Author Archives: WAH
2017 Vaccination Clinics
Our vaccination clinics offer a closer-to-home option for keeping up on your dog or cat’s routine vaccinations. We visit Oulu, Port Wing, Cornucopia, Maple, Brule, Mason and Mellen annually (just in time for dog licensing). Stop by for annual heartworm and tick-borne diseases testing/prevention, internal parasite treatment/prevention, and discounted vaccinations for your faithful pets!
Click HERE for more information about dates, times and locations, or call our clinic.
(photo courtesy of: http://allcarepetpacifica.com/service/vaccinations/)
May Your Days Be Merry & Bright...
As we move into the Christmas season, we are again reminded of God’s great gift of salvation. It is our sincere hope that as you celebrate the holidays with your family, friends & pets, you may know & understand how very much you are loved, & may experience God’s peace & rich blessings. Have a bright, merry & meaningful Christmas!!
(photo courtesy of: http://wallpapersafari.com/christmas-pets-wallpaper/)
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Can my dog have turkey scraps? My cat likes cranberry sauce; is that okay? If you’re wondering what’s safe for your pets, you are not alone. To get you started, remember to Be Careful of the Bones!! From all of us here at Willow, have a safe & happy Thanksgiving!
(photo courtesy of: http://www.vvcofhamburg.com/thanksgiving-pet-safety-tips/)
Happy Birthday, Willow Animal Hospital!!
As of October 1, 2016, Willow Animal Hospital has been serving northern Wisconsin for 28 years. Thank-you to all of our loyal customers for your patronage & support through the years!!
(photo courtesy of: www.pinterest.com)
From ABC to E = mc2?
As your kids prepare to go back to school, don’t forget about your playful pooch! Could your dog benefit from going to ‘school?’ Obedient pets are not only safer & more enjoyable to be around, but training will also help strengthen the bond between you & your canine companion. Whether you have a new puppy, or a more mature dog that’s a bit of a ‘wild child,’ consider enrolling in canine obedience classes this fall!
(photo courtesy of: www.petswelcome.com)
Have Cat, Will Travel..?
Does the thought of bringing your cat to the vet give you nightmares? Do you avoid routine veterinary care for your cherished companion because you know you probably won’t see him again for several days (about the same amount of time it will take for the scratches on your arms & face to start healing)? If so, here are a few simple tips that can make regular visits more enjoyable for both you & Kitty:
1. Leave your open carrier in a cat-friendly spot at home, with a familiar blanket, toy, treats, etc. inside, to encourage your cat to go in & become more comfortable with the carrier.
2. Practice car trips with your cat that DON’T end at the vet. Make the trip fun, with treats, toys & lots of petting/praising.
3. Wipe or spray the inside of your carrier with Feliway®, a synthetic pheromone that has been shown to have a calming effect in cats (available at our clinic or online store).
4. Perform mock ‘exams’ on your cat, similar to what the vet will do. This makes your cat more comfortable with being handled.
5. Leave your cat inside its carrier while in the waiting room. The waiting room can be loud & scary, & most cats prefer to ‘hide’ somewhere.
6. Start young! If you have a new kitten, practice these tips from an early age to help avoid issues later on.
Don’t let a ‘scaredy cat’ keep you from maintaining a healthy cat!
(photo courtesy of: www.02varvara.wordpress.com)
God Bless America
Thank you to all our veterans, and their service dogs, who have sacrificed to keep our country free! Enjoy a safe and happy Independence Day.
(photo courtesy of: www.amazon.com)
Large Animal Care Facility
Our recent remodel included the addition of an adjacent large animal/equine care facility! Inside, there is a large area for our staff and vets to prepare for a variety of treatments, and two roomy box stalls. The stalls are set up to perform equine dentistry, wound care and surgery, as well as to house large animal patients that may need daily care. While Dr. Meyer has been offering large animal care, and even many surgical options, for years on the farm, this new facility will expand the care we are able to provide. Dentistry and surgery will now be available through the cold winter months. We are also able to offer more advanced surgical options year-round, such as hernia repair and cryptorchid geldings, utilizing both our new facility and our certified technicians for anesthetic monitoring. We are excited to continue serving our large animal clients’ needs, conveniently close to home!
Rabies is Incurable?!?
Rabies is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted between people and animals. Wildlife like bats, skunks, and raccoons are some of the most common carriers of the disease. Infection occurs when saliva of the infected animal enters the bloodstream of another mammal (this is often from a bite). The disease can take weeks to months to develop symptoms, but once they develop the disease is fatal. Recent confirmed cases of rabies in bats in Ashland and Bayfield Counties have been documented. Please consider the following steps to protect yourself from this deadly disease:
•Keep your pets current on their rabies vaccination. It is only legally required in dogs, but highly recommend in other species (cats, horses, etc.). Not only will this protect your pet from rabies, but in turn it protects you from being exposed to rabies from your own pet.
•Keep your distance from mammalian wildlife, especially any exhibiting abnormal or sickly behavior (ex. a skunk roaming during daylight, a bat acting weak and sick)
•If you are bit by mammalian wildlife contact your local health department. They will direct you on how to submit the animal for rabies testing, if necessary. Only collect the animal if it can be done safely, and try to avoid damaging the head. If you cannot collect the animal, you should still contact your local health department for further instructions.
•If you find a bat in your house contact your local health department. Bat bites can often go unnoticed while you are sleeping. The health department will direct you on how to submit the animal for rabies testing, if necessary. Dr. Sarah Myers, Willow Animal Hospital
(photo courtesy of: www.delavanlakesvet.com)
TICKS: Beyond Lyme Disease & "Ewww!"
If you have lived in northern Wisconsin long enough you probably have run into a tick or two, or hundreds. You may be familiar with the most common risk with ticks as carriers of Lyme disease. Here are some things you may not know about tick diseases:
•The ticks in our area can carry many diseases that can effect both people and pets (Lyme, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever are some of the most common)
•Of the many tick diseases, only Lyme disease has an available vaccine for dogs
•No vaccine (including the Lyme vaccine) is 100% effective at preventing diseases
•A multimodal approach to tick disease prevention is considered the most effective at keeping your pets safe (Lyme vaccine, topical or oral tick prevention products, daily tick checking, avoiding wooded or long grass areas during peak tick season)
•It can sometimes take several months after a tick bite for disease symptoms to develop
•Symptoms of tick diseases can include lethargy, anorexia, lameness, swollen painful joints, high fever
•The classic “bullseye” appearance of a tick bite that is described in people with Lyme disease is not typically seen in dogs
•Many tick disease infections carry a good prognosis if treated promptly and with the entire course of prescribed antibiotics
•Some tick disease infections can cause very serious side effects that may be fatal (ex. Lyme disease in some dogs can lead to a potentially fatal kidney failure)
Call us if you have other questions about tick diseases! Dr. Sarah Myers, Willow Animal Hospital
(photo courtesy of: www.pvguide.org)
Click HERE for 5 ways to protect your pet from Lyme disease.
Click HERE to learn more about protecting yourself & your family from Lyme disease.
