Paws for
Thought......
Volume 3, Issue 1
221 Lafayette St. London, OH 43140
(740) 852-9151
Winter, 2012
www.sheffieldvet.com
[email protected]
Hospital Hours
Appointment Only
M-F 8am - 7pm
Sat: 8am - noon
Veterinarians
Alan Knowles
Julie LaForge
Craig Marshall
Holly Eades
Hospital Staff
Heather Moran
Megan Womacks
Brittany Redman
Melody Hill
Samantha Cossin
Reception Staff
Sandy Meyer
Donna Bennett
Leah Yutzy
Jnel Barton
Office Manager
Amy Bray
Benefits of pet ownership
Owning a pet is not only fun, but can be beneficial to your health too! This is true in all
stages of life. A growing number of studies show that children growing up in homes with
“furred animals” being either a dog or a cat or on a farm with
large animal exposure, have less risk of allergies or asthma.
Studies have also shown a reduced risk of eczema (a skin
condition resulting in red, patchy and sometimes itchy skin) in
children living in a household with pets. Overall, children who
grow up with pets have a stronger immunity than children who do
not live with pets. Pets are beneficial for people in later life
stages as well. Pets have been shown to help lower people's
blood pressure and anxiety levels. According to the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention, pets can help lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels and
feelings of loneliness. It has been reported that heart attack patients show a faster
recovery rate when they have a pet within their recovery setting. Pets can also help increase
your opportunities for socialization as well as your opportunities for exercise and outdoor
activities. Pets are great conversations starters too! No better way to break the ice than to
talk about your furry friends. For more on this subject, click here or visit
http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/health_benefits.htm
How much do you really know? Take our flea quiz!
1. The female cat flea will consume _____ times her body weight in blood daily.
a. 5 b. 10 c. 15 d. 20
Answer: The female cat flea will consume 15 times her body weight
2. Adult fleas live and breed over ___ days on the pet if not disturbed.
a. 10 b. 25 c. 50 d. 100
Answer: It's hard to believe, but the adult flea lives and breeds over 100 days if left
undisturbed.
3. One female cat flea can lay _______ eggs in her lifetime.
Answer: 2000
4. True or false: Fleas transmit tapeworms in both dogs and cats.
Answer: True
5. Just one flea can multiply into ______ fleas on your pet and in your home in just 21 days.
a. 100 b. 1000 c. 10,000 d. 100,000
Answer: 1000
All of these facts mean one thing: fleas are tough to deal with! The good news is we have lots of
products at Sheffield that not only kill adult fleas, but prevent young fleas from maturing.
Contact our office to discuss a plan for prevention and treatment of fleas in your home.
Feline Chronic Renal Disease
Chronic renal disease (CRD) is one that affects cat's kidneys, usually at a later stage of life. Chronic renal disease is a
serious condition evidenced by gradual, irreversible deterioration of kidney function. Kidneys eliminate waste products
and balance electrolytes in the body. The kidneys have a large amount of
spare capacity to perform their various functions so at least 70% of them
have to be damaged before clinical signs are seen. In most cases this
means that the damage to the kidneys has been occuring over a number of
months or years (chronic) before failure is evident. Symptoms of chronic
renal disease include excessive urination, excessive thirst, nausea and
gagging, vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite, loss of weight, poor hair
coat, lethargy and depression to name a few. Chronic renal disease is
diagnosed by a simple blood test and urinalysis, done at the hospital. A
large number of different disease processes can eventually lead to CRD including congenital malformations of the
kidneys, bacterial kidney infections, damage to the filtration membrane, cancer, and viral infections. Although this
disease is irreversible, symptoms can sometimes be managed with a low protein diet, medications and supportive
therapies such as subcutaneous and intravenous fluids. If you feel that your cat is displaying any or all of the listed
symptoms, it is imperative to have them examined as soon as possible. Call our office and speak with one of our staff
members to schedule an appointment.
Dental Awareness
Dental care is one of the most overlooked items in pet health care. Dental disease in cats and dogs is a serious
health problem that causes pain, internal organ problems, and can shorten their lives. Bacteria
and plaque-forming foods can cause build-up on your pet's teeth. This can
harden into tartar, cause gingivitis, receding gums and tooth loss.
Early signs of this problem include discoloration of teeth, tartar
buildup, bad breath and redness at the gum line. At Sheffield, we
recommend brushing your pet's teeth daily; however, brushing is not
always enough. A dental cleaning is often required to get those pearly
whites back on track. Regular teeth cleanings are a great way to keep your pet's mouth, gums and
teeth healthy. Janurary, February and March are dental awareness months at Sheffield, which means a 15%
discount on dental cleanings and extractions. Call to schedule your complimentary dental exam; let the doctors at
SVH assess your pet's dental needs.
Tails for Thought...
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Just email us at [email protected]