Please give us call us at 360-384-4482 and let us know if you would like to meet her!

~Dr. Rule

Whatcom County Envirostar Program

Press Release in the  Bellingham Herald

Summer in the Northwest is an especially important time to make sure you and your pets are protected from fleas. During the warmer months, fleas reproduce much more rapidly so problems can develop very quickly. Many are unaware of a flea problem until a full-blown infestation sets in, simply because they aren’t seeing any fleas on their pets. It is important to understand that 95% of a flea population is not adult fleas, but rather different stages of eggs and larvae that develop in the environment rather than on pets. Regular vacuuming and washing of bedding can help, but by itself will not be effective at eliminating the pests from your home. Many outdoor areas harbor fleas and their eggs, so every

time a pet goes outside, he may become freshly contaminated. Contact with other animals, whether wild or domesticated, is also an opportunity for contamination. The only method proven safe and effective is to medicate your pet monthly with a flea control product sold by a veterinarian. If treatment is just being started, it may take a few months to completely eradicate the problem from your home, and since re-infestation can occur year-round, it is recommended that your pet stay on monthly flea control. It is much easier to prevent an infestation than to get rid of one. Fleas may seem like a harmless nuisance, but if left untreated, can result in skin infections, allergic reactions, tapeworms, and in severe cases, significant blood loss and death.

Washington state recently recorded it’s first human fatality associated with complications from an illness with this new flu virus. 

There are no cases of this Novel Influenza A H1N1 virus is swine in Washington or anywhere in the USA at this time. 

….keep reading….

According to a statement from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, swine from a herd in Alberta, Canada, have tested positive for the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus currently causing illness in humans. A Canadian carpenter who had been in Mexico, upon return, was exhibiting flu-like symptoms. He works on an Alberta farm, and subsequently the family and swine on the farm became ill.
Some key points relative to this situation are:
1.  The virus has not been detected in any swine herds in the United States.
2.  This is not a foodborne illness, and our food supply will remain safe, even if U.S. swine are found to be infected later.
3.  There is no indication that the 2009 H1N1 virus has infected pets.

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Most people know about the overpopulation of dogs and cats in the United States.  In fact the number of unwanted companion animals is now in the millions.  Spaying or neutering your pet can help prevent this problem, and can also provide a better and longer life for your friend. 

Not only could you add as much as an extra 3 years to your dog’s life or gain an extra 5 years for your cat, but the simple act of spaying or neutering can reduce or eliminate the risks for many different types of cancer and disease.

Animals that are not neutered have a strong instinct to roam, which exposes them to dangers such as fights, injury from other animals, car accidents, poisoning, and animal cruelty.  Its a little known fact that 85% of dogs hit by cars have not been neutered.  Neutering also reduces aggression and reduces or eliminates spraying and marking territory in males.  A neutered male has a reduced or eliminated risk of testicular cancer, prostate disease, and venereal tumors.  In females, the moodiness and unpleasantness associated with heat cycles  and the agressive behavior that many show after becoming mothers are completely eliminated.  Spaying dramatically reduces the risk of breast cancer,  especially if performed before the first heat, and eliminates the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer.

 

Spay or neuter your pets.  Help stop pet overpopulation.
Join us the last Tuesday of February and throughout the month. 

The Humane Society of the United States is once again sponsering Spay Day USA 2009, and Glacierview Animal Hospital is participating this year.  Last year Dr. Rule spayed and neutered 11 pets on Spay day.  Help us exceed that goal this year. 

For local Financial Assistance with spay or neuter of your pet, please contact:

Alternative Humane at 671-7445
Whatcom Humane vouchers are not accepted at Glacierview Animal Hospital

All fees for spay day are listed below.  The only day this year we are offering this is Tuesday, February 24, so start booking now!  We will have to draw the line on how many we do based on our expected level of staffing that day, so get on the book as early as possible if you want to take advantage of this offer. 

As always, to protect the pets of all of our clients, current vaccination is required for all pets having elective surgery or anesthesia at our hospital.  If your dog or cat is not current on vaccinations, we are also offering a promotional rate on these while here for spay day.   

The following recommendations are also made for spay day.

In order to protect our patients from fleas we will be treating any patient that we see with fleas or flea dirt with a capstar flea treatment.  The cost of the this treatment is $8.54 per pet.

	Ova & Parasite w/Centrifugation	None Seen
	Giardia (ELISA)	Negative

More information about Sampson was posted here.

Sampson found a home after Thanksgiving.