Pets & Pools

Does your pet like to swim? Many pets enjoy the water and love to jump in the pool on hot summer days. Don’t forget that it’s just as important to supervise your pet while swimming as it is to supervise your children. Pets especially may accidentally swallow pool water while swimming, causing them to consume harmful and sometimes toxic chemicals. Instead of letting your pet swim in your family pool, consider getting them a kiddie pool filled with water for them!

Prevent your pet from starting fires

Extinguish open flames: Pets are generally curious and will investigate cooking appliances, candles, or even a fire in your fireplace. Ensure your pet is not left unattended around an open flame and make sure to thoroughly extinguish any open flame before leaving your home.

Remove stove knobs: Be sure to remove stove knobs or protect them with covers before leaving the house – a stove or cook top is the number one piece of equipment involved in your pet starting a fire.

Invest in flameless candles: These candles contain a light bulb rather than an open flame, and take the danger out of your pet knocking over a candle. Cats are notorious for starting fires when their tails turn over lit candles.

Beware of water bowls on wooden decks: Do not leave a glass water bowl for your pet outside on a wooden deck. The sun's rays when filtered through the glass and water can actually heat up and ignite the wooden deck beneath it. Choose stainless steel or ceramic bowls instead.

Pet proof the home: Take a walk around your home and look for areas where pets might start fires inadvertently, such as loose wires and other potential hazards.

Keep your pets safe

Keep pets near entrances when away from home: When leaving pets home alone, keep them in areas or rooms near entrances where firefighters can easily find them.

Secure young pets: Especially with young puppies, keep them confined away from potential fire-starting hazards when you are away from home, such as in crates or behind baby gates in secure areas.

Practice escape routes with pets: Keep collars and leashes at the ready in case you have to evacuate quickly with your pet or firefighters need to rescue your pet.

Consider using monitored smoke detection services: As an added layer of protection beyond battery-operated smoke alarms, smoke detectors connected to a monitoring center help save pets who can't escape when left home alone.

Affix a pet alert window cling: Write down the number of pets inside your house and attach the static cling to a front window. This critical information saves rescuers time when locating your pets. Make sure to keep the number of pets listed on them updated.

Chiropractic Care

Dr. Lyndsey Klemens (Wife of Dr. Jeff Klemens) joined us recently to offer veterinary chiropractic care. She is one of the areas best-trained certified veterinary chiropractors. She trained in Wisconsin and continues to teach at the school on a regular basis. She works with both dogs and horses and other small animals. We are pleased to be able to offer another form of treatment to improve function and relieve pain in your pets.

New Products

In our industry products are being changed or newly introduced regularly. New Flea, Tick, Heartworm and intestinal products have come on the scene.

We will be promoting Vectra3D, which kills fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes for dog patients. We will carry Trifexis, which kills heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and fleas. Proheart6 is a 6 month injectable heartworm preventative option for dogs.

We will encourage the use of Revolution in cats due to the new evidence showing a greater number of cats, both indoor and outdoor, having disease from Heartworms. Cats and dogs should be on year-round prevention for internal and external parasites based on recommendations from the Heartworm Symposium and CAPC.

Because each pet is unique, ask about what the best prevention choices are for your pet and his or her unique situation.

Highlight on Dr. Jeff Klemens

Dr. Jeff Klemens has now been with the hospital for five years. He has been a great addition to our staff and is one of the best veterinarians in the area.

He is a die-hard Miami Dolphins fan, avid gamer and card player, movie buff and traveler. He loves to cook, sample cuisine from other cultures and will happily try anything once.

We are glad to honor Dr. Jeff Klemens this May for all the hard work and dedication he brings to Michigan City Animal Hospital. 

Bacon: Pot Bellied Pig

Symptoms / Problems

Not eating for more than 5 days, not able to keep food or water down.

What was unique about this case?

202 lbs. patient so we were initially unable to get him into the clinic.  Sedated him in the back of the owner’s SUV and carried him into hospital.  Difficult to treat in hospital, not able to keep IV fluids going after surgery if needed.

Procedure Performed

After sedation brought into hospital and did exploratory surgery.  Found and removed large object which was a large kitchen towel.  This was causing a complete blockage.

Results

Bacon recovered well and was eating and acting well.  He was going for walks again on his trails in the woods within two weeks.

Pets & Lawn Fertilizer

When you’re caring for your lawn this spring, be sure to read the fine print on your fertilizer package. Some of the most common lawn fertilizers can be toxic to your pets, causing a variety of symptoms if breathed in or ingested. Most fertilizers recommend keeping pets and children off the grass for at least 3 days after application, and sometimes longer. Before you apply fertilizer, read the instructions carefully, and follow all manufacturer recommendations. When possible, use pet-safe and child-safe fertilizers, because they’ve been formulated to keep your family safe from toxins.