to register)
• Knowing in advance the approximate size of your pet as an adult, as well as any other specific traits or genetic abnormalities or diseases that may be common in the breed or ancestry
• Some breeders wil have taken the litter to the veterinarian for a first vaccination booster or deworming

What to expect your new pet will need:

• Follow-up vaccinations every 2-4 weeks until at least 16 weeks of age
• Screening for parasites, most breeders will have administered at least one broad spectrum deworming to treat the most common parasites.
• Spay or neuter surgery between 4-6 months of age
• Heartworm/ parasite prevention
• Permanent identification(microchipping)
• Food, toys, bowls, and a leash or litterpan
• A crate or kennel for dogs/ a bed and carrier for cats
• A collar with an identification tag
• Training classes(dogs) and/or socialization(dogs and cats)

Adopt a foster pet:

Benefits:

• Some foster pets are available through breed specific rescues. This allows you to focus on a specific breed if you so choose.
• Most foster pets are already spayed or neutered
• Already permanently identified(microchipped)
• Have started and sometimes completed their vaccinations and dewormings
• Gives you the opportunity to meet and get to know the pet before adoption and bring other pets or family members to meet them too
• You are rescuing a pet that many otherwise not have a home
• The foster family can give you a lot of insight as to the behavior and training of your new pet. These pets are often more well socialized than many shelter pets.
• Adopting an adult pet may mean less training….but not always!

What to expect your new pet will need:

• Screening for parasites, most rescues will have provided veterinary care including vaccinations and least one broad spectrum deworming to treat the most common parasites. Check with your rescue on what follow-up visits your new pet will need. 
• Heartworm/parasite prevention
• Food, toys, bowls, and a leash or litterpan(check with your rescue group…some pets come with belongings)
• A crate/kennel for dogs
• A collar with an identification tag
• Training classes(dogs) and/or socialization(dogs and cats)

Things to consider before choosing your new pet

When choosing your new pet, there are many things to take into consideration. Some of these may include:

·        The size and activity level of the pet

·        The pet’s grooming and general  healthcare needs

·        Your family’s lifestyle

·        Your time and budget constraints for pet care

·        Your home environment – including your yard, other household pets, and children

Where to look for a new pet

www.Petfinder.com  – has listings for many local shelters and breed specific rescues.

www.akc.org – has listings for breeders.

www.charlestonanimalsociety.org – Charleston Animal Society

www.docwilliamsspca.org – Doc Williams SPCA

www.summervillespca.org – Francis Willis SPCA

Contact us if you are looking for a specific breed or type of rescue to adopt. We may be able to help you get in touch with a group that has just what you’re looking for.

We can’t wait to meet your new pet and we look forward to becoming partners in your pet’s care throughout her lifetime. Please contact us for your pet’s first visit with 48-72 hours of bringing them home and never hesitate to call with any questions you may have about helping during the transition as your pet becomes comfortable in his new home!

Featured Team Member: Pam Witte

Pam Witte

1. How long have you been a part of the AMC team?

 I have worked on the AMC team for 3 years as of  this month!

2. What drew you to this profession?

 I love caring for pets and their people.

3. What is your favorite part of your job?

 I enjoy being able to help calm the fears of  an anxious client and their family. I especially love visiting with our client's children and talking to them about their pets. 

4.What hobbies or interests do you enjoy outside of work?

 When I am not at work, I love spending my free time with my Grandsons, Drew and Carter. I also enjoy doing puzzles. 

5. What pets do you currently have at home?

 I am owned by Paris the diva dog and my cats, Frisco and Six.

6.What would a perfect day at AMC be like for you?

 I really love when we have a day of wellness visits with no sickness or death. 

7. What is a perfect day for you outside of work?

 A perfect day away from work for me is spending the day with my family: Meagan, Andy, Drew and Carter.

8. If money were not a factor, where would you choose to spend the rest of your life?

I would spend the winters here in South Carolina and my summers in Indiana. It is REALLY hot down here!!



Local wildlife center needs our help!

Last week we had a good samaritan bring an injured duck to the clinic. We contacted another local vterinarian's office who works with our local wildlife rescue group, Keeper of the Wild, only to find out that they are currently unable to take in any animals right now due to financial constraints and they may have to close their doors.

  Luckily, we were able to locate a private rehabilitator to take "Bullet" and help him on his way to recovery.

   Keeper of the Wild is the primary wildlife rescue group in this area and in order for veterinary clinics to take in injured wildlife, we need to make sure this group is able to stay up and running. Most general veterinary hospitals do not have the correct training or proper facilities to care for injured wildlife and we usually stabilize these animals and turn them over to Keeper of the Wild.
  Any help would be appreciated to help keep this rescue open. Anyone can drop off supplies or donations at our hospital and we will deliver them to Keeper of the Wild or a participating drop off location. They are in great need of dog and cat food and monetary donations. You can also contact them directly through their website:

www.keeperofthewild.org


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Keeper-of-the-Wild/113271962083830

Hurricane Preparedness

With our first tropical storm of the season under our belt and the tropical season off to an early start, it is a reminder to us all: hurricane season is here and people are not the only ones who need to be prepared.  Pets need to be prepared also. Your pets will have different needs than you when it come to preparing for a hurricane. We want to remind you to take the needed precautions for all your furry family members as well.

The occurence of regular summer thunder showers is stressful for many of our pets, but the added risk of more powerful storms and the potential for power outages, evacuations, or damage to our homes can be very stressful thought for us and many of us have not thought about what arrangements we would need to make for our pets.

Here are some recommendations to make sure your pet is ready:

Start Training: 

 One of the most important things you can do for your pet is to crate train them.  In a disaster, you may have to evacuate and your pet may have to endure long hours in a vehicle.  Your pet may also be required to stay in a crate if  you evacuate to a shelter.  Ask us for inrormation on crate training your pet .

Get Microchipped and Update Tags:

 If you and your pet are ever separated, a microchip is the best way to ensure that you will be contacted if your pet is found. A microchip provides permanent identification for your pet. We can implant a microchip in your pet during at any time. It is also important that the information you have on file with the microchip company is up to date.   It’s also important to make sure your pet has updated tags.   Make sure that you also attach their updated rabies tag attached to their collar.  If you pet is not microchipped, call us today to schedule an appointment to have your pet permanently identified.

Update your pet's vaccines: 

The announcement of a storm is not the time to make sure your pet’s vaccines are up to date.  Make sure your pet’s vaccinations are up-to-date well before the threat.  Have copies of your pet’s vaccination records readily available.  Shelters will require you to provide them before admitting your pet and if you need to evacuate them to an out of town boarding facility they will need to have the required vaccines. If you need a copy of your pet's vaccine record, call our office and we can make sure you have the most updated record.

 Arrange a Safe Place:  

If your home is not safe for you, then it is NOT safe for your pet.  Make a plan outlining where you can take your pets. At the time of my writing this, Berkeley county does not have a designated emergency shelter location that allows pets and in the past only the North Charleston Coliseum was designated as a pet emergency shelter during a hurricane evacuation.  We recommend that you pre-plan where you will be taking your pet if you need to evacuate. This may mean an out of town friend or relative, a pet friendly hotel, or boarding facility in the area that you would evacuate to with your family.

   If you are not evacuating, figure out the best place for you and your pets to stay in your home when storm hits.  If your safe room isn’t a place your pets normally spend a lot of time, be sure to bring them into the designated area before an emergency so they can get used to it.  Make sure your pets are secure many hours before the storm hits. Pets can sense the changes in barometric pressure and sense our stress as well.  Pets may try to escape or hide. Keep cats in a carrier or small room and dogs on a leash or keep them in their crate to ensure their safety prior to and during the storm. 

Pet Hurricane Kit: 

  Here are a few items your pet may need:

*Leash and crate

*At least one week’s supply of food (Don’t forget a can opener if your pet eats canned food or just use pop-top canned food.)

*Water(minimum 5 day supply)

*Food and water bowls

*medications your pet needs

*Cat litter and box or doggie waste bagsSpecific care instructions-Newspapers and plastic trash bags

*Vaccine record and microchip information

For additional information on this topic, to find a listing of pet-friendly motels and hotels, or to find facilities offering emergency pet sheltering, visit the following sites:

http://www.scdhec.gov/administration/ophp/hurricane/pets.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/features/hurricanepreparedness/

Pet friendly Accommodation Information

 www.petswelcome.com

www.travelpets.com

www.dogfriendly.com

www.pettravel.com

Thanksgiving and pets: Have a safe and Happy Turkey Day!

Thanksgiving is a time filled with football, family and of course, food. With a lot of guests visiting your home, there will be lots of extra people trying to pass a tasty treat to your cat or dog. They may have the best of intentions, but "people food" isn't always the best for your four-legged friend.

We typically experience an increased number of visits in the days following Thanksgiving due to digestive problems because humans invite their animals to celebrate with high fat meals (ham, gravy, turkey skin), chocolates, bones, etc.

To help ensure that your furry friends have an enjoyable holiday, keep the following tips in mind:

1. Keep Bones Out of a Dog’s or Cat's Reach:
   Turkey bones are hollow and can easily break and splinter into sharp pieces causing  intestinal obstruction, punctures and tears to the intestinal tract and potentially deadly internal bleeding. Bones can also cause oral injuries and broken teeth.
A pet who has a turkey bone lodged in the digestive tract may not exhibit any symptoms for several days.
Though many people think its okay to give bones from dinner to dogs, this can be very dangerous. Don’t let anyone leave bones on plates where dogs can reach them. Keep pets away from the remains of the carved turkey and the garbage, too.These bones can be very tempting to a cat or dog and it's not uncommon for a pet to raid the trashcan when no one's looking to snag a leftover bone. With Thanksgiving guests present, a pet owner may not realize that their dog has wandered off to eat a potentially deadly snack.

2.  Confine Cats and Dogs When Thanksgiving Guests Arrive

Some pets are very social, while others are shy and reserved. Many cats and dogs find Thanksgiving Day guests overwhelming and frightening. Combine this fright with a guest's attempt to pet the nervous cat or dog and this is a recipe for a bite or scratch.
A frightened or adventurous pet may also wander out the door unnoticed as guests come and go.
So, to avoid injury to the pet and to guests, supervise all interactions with the household pets. Even for those that love people, it might be a good idea to close them off in a quiet part of the home with some food, water and favorite toys. Let them back out when the festivities have quieted down.

3. Share with care.
Most pets can gobble up small amounts of lean, light meat without a problem. Turkey skin and dark meat have more fat and are too greasy for pets.  Baked sweet potatoes or green beans(minus any sweeteners/seasonings) in small amounts are great treats for pets. Set some aside before you start cooking to give to your pet later.
 However, don't allow your pets to overindulge, as they could wind up with a case of stomach upset, diarrhea or even worse—an inflammatory condition of the pancreas known as pancreatitis. In fact, it’s best keep pets on their regular diets during the holidays.

In general, any newly introduced food can induce vomiting, and even diarrhea. When we switch an animal from one diet to another, we generally do it gradually over one to two weeks. So, keep new foods minimal, especially if Fido and MewMew haven't tried them before.

4. A Feast Fit for a Kong : Keep them Busy
While the humans are chowing down, give your cat and dog their own little feast. Offer them a dental chew or a pet treat. . You may also stuff their Kong with  a few added tidbits of turkey, vegetables (try sweet potato or green beans) and kibble. They’ll be happily occupied for awhile, working hard to extract their special treat  from the toy.

All of us at Animal Medical Clinic wish you and yours a safe and 
Happy Thanksgiving.

Creepy Things that will be here long past October....

  As a veterinary technician who is all too familiar with all of the different parasites, viruses, and other “creepy things” that can be a threat to our pets and our families, I am often surprised at how many of our pet owners are not aware of the common parasites that are a threat to pets and family members in our area, how easy they are to prevent, and the illnesses in people and pets that these parasites can cause.

  As a mommy to 5 furry kids and 3 human kids, the dangers are all too real to me and what better month than October, the month of creepy and yucky things, to share with all of you the things every parent of pets or kids should know!!

  Every pet owner should have a basic idea of how to keep their family protected from parasites. The most devastating of these parasites being heartworms, which all pets are at risk of contracting, but these are 100% preventable.

  Most pet owners are aware of the parasites that we can see with the eye, but we should all also be aware of the parasites that our pets can come into contact with that we typically do not see…

Heartworms:

Symptoms

• Coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Tires easily
• Sudden death

Transmission

• Pets are infected by mosquitos who have also bitten an infected pet
• Indoor and outdoor pets are at risk, in fact, 25% of cats who test positive for heartworms are reported to be indoor only by their owners.
• Dogs and cats are at risk.

Treatment is available for dogs who are infected with heartworms, but it can be costly, dogs must be activity restricted for up to 6 months.

 There is no available treatment for cats!

Testing

• A simple blood test can tell us if a pet has contracted heartworms. We often include this in your pet’s annual blood screening each year.
• For pets on regular monthly preventative, we test yearly to ensure the medication is acting effectively.
• For pets who have not been on preventative or has missed doses, we will test initially then retest in 6 months.(heartworm tests look for the prescence of adult worms and it takes six months from the time a mosquito bites your pet until the worms are adults detectable by testing)
• Cats do not have to be tested prior to starting prevention

Prevention

• For dogs: we recommend Sentinel or Interceptor to provide the most complete coverage, however, at the current time, it is in short supply and we are recommending the next best product(Trifexis) until those products are available again.
• For cats: We recommend Revolution
• Heartworms are 100% preventable!!!!

Intestinal Parasites

Common intestinal parasites in our area

• Hookworms – transmitted through infected stool or from the pets mother, contagious to humans, very common in our area
• Roundworms - transmitted through infected stool or from the pets mother, contagious to humans, very common in our area, carried by the majority of puppies/kittens.
• Tapeworms – transmitted through fleas, contagious to humans, egg packets in the stool may or may not be visually apparent
• Whipworms - transmitted through infected stool, common in our area, long treatment period is needed
• Coccidia – Most common in stray or shelter pets and pediatric patients, contagious to humans, but only in rare instances
• Giardia – transmitted through contaminated water or grooming other infected pets. Contagious to humans, but only in rare instances.

Symptoms

• Somestimes none
• Vomiting/diarrhea
• Weight loss

  Transmission

• Fecal – oral(through infected stool of other animals)
• Contracted from the pets mother at birth
• Hunting rodents or other pests
• Fleas
• Grooming other pets

Testing

• A stool specimen is colected and we look for evidence of these microscopic parasites not typically visible in the stool.
• Yearly testing is recommended for all pets on regular prevention
• More frequent testing is recommended for outdoor cats, pets who hunt, pets who visit dog parks or daycares.

Prevention

• Monthly prevention(Sentinel/Interceptor for dogs or Revolution for cats) prevents the most common intestinal parasites.
• Remove pet droppings from your yard frequently – daily is best, but minimally 2-3 times weekly.
• Keep sandboxes covered when not in use
• Do not allow your pet to drink from standing water or streams – these may be contaminated with animal feces
• Keep your pets flea free

For more information on heartworms and intestinal parasites visit:

http://www.heartwormsociety.org

http://www.petsandparasites.org/

In case of Emergency

In the event of an emergency, have you thought of your pets left alone at home? For safety, we are encouraged to carry pertinent personal informationin our wallet or on our cell phone, but we may forget that in the event of an emergency, our pets may be overlooked and alone without care. This is especially true for persons living alone with pet companions.

 Putting contact information  and care information in your wallet for your pet will help to ensure that your pets will be well taken care of in the event of an emergency.

Animal Medical Clinic provides, at no cost, pet identification cards through our e-pet health services that can be used to provide this much needed information. These cards can also be used as proof of vaccination and a brief medical record if your pet is visiting another facility such as a groomer, boarding/daycare facility, or the emergency room.

Visit our website to learn more about e-pet health and pet identification cards!