H1N1 Confirmed Diagnosis in a Household Cat

The Iowa Department of Public Health has confirmed a case of people passing the H1N1 virus to their family pet. The IDPH issued the following statement today, “Two of the three members of the family that owns the pet had suffered from influenza-like illness before the cat became ill,” said IDPH Public Health Veterinarian, Dr. Ann Garvey. “This is not completely unexpected, as other strains of influenza have been found in cats in the past.” All members of the household, including the cat have recovered from their illnesses.

Diabetes and Your Pet: What You Should Know

Diabetes mellitus is a disease caused by a deficiency of insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, and is necessary for body tissues to use blood sugar. Without insulin, sugar remains in the blood and eventually passes into the urine. This causes increased urine production and thirst. Hunger increases because the body cannot use the sugar in the blood. As the disease progresses, chemicals called ketones accumulate, resulting in vomiting and dehydration. Eventually coma and then death occur in untreated animals.

Diabetes is not a curable disease, but with proper insulin administration, this disease can be controlled.

Candy and Pets Don’t Mix, Even on Halloween

Halloween and Trick-or-Treat is fun for people of all ages. Even dogs have been known to dress up and go trick-or-treating with their families!

Despite all the fun, we can’t let down our guard when it comes to our pets’ health. Halloween candy can pose a serious health risk to cats and dogs alike. Dr. David Lee, of Broad Ripple Animal Clinic and Wellness Center says, “If your pet gets into your Halloween candy, contact your veterinarian immediately.”

Halloween and Your Pet

Every fall, our neighborhoods are overtaken by ghosts and goblins and other scary creatures for a night of fun and tradition. Children love getting dressed up in costume and going door-to-door to collect Halloween treats. There are all kinds of safety tips to protect kids on this night each year, but what about pets?

Our pets crave structure and routine. Anytime we can anticipate a change from our normal routine, we should take into consideration the impact this will have on our pets. Are you ready for Halloween this year?

Rabies Cases on the Rise in Indiana

World Rabies Day was just a few short weeks ago. The purpose of this day, was to raise awareness of the fact that rabies is still present in our society and that our pets need to be vaccinated against this potentially lethal disease.

While rabies cases continue to exist predominantly in wildlife, our pets are still at-risk, especially cats. Why cats? Cats are curious stalkers and bats carrying rabies have exposed cats to this deadly risk…even indoor only cats! Most people can remember an instance when a bat has entered the home by way of the chimney, becoming trapped, unable to find its way back outside. It’s only natural that a cat’s instincts would kick-in when this happens, causing your mild-mannered house cat to pursue this tiny intruder.

Nationwide, rabies cases have dropped by 3.1% this year. But in Indiana the number of cases seen so far in 2009 has increased by 160%, reports the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. How does this impact you and your household?

A Three Step Plan to Keep Pets Healthy and Happy

A healthy dog or cat is no accident. It takes a commitment from owners to provide a healthy lifestyle and regular veterinary care throughout each pet’s life. In other words – a plan. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1) Twice-a-Year Wellness Exams. Because pets age seven times faster, on average, than people do, health problems can occur in a short amount of time. Six-month wellness exams allow us to diagnose, treat and even prevent health problems before they become serious.

2) Disease Prevention. When you bring your pet in for a wellness exam, we’ll conduct a risk assessment to determine your pet’s exposure to various diseases. We’ll also use a “Wellness Checklist” to design a vaccination and wellness plan to help protect your pet from disease threats.

3) Pet Health Insurance. When your pet’s wellness exams, vaccinations and other preventive care are covered by pet health insurance, both you and your pet benefit. And, pet health insurance provides greater peace of mind knowing your pet is covered when unexpected medical expenses arise. We can help you determine if pet health insurance is right for your pet.

Broad Ripple Animal Clinic and Wellness Center is one of 15,000 veterinary clinics nationwide participating in National Pet Wellness, an educational initiative sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association, Fort Dodge Animal Health and VPI^® Pet Insurance.

Want to know more about pet aging, wellness exams, vaccination or pet health insurance? Feel free to call us at 317.257.5334 or 317.726.2711 and visit NPWM.com for more information.

Hi Tech Option for Pet ID Tags

No one ever wants their pet to become lost, but the fact of the matter is that it does happen. Unfortunately, there are many pets who are never reconnected with their families because they lack proper identification to find their way home. Permanent identification is a must for our furry companions. Microchipping is a great form of permanent identification, which we highly recommend. But, what if your pet requires medications for a medical condition and becomes lost?

Proposed Bill to Offset Pet Care Expenses

U.S. representative Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich) has proposed a congressional bill to make pet care expenses tax deductible. H.R. 3501, more commonly known as the ‘Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act’ if passed, would allow individuals to claim up to $3,500 in tax deductions per year.

Facts About the Dog Flu, H3N8

A new virus has hit the dog population in many states, with Virginia being the latest to report the highly contagious dog flu, H3N8. While we haven’t seen it in Indiana yet, it’s important to learn as much as we can to prevent the spread of this virus.

Nutritional Supplements for Cats and Dogs

Nutritional supplements are a great way to help keep your dog or cat happy, healthy and aging well. It can be a very difficult process however, to wade through the plethora of information out there to find the best and safest options for your pet. Our veterinarians have done the research for you and would like to share our recommendations and suggest some additions to your pet’s diet that will really help add comfort and longevity to his or her life.