HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
I hope the holidays were happy and you got everything you wished for (I’m still waiting for the Mercedes Benz to be delivered to my door).
As we start this brand new year I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of you who so generously donated to our food drive and the Kent Shelter ornament tree. Through your support we collected over four hundred dollars and over two hundred and twenty five pounds of food. We will be dividing the donations between Long Island Harvest and Long Island Cares. Kent Shelter will be receiving over seventy dollars from our ornament tree and we have been informed that our hospital has collected the most. Thank you again for your generosity. I know all three organizations will put all of the donations to good use.
On a different front, canine influenza virus continues to make the news. This is a virus that originated in the horse population but has now mutated and now able to infect the dog. Since it is a brand new virus to the dog the dog has no natural immunity and most every dog is susceptible to it. While the Center for Disease Control is closely monitoring this virus because of its jump to the dog population, it is not contagious to us. The majority of dogs exposed to the disease will develop mild signs that include a cough, runny nose and a fever. A small number of dogs will develop a more serious form - pneumonia which can be fatal. Treatment for the disease is supportive. For those with the mild form this may include fluid therapy and medication to make the dog more comfortable as well as an antibiotic to prevent secondary bacterial infection. For those dogs unlikely enough to have pneumonia, your dog will need hospitalization and receive more intensive therapy in order to help your dog survive this disease.
Dog flu is spread through the air (direct contact with aerosolized respiratory secretions), by contact with contaminated objects and by people moving between infected and non-infected dogs. It is important that dog owners whose dogs are showing any respiratory signs refrain from engaging in any activity that allows their dog or themselves to be in contact with other dogs.
There is a vaccine that is now available. We will now be requiring that any dog boarding with us receive not only the Bordetella/Kennel Cough vaccine but this dog flu vaccine as well. We recommend the dog flu vaccine to any dog considered “at risk”. These are dogs that frequently see other dogs via dog parks, dog shows, obedience trails, grooming parlors and boarding kennels. The vaccine is initially given in a series of two injections (now and in a month) followed by yearly boosters. This vaccine will greatly reduce the clinical signs should your dog be exposed to this disease.
If you have any questions regarding this or any health issue concerning your pet, please call me.
On a different note, I would like to extend my sincere thank you to the students and staff of the Clayton Huey Elementary School. I enjoyed being the guest greeter and talking to you about the veterinary profession. I know Elaine, my hospital manger and technician as well as Rita, the Irish setter, enjoyed their time with you as well. I also want to thank you for the impressive amount of pet food donations you collected which will be put to good use by Kent Shelter.