Late Summer Newsletter 2006

Can you believe that Summer 2006 is almost over? We hope that everyone is managing to stay cool and their companions also! Cool It! Summer's Heat Can Be Deadly for Your Pet. Still want to take the chance and take your pet for a ride on a sunny day? Read Anatomy of a Heat Stroke

This month 'In Memory Of' is "Marmalade" - a flea product victim. With fleas being a problem this time of year, this is just a reminder that these products can cause reactions also.

(Looking for nominations for next month!)

You might also be interested in reading "Got Fleas?" and don't forget to read of a new Survivor of a flea product "SugarRay." "The active ingredient in Frontline™ is a phenyl pyrazole called fipronil, an insecticide discovered and developed by Rhone-Poulenc between 1985 and 1987 and placed on the market in 1993." How to report a possible flea product reaction?

Very important! In the recent FDA Newsletter released you will find: What Veterinarians Should Tell Clients About Pain Control and Their Pets "Veterinarians are in the best position to inform their clients about these side effects, so the clients can take better care of their pets. And, pet owners expect veterinarians to explain all potential risks of medications."

Advice to Dog Owners Whose Pets Take NSAIDs "The best way to avoid the possibility of your dog suffering serious side effects from NSAIDs is for you to be fully informed about the drug and its potential side effects.

"NSAIDs approved for use in dogs contain the following information on their labels: All dogs should undergo a thorough history and physical examination before initiation of NSAID therapy. Appropriate laboratory tests to establish baseline blood values prior to, and periodically during, the use of any NSAID are strongly recommended.

As an owner, you should receive a Client Information Sheet with every NSAID prescription. You should ask your veterinarian for this sheet if you do not receive one. One way to be better informed is to read this information carefully before administering the medication to your dog, so that you understand the side effects that your dog may experience."

Found at the Kerry Blue Terrier Foundation website: "Benefits and Risks of Rimadyl". "CIS Sheets - Fact of Fiction?" read others opinions and add your own

Please join thousands of dog owners worldwide on Sunday, August 20th, 2006 at 8 PM EST, to remember the victims of breed bans in the 2nd Annual My Dog Votes Worldwide Candlelight Vigil Against Breed Bans.

Does the pet store in your town buy its pooches from puppy mills? Take the Pet Store Challenge and find out. Hurry! The challenge ends Sept. 15.

There is a newly-established email list called "K9
Amber Alert." http://groups.yahoo.com/group/K9AmberAlert/
This is a nationwide group and is to be used for posting alerts for
missing dogs throughout the United States similar to the way Amber
Alerts are used to help find missing or abducted children.

Found at TheDogPlace: "A North Carolina Dream Dog - A family with an Autistic Child find happiness in "Happy". A nice story with happy ending. Don't you love it?!"

For anyone that may not have heard about it, from CBS 3 in PA comes "I-Team: Potential Deadly Danger For Pets" Watch the video to see Demitry Herman and hear about what happened to"Jetta".

ASPIRIN - Harmless? It is actually in the NSAID family. One of the many emails received after the Washington Post article was from a vet asking why that wasn't posted on the website. FDA/CVM ADE reports were double checked, yes, aspirin is listed, but with only ONE review and ONE death. Does this mean it is harmless? or that it isn't being reported? Are we failing to tell our vets that we have been giving it? If you give or have given it to your companion, and then take him to the vet for a prescription there should be a 'washout' period between the two. "Administration of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) in the dog may cause gastric mucosal damage." and "The gastroduodenal effects of buffered aspirin, carprofen, and etodolac in healthy dogs." Please, be informed!

Last month you read about "Snickers" who developed cataracts after receiving two heartworm preventative injections a few years ago. Please read her updates, she has had surgery! To our dismay, there have been a complications, added procedures, but she is doing much better now! We originally had raised enough for the surgery, follow up visits and medicines. (Thank you one and all, who donated!) Unfortunately, we are in arrears again due to extra procedures, if anyone else would like to help with the additional expenses, please contact one of us!

Something we don't like to think of, yet it is a fact of life .... A dog's last days..... and ......."According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, an estimated 33 percent of the nation's cats and dogs have reached "senior" status" -- "Dogs give us such unconditional love. Old dogs teach us how to return it." We have people like "An angel in the clinic" to assist at times. Although it is never an easy decision, from VetCentric we find "Euthanasia: Knowing When."As we face our losses, we also face the "Five Faces of Grief - It is the price we pay for loving them." Something that may help us to deal with that grief (old or new) is a song I have permission to share with you "Until We Are Together Again" I've spoken with Katherine and although she stated it wasn't written for a companion, she does do Sheltie Rescue. "This song is about helping those in grief....that's all."

Coming in the next edition, a special article written for DogsAdverseReactions and those who have lost their companion.

Also, "Microchips"