News

Smoky Air Bad for Pets, Too

As smoke from Canada’s wildfires affects our air quality, we’re not be the only ones feeling the effects. Smoke is hard on pets as well.

Pets with cardiopulmonary conditions are likely to struggle more during poor air quality due to the smoke. Birds are EXTREMELY sensitive. Elderly pets and brachiocephalic (smooshed-face breeds) dogs and cats are also more likely to have problems.

Here are some tips to help your pet.

1. Avoid being outside when the smoke is bad. Your county will issue air quality alerts. Allow only short potty breaks until the air quality conditions are upgraded.

2. Use air conditioners and keep windows closed. You may also need to use quality air filters, as well.

3. Avoid outdoor exercise.

4. Doggy daycare centers with indoor, air-conditioned facilities are a better option than dog parks, right now.

How do you know if your pet is feeling the effect of the smoke? Watch for coughing or gagging, eye irritation and “weepy” appearance, nasal discharge, or asthma-like symptoms. Fatigue and lethargy can be a sign as well. You may also notice that your pet’s appetite for food and water are diminished.

Livestock are particularly vulnerable because they live outside all the time. Avoid “working the herd” until air quality improves. Expect a decrease in egg production from your chickens.

If you feel your pet is experiencing respiratory discomfort to a level that concerns you, please schedule an appointment, or go to a veterinary emergency center, if it’s not during our business hours.

https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/emergencycare/wildfire-smoke-and-animals

Your Pet & Covid-19

Image result for dog with mask on face

Veterinary Medicine, when it formed as an actual profession in the 1800s, was to protect public health, protecting humans from disease by eliminating disease in “food animals”. Today, we view animals very differently, as family members, beloved companions, and “fur-babies”. Public health is still a concern for us, though. We vaccinate pets against diseases, not only to protect THEM, but also to protect YOU!

Our first commitment at LOVH has always been to protect the health and enrich the lives of humans, by securing the blessings to be had from pet ownership and the human bond to animals.

Suggestions & Assurances for our LOVH family during COVID-19

  • According to the information currently available, your dog cannot contract COVID-19. There is a corona virus that dogs and cats can get, but it is not COVID-19, and it is not transmissible to humans.
  • Stay home if you are sick or immune-compromised.
  • DO NOT put the health of your pet out of your mind, at this time. Remember to use monthly heartworm preventatives, and flea and tick preventatives. Fighting a flea infestation is NOT what you want to be doing during a quarantine, and mosquitoes don’t honor quarantines at all, so your pets are as “at risk” as ever!
  • Continue to exercise your dog and get fresh air with them every day. Play games with them. Invent new, safe toys for them. Watch some training videos and learn some new tricks together! Boredom is the greatest cause of behavior problems. (This is true in humans AND in animals!) Teach your kids to teach them tricks, too!
  • Use VetSource! We have our own on-line veterinary pharmacy (www.lovh.com/shop) to get your pet’s medications and prescription diets delivered to your door.
  • Check our web site often for pet related updates.
  • If you do need to come to the clinic for products, medications, etc, and do not want to come in, we can deliver the product to you, curbside, and process a credit card transaction in the parking lot.
  • If you need to bring your pet in, and are concerned about exposure, we can bring you in through our back door and limit (to one or two) the number of people you interact with during your visit. We will wear masks and gloves if, requested.

If you have questions, or have any special need we haven’t addressed in this letter, please give us a call. We will do whatever we can to meet your special need.

Wishing you abundant health and peace,

The Doctors and team members of Lake Orion Veterinary Hospital

Surgery Safety

We receive many questions about the cost of spaying or neutering a pet. Families deciding where to go for these surgeries have a lot of information to process! Every owner worries for their pet’s safety but also has to manage costs.

It’s important to us at Lake Orion Veterinary Hospital that your pet gets the best care possible—even if it’s not at our hospital. Remember that veterinarians are trained surgical professionals whether they work at a low-cost clinic or a specialty practice. The variance in cost is due to facilities, materials, medications, and support staff.

Ask these questions when weighing cost and value:

  1. Does the cost quoted include pre-anesthetic bloodwork? One way to lower costs is to forego these tests. Ask what the clinic recommends. Bloodwork can identify organ abnormalities that make anesthesia unsafe. If your pet is older than six years, we recommend this precaution.
  2. What level of monitoring will the clinic offer while your pet is anesthetized? During surgery at Lake Orion Veterinary Hospital, a technician watches your pet’s heart rate, heart rhythm, oxygen level, blood pressure, and body temperature. Clinics are not required to watch these systems, and many omit blood pressure, temperature, or all monitoring.
  3. Where do pets recover? Is the recovery ward heated? Will they be alone when they wake? Will staff comfort them as they recover or leave them alone with other animals?
  4. Does the clinic have time and resources to offer aftercare, or will you need to visit your regular veterinarian? Will the doctor give a recheck appointment? Will they remove stitches or staples at this appointment? Will you be charged for it?
  5. Will the doctor administer pain medications? Will medications be given for home care? Is this cost included in the quoted price? Surgery can cause painful bruising in addition to pain from the incision. Make sure your pet will be comfortable.
  6. Does the clinic use an IV catheter and fluid therapy? This service is time-consuming but important. First, it stabilizes your pet’s blood pressure during anesthesia. Second, it allows doctors to give medications that will start to work fast. Surgery is risky, but IV catheters reduce risk and make the event easier for your pet.
  7. How many surgeries does the clinic do daily? Since we only perform one or two procedures per day, your pet has our undivided attention during surgery and recovery. If a clinic performs more procedures, they might have less time to spend with each patient.

The most important sign of a safe surgical environment is organization. Look for a hospital where the staff is ready to talk about the procedure and discuss their cost-saving measures with honesty and integrity!

Heat Injuries

Ah, summer. Popsicles, day trips, and… devastating news stories about heat stroke in pets. Even dogs with thin coats are at risk for heat exhaustion, which can lead to heat stroke and death. But what is heat stroke, and what can you do to prevent it?

Description

Heat stroke occurs when a dog’s body temperature gets too high (above 105.8℉) and the brain sustains damage. It’s called “heat stroke” because the nervous system is one of the first systems to show signs of damage. High temperatures can damage many other organ systems in addition. Heat exhaustion happens before heat stroke and is less serious. Heat exhaustion rarely causes organ damage, but can be uncomfortable and cause dehydration.

Prevention

Preventing heat stroke is easy. If you are attentive to your pet, they will likely never suffer from heat exhaustion. Pay attention to how your pet is feeling. Is their skin hot? Are they panting and drooling? If so, offer a cool drink of water often and use damp towels to cool their skin. Limit water intake. Dogs drinking ice-cold water may drink too much and cause gastric dilatation-volvulus (known as GDV or bloat).

Heat injuries happen when we are comfortable and don’t notice our dog’s distress. This can happen when we are walking on pavement (because we wear shoes, but dogs could burn their pads), when we are sweating (dog’s can’t regulate their body temperature by sweating) or when we are exerting less effort during playtime (biking while your dog is running, throwing a ball, etc.). Be alert during these “mismatch” situations and watch your dog closely for signs they are too hot.

Avoid exercise during the hottest part of the day. If you enjoy exercise with your dog, aim for a morning or evening workout. A run or hike between 10 AM and 2 PM is dangerous if there is little shade on your route.

Absolutely never leave your pet in a hot car. Open windows won’t cool the car much, and create a security hazard.

Offer shade and plenty of water when pets go outdoors. If your dog spends time in a fenced yard or on a lead, make sure they can access cool grass and shade no matter where the sun is.

Pay extra attention to flat-faced breeds like pugs and French bulldogs. Their respiratory system might not work to cool them off when they get hot.

Signs

If you see these signs of heat exhaustion, administer first aid and take your pet to a veterinarian right away:

  • Laziness or collapse
  • Dizzy or disoriented behavior
  • Hot skin or cold, clammy skin
  • Panting and drooling
  • Seizures
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea

First Aid

At the first signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, begin first aid:

  • Move to a cool location
  • Use cool (not ice-cold) water on the skin
  • Use a fan to help airflow
  • Take the pet to a veterinarian if you see signs of heat stroke, even if the signs stop. Permanent damage could have occurred, even if symptoms go away.

You’re going to like this!

HomeDeliveryannounce

LOVH is pleased to add home delivery to our many services.  You can now go on-line and order the products you need, and have them delivered at home. You can even have your pet’s prescriptions refilled! We’re thrilled about this, because so many people like the convenience of an on-line pharmacy, but finding one that is reputable is not easy! It’s really easy–if you are asking for a prescription refill, it has to be approved by Dr. M, for your pet’s safety. Imagine that! That’s just how we do it, if you walk through our door to have prescriptions filled! As soon as he approves it, it is sent right to you.

This is also a great option for some of the pet food products. It will also give you an expanded selection of nutritional products, treats, and flea and tick products that we don’t carry in our “brick & mortar” location, simply because we have limited space for inventory. (I can’t even believe I’m saying that, after our move….”limited space”….wow!)

As always, we strive to offer you all the service you need for your pets.  What services would you like to see added to this incredible line-up?

  • Preventative Medicine
    • Pre-pet counseling to help you choose the right pet for your family
    • Puppy & Kitten Wellness Packages
    • Senior Wellness Packages
    • Nutrition Counseling & Fitness Goals
  • Diagnostics
    • In house laboratory with the latest technology
    • Radiology
    • Ultrasound
  • Surgery
    • Advanced anesthetic techniques
    • Complete cardiac monitoring
  • Dental Services
    • Dental Cleaning
    • Extractions
    • Digital Dental Radiography
  • Palliative Care
  • Euthanasia, Cremation and Burial Services
  • House calls by appointment

LOVH to host Fall Pet Fair and Grand Open House

Have you heard? LOVH is hosting it’s first-ever Fall Pet Fair and Grand Open House! We wanted to have a day when we could open our doors and say “Thank you” to all the folks who have been our die-hard fans and tireless cheer-leaders over the years, and our little idea kept gathering steam, and now, here we are with a bigger than life pet fiesta!

We hope you can join us for special speakers and demonstrations, fun contests, tours of our new facility, a sneak peak into our future plans, and, of course, cider and donuts!

Special Speakers and Demonstrations:
10:40 How to Raise a Leader Dog, by Leader Dogs for the Blind
11:40 Falconry presentation, by Susan Ryan and Chris Martello
12:40 Agility dog, Nikki, and her handler, Michele Smith
1:40 Oakland County Sheriff’s Dept K-9 Units
2:40 Search & Rescue Dogs, by Tri-State K-9 Search & Rescue Memebers, Larry Barker and Debbie Mapes

An event like this is beyond our ability, and there isn’t any way we could have put this together without help from several local businesses.  We hope you will visit and tell them how much you appreciate their presence at the Fall Pet Fair!  These are business who have been wonderfully supportive:

Yates Cider Mill (Canterbury Village location)
Harvest Time
Starbucks of Lake Orion
Buffalo Wild Wings of Lake Orion
Metamora Canine Academy
Invisible Fence/Happy Tails
Lake Orion Pet Centre