Anxiety

Does your fur baby get anxious often? Are there certain situations that seem to stress them out more than normal? Not sure what you can do? Well, I have some products that will help!

I will start with the kitties! We carry two wonderful products here at SAH that can help with many unwanted behaviors humans may be experiencing with their cat family members. First we have NurtureCALM collars. These are designed to be worn 24/7 and are activated by body heat. Second, we have Feliway products. Feliway offers a spray and a plug-in diffuser. All of these products constantly release a calming pheromone to help reduce stress and/or bad behaviors. Pheromones are natural chemical signals used for animal communication. What is so great about these products is that they mimic pheromones a nursing mother would release. This will then give your kitty a comforting, calming feel which can help decrease or eliminate stress and poor behavior. Sounds just PUURRfect! Here are some behaviors and situations that indicate one of these products would be a good option for your kitty…

• Stressful situations such as a vet visit (I don’t know why, it’s wonderful at SAH!)

• Traveling, short or long distance (No one likes being in a car especially not a box!)

• New  home

• New member of the family

• Urine marking (Yuck!)

• Scratching (We are all guilty of this one!)
  

Now for the hounds we have similar products. Adaptil offers a collar, spray and plug-in diffuser specifically formulated for dogs. Here are some common situations dogs can come across where they may need some extra help from Adaptil products…

• Home alone

• Separation anxiety

• Loud noises

• Grooming

• Traveling

• Boarding kennels

• Vet visits

• Thunder storms
  

If your fur baby experiences anxiety during any of these situations, Adaptil, Feliway or NurtureCALM may be just what they need! Be sure to discuss this further with any of my girls and the doctors here at SAH. They will be able to guide you in the right direction and give you some tips that might ease some stress for everyone! Tune in next time for some safety tips for the Fourth Of July Weekend!

Until Next Time!

-Murphy Cat

New Pet

Have you recently added to your fur family? Are you considering getting a new pup or kitten but are not sure what it entails? Well, you are in luck! For my blog this week I thought I’d briefly go over what a puppy & kitten schedule looks like. I’d have to say, this is one of the perks of living at an animal hospital! I get to meet a bunch of new babies and watch them grow throughout the years! The bond the doctors and my girls create from day one with the babies grows along with them and they become part of our family here at SAH! It means so much to all of us to be a part of their lives… their humans too!

OK, so where to start… First, it is a great idea to figure out what breed will fit best with you and your family. Remember, each cat and dog is different, some are more active than others, some may be more prone to certain health issues and so forth. Do your research! Purina has a great online tool that can help narrow down your options based on your life style. I have included those links below.

Cat Breed Selector 

Dog Breed Selector 

Second, time to find a breeder or shelter! Adoption is a great way to find a new family member however, it may not be ideal for everyone. Either way, make sure you research the shelter or breeder you are using. If they have references, use them!
So now you have found your new baby… what next?! Depending on their age, they will need to receive a series of vaccines to be sure they are protected. Here is what a schedule would look like;

·         Visit One: 8-10 weeks old- visit with doctor

o    Education on importance of vaccines, parasite prevention, clicker training, feeding schedules and pet insurance. A complimentary puppy/kitten pack will be given to you at this time with additional information!

o    Comprehensive Wellness Exam

o    Intestinal parasite fecal exam

o    Deworming medication

o   Puppy Vaccines: Distemper initial, Bordetella (kennel cough)

o    Kitten Vaccines: Distemper initial and feline Leukemia/FIV blood screening

·         Visit Two: 12-14 weeks old- visit with doctor

o    Education on flea and tick prevention, heartworm prevention, dental care, nail trimming, microchip and importance of spay and neuter

o    Wellness follow up exam

o     Puppy Vaccines: Distemper/Leptosporosis, Lyme, Rabies

o   Kitten Vaccines: Distemper booster, Leukemia, Rabies

·         Visit Three: 15-17 weeks old- visit with technicians

o    Exam with technicians

o   Puppy Vaccines: Leptosporosis, Lyme

o   Kitten Vaccines: Leukemia booster

And there you have it! Now, don’t hold me to these schedules! Like I said earlier, things can change depending on their age and what vaccines they may have received from their previous home. There is a lot of information to go over so take your time and ask all the questions you may have! That is what my girls and the doctors are here for! 

Happy searching! 
   -Murphy Cat

 

Dasuquin

Oh Happy Day!

I hope everyone has been enjoying their week. I know I have. We have been quite busy at the office so I have been very entertained with all the comings and goings of pets and their people. I have the privilege of meeting some great individuals, what a lucky kitty I am! One thing that I have noticed recently is that many of the pets coming in have been getting up there in age and are starting to show some joint stiffness. Now, I know I did touch on this a tiny bit last week with discussing Ascenta and how it is great for joint health but, I have another product that will help as well! Dasuquin!

Now, here is some information from Nutramax (the company that makes Dasuquin)…

“Just like humans, your dog’s (and cat’s) joints are formed where two bones meet. The ends of the bones are cushioned by cartilage, a slippery and tough tissue produced and maintained by its own specialized cells. The cartilage, joint fluid, and underlying bone work together like a shock absorber allowing flexible joint function. Cartilage lacks a direct blood supply, so nutrients must pass into the cartilage from surrounding tissue. These nutrients sustain cartilage cells and provide the components necessary to maintain a healthy cartilage structure…”

Dasuquin is a wonderful joint health supplement for pets. It contains ASU (avocado/soybean unsaponifiables, Glucosamine, Chondroitin Sulfate and decaffeinated tea. These are all superb ingredients; here is what they do…

• ASU is collected from avocados and soybeans. ASU helps protect cartilage and supports joint function.
  
• Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate together aid in blocking enzymes in joints that break down cartilage.
  
•  Decaffeinated tea is rich in antioxidants which overall is a great thing!

This great joint support has a formula for both cats and dogs! For an added bonus for us marvelous felines, it also helps maintain urinary bladder health. The contents of the Dasuquin support the bladders protective wall that prevents urine and waste from seeping into and affecting the inner lining. So, all of you kitties out there that have constant urinary issues, have your human discuss starting you on Dasuquin with the doctors here at SAH.

If you are noticing a change in your pet’s mobility and joint discomfort, it may be time to add Dasuquin into the mix! Be sure to chat with Dr. Ellis or Dr. Bentley at your pet’s next visit to get their recommendations! And as always, my girls are here for support too!

So long!
     -Murphy Cat

Ascenta

Hello!

Time for me to enlighten you with another wonderful product we offer here at SAH...

Does your fur baby tend to have dry, flakey skin? Is your fur baby getting older and starting to have some joint stiffness? Are you looking to just improve your pets overall health?  Well, do I have the product for you! It is simple to give and tastes pretty good too… Ascenta!

Ascenta is an Omega 3 fatty acid supplement that contains a balanced ratio of EPA and DHA. This is a great daily supplement that will help your pets over all well-being. So, what does it do exactly? Well it promotes…

                * Joint health

                * Skin and coat health   

                * Heart health

                * Immunes system health

Man that is one powerful liquid! Yes, that’s right; it comes in liquid form, how easy is that?! For us felines it comes in a delish ocean fish flavor and for the hounds it comes in a smokey meat flavor. No one should have a problem adding this to their food! Dosage is based on weight and can range from ¼tsp to 1 tsp once daily.

Now, I know since you are all wonderful pet owners, you are constantly looking for ways to improve your pets’ health. Well, here ya go! Add this in to your fur baby’s daily routine and I promise you will see some great benefits! Your fur baby will thank you and me of course!

-Murphy Cat

Online Pharmacy

Hello guys and gals!

Man this gloomy weather is really bringing me down! I don’t know about you, but I’m tired and cranky! So I apologize ahead of time if you stop by the office and I’m a bit rude! Sorry!

So, on gloomy days it is just no fun running errands and such, right? What would you do if I told you that you didn’t need to come to the office to get some of you pets’ supplies? Yup, that’s right! SAH has an ONLINE PHARMACY! What does that mean exactly? Well, items such as prescription diets, flea and tick products and even some prescription medications and so forth, are available at your fingertips! All you need to do is go to our website, sunderlandvet.com and click the "shop online" link, it’s that easy! Now, if the item you request is indeed a prescription, don’t fret! A request will be sent to my girls at the office who will then get the authorization from Dr. Ellis. Once the process is complete, the item will be sent directly to your home! This is my kind of set up! Not having to go anywhere mean I could stay in my pajamas all day… well, if I wore pajamas! Meow! Wouldn’t that be a sight! No one get any ideas!

Any who, this is a great option if you’re just not able to get to the office. There are even daily deals on different items each day. Is this going to be your first time using our pharmacy? Be sure to use coupon code WELCOME62 to get $5.00 off your first purchase! Your welcome! Happy shopping!

-Murphy Cat