Medical Referrals

When you refer a new client to our practice for medical care, they will receive a free new client exam and a free bath. You will receive a $20 credit once the new client has spent $50 or more on medical services.

BOARDING REFERRALS

When you refer a new boarding client to us, they will receive a free boarding night for a future occasion once their pet has stayed with us for three nights. Once they board with us for three nights, you will receive a free night’s stay as well! Visit the Pet Care Center of Apopka, River Oaks Animal Hospital website by clicking the link below to learn more about our other referral specials!http://centralfloridavets.com/referrals.html

Motorcycle Fun Run this weekend

THINGS THAT GO LUMP AND BUMP

We do find that certain problems seem to come in twos.  We may go for weeks without seeing a fracture and then boom! Two in one day.  Last week was lump and bump week, and I hope this blog will help clarify why it is SO important not to ignore or play “wait and see” with any growths that may appear in your dogs or cats.  Generally speaking we will see more problems in dogs, and the majority of them will not be of any concern.  But, as always, the moral is, check it out first.

The first case we will look at was a 6 year old cat, with very vigilant owners, who have never missed any scheduled exams and are wonderful fur -parents.  About three weeks previously, they had noticed small lumps on the left side of the lower thorax.  They elected to have these removed and sent to histopath after the doctors recommendations.  After shaving and prepping the area for surgery, it became apparent that there were more very small lumps, barely palpable lower down in the mammary chain.  At this point, it no longer became a simple lump removal but a decision to act aggressively and do a full one side mastectomy.  There were no apparent changes on the right side of the body.   The surgery was completed successfully and the cat recovered quickly and smoothly .  Histopath results showed feline mammary carcinoma or breast cancer .  Due to the highly aggressive form of this cancer, the owners have elected to have further preventative surgery on the right side of the body.

In the second case, a wonderful elderly rescue Bulldog,  that was adopted,  had had a small persistent lump on the breast, as well as assorted others, that had been monitored for some months.  Cytology did not show anything to be overly concerned about. Then, suddenly, the largest lump grew and the owner elected to do surgery, despite the risk of anesthesia this particular patient was faced with.  The surgery went very well, and with the extra precautions that we use for Bulldogs, including EKG bloodwork and very close monitoring, the dog did much better than expected and woke up ready to go home.  A very large area of flesh had been excised by Dr Greer.  This would prove a challenge from the healing point of view, but this had been anticipated, and wound care and cold laser therapy helped tremendously.  Again, and as is always recommended, a sample was sent to histopath.  Despite the tissue involved ( mammary tissue) the result actually showed osteosarcoma….bone cancer cells.  This is very rare, and did not make for a good prognosis.  Research shows an average lifespan after this diagnosis of mere months.  However, this brave bully has apparently decided to ignore the diagnosis and just carry on with life.  The owner reported today that she is doing better than ever, her appetite and zest for life is as good as always.  As there is no successful treatment for this, we opted for specific frequency low level laser therapy.  Certainly, the owner and pet are happy and we continue to wish the best for them and will keep you updated.

Bulldog Surgery

Case number three, was a perky 1 year old beagle that had a small pea –sized pigmented,dermal mass on the chest.  Pigmented masses are always suspicious of cancerous growths such as melanomas, which can be fatal.  In this case we were happy to let the owner know that the mass showed it to be completely excised, and a benign tumor known as a hemangioma.  The area will be closely monitored for any changes.

In all these cases, two with serious potentially life threatening conditions, and one that was benign, the owners had caught the problem early.  The lesson to be learned is when you are caressing your pet and notice something that wasn’t there before always get it examined.  We have seen cases spread rapidly and dramatically from one small lump on the foot to the pet needing a leg amputation to save its life.  When a growth is found and is reported as cancer we will then always follow up with X rays and ultrasound of the body to see if the cancer has metastasized into the internal organs.  Treated early your pet may be cured completely or have a longer life span.  And that’s what we all want for our best friends.          

Antifreeze Danger

Did you know that antifreeze is poisonous for cats and dogs? Pets may be attracted to the chemical because of its sweet taste and smell, so it’s important to keep it stored out of their reach and wipe up any spills on your driveway or garage floor!

Pet Obesity Awareness Day

Today is National Pet Obesity Awareness Day: a day set aside to educate pet owners about the danger of obesity in pets, and a day for pet owners to look at their options when it comes to their pet’s health. We encourage all pet owners to contact us if they’re concerned about their overweight pets. If you have questions, we can help determine a diet and exercise plan that will improve your pet’s health and increase their life-expectancy. Just ask!

Halloween Safety Tips

Attention, animal lovers, it's almost the spookiest night of the year! The ASPCA recommends taking some common sense precautions this Halloween to keep you and your pet saying "trick or treat!" all the way to November 1.

1. No tricks, no treats: That bowl of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy. Chocolate in all forms—especially dark or baking chocolate—can be very dangerous for dogs and cats. Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can also cause problems. If you do suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

2. Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and decorative corn are considered to be relatively nontoxic, but they can produce stomach upset in pets who nibble on them.

3. Wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations should be kept out of reach of your pets. If chewed, your pet might suffer cuts or burns, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.

4. A carved pumpkin certainly is festive, but do exercise caution if you choose to add a candle. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned or singed by candle flames.

5. Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets. Please don't put your dog or cat in a costume UNLESS you know he or she loves it (yup, a few pets are real hams!). For pets who prefer their “birthday suits,” however, wearing a costume may cause undue stress.

6. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict the animal's movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe, bark or meow. Also, be sure to try on costumes before the big night. If your pet seems distressed, allergic or shows abnormal behavior, consider letting him go au naturale or donning a festive bandana.

7. Take a closer look at your pet’s costume and make sure it does not have small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that he could choke on. Also, ill-fitting outfits can get twisted on external objects or your pet, leading to injury.

8. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room away from the front door during peak trick-or-treating hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets.

9. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn't dart outside.

10. IDs, please! Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and becomes lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip can be a lifesaver, increasing the chances that he or she will be returned to you.

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/halloween-safety-tips.aspx

'The Chimp Who Loved Me' Available at All Three Clinics

We have copies of 'The Chimp Who Loved Me' by our very own Annie Greer and Tim Vandehey available at all three of our clinics. 'The Chimp Who Loved Me' is a collection of true stories from the life and times of Annie Greer, a veterinary chiropractitioner, animal healer, radio host, speaker, farmer's wife and all-around magnet for bizarre animal behavior. When Annie and Tim Vandehey, a professional writer, met in 2006 and began talking about Annie's endless trove of strange and funny tales, a book was born. Come into any of our three clinics today and pick up a copy of 'The Chimp Who Loved Me' and 20% of the proceeds will go to the ASPCA! View the video of the book trailer below!

Pets In Cars

During the hot, summer months, please consider the safety of your pet when you take them for a ride in the car. Remember that even if you’re planning on running into a store for just a minute, it’s too dangerous to leave your pet in the car. Just a few minutes in a car during the summer months can raise the temperature to unbearable levels. Exposure to such extreme heat can result in heatstroke, which can cause brain damage or even death. Leave your pets at home in the air conditioning this summer if it gets too hot.

This blog was brought to you by Pet Care Center of Apopka in Apopka, River Oaks Animal Hospital in Longwood, East Lake Animal Clinic in Sorrento…all of which are part of Central Florida Vets! We are proud to provide exceptional veterinary care to the pets (cats, dogs) and people in our Florida community! Our team and skilled veterinarians are excited to get to know you and your pet! Visit our website at http://centralfloridavets.com/ today to learn more about our three veterinary practices. 

March is Poison Prevention Month

March is Poison Prevention Month. Did you know that some of the most common household items that poison pets include human medication, both prescription and over the counter? With over 25,000 reported cases of pets poisoned by eating human medicine, it’s important to exercise extreme caution when it comes to storing these items! Keep your medications high up on shelves and closed inside cabinets, where your pet cannot access them. It’s also important to open bottles over counters so that any dropped pills don’t end up on the floor where they can be snapped up by a curious pet. Use precaution, and give your pet a long, healthy life.

This blog was brought to you by Pet Care Center of Apopka in Apopka, River Oaks Animal Hospital in Longwood, East Lake Animal Clinic in Sorrento…all of which are part of Central Florida Vets! We are proud to provide exceptional veterinary care to the pets (cats, dogs) and people in our Florida community! Our team and skilled veterinarians are excited to get to know you and your pet! Visit our website at http://centralfloridavets.com/ today to learn more about our three veterinary practices. 

Tick Prevention

Here in Florida we have just seen the first real cold front come in, and dragged out our winter woolies thinking how cold it is. Of course, along with the realization that actually, compared to most states we are merely a little cooler, pet lovers need to realize that we are in peak tick season.

There are a number of reasons for this:

1. If you live by a state park and have wildlife such as deer or turkeys straying into your property, you need to realize they are the biggest carrier of ticks, particularly turkeys. As the weather cools, they are more likely to venture further out of the park and into your garden to find food. At the same time, you are less likely to be using your lawn service for pesticide control.

2. With cooler days, we tend in Florida to set about gardening much more enthusiastically, and a very common talk is to redo all the mulch beds. This much is then placed close to the walls of the house and if not from a pre-bagged reputable source can be a major hidey hole for ticks, which then look to your nice cozy house for shelter.

3. Christmas Trees! Yes, that beautiful spruce you got that came freshly delivered from the Carolina's will very often bring some hitchhikers with them, including the possibility of ticks carrying diseases.

Please ensure your pets are protected against ticks. We nearly lost a young, male 4 year old dog from tick borne bacteria that caused his spleen to swell and as the parasite borne by the tick invaded his system his blood platelet dropped to such a point, he needed a life-saving transfusion.

A lot of pet owners are unaware that some of the preventatives sold may only control fleas not ticks, so please ask one of our staff what is the best for your circumstance.

In addition, keep a fine toothed comb by the door or a close bristled brush the pet as soon as they come in from a walk or playtime outside. This simple action can stop the ticks attaching. It is also the reason that we seldom see cats with ticks....they constantly groom themselves.

Don't forget, you are not just protecting your dogs from ticks, but your family too.

My new kitten is beating up on our older cat. Should I stop him?

 This question came hot on the paws of another pet owners question,as to when to stop their rottweiler puppy from playing too roughly.  It is always a difficult decision to make to know when play time is becoming more like a free for all.  Let’s face it, any parent with more then one child knows this dilemma.  So, I tend to use the same guidelines.  Name calling and perhaps physical shoving may be ok, but anything rougher is unacceptable.  How does this translate in the pet world.

            It is vital for both dogs and cats to have physical contact when puppies and kittens, in the form of rough play.  At this time, I have had the unique experience of studying  six week old puppies in our house, from birth, and make note of the different stages of play and temperament building.  There is much growling at this time, and the start of posturing and staring.  However, most interesting, is watching the mother dog step in when things get a little too serious, but use the art of distraction to break up a situation. 

This is what you should do as well.  If nothing else, it should be very much in the front of your pets mind that you do not tolerate fighting in your presence.  This is also a safety mechanism in the wild.  There has to be a leader, and fights within the pack simply weaken it.  A team has to stay together to survive.

You should also be aware that sometimes they may be play fighting.  For example, our ten year old cat will rule over the food bowl and definitely put the twenty two year old cat in it’s place.  But, if there is an argument over a particular chair the older one reigns supreme and the younger one allows him to chase him around the house.  I think the two boys just like the idea of a fight but have learnt that the end result may not be worth it.

Next time your younger pet seems to be going too far, do what a mother would do.  Use distraction in the form of food or a toy to dissipate the impending situation.

Bath Specials

Take advantage of the excellent savings we're offering this month. We are giving away FREE baths with our Frequent Bather Club Card. Bring your pet for 8 baths and GET ONE FREE! Call us at 407-774-1515 for more information.

 

Labor Day Specials!

We would like to give you these special Labor Day savings! Call us today at 407-774-1515 to schedule your pet's appointment and take advantage of these incredible specials! Limit one coupon per person, per pet, per visit.

 

Pet of the Month/ Team Member of the Month

Our Pet of the Month for August is Matti! Mattie is a ten year old female white standard poodle. She has been a long time patient of River oaks and belongs to Norma, her best human friend.

Our Team Member of the Month for August is Symonique! She is a kennel attendant and veterinary assistant, and also manages to find time to attend school full time. She has two dogs and is known for being a clean freak!