What's New!
FEBRUARY AND MARCH ARE PET DENTAL HEALTH MONTHS AT
NATICK ANIMAL CLINIC!
Invest in your pet's dental health during February and March and we'll reward you for your good investment. Save 10% on dental procedures performed during our dental health months. For details click here to see the savings.
WHAT EVERY PET OWNER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT DENTAL DISEASE AND PET HEALTH
Many pet owners are unaware that-just like with humans-good dental health is essential to the overall health of pets! According to the AVMA (American Veterinary Medicine Association) and AVDS (American Veterinary Dentistry Society), dogs and cats need regular teeth cleanings and a healthy diet in order to maintain good oral health. Poor dental health in pets-just as in humans-results in other health problems. For pets, this may include bone infections, tooth decay resulting in extractions, systemic infections damaging the heart and kidneys; loss of appetite resulting in weight loss and other medical problems caused by chronic bacterial infection. These clinical issues can be costly to treat and painful to for your pet. Read some comments from real clients whose pets had dental cleanings. (click here for our Pet Dental Health Testimonials) While the idea of dental cleanings at home and by your veterinarian may seem silly, the photos below demonstrate how much damage is done to teeth, gums and bone if your pet's dental care is neglected. Investing in your pet's dental health is a wise investment that curbs the potential for discomfort for your pet as well as remains a cost effective approach to good health. For more information, call us and visit this link.
Each time we see your pet, we evaluate his/her teeth using a Dental Grading System. The teeth are graded from I to IV, depending on the condition of the teeth, gums and other oral tissue. The real photos below demonstrate each Dental Grade and the description explains the condition of the pet's mouth, as well as what is required to treat the pet. After you review the photos, you can do a quick "Pet Dental Health Assessment" on your pet's dental health to help you see how your pet is doing. If you think that your pet might have a Dental Grade of II, III or IV, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. To access the Pet Dental Health Assessment tool, click here.
Grade I / NICE JOB! No sign of plaque or tartar
Home dental care is needed to maintain these healthy teeth and gums. Brushing your pet's teeth regularly is ideal. There are products available to help make home dental care easy and hassle free, such as tooth sealers, rinses and food.
Grade II / Mild Gingivitis-Early Periodontal Disease
Gum is inflamed and swollen. You may notice a thin red line along the gum line. You will see plaque beginning to cover the teeth. A dental prophylactic cleaning and polishing is indicated within the next few months.
Grade III/ Moderate Gingivitis-Established Periodontal Disease
Gums are inflamed and swollen. Your pet's mouth is painful and odor is noticed. Gum pockets allow bacteria to flourish. Now, moderate amounts of plaque build up. Dental cleaning to remove tartar is needed within the next 30 days. Tartar control diet and home dental care are needed afterward for prevention. Extractions may be needed.
Grade IV/Severe Gingivitis-Advanced Periodontal Disease
Your pet has periodontal disease, red and bleeding gums. Gum is damaged by infection and tartar. Sore mouth and bad breath odor are notoiceable. Dental cleaning to remove tartar is needed immediately. Gum pockets and extractions are expected. Chronic infection is destroying the gum, teeth and bone. Bacteria are spreading through the body via the bloodstream threatening the kidneys, liver and heart. Extractions and suturing is necessary. Tartar control diet and home dental care are needed to prevent recurrence.
COLD WEATHER SAFETY
Even during the mildest winters, keeping your pet safe outdoors in cold weather is critical to his/her overall health. If you are looking for fun things to do with your pet(s) this winter-and keep them safe too-click here. Another fun thing to do this month to take your mind off winter is enter your pet in our National Dress Up Your Pet Contest! Have some fun, celebrate your pet(s) and you just might win a $100 Visa Gift Card doing it! For more info go to www.natickanimal.com and our Facebook page.
Dress Up Your Pet Day Photo Contest
Each year, we celebrate January 14th as National Dress Up Your Pet Day. We will do this again in 2012! We want to invite your beloved pet to bark, meow, sing, crone, croak or slither into the new year in style....and we'll reward the top dressed pet that earns the most votes for their fashion sense with a
$100 VISA gift card! Open those closet doors, dig into your dresser drawers or find that buried box of pet props you love. We want to see the best you've got. Or maybe you already have a favorite photo of your fashion star
? Enter our National Dress Up Your Pet Day Contest between 1/1/12 and 1/14/12, then let the voting begin! Voting will start on January 15
th.
The pet with the most votes by 1/31/12 is the winner! Tell your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors... tell EVERYONE to vote for your Best Dressed Pet! Go to Facebook.com/natickanimal to check out the details and submit your photo. We can't wait to see your imagination!
How did National Dress Up Your Pet Day get started? We have no idea, but it seems like a great way to have fun with your pet while giving him or her a little extra attention for the day. When selecting an outfit, don't forget to think safety - - choose a style that is not too tight or select an outfit that doesn't have parts that may cause injury. Don't forget to consider a costume that is appropriate for the weather that day. If your little (or big) one doesn't like donning outfits, you can still enjoy time with your furry friend. You can take your pet for an extra walk, give a special treat, relax side by side, or brush out his/her coat. Your friend will love the added attention! However, if your pet is more adventurous, show off with style on this special pet-only holiday. No need to spend money on an extravagant get up...the best is often what comes spontaneously from whatever is right at hand! Just don't forget to point and click to capture that Best Dressed Up Moment. Or if you have a cherished photo previously taken of your pet in his/her most shining moment dressed up, just enter that one!
Home Vet Visits Coming Soon!
Natick Animal Clinic is offering housecall visits for wellness exams beginning October 6th. Kim Heald, DVM will be providing an array of at-home services for patients by appointment on Thursdays. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call the Natick Animal Clinic at (508) 653-5020. See our news article for more information on the benefits of home vet visits.
NATICK ANIMAL CLINIC
NEW CLIENT REFERRAL PROGRAM
We sincerely appreciate when you trust us enough to recommend to your friends, family and neighbors that they too bring their pets to our clinic. We love your enthusiasm and feel lucky to have you! Your referral is the best form of compliment so we want to be sure to give back by saying thank you for recommending us. We also want to thank your referral for giving us an opportunity to get to know their pet.
We have updated our New Client Referral Program. It's simple: refer a friend and we will put a $20 credit on your Natick Animal Clinic account and a $20 credit on your friend's, family's or neighbor's account when they make their first appointment. We have personalized New Client Referral Cards that you may hand out to someone that you think should visit us. When they come in, they hand us your card and we update your account! It's that simple. Each time one of your referrals becomes a new client, we get the chance to say thank you for helping us grow!
For EVERY New Client YOU
Refer
YOU Receive
$20 NATICK ANIMAL BUCKS*
AND
Your New Client Friend Receives
$20 NATICK ANIMAL BUCKS*
Ask us for details today! 
Questions? Call 508-653-5020 or email us at info@natickanimal.com.
Click here If you’d like a copy of the Client Referral Card.
*Natick Animal Bucks will be credited to your account. No cash value, non-transferrable. One New Client Referral Bonus per new client referral.
Hill's Announces Breakthrough Nutrition to Manage Hyperthyroidism in Cats
SEPTEMBER 23, 2011 Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., a leader in pet nutrition known for its dedication to scientific research and testing of pet foods, has announced a breakthrough in the management and treatment of hyperthyroidism in cats. The new Hills Prescription Diet, y/d Feline Thyroid Health, is backed by scientific studies that indicate the new diet will eliminate the need for thyroid medication. This has been previously unheard of in the veterinary field and is a ground breaking development because the diet has been 100% successful in clinical studies. A limited number of free "y/d Starter Kits" are available to our clients with hyperthyroid cats. The response to y/d has been so tremendous that Hills has been overwhelmed with requests for the kits, therefore the limited quantity available to our clients will be distributed while supplies last. To obtain a y/d Starter Kit from your veterinarian, contact us today at 508-653-5020.
The overall benefits of y/d Prescription Diet are:
- Limit the iodine intake of hyperthyroid cats in order to control thyroid hormone production
- Improve thyroid health in 3 weeks
- Restore thyroid health, with no pilling necessary!
- Provide complete daily nutrition that tastes good to cats
For more information, go to HillsVet.com or call us today at 508-653-5020 to speak to your veterinarian.
ANNOUNCING
THE FRONTLINE® Plus SATISFACTION GUARANTEE!
The only flea/tick product guarantee of its kind. Only for FRONTLINE Plus purchased at a veterinary office! For more information go to frontline.us.merial.com/prd_g.asp.
FRONTLINE Plus SAVINGS CONTINUE!
Available at our office while they last....Special Savings when you purchase economy packs:
BUY 3......GET 1 FREE!
BUY 6.......GET 2 FREE!
BUY 12......GET 4 FREE!
ePetRecords
Worried that you run out of your pet’s medication? So busy that you only have time to think about appointment scheduling at night after we have closed? Do you ever want to check ahead to see when your pet’s vaccinations need to be boostered? Or do you sometimes misplace the postcard reminders we send you? If you are like most people, the answer to these questions is YES!
We have just the solution to help make your life easier, less stressful and more efficient. It’s free and we have already taken care of some of the set up for you! Below are some frequently asked questions we thought would help you understand this new online service. All you need are a computer and the internet! Go to the ePetRecords page for more information to get started today.
Leptospirosis Alert: Are you and your dog protected?
Adapted from Veterinary Practice News, October 2010
Leptospirosis is a waterborne zoonosis (infection shared between human beings and animal species) which occurs secondary to Leptospira spp. bacterial infection. Rural, urban, and suburban dogs may be at risk for Leptospira spp. infection, and clinical leptospirosis does occur in urban and suburban canine populations.
"There's good evidence to support an increase of diagnosed cases of leptospirosis in the U.S.," says George E. Moore, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl ACVIM, an associate professor of clinical epidemiology and director of the clinical trials group at Purdue University. "Wild animals have remained a reservoir for the disease, which then spreads to dogs and potentially to people. Lack of predators and increased food supply in suburban areas make wildlife concentrations eight to ten times higher per acre than rural areas."
In addition, "This isn't just a disease of large breeds or hunting dogs says Richard E. Goldstein, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, Dipl. ECVIM, an associate professor of small animal medicine at Cornell University. "Small-breed dogs are testing positive more and more. This is happening because of lack of vaccination and overlap of suburban living and wildlife."
Symptoms of clinical leptospirosis can vary and may include fever, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and other non-specific signs. The best way to determine whether your dog has been infected is through direct examination and consultation at your veterinary hospital.
Pet owners may not readily vaccinate their pets because of a perception that urban and suburban dogs are not at risk for infection. The best protection against leptospirosis is avoidance of exposure to contaminated water and soil as well as annual vaccination.
Please contact us at 508-653-5020 to determine whether your dog is properly vaccinated against Leptospira spp.
