E-Newsletters: May 2016

School is out, pools are open, its vacation time! I love the energy of summer! But depending on their breed or your travel lifestyle this may be pet's least favorite time of year. Here are some helpful tips to ensure that summer is as safe and enjoyable for them as it is for you.

1) Long-haired cats and dogs that spend any length of time outside will appreciate the time or money it takes to give them a summer hair-doo. Because longer or thicker haired pets require more frequent brushing (which is not my favorite pastime) I love giving our dogs and cats a military style cut in the summer. I warn you to be cautious not to cut hair to short though. I remember one year we trimmed our dog Spencer to the skin (with the blade we would use to prep for surgery). He didn't mind the cut, and boy was he easy to bath after a swim in the nasty pond. BUT about a week later when his skin over his rump turned black we realized he had been sunburned when we were at the lake. He never complained or acted funny but I am sure he was just as painful and miserable as we are with sunburn. The hair follicles were actually damaged, it took over 2 years for him to grow hair back in that area. SO, if you trim your pet down to the skin or short enough that their skin can be seen I HIGHLY recommend using sunblock just as you would for yourself or your kids! (This should be used on horses white spots or short-haired light coat dogs such as white Boxers during the summers as well).

2) Some tasks and items are pretty basic when we take time to think about it. Your day at the lake would be pretty miserable if you were stuck just to the beach chair in full sun without access to that cooler. But we enjoy the cool down times in the water, the shade of the umbrella when needed, and definitely the ice cold beverages. Our outdoor dogs and cats need the same comfort, access to shade, clean cool water, and if you really love them add environmental enrichments of frozen 2-Liters of water to lie on during the hot day, or a kiddie pool to enjoy.

3) Be watchful for the warning signs of heatstroke: excessive panting or drooling, bright red gums, loss of balance or extreme tiredness, and difficulty breathing. If a pet is obviously overheated or suffering from heatstroke, cool it with cool water (not ice cold!) and get to a veterinarian immediately.

4) Vacations are a wonderful time for a family, and if your pet gets to join you or stays at home, there are things that need to be considered. If they will be joining you, it is good to ensure they will travel well before you leave. If they are not used to being in the car this can be very stressful to them. So "practice" it a few times before you plan to leave to ensure they are prepared. Consider this also with the carrier if you are expecting them to ride in it! Often pets are great to have on vacation once we arrive but the trip there is pure torture. If practice beforehand is not going to be enough to reduce their anxiety, or yours, talk with your veterinarian in advance about anxiety travel medications that are formulated for issues from car sickness to those in need of sedation.

Once you arrive ensure your pet is comfortable by providing some of their creature comforts from home; a favorite bed, or toys. Be sure to pack enough food so they don't experience problems due to a diet change. Finally, know in advance where your closest veterinarian office is located in case of an illness or emergency.

IF your pet will not be making the trip finding a caretaker or boarding facility in advance is highly recommended. Our area offers options for pet care sitters who will come to your home to boarding facilities that are "playlands" for Fido. Using a veterinary facility like ours is ideal for dogs and cats with health concerns such as Diabetes or Cushing's disease, or those needing daily medications. They receive attention from medically trained individuals who are quick to notice any issues. But for highly active pups and dogs we recommend a facility more able to cater to their energy needs. House of Hounds and Howliday Inn offer a home away from home environment that will also include outside and inside "play" time for active pets. AND for those pets that rarely leave home and are overly stress by the thought of living somewhere else for a week finding a home care provider may provide a less stressful environment. For cats, we only recommend facilities where they will not be in close proximity to dog areas because just the smells and sounds of dogs and the new environment can lead them to stop eating. Although a dog can go a day or two without eating and still be medically healthy, a cat needs daily nutrition or can go into metabolic shutdown that will be life threatening.

So, this summer, be sure to take a few minutes before your adventures to consider your pet's well-being and plan appropriately for your outings. Then you will be guaranteed that the whole family enjoys the season to the max.

Hurricane Animal Hospital is now offering laser therapy for pain relief and control, for wound management and for rehabilitation cases. Dr Jeffrey Shy and Michelle Fleet, RVT are excited to be expanding our services with this therapy because it can be applied and benefit so many pets with a wide range of conditions.

What is Laser Therapy?

Class IV laser therapy uses a beam of laser light to deeply penetrate tissue without damaging the tissue. Laser energy makes a biological response in the cells called "photo-bio-modulation", which leads to reduced pain, reduced inflammation, and increased healing speed to the tissue being treated. The laser is delivered through a noninvasive hand piece to treat the affected area. Pets may feel a warm, gentle sensation. Most treatments do not take more than a few minutes.

Why Laser Therapy?

A surgery free, drug free, noninvasive way to reduce pain, reduce inflammation, and increase healing time. The Class IV Therapy Laser provides wavelengths that achieve optimal cellular stimulation to enhance wound healing and penetrate deep within the tissues to encourage healing within tendons, ligaments, muscles, nerves, dermal layers, intra-articular structures and even layers of bone.

How does it work?

The Class IV Therapy Laser has a biochemical, photochemical effect on cells. These photons stimulate each individual cell to revitalize and reactivate its own healing processes through a biochemical cascade of events. It provides photons at the ideal wave lengths and in sufficient numbers over time to stimulate individual cells deep within the tissues. This stimulation provides the cell with more energy to optimize its individual role in the healing process.

What are the biological effects of Laser Therapy?

1. Relieves pain
2. Reduces inflammation
3. Accelerates tissue repair and cell growth
4. Improves circulation
5. Increases cellular metabolic activity
6. Reduces fibrous tissue formation
7. Improves nerve function
8. Accelerates would healing
9. Stimulates immune-regulation
10. Stimulates acupuncture and trigger points

What conditions can it treat?

Acute conditions:

1. Wounds
2. Allergies
3. Infections
4. Cuts/bites/bruises/burns
5. Inflammations of skin and ears
6. Tooth extraction pain relief
7. Sprains, strains and fractures
8. Post-surgical healing and pain relief
9. Acute Renal Disease (kidneys)
10. Ear Hematoma

Chronic conditions:

1. Degenerative Joint Disease -Arthritis
2. Inflammatory Bowel Disease
3. Periodontal Disease
4. Lick Granulomas
5. Geriatric Care
6. Hip Dysplasia
7. Feline Acne
8. Tendonitis
9. Otitis
10. Anal Gland Fistulas
11. Stomatitis
12. Back pain
13. Nerve damage
14. Cranial Cruciate Tears - Non-Surgical or in combination with surgery

Laser therapy will often be used as a adjunct therapy where medication or surgery is needed but laser provides for faster healing, reduction of pain medication required, and improved prognosis or outcome. If you have questions about laser therapy or feel your pet has a condition that could be improved with laser therapy, call our office for an appointment to review the possibilities with Dr Shy, Dr Sette, or Dr Morrissette. 304-757-2287. Or schedule online at www.hurricaneanimalcare.com.

At a National Veterinary Conference I recently heard a speaker describe pet insurance in a new and obvious way I had not considered before. He explained that we don't buy house insurance so we can pay for our mortgage, or because we are planning for a flood or a fire. We buy homeowners insurance for the things we can't predict or prevent. If we were able to rebuild our home or replace our car in the event of an accident, we would not need insurance on these things. But when we can't afford the cost of replacing a vehicle out of pocket we need insurance to cover the possibility. He said pet insurance is very similar. We should not recommend it as a way to get discounted vet care, or for items like vaccines and spay/neuter that we can afford to pay for or budget out of pocket. He stated that pet insurance is for the things you can't predict and the things you are not budgeting for. If you can't afford a $3000 surgery to fix your dog's broken leg or torn cruciate surgery you need pet insurance. If you can't afford the $1500-2000 surgery to remove the string your cat ate from its stomach, you need pet insurance.

When I thought about it in this way I realized how often owners are forced to skimp on medical care or even worse, put their beloved pet down because of these unexpected events. Hit-by-a-car, broken bones, ingested foreign bodies, dog fights, cancers, and other illnesses can costs hundreds to thousands of dollars to get your pet treated. Let us help you find a pet insurance that will make sure you are not left without help if a similar event occurs to your cat or dog.

In the remainder of this article I plan to tell you what we know about 3 companies we find to have the most beneficial programs. Each company also has toll-free numbers and great representatives that can answer any additional questions you have about their plans. Please note, there are many other companies that offer pet insurance. These are just the 3 we are the most familiar with and feel meet most of the needs we see for pet insurance.

Most pet insurances work by charging a monthly premium to "buy" the coverage. You will determine by working with the insurance representative which "plan" best fits your needs and expectations. Typically there is a deductible or a co-pay that you will choose. The deductible may be per visit (invoice/claim) OR it may be an annual deductible. You should start by deciding if it is more important for you to have a low monthly premium and pay $100 deductible each claim OR if you like the idea of a $100 or $200 yearly deductible and are willing to pay a little more each month for one of these plan options.

Some plans offer a set amount that they pay based on the veterinarians diagnosis (for example, it may say they will pay $1800 for a cranial cruciate tear) - This is the case with Veterinary Pet Insurance Company. This will be the maximum payment for any treatment related to that diagnosis, regardless of whether the bill for treatment is $1800 or $4000. Other plans offer a percentage of claim option and they pay 70, 80, or even 90% of the claim depending on your choosen plan.

What about pre-existing conditions? Most companies have some pre-existing or congenital disease clause. So don't think you can buy it after your pet is diagnosed with a major medical condition and then use it to save yourself big bucks. They will request prior medical records from your veterinarian. If you have a young dog or cat that is relatively healthy now is the time to get them protected. NOTE: You need to remember the difference in diseases and accidents. Being hit by a car last year does not get you a pre-existing condition rider for all future accidents, but IF your dog broke his pelvis and has arthritis related to the injury he will probably be excluded from claims relating to that arthritis.

Companies to consider:

Pets Best Insurance: 1-877-738-7237

They have a great article on 10 things you should know about pet insurance on their website at: http://www.petsbest.com/about-pet-insurance/ten-things-you-should-know

They offer many plan options and are owned and ran by a veterinarian who started one of the first veterinary insurance companies because he was tired of seeing pets "put to sleep" due to financial constraints. They offer multiple pet discounts as well as options from routine care coverage to accident only, disease only (specific to species), or a full-coverage accident and disease plan. They offer additional cancer care riders and even insurance riders that will cover those genetic diseases your breed is "predisposed" to for an additional monthly premium.

They can get you an estimate quickly through their website or by phone.

Veterinary Pet Insurance: 1-877-263-6008

Started in 1980, VPI is one of the oldest and most popular pet insurance companies in the industry. They also have routine care coverage but their options seem to be less diverse than PetsBest. Most of their plans still operate on a pay per diagnosis bases as well. For these 2 reasons, we tend to recommend Pets Best first BUT it is always good to get a couple of quotes and weigh them to determine your best options. They have an easy to navigate website with tons of quality information and the ability to get an online quote at: http://www.petinsurance.com

Pet Plan: 1-866-467-3875 or visit their website at: www.gopetplan.com

PetPlan is new to our Pet Insurance list and has made their way here by their excellent customer satisfaction ratings. They have some of the easiest and hassle-free claim processes in the industry. They also cover complimentary services such as laser therapy, rehab services, and behavior services. Their chronic conditions and genetic pre-disposition coverages are better than most in the industry as well. Their reps are very good at help you to determine how to best tailor your plan to meet your needs and your pet's lifestyle and thus risks.

We have brochures for each of these companies in our office, and we encourage you to look into these options for assisting financially during your pets medical needs.