Poison prevention

To lower the risk to animals, consumers can switch to a brand of antifreeze containing propylene glycol, a chemical ingredient that is less toxic than ethylene glycol. In addition to being safer, propylene glycol has a bitter taste that makes it less attractive to curious animals. Although it’s safer than ethylene glycol antifreeze, propylene glycol antifreeze is still toxic. To reduce the risk of poisoning, all brands of antifreeze should be handled carefully and treated as a highly poisonous substance. Ensure that antifreeze is stored well away from animals and children, antifreeze spills are completely cleaned up, and leaks are immediately repaired. Families can help save their own pet from an encounter with antifreeze by closely watching the animal in areas where antifreeze may be accessible, such as roads, driveways, or garages.

What to do

1. Switch to a brand of antifreeze that contains propylene glycol instead of ethylene glycol.
2. Keep antifreeze sealed and away from animals; clean up spills completely, and fix any leaks immediately.
3. Don’t allow your pet to wander unattended near driveways, roads, garages, or other places where she could come into contact with antifreeze.
4. Keep other products that contain ethylene glycol—like paint, cosmetics and novelty snow globes—out of the reach of animals, as well as any product of which you are not certain of the ingredients.
5. Monitor your pet for strange behavior. If you think she may have ingested antifreeze, take her to a veterinarian immediately.

How to detect poisoning

For pets exposed to antifreeze, the first few hours are critical. Animals who receive immediate veterinary care can recover successfully—but the longer they remain untreated, the less likely they are to survive.Recognizing antifreeze poisoning symptoms is important—many pet guardians may not immediately realize that their pet has been exposed to the toxin until it’s too late.

Antifreeze poisoning occurs in two phases. In the first phase, the animal typically appears lethargic, disorientated, uncoordinated and groggy. Symptoms usually appear 30 minutes to one hour after ingestion and can last for several hours. The second phase, which can last up to three days, is characterized by symptoms such as vomiting, oral and gastric ulcers, kidney failure, coma and death.

Thousands of pets have suffered this preventable fate, prompting several states, and the federal government, to consider legislation that could drastically lower the incidence of antifreeze poisonings in both humans and animals.

Smart Solutions

Six states—Oregon, California, New Mexico, Arizona, Tennessee, and Maine—have successfully passed legislation requiring that a bittering agent be added to ethylene glycol antifreeze to make it unpalatable for animals and children. While other states have considered similar laws, potential costs to the industry and other legislative priorities may have both played a role in pushing the issue to the back burner and preventing passage of the legislation. Until a federal antifreeze bittering bill becomes law, it’s up to concerned citizens and animal lovers to keep even the most curious critters out from under antifreeze’s sweet—but deadly—spell.

Pet Disaster Plan

As we approach Hurricane Season, it is important for Floridians to have a disaster plan.  For Pet owners, your pet disaster plan must include all of your animals.  If you must evacuate, DO NOT leave your pets behind.

Since shelters do not generally accept pets, plan for housing your family and your pets, outside the affected area at hotels or motels that accept pets.  Family, friends, relatives or boarding facilities are also an acceptable alternative if you cannot keep them with you.

Assemble a disaster supply kit for each pet that would include medicine, medical records, a sturdy leash, pet carrier, food, water and a current photo of each pet should the pet get lost.  Getting each pet identified with a Pet Micro Chip before hand is also a great idea.

Also, make certain that all dogs and cats are wearing collars with up to date information.

If you need any assistance in preparing your Pet Disaster Plan, please give us a call at 939-1373

Contact Navarre Animal hospital today!

Provides an Important Service

Home Again Pet Micro Chip

Hannah says, “Don’t take a chance with the safety of your Pet! Get your best friend a Micro Chip.”

Microchipping your pet is a simple procedure

Dog and cat microchipping is a simple procedure. A veterinarian simply injects a microchip for pets, about the size of a grain of rice (12mm), beneath the surface of your pets skin between the shoulder blades. The process is similar to a routine shot, takes only a few seconds, and your pet will not react any more than he would to a vaccination. No anesthetic is required.

A HomeAgain microchip is permanent pet ID. The microchip itself has no internal energy source, so it will last the life of your pet. It is read by passing a microchip scanner over the pets shoulder blades. The scanner emits a low radio frequency that provides the power necessary to transmit the microchips unique cat or dog ID code and positively identify the pet.

HomeAgain is the only dog & cat microchipping product on the market today that has the Bio-Bond patented anti-migration feature to help ensure that the microchip will stay in place so that it may be easily located and scanned. If your pet gets lost and is taken to an animal shelter or veterinarian, they will scan the microchip to read its unique dog or cat ID code. This is the number used by HomeAgain to identify the pet and retrieve your contact information, which is used to contact you and reunite you with your pet.

FAQ

Learn to separate microchipping facts from fiction!

Fiction: Having a microchip implanted will hurt my pet.

Fact: No anesthetic is required for a microchip implant. The procedure is performed at your veterinarian’s office and is simple and similar to administering a vaccine or a routine shot.

The microchip comes preloaded in a sterile applicator and is injected under the loose skin between the shoulder blades. The process takes only a few seconds, and your pet will not react any more than he would to a vaccination.

Fiction: Pet microchips work like global positioning devices (GPS) and tell me my pet’s location.

Fact: Pet microchips are not tracking devices. They are radio-frequency identification (RFID) implants that provide permanent ID for your pet.

Because they use RFID technology, microchips do not require a power source like a GPS. When a microchip scanner is passed over the pet, the microchip gets enough power from the scanner to transmit the microchip’s ID number. Since there’s no battery and no moving parts, there’s nothing to keep charged, wear out, or replace. The microchip will last your pet’s lifetime.

Fiction: My pet wears a collar with tags, so he doesn’t need a microchip.

Fact: All pets should wear collar tags imprinted with their name and the phone number of their owner, but only a microchip provides permanent ID that cannot fall off, be removed, or become impossible to read.

Fiction: Microchips are expensive.

Fact: The average cost to have a microchip implanted by a veterinarian is around $45, which is a one–time fee and often includes registration in a pet recovery database.

If your pet was adopted from a shelter or purchased from a breeder, your pet may already have a microchip. Consult your pet adoption paperwork, or have your pet scanned for a microchip at your next vet visit to reveal the unique microchip ID number and register it.

Fiction: Only dogs, not cats, need to be microchipped.

Fact: Both cats and dogs need to be microchipped.

Cats often do not wear collars, and may not have any other form of ID. A recent study showed that less than 2% of cats without microchips were returned home. However, if a cat is microchipped, the return-to-owner rate is 20 times higher than if the cat was not microchipped.

Fiction: My contact information is contained in the chip, and anyone with a scanner can access it.

Fact: Microchips carry only a unique identification number.

If your pet gets lost and is taken to a vet clinic or animal shelter, your pet will be scanned for a microchip to reveal his unique ID number. That number will be called into the pet recovery service, and you will be contacted using the contact information on file with your pet’s microchip.

**It is vital to keep your contact information up to date so that you can be reached.

Fiction: I need to microchip my pet more than once.

Fact: A microchip will normally last the lifetime of your pet because it is composed of biocompatible materials that will not degenerate over time.

The HomeAgain® microchip has the Bio-Bond™ patented anti–migration feature to help ensure the chip stays where it’s implanted. Also, since microchips require no power source and have no moving parts, there’s nothing that can wear out and need to be replaced. Pet owners can also check to make sure their pet’s microchip is still working by asking a vet to scan it during their pet’s next checkup.

Fiction: Having a microchip gives a pet the best protection if he gets lost.

Fact: A microchip is only the first step! You must register your pet’s microchip to give your pet the best protection.

Register your pet’s microchip in a national pet recovery database such as HomeAgain with your contact information, so you can be contacted when your lost pet is found.

Also, remember to keep your contact information up to date whenever you move or change phone numbers.

Contact Navarre Animal hospital today!

and should be decided upon with good information.

Below are the education details of our doctors:

Dr. Kevin P. Sibille is a 1989 graduate of Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and Florida Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Sibille practiced in Louisiana until he joined Navarre Animal Hospital in 1995

Dr. Gina M. Bauman, DVM is a 2007 graduate of the University of Missouri – Columbia, Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine.

Another valuable way to make your decision is based on the recommendations of others.

Here are recommendations you can use:

Dr. Sibille is an excellent doctor. He heard a heart murmur on our cat that a lot of other vets over the years either missed or didn’t acknowledge. He takes the time to listen and is very thorough in his explanations of the problems. Even though we have other vet clinics nearer our home, it’s worth the drive to Navarre.

Janis

We have been going to this center for our furr children for over 1 year now the staff and all employees are up to date and very nice besides I think they are the best.!!! Thanks for being a great place for our babies.

Sincerely Denise S.

I took my canine there to teeth cleaning. The staff accommodated my request to wait until the results of my pet’s blood work was complete. My pet’s teeth have never looked better.

M

The Best on Hwy 98!!!! Both of my babies are always very well taken care of.

Tousy’s Wifey

Contact Navarre Animal hospital today!

Navarre Animal Hospital

Hannah’s Monthly Update

Hannah says, “Antifreeze is very harmful to your pets.

Make sure you are well informed!”

Ethylene glycol, the main ingredient in almost all major antifreeze brands, has an inviting aroma, a sweet flavor. Its appealing smell and taste often tempt animals and children to drink the highly poisonous substance. It only takes a few tablespoons of highly toxic antifreeze to seriously jeopardize an animal’s life. Pet guardians need to know how to help keep antifreeze away from animals, as well as detect the early symptoms of antifreeze poisoning.

Poison prevention

To lower the risk to animals, consumers can switch to a brand of antifreeze containing propylene glycol, a chemical ingredient that is less toxic than ethylene glycol. In addition to being safer, propylene glycol has a bitter taste that makes it less attractive to curious animals. Although it’s safer than ethylene glycol antifreeze, propylene glycol antifreeze is still toxic. To reduce the risk of poisoning, all brands of antifreeze should be handled carefully and treated as a highly poisonous substance. Ensure that antifreeze is stored well away from animals and children, antifreeze spills are completely cleaned up, and leaks are immediately repaired. Families can help save their own pet from an encounter with antifreeze by closely watching the animal in areas where antifreeze may be accessible, such as roads, driveways, or garages.

What to do

1. Switch to a brand of antifreeze that contains propylene glycol instead of ethylene glycol.
2. Keep antifreeze sealed and away from animals; clean up spills completely, and fix any leaks immediately.
3. Don’t allow your pet to wander unattended near driveways, roads, garages, or other places where she could come into contact with antifreeze.
4. Keep other products that contain ethylene glycol—like paint, cosmetics and novelty snow globes—out of the reach of animals, as well as any product of which you are not certain of the ingredients.
5. Monitor your pet for strange behavior. If you think she may have ingested antifreeze, take her to a veterinarian immediately.

How to detect poisoning

For pets exposed to antifreeze, the first few hours are critical. Animals who receive immediate veterinary care can recover successfully—but the longer they remain untreated, the less likely they are to survive. Recognizing antifreeze poisoning symptoms is important—many pet guardians may not immediately realize that their pet has been exposed to the toxin until it’s too late.

Antifreeze poisoning occurs in two phases. In the first phase, the animal typically appears lethargic, disorientated, uncoordinated and groggy. Symptoms usually appear 30 minutes to one hour after ingestion and can last for several hours. The second phase, which can last up to three days, is characterized by symptoms such as vomiting, oral and gastric ulcers, kidney failure, coma and death.

Thousands of pets have suffered this preventable fate, prompting several states, and the federal government, to consider legislation that could drastically lower the incidence of antifreeze poisonings in both humans and animals.

Smart Solutions

Six states—Oregon, California, New Mexico, Arizona, Tennessee, and Maine—have successfully passed legislation requiring that a bittering agent be added to ethylene glycol antifreeze to make it unpalatable for animals and children. While other states have considered similar laws, potential costs to the industry and other legislative priorities may have both played a role in pushing the issue to the back burner and preventing passage of the legislation. Until a federal antifreeze bittering bill becomes law, it’s up to concerned citizens and animal lovers to keep even the most curious critters out from under antifreeze’s sweet—but deadly—spell.

Therefore, flea control is of prime importance for keeping your pet happy and healthy.  Because of Florida’s warm winters, year round flea control will significantly improve the amount of success one has in preventing flea infestations.

Although there are many effective products for use on your pets, most of the flea population is in the environment in the form of eggs, larvae, and pupae.  Therefore, if one already has a flea problem, the house and yard should also be treated.

For more information and the Dog supplies you need to keep your pet happy, stop by and see us at Navarre Animal Hospital.  Or just give us a call at 850-939-1373.

We will ensure you have what is needed to take care of your pet.

Contact Navarre Animal hospital today!

Here in the Panhandle of Florida, mosquitoes are prevalent at some level year round.  As mosquitoes are the method by which our pets are infected with heartworms, preventative medicine must be given to our pets throughout the year.  This can easily be accomplished with once a month medications prescribed by your Navarre Veterinarian.

Most dog owners are aware of this health issue but many cat owners are unaware that they too should be protecting their pets.  Cats are not the natural host for heartworms, and generally carry fewer worms than dogs when infected.  Since cats are smaller, one or two heartworms can be deadly.

So, no matter whether you have dogs or cats, protect their health now by choosing a monthly heart guard against heartworms.  If you need assistance, please give us a call and we will guide you.

Contact Navarre Animal hospital today!

To address the significance of oral health care for pets, Navarre Animal Hospital, is recognizing National Pet Dental Health Month in February and in March.

20% OFF Dental Services in March!

Click on the video below to learn more about National Pet Dental Health Month, and how you can improve the dental (and overall) health of your pets.

Contact Navarre Animal hospital today!

Contact Navarre Animal hospital today!