 Welcome | Services | Facilities | Health Care Team | Links | Frequently Asked Questions Location of the Hospital | Special Events Our ServicesAt Red Cedar Animal Hospital, our focus is on the medical needs of your pet, with a special emphasis on wellness care, i.e. preventive medicine. We offer a full range of services for your pet's health and your convenience. For additional information please click on one or more of the topics listed below.
Preventive MedicineSince prevention is always the best medicine, our veterinarians and staff will develop a vaccination and preventive health plan that fits your pet's specific needs. We tailor vaccination protocols using the latest American Animal Hospital Association recommendations, which include giving feline and canine distemper immunizations every 3 years. We make recommendations based on your pet’s breed and age. Medicine is no longer “One size fits all”! Preventive medicine includes discussions on nutrition, physical fitness, and dental care, parasite prevention, among others. MedicineEven with the best of care, pets do get sick. And when your pet is not feeling well, you want the best. Our doctors keep updated with the most recent and advanced information to diagnose and treat medical problems in pets. We keep our pharmacy well stocked so that medicine is available right away to help your pet. Our in-house lab allows us to evaluate bloodwork results within 15 minutes. Our licensed veterinary technicians are well trained in compassionate nursing care. We consult with specialists when indicated. DentistryDid you know that a recent study cited pets with routine dental cleanings may live up to 4 years longer? Periodontal disease is the most common infectious disease in dogs and cats. In fact, 85% of adult pets have some form of periodontal disease. If left untreated, that can mean pain, bad breath, and tooth loss for your pet. Chronic infection may invade the bloodstream and can cause not only a drain on your pet’s immune system, but also heart, lungs, kidney, liver and bladder disease. Can you imagine not brushing your teeth every day? We recommend daily teeth brushing for your pet. For those who don’t have time (or for pet’s who don’t read this article or won’t cooperate), we have alternative methods to aid in oral hygiene. Ask us about teaching your cats to brush their own teeth! After teeth are cleaned professionally here at Red Cedar Animal Hospital, we can apply a product called OraVet. OraVet Barrier Sealant creates an invisible barrier that prevents plaque and tartar-forming bacteria from attaching to the teeth. At home, you re-apply OraVet Plaque Prevention Gel once weekly. It takes less than 60 seconds to do. We provide complete routine dental care. Animals scheduled for a dentistry have complete physical exams prior to the procedure. Any necessary bloodwork is done prior to the procedure to help minimize risk to your pet. Your pet is anesthetized with Isoflurane anesthesia and the ultrasonic scaling and polishing are performed by a licensed veterinary technician. Whole mouth dental radiographs (x-rays) are important in establishing tooth health. Our speedy digital processing results in shorter anesthesia time for your pet than regular film processing. Your pet’s safety under anesthesia is our utmost concern. Our patients are continually monitored via EKG, blood pressure, pulse and respiratory rates, pulse oximetry and body temperature Any oral surgery or extractions needed are performed by the veterinarian. Antibiotics and pain management are used if indicated for the procedure. Pets are awake and go home the same afternoon with a brighter smile and fresher breath! LaboratoryOur fully-equipped in-house laboratory allows for quick, accurate results--important when your pet is sick. We also have access to excellent outside laboratories for tests that do not demand immediate results. PharmacyOur well-stocked pharmacy means you get your pet's medication immediately--usually no need to make an additional stop to fill a prescription. We also carry a variety of products for heartworm prevention and flea and tick control and are able to offer coupons and rebates not available on-line. For pets who are difficult to medicate, we can have medication specially compounded with a variety of flavors to make it more palatable for your pet. This works especially well for our fussy feline friends. Senior Wellness PlansAfter all the years of companionship and loyalty that our furry friends provide us, as they get older, they deserve and require special care. As age starts affecting their hearing, sight, joints and organ function, supplements and special nutrition can ease their transition into their senior years and keep them comfortable and happy. It is important to perform routine semi-annual comprehensive physical exams and labwork on our older kids to monitor for detrimental changes. Some older pets experience cognitive dysfunction, eg confusion, disorientation. Antioxidant supplements, nutrition and even medications are available to minimize and even reverse some of these changes. Senior pets should be evaluated on a 6-month basis. Since 1 dog/cat year is approximately equal to 7 human years, a 6-month check-up is similar to seeing your older pet every 3 ½ years! Most pets are wonderful at compensating for signs of illness, and will not show symptoms until that illness is advanced. That’s why it is so important to have a veterinarian examine your senior or geriatric pet and run bloodwork to evaluate internal body organ functions. We have different senior care packages, which include basic care to checking blood pressure, glaucoma screening and taking radiographs to screen for cancer and heart disease. Old age is not a disease! Our older friends need to keep their weight under control, continue to exercise, and eat diets formulated for senior pets. Many suffer from arthritis, even though they may not exhibit obvious symptoms. A dog who is no longer enthusiastic to go for walks or an old kitty who has stopped using a litterbox may be signs of arthritis. So many treatments are available, including supplements, physical therapy, NSAID’s (pain medication), and Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation. Click here for a Senior Wellness Visit form. Pain ManagementAlthough animals can prove to be very stoic and not exhibit signs of pain, they do feel pain. An animal that limps, is stiff getting up, or shows reluctance to do stairs or jump may be painful. A common symptom that may indicate pain is the older pet who simply sleeps a lot. Animals that have dental extractions or have had surgery experience pain. Sometimes cats won't use the litterbox because they are painful. It is our job as your pet's advocate to determine if they're painful, and to offer safe, effective pain management. Cancer ChemotherapyAs with human medicine, animals unfortunately develop cancer. Many cancers can be removed surgically. Some require chemotherapy. We are experienced in dealing with pets with cancer, and regularly consult with specialists regarding individual cases. In this way, your pet can receive the latest and best care, while remaining in a familiar environment. Cancer Surgery: Tumor removal is commonly done, whether it be a benign skin mass, or a cancer. If possible, we like to identify what type of tumor we are working with prior to surgery so that we can take appropriate surgical margins. Some tumors have tiny roots spreading in many directions and unless you get all the roots, the tumor grows back. Many times we can perform a fine needle aspirate prior to surgery for identification, or we may have to do a surgical biopsy. Radiographs may also be done prior to cancer surgery to ascertain whether the tumor has metastasized (spread) to other areas of the body. Following cancer surgery, the tumor is submitted for histopathology (biopsy). We use the Pathology Department at Michigan State University for this service. They verify not only what kind of tumor we’re dealing with, but also tell us if we got it all. Some cancers are cured by complete surgical removal. Some may need follow-up chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Chemotherapy: Some cancers may go into remission with chemotherapy. As science progresses, chemotherapies become more effective. A common cancer, lymphoma or lymphosarcoma, responds well to combination chemotherapy, a multimodal treatment approach. The animals are put on a combination of cancer treating drugs. Our pets seem to tolerate chemotherapy much better than many people do, and appear to have a good quality of life during treatment. Undergoing the decision to pursue chemotherapy is a commitment on your part. Your pet will be seen sometimes weekly by us for bloodwork to monitor their response, intravenous drugs given by us, and pills given by you at home. But in return, you may have your loving companion live out its life with you, or at least extend that life for perhaps another year. Most people who decide to pursue a chemotherapy protocol say they would do it again. We recommend a beautifully written book called, “Pets Living With Cancer” A Pet Owner’s Resource” written by Robin Downing, DVM. We have copies of the book at Red Cedar Animal Hospital for those interested. BoardingPlanning a trip? Let us take care of your pet! We have boarding facilities for large and small pets and a caring, qualified health care team to provide lots of TLC while you are gone. And you have peace of mind knowing a veterinarian is immediately available in case of a medical problem. We feed Science Diet Sensitive Stomach to our canine guests, and Iams MultiCat to our feline friends. If you prefer, you can bring in your pet's own special food and treats. All pets must be current on vaccinations, including bordatella (infectious tracheobronchitis) vaccine within the last 6 months for dogs, and be free of external parasites. If not we will vaccinate and treat accordingly. Please call early for reservations to ensure a spot! We know that you are concerned about your pet while you’re away, that’s why we try to make their stay as enjoyable as possible. We offer Comfort Time for dogs, which is a delicious treat-stuffed indestructible Kong toy that provides an immediate distraction after you leave them. Comfort Time can also be given in the evenings before bedtime. Our feline guests are housed in an area separate from dog boarding. We offer 3-tiered kitty condos with a hammock and fleece covered perches. We provide fresh, organically grown catnip and lots of love and attention.
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Cat Age Equivalency Chart
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Dog Age Equivalency Chart
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Personalized Vaccine Schedules
At Red Cedar Animal Hospital, PC, we tailor vaccine protocols to each animal based on risk factors and age. As more information comes out about immunizations and their duration of immunity, we like to balance protecting your pet from infectious disease with not over-vaccinating them.
In most dogs, we recommend a series of puppy vaccines, followed by boosters one year later. New recommendations endorsed by the American Animal Hospital Association are to give DA2PP (distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus) every 3 years after that. The leptospirosis vaccine (protects against 4 strains of lepto) is still given annually as studies show that immunity from the leptospirosis vaccine does not last beyond a year. Lepto is a contagious bacteria that is carried in wild animal’s urine. It is also contagious to people.
Dogs should also receive a 1-year rabies immunization initially, then 3-year rabies vaccines afterward for life. We also recommend giving dogs Bordatella vaccines which help protect against infectious tracheobronchitis. For dogs that go to dog shows, walks in the park, boarding, grooming or anywhere they may encounter other dogs, such as going out for a walk, this vaccine is recommended every 6 months.
For 100% indoor cats, we recommend an initial series of kitten vaccines, followed by a booster in 1 year. The American Association of Feline Practitioners recommends that adult cats receive the distemper vaccine every 3 years afterward. The rabies vaccine we use is an annual vaccine. Our rabies vaccine is a cutting edge recombinant DNA technology vaccine that is very gentle on your feline family member, and has not been associated with the injection site reaction that other vaccines have triggered. For indoor/outdoor cats, we highly recommend adding the feline leukemia vaccine. Feline leukemia is a contagious virus spread among cats, and is fatal. Some people with indoor only cats opt to also protect their cats with this vaccine in case of accidentally sneaking outdoors. For cats getting outside, the leukemia vaccine is given annually.
There is a lot of controversy over vaccines, their duration of immunity, how frequently to give them and which ones to give. We have seen more pets die annually from infectious disease such as parvovirus, distemper and feline leukemia, that the need for vaccines is indisputable. That is why we believe it is so important to evaluate each individual pet’s health and risk factors prior to immunization.
Behavior Counseling
One of the number one reasons pets are surrendered to the humane society is for behavioral issues. As puppies and kittens come in, we take time to ensure your new addition is fitting in well with your family and address behavioral issues you may have, such as house training, teething or biting, and discuss Manners 101.
But don’t stop there! As your pet ages, you need to keep training, even if it is to teach some tricks. Our pets love the interaction, and become bored without it. Boredom leads to bad habits such as chewing, digging and barking. Separation anxiety is a common condition in dogs, and anyone who has watched their pet become frantic when they or someone else leave the house can’t help but feel distraught along with their pet.
We offer behavioral consultation where we evaluate your pet to rule-out a physical cause for the behavior. If your pet is healthy, we discuss behavior modification and have a full set of handouts for reading at home, references to competent trainers, including one-on-one in-home experts, and as a last resort, may prescribe medication to help assist in the training process.
Inappropriate urination and spraying in cats is a common frustrating problem. In many cases, it starts with a bladder infection, so we always start with a comprehensive physical exam and urinalysis. If there is no infection, we delve into your cat’s psyche! Cats are creatures of habit and sometimes some small change in their environment may trigger inappropriate urination. We also discuss litter box location, cleaning rituals, litter type and more.
Our Health Care Team cumulatively has over 50 years experience in animal care and training and know a lot of “tricks” to maintaining a well-behaved pet. We have all been there! Sometimes a minor adjustment in the home environment makes all the difference.
Environmental Enrichment
Boredom is a source of both anxiety and stress in a pet’s living environment, and is the cause of many of the behavior problems which lead owners to give up their pets out of anger or frustration. Stress or boredom can lead to overeating, which in many instances results in obesity. Obesity itself is a known risk factor for diabetes mellitus, lower urinary tract disease, impaired mobility and arthritis, high blood pressure, heart disease, and other illnesses.
We offer a variety of suggestions and handouts on keeping your pet entertained during the day while you are away. If they are occupied with one of these methods, hopefully they will be staying out of trouble, while remaining alert and active. This allows them to be well adjusted when you do get home, and to sleep better at night.
Nutritional Counseling
Dr. Meining and the health care team at the Red Cedar Animal Hospital know the importance of clinical nutrition. Whether you have a puppy or kitten, a healthy adult pet, a senior pet or a pet with special medical needs, a nutritional plan can be discussed and formatted for your individual pet. All team members have advanced training in nutritional counseling.
Nutrition is the key to good health. Sometimes you need to try different foods to find what your pet does the best on. There is a strong correlation between feeding premium foods and optimal health. Premium foods such as Iams, Eukanuba, Science Diet, or ProPlan seem to routinely put that “glow” on your pet. Some all natural foods now available also seem to help your pet achieve peak health and performance.
Some pets may benefit from additional supplementation. We carry a wide range of nutritional supplements including omega-3 fatty acids, liver, kidney and bladder support products as well as joint support.
We carry the entire line of both Hill’s and Eukanuba Prescription Diets. Prescription Diets were originally formulated for older pets with conditions such as kidney failure. They have expanded as the science of nutrition grows to include liver and heart disease, diabetes, weight management, urinary health, hypoallergenic diets and other skin care, dental diets, gastrointestinal disease, as well as senior diets. There are also diets now that help to manage joint disease and some cancers!
Special Diets
We carry the entire line of both Hill’s and Eukanuba Prescription Diets. Prescription Diets were originally formulated for older pets with conditions such as kidney failure. They have expanded as the science of nutrition grows to include liver and heart disease, diabetes, weight management, urinary health, hypoallergenic diets and other skin care, dental diets, gastrointestinal disease, as well as senior diets. There are also diets now that help to manage joint disease and some cancers!
Dermatology
Skin and ear problems are one of the most commonly encountered health concerns in dogs and cats. Problems originate from many sources, such as allergies, genetics, nutrition, parasites or other diseases. Sorting through your pet’s background can sometimes be a tedious process. A complete dermatology workup may involve bloodwork, skin scrapings, fungal cultures, tape preps, and even biopsies to determine the cause. Many pets suffer from allergies. Although there is no cure for allergies, there are many things that can be done to reduce the symptoms and secondary infections. We offer serum allergy testing at Red Cedar Animal Hospital. This may identify something we are able to remove from the pet’s environment, or may enable us to start your pet on allergy shots to control the symptoms.
We have a wide range of therapeutic shampoos, nutritional supplements and special diets available to help keep your pet comfortable. We also have a groomer on staff to perform medicated baths for those not able to.
Soft Tissue and Orthopedic Surgery
Our hospital is equipped with a modern surgical suite. Being an American Animal Hospital Association affiliated practice, we adhere to rigid standards of sterility, patient monitoring, and anesthetic quality. We require preanesthetic bloodwork on all patients undergoing surgical procedures. Patients are intubated for general anesthesia with Isoflurane gas anesthesia. They are monitored via pulse oximetry, EKG, heart rate and blood pressure.
We offer a wide range of surgical services, varying from cancer surgery, exploratories and other advanced soft tissue surgery to routine elective surgeries. Large breed puppies or dogs prone to hip dysplasia are offered a radiographic hip screening while anesthetized for routine procedures such as ovariohysterectomies (spays) or orchectomies (neuters). We also recommend microchipping all pets at this time (although it can also be done on the awake pet). Male dogs and cats can go home the same day as their procedure, but their female counterparts are kept quiet overnight to expedite healing.
We also offer a wide range of orthopedic services, including fracture repair and knee surgeries such as repair of torn ACL’s (anterior cruciate ligament) and patellar luxation repair. Physical therapy is a component to return to full function postoperatively. There are therapeutic exercises we can show you to perform at home. Michigan State University also has a Physical Therapy Department, including an underwater treadmill.
Pain management – As part of our compassionate care, all surgical patients are given analgesic injections prior to surgery, and go home with oral pain management medications. We do not adhere to the old philosophy of letting the pain keep the animal calm. Studies have shown that pain actually can retard healing. We use a wide variety of pain drugs, from NSAID’s to morphine-like drugs and Fentanyl patches.
Microchips and Tattoos
Have you ever lost a pet? If you’re like most people, you think, “It won’t happen to me.” But a family pet is lost every two seconds! That’s millions every year. Shelters do their very best to locate owners, but if your pet has no form of identification, there’s not much they can do.
Permanent identification in the form of microchips and tattoos help ensure your pet will be returned to you. All too often a dog or cat may slip its collar (and therefore its identification). A microchip contains a personal identification number that distinguishes your pet as a special member of your family. It is so tiny that it fits through a hypodermic needle. Just like a vaccination, it’s injected under the skin of your pet where it remains safely for life. Veterinarians, Animal Control Officials, Humane Societies, research institutions and many rescue groups have scanners. When your pet is scanned, the number is read and traced to you. This leads to a joyful reunion instead of a long, agonizing search.
Tattooing also is performed at Red Cedar Animal Hospital. Dr. Meining is a certified tattooer with the State of Michigan. Although tattooing can be performed on the awake animal, we find mild sedation to be more humane. We recommend tattooing a number issued by USDA for identification.
Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation
Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation (VOM) is a healing technology that locates areas of the animal's nervous system that has fallen out of communication, and re-establishes neuronal communication and thus induces healing. VOM is singularly the most simple, effective and safe healing modality in veterinary care to date. For the VOM practitioner it is an exquisitely objective, fast and easy to apply technology that takes a minimum amount of time to master and whose scope of application appears has yet to be fully appreciated.
What can VOM treat?
1. Routinely treated are conditions such as:
2. Acute and non-acute lameness
3. Progressive lameness
4. Hip Dysplasia-like syndromes
5. IV disc disease
6. Progressive myelopathies ("down in the rears" dogs)
7. Urinary and fecal incontinence
8. Unilateral lameness
9. Wobbler's Disease
10. Diseases of the knee
11. Esophageal disease
12. Increased of decreased GI mobility disease
13. Digestive disorders
14. Performance problems
15. Behavioral problem
16. Agility dysfunction
17. Endocrine disease
Is Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation (VOM) chiropractic care?
No! VOM exists in between veterinary medicine and chiropractic care. It has similarities to some of the chiropractic modalities and functions by restoring function by reducing "subluxations" as is done in chiropractic care. It uses a hand-held device that is used in a popular human chiropractic technique called "Activator Methods" but it is not to be confused with that technique. The differences between VOM and Chiropractic care are significant and distinct. VOM exists in a gray area between both professions (Veterinary and Chiropractic) and benefits from the positive aspects of both, a hybrid, and thus more effective than either by themselves. VOM is not animal chiropractic care and thus is not taught by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA). VOM is not recognized by the AVCA (the AVCA does not recognize anything it does not teach).
The Animal Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) does not recognize veterinary chiropractic care or the AVCA for now. Dr Inman has formerly presented at with American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, Association of Pet Dog Trainers, the Maine Veterinary Medical Association, and the German Shepherd Clubs of America, to name a few.
Why is VOM so accurate?
VOM is so accurate because it finds and reduces all neuronal subluxations. All neuronal subluxations have a pathological reflex demonstrably associated with them. A pathological reflex is like a knee jerk response. It is either there or it is not. It is an objective means to determine the presence and reduction of neuronal subluxation. The pathological read is not "partially there", "kinda there", or "almost there" adding a factor of subjectivity to interpretation. VOM is a precisely objective science.
Chiropractic "Listings" v/s VOM "Pathological Reads"
All chiropractic techniques (veterinary and human) rely on the chiropractic "listing" to determine the presence of a subluxation. Through manual palpation a misplaced bone prominence or a taught and tender muscle may be discovered by a competent veterinary chiropractor whose patient is cooperative and relaxed. This is a listing, an anatomical subluxation sign, and almost always is indicative of a neuronal subluxation syndrome.
Unfortunately, only 40% of all neuronal subluxations produce palpable anatomical subluxation signs. This means over half of all the animal's subluxations will be overlooked if anatomical listings are used as a means to discover them. The good news is that all neuronal subluxations produce "pathological reads", and all these reads are obvious and easy to discover and reduce. The goal of an adjustment in an animal is all the vertebral subluxations in that animal are reduced. Subluxation reduction based on anatomical listings will get approximately half of the total neurological subluxations present in the animal. Subluxation reduction based on pathological reads will get them all, and will verify they have been reduced. Fast, easy, effective.
How it works
All chiropractic modalities have one thing in common in that they all reduce the vertebral subluxation complex by providing motion or force to the fixated or subluxated joint.
Spinal Injury = Neuronal Subluxation Syndrome = Pathological Read
Neuronal Subluxation + Motion (force) = Subluxation Reduced
So, if you put motion into a joint that is associated with a neuronal subluxation sign, a pathological read, you reduce the subluxation. It is that simple. All the various types of chiropractic techniques have this motion or force into the subluxated joint in common. VOM delivers its force with a hand-held device. It looks a bit like a spring-loaded doorstop. Your VOM practioner has extensive references covering the research investigating the principles portrayed above and can provide them upon request. These references are replete in chiropractic journals.
Is VOM an animal version of Activator Methods, a human chiropractic technology
using the hand-held device?
No. Activator Methods developed by Arlan Fuhr D.C. uses the spinal accelerometer and relies exclusively on listings demonstrated by leg length checks which are anatomical subluxation signs.
Why is VOM so successful?
Because VOM locates all the neuronal subluxations present in the animal regardless of whether clinical listings are present and reduces them and confirms their reduction. Inherent in the VOM Technology is a built-in rescheduling protocol that inserts the patient on a self-regulating readjustment interval. Again, an easy, objective science.
How can VOM be that easy?
Why not? Who says that a healing modality has to be complicated, difficult and expensive? Who says it should take hundreds of hours to learn and perfect?
A technology that goes to the root of the problem, a simple technology that relies on the animal's innate ability to heal itself, one that re-establishes communication with the pet's ability to heal itself, will be easy, powerful and effective.
Weight Loss Counseling
Studies have shown that keeping your pet fit may add 2 years to its life! Just like many Americans, pets have an obesity problem. Some pets are genetically programmed to add extra layers of fat, and some people appear to be genetically programmed to over-treat their pets!
Obesity leads to a myriad of health problems, such as diabetes, arthritis, heart disease and more. It is so sad to see an elderly, overweight animal struggling to get around. This is preventable. We can work with you and your pet to keep them in optimal weight. Some dogs may be hypothyroid or have Cushing’s Syndrome that leads to weight gain. These conditions need to be medically treated. Many dogs will benefit from calorie and fat reduction in their diets. Over-the-counter “lite” or “low fat” foods tend to be designed for weight maintenance, not weight loss. In other words, your pet may not gain weight, but they probably won’t lose any either. Prescription diets come in a variety of nutritional strategies, similar to Weight Watchers, South Beach and Atkins Diets. Monitoring the type of treats given is important in a weight loss program. And, of course, exercise is all important. Many of our overweight pets cannot go for walks because it hurts to move. There is now a weight loss medicine available for dogs. Is your dog a candidate for this? We can discuss pain management tools to help these guys get up and moving. It is such a joy to see an old pet go from looking and acting old to becoming energized and happy via weight loss and exercise!
New research indicates overweight cats may benefit from a high protein/low carb diet (affectionately called the “Catkins Diet”). Recent literature also encourages a controlled, canned-only diet for weight loss in cats. Free feeding dry food can lead to weight gain. Canned food, such as Hill’s Prescription M/D, more closely approximates what our cat’s hunting ancestors ate, and their bodies metabolize this food more efficiently. Ask one of our Health Care Team about our feline weight loss program.
Strategic Deworming
Strategic deworming consists of treating your pet for worms at regular intervals that are specifically designed to prevent parasitic disease and the shedding of parasite eggs in your yard and home. It is based on the latest recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC).
Studies have shown that virtually all puppies and kittens are born with worms or infected shortly after birth through their mother’s milk. Many of these worms, such as roundworms and hookworms are contagious to people, particularly children. The problems caused by these infections can range from intestinal upset to death. It is estimated that 10,000 children in the United States are infected annually with roundworms and that approximately 750 will suffer permanent visual impairment or even blindness.
Preventive measures: Washing your hands and regularly deworming pets are very important to protect against parasites. There are other measures you should also be taking. These include:
- Remove pet droppings from your yard at least 2-3 times daily. Daily is best.
- Keep your pets flea-free. Fleas can transmit tapeworms to animals and people.
- Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating.
- Do not allow children to go barefoot or sit or lie on playgrounds or beaches where they are exposed to pet stools.
- Clean cat litter boxes daily and wash hands carefully afterward.
- Do not drink water from streams or other sources that may be contaminated with feces.
Puppies and kittens will be dewormed on a schedule recommended by CAPC. Adult dogs and cats on monthly heartworm preventive are protected by some of the major intestinal parasites. But no dewormer encompasses all intestinal parasites, so we recommend routine fecal analysis on all pets.
Heartworm Preventive
The American Heartworm Society recommends guidelines that include year-round prevention for dogs and cats. Yes, CATS! Cats get heartworm disease like dogs, via mosquitoes. The interesting fact is that of cats that tested heartworm positive, the majority were indoor only cats! Symptoms in cats often mimic asthma or allergic bronchitis. And while there is no cure, testing and prevention are recommended so that owners are prepared with treatment if acute respiratory distress symptoms are noted.
Fortunately there is a treatment for canine heartworm disease, but this disease is so much easier, and cheaper, to prevent. We recommend either Heartgard or the Interceptor/Sentinel team for monthly parasite prevention. Heartgard is a beefy chewable tablet that prevents heartworms, roundworms and hookworms. Interceptor is also a chewable tablet that prevents the same as Heartgard plus whipworms. Sentinel is Interceptor plus a flea preventive. For indoor/outdoor cats, we recommend Revolution, a monthly topical liquid applied over the shoulder blades. It prevents heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, fleas and ear mites. For indoor cats, we recommend either Revolution or Heartgard.
These products come with a full guarantee when purchased through a licensed veterinarian, meaning if your pet obtains parasites the product should prevent, the company will reimburse for treatment. Rebates or free doses are also available through veterinarians. These guarantees and rebates are void if purchased through internet companies by manufacturer mandate.
Pawspice
End of life issues are perhaps the most difficult thing we encounter with our companion animals. After the years of joy we share with our pets, knowing when the right time is to let them go is a difficult question to answer. We can help you through this process by discussing quality-of-life issues. For pets with terminal problems, we can help keep your loved companions at home and comfortable in a hospice (or “pawspice”) type setting until the time is right to selflessly let them go.
Just this side of heaven lies the Rainbow Bridge
When a beloved pet dies, it goes to the Rainbow Bridge. It makes friends with other animals and frolics over rolling hills and peaceful lush meadows of green. They are as healthy and playful as we remember them in days gone by.
Together, the animals chase and play, but the day comes when a pet will suddenly stop and look into the distance…bright eyes intent, eager body quivering. Suddenly recognizing you, your pet bounds quickly across the green fields and into your embrace. You celebrate in joyous reunion. You will never again separate.
Happy tears and kisses are warm and plentiful; your hands caress the face you missed. You look into the loving eyes of your pet and know that you never really parted. You realize that though out of sight, your love had been remembered.
You cross the Rainbow Bridge together.
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I ask my Master and Mistress to remember me always, but not to grieve for me too long. In my life, I have tried to be a comfort to them in time of sorrow, and a reason for added joy in their happiness…. One last request I earnestly make. I have heard my Mistress say, “When Blemie dies we must never have another dog. I love him so much I could never love another one.” Now I would ask her, for love of me, to have another. It would be a poor tribute to my memory never to have a dog again. What I would like to feel is that, having once had me in the family, now she cannot live without a dog!
Paraphrased from “The Last Will and Testament of Silverdene Emblem O’Neill” by Eugene O’Neill
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THE QUALITY OF LIFE SCALE
There is a real need for assessing various levels of quality of life for aging, ailing and terminally ill pets. Many geriatric animals have abnormal conditions that worsen over time. We are frequently asked, "When is the right time to euthanize my beloved pet? How will I know?" A quality of life scale helps caretakers evaluate whether they are able to provide enough help to maintain an ailing pet in a humane way.
Every pet has certain needs that should be recognized and respected. If we can meet these basic needs at a satisfactory level, they we are justified in preserving the life of the ill pet during its decline.
The following list of seven quality of life properties is an aid to help you recognize the comfort level of your companion. It is our goal to assist you in meeting the basic needs for your ailing pet. Other than "Happiness," if you consistently rate your pet at a 5 or higher, please consult with us so we can help make your pet more comfortable. A score above 5 on most of these values may indicate we have a "pawspice" (vet hospice) type end-of-life program.
Hurt: 1-10
Adequate pain control is first and foremost on the scale. This includes the pet's ability to breathe properly. Pain control may include oral, transdermal or injectable medications.
Hunger: 1-10
If a pet is not receiving adequate nutrition willingly, by hand or force feeding, then consult your veterinarian about placing a feeding tube. Malnutrition develops rapidly in an ailing pet. Using blended or liquid diets may help maintain caloric intake.
Hydration: 1-10
There are many ways to encourage your pet to drink. Subcutaneous fluids are a wonderful way to supplement the fluid intake of ailing pets, and many people are willing to learn to do this at home.
Hygiene: 1-10
Can the pet be kept brushed and cleaned? Is the coat matted? Does the pet lie in its waste after elimination? Pets may not be able to keep themselves clean like they used to. They may need help cleaning around their mouth and sanitary areas. Sponge baths can help keep the pet smelling and looking clean.
Happiness: 1-10
Does the pet sill interact with the family and respond to things going on around him? Do they still enjoy being petted? Is the pet able to experience joy or mental stimulation? When the pet stops “smiling”, we need to assess these other values to see if we can improve attitude. If the pet remains antisocial and glum, this is a large factor that contributes to poor quality of life.
Mobility: 1-10
Can the pet move around on its own or with help to satisfy its desires? Does the pet feel like going out for a walk? Will a harness, sling or cart be helpful? If mobility is compromised and the pet spends a large time laying down, do they have a comfortable bed? Is their position changed routinely to prevent bed sores? Do cats have easy access to their litter box? Do dogs have a ramp available to go outside so that they don’t have to negotiate stairs?
More Good Days Than Bad: 1-10
When there are too many bad days in a row or if the pet seems to be “turned off” to life, quality of life is compromised. Bad days are usually filled with experiences such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, frustration, seizures, etc. Bad days also could be from profound weakness from anemia, or from discomfort from a large, inoperable tumor.
It is very difficult for families to make the final decision to end a beloved pet’s life with euthanasia. Often, people wish their ailing pet would die peacefully in their sleep. Unfortunately, this does not commonly occur, and we are faced with evaluating our pet’s quality of life to help determine when the appropriate time is to help them pass to the “Rainbow Bridge”, where the poem states all our deceased pets are rejuvenated and are romping with playmates and having fun until they wait for us to join them.
The Big Decision
Once a decision is made that is the right time to schedule euthanasia, here are some questions to address.
- What is involved? We try to schedule an appointment at the end of the morning or afternoon so the appointment is not rushed and there aren’t a lot of people around. We want a quiet, calm atmosphere.
- Should I be present? This is entirely up to you. Some people like to remember their pet awake and do not want to be present. This is OK, and a very personal decision. If you choose to be with your pet, that is OK too.
- Should the children be present? Again, this is a personal decision up to you. It mostly depends on the age of the child. Very young children may not understand the procedure. For others, it may be their first encounter with death of a loved one. There are books available to help children cope with grief, such as Mr. Rogers’ book “When a Pet Dies”.
- What happens afterward? There are several different options available. There may be local ordinances against pet burial in your yard, so that is something to check on if you’d like to pursue home burial. We can also arrange to have your pet cremated and have the ashes returned to you. You can then bury the ashes or keep them in a decorative urn. If you leave your pet with us after the euthanasia, we arrange for cremation.
- How will my other animals react? This is a good question. If animals have shared a close bond, the surviving pet may mourn as profoundly as you. Some may even need medical attention to help get them through a tough time. Some people choose to bring the companion animal along so they can visit the body after passing to realize their buddy is gone.
- Is it wrong to go out and get another pet? After the pain of losing a pet, many people feel they could never have another. You may not realize how much of a presence your pet was in your home until they’re gone. Obtaining a new pet is not an act of betrayal to your old pet’s memory. In fact, there is a poem written from a dog’s viewpoint that talks about the act of bringing a new pet into the house being a tribute to the other pet’s memory. You loved him so much that you can’t stand the thought of being without an animal companion.
- For anyone who has difficulty dealing with the loss of their pet, there is a support group at MSU that meets monthly, as well as a Pet Loss Support Hotline at MSU. The # is 517.432.2696.
Pet Health Insurance
It is heartbreaking to see an owner agonize over a decision to euthanize a pet because they cannot afford treatment. Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) is the nation’s oldest and largest provider of health insurance for pets. Coverage includes diagnostic tests, treatments, office visits, lab fees, prescriptions, hospitalization, x-rays and surgical procedures. Optional vaccination and routine care coverage are also available to help you maintain the health of your pet. Protecting your pet is easy and affordable. VPI has a website at 800-USA-PETS. You can use this to calculate your monthly payments based on which plan you choose (standard or superior) and your pet’s age and size. Multiple pet discounts are available. Other good pet insurance programs are Pet’s Best (www.PetsBest.com, 1-877-PETSBEST) and ASPCA (ASPCAPetInsurance.com).
These programs work by you paying for the initial veterinary bill, and then submitting easy paperwork. The companies then reimburse you directly. This way, you do not have to find a participating veterinarian.
Companion Animal Bond
Anyone who has been lucky enough to share their life with a “heart pet” understands the human-companion animal bond. What is a “heart pet”? They are the animals that bond with our souls and make our journey through life so much richer. They are the pets who sense our moods and have the uncanny ability to come up and plop their heads on our laps when the distraction is needed most. It’s the pet who understands you are grieving and sits quietly next to you with a paw on your lap. The one who is always overjoyed when you walk in the door.
This amazing bond we share with our animals has shown to have physical benefits to both sides. Therapy dogs have worked miracles in coaxing shy children to come forth and pet them, or helping autistic children communicate with the world. They have worked to assist physical therapy in handicapped people. We all know of the Seeing Eye dogs, but there are dogs who can alert epileptics of on-coming seizures, or those who detect an owner about to have a heart attack. There are cancer sniffing dogs. A recent study showed that children boost their reading skills by reading to their pets.
Simply watching fish in a fish tank, or petting a dog or cat can reduce blood pressure. For us humans that can’t take anything at face value, analysis shows that other physiological changes occur within our bodies relating to serotonin and cortisol levels when exposed to an animal companion.
For me, becoming a veterinarian was and still is all about this magnificent bond. In my early career, I would probably idealistically have stated I became a veterinarian because of my love and compassion for animals. Since then, my life has been so enriched in being able to share the bond with my patients and their owners. The stories I could tell!
There is a truly amazing book entitled, “The Healing Power of Pets” by Dr. Marty Becker that discusses harnessing the ability of pets to make and keep people happy and healthy. Dr. Becker is also the co-author of “Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul”. These books are a terrific read, but have a tissue ready. I still can’t get through some of these poignant stories without watering up.
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February 28, 2008 3:14 PM
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