Oak Village Animal Hospital

February is national spay and neuter month! To celebrate this, Cook County is offering a $40.00 rebate to neuter your pet. To be eligible for this rebate, your pet must be current on vaccinations and be a resident of Cook County. There is a limit of two rebates per household. Help to prevent disease and overpopulation by spaying or neutering your pet. Please call our office at (708) 499-3595 to schedule an appointment today.

Oak Village Animal Hospital is also offering a $15.00 discount on all dental cleanings done during the month of February. Please call our office at (708) 499-3595 and schedule your pet’s dental cleaning.

Thank you for your patronage and if you have any questions, please call. We are happy to talk to you!

Dr. Bowen and the staff at Oak Village Animal Hospital

I think spring has finally arrived to Chicagoland. What a bizzare winter we had. Humans and pets are just worn out. According to Dr. Oz MD on tv, eighty percent of Americans are deficient in Vit D particularly in the northern U.S. where we have diminished sunshine.

HEARTWORM UPDATE 2011: 150,000 cases in the U.S. in 2011!
There are three reasons why heartworm disease is getting worse across the U.S. The first is mosquito’s are biting infected coyotes. I’ve had at least twenty clients who have seen coyotes running up railroad tracks. I know of two clients where coyotes attacked their pets. One was killed. There was a coyote that was in the Chicago loop on tv!
A second reason is dog adoption shelters generally have unscreeened outdoor runs. These shelters are being over runned with dogs and cats that are being given up by people losing their homes due to the economy. These dogs are not tested or put on preventative until they are adopted. Some of these candidates for adoption have heartworm disease, which infects other dogs through mosquito bites.
The third reason is because of our recession. Many pet owners think that heartworm disease is not a threat so, we’ll skip the preventative. This year the more unprotected pets there are, the more this disease will spread.
Scientists are predicting a heavy mosquito season this year due to our abundant rainfall. YOUR PET NEEDS A BLOOD TEST AND PREVENTATIVE MEDICATION BY MID MAY AND CONTINUED THROUGH DECEMBER. For those households that have been hurt by the recession, we have formulated DiroFlav, a honey flavored drop that is half the price of the commercially available products. Ask for a free dose month dose! Don’t take chances with your pet’s heart; prevention is simple and effective and 1/10 the price of chemotherapy and hospitalization.

LEPTOSPIROSIS: AN OLD DISEASE THAT IS RE EMERGING AND IS CONTAGIOUS TO MAN. Leptospirosis is another canine disease that is on the rise!
Most responsible pet owners keep their pets away from wildlife but the route of infection of this disesae is URINE. You may not know there is infected urine near your pets, but your pet does. Dogs are always sniffing, stepping in wet areas etc licking their feet or wounds. Thus is how the disease is contracted. If the disease is not discovered early, severe kidney disease developes and progresses to death in 1/3 of cases. THIS DISEASE IS CONTAGIOUS TO MAN AND CAN BE FATAL.
Vaccination is easy and safe and is imperative if children are around your pets.

ALLERGY UPDATE 2011: Two new medicines.
For pets who have spring allergy signs such as itching, ear infections etc, we have a couple of new treatments. Thymasone is a non-steroid pill that controls itching without the side effects of steroid such as excessive thirst, urination and hunger. Treatment response is about 50%. The second allergy and skin health product is Megaderm drops. This product is very tasty, concentrated and is ideal for fussy eaters. This is also good for shedding and dry skin cases.

Are you tired of $4.00 /gal gas prices ? The Conklin Company who makes our Fastrack products, originally was in the lubricant business. Their products will save you 10-15% on fuel costs. All you have to do is add it to your fuel tank. Dr. Bowen drives 84 miles a day from Beecher and saved $487 in fuel costs in 2010. (Gas was around $3.00) If you have an interest, e mail us or call the office at (708) 499-3595.

Sincerely,
Dr. Bowen

Could your best friend be in pain?

And you don’t know it?

One of the most common diseases that animals face has been around for thousands of years…arthritis. Still there is no cure. Arthritis will affect any breed if they live long enough. The purpose of this article is to alert pet owners about a revolutionary new concept of identifying this early, and a new effective treatment. I believe the question/answer format will explain why this disease has not been usually recognized until major damage has been done. The earlier the condition is caught, the easier it is to treat. Left untreated, your pet’s lifespan will be shortened.

What do you mean that my pet could be in pain and I wouldn’t know it?

Most arthritic dogs and cats don’t show much pain until arthritis is so advanced that they are crippled. Dogs in the wild lived in packs. Animals who vocalized pain showed weakness and were eaten, if the pack didn’t have enough food. Therefore, most animals are not vocal about pain.

What is arthritis?

There are two types of arthritis: Osteoarthritis is a wearing of the joints. Injury, genetic malformation, the daily wear and tear, and aging are the causes. Rheumatoid arthritis is a rare autoimmune disease where by the patient’s body attacks its own joints by mistake, resulting in severe joint pain and lameness.

How does arthritis become painful?

The body weight is supported on joints for movement. These joint surfaces are similar to moving parts in machinery with lubricating joint fluid. When the joint becomes diseased, damaged tissues release compounds that cause inflammation. As inflammation progresses pain becomes a means by which the body rests the joints for healing. In most cases, mild joint disease is ignored, so it slowly gets worse causing our pets to become less active. Most people think that their pet is “just getting old.”

Commonly, arthritic pets fall causing more injury to sore joints.

What should I look for?

Typical signs are pets that get up slow from rest or have trouble with stairs or trouble walking. Athletic pets have reduced endurance and often are lame after exercise. Our large breeds are predisposed to hip and spine arthritis. Smaller breeds are more likely to have knee and elbow arthritis rather than hip problems.

Is there any new research information that can help arthritic patients?

New research is revealing that most arthritic pets are deficient in many of the nutrients that are needed to maintain good joint health. Another possibility is that arthritic pets are unable to absorb adequately the nutrients that are needed. You are what you absorb, not just what you eat.

A. Insufficient fatty acids. Many commercial pet foods have insufficient or overcooked fatty acids.

B. Arthritic pets need extra Vitamin A , D, C, and E.

C. Vitamins A, C, and E are also antioxidants which neutralize free radicals that originate from damaged tissues. The joint actually oxidizes like metal rusts. Antioxidants speed tissue repair.

What about Glucosamine?

Glucosamine is an amino sugar that is harvested from shellfish. It is a key component of cartilage repair and the production of synovial joint fluid. Some of our clients have tried over-the- counter glucosamine but it did not help. According to Stephen Sinatra M.D., “90% of all glucosamine products are of inferior quality. Independent laboratory analysis confirm this.” ? I personally don’t believe that this single item alone does as well as a complete whole body joint supplement like Fastrack made by Conklin.

Are there myths that have made arthritis hard for pet owners to recognize?

Yes, I believe there are four myths, let me explain.

Myth I It’s the natural process of aging that causes dogs to slow down and become lame.

I can show you hundreds of older pets who are active alert and look and feel healthy. They feel good because their joints don’t hurt.

Myth II I f my dog or cat were in pain I would know it.

As we discussed, dogs and cats instinctively hide their pain for survival.

Myth III I feed my pet a commercial food and that’s all he needs. Oh, it has glucosamine in it.

Many of the commercial food are filled with by-products which are sub standard protein. Fatty acids are insufficient or overcooked. Most foods are stored in warehouses at 90 degree plus temperatures. Your top trainers and show people do not feed just dog food. The glucosamine in most food is not pharmaceutical grade.

Myth IV When my dog limps, I give him aspirin or ibuprofen and he’s doing OK.

These products do nothing to promote joint healing and actually accelerate deterioration of the joint. Aspirin can cause stomach ulcers. Ibuprofen is not safe for dogs because it often results in kidney failure.

So what do you advise?

There are three components of treatment: Pain relief Joint repair Joint lubrication.

Treatment

Traditional treatment has only addressed pain relief, but not the cause. Aspirin, ibuprofen and other non steroid anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) actually accelerate joint destruction because they inhibit the process by which the body repairs the diseased joint. Also, there can be side effects of gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney disease or liver disease. “NSAIDs alone are not ideal for long term treatment.”² The newer research illustrates that good nutrition and supplements are necessary for healing and health maintenance. At the beginning of treatment, pain relief may be needed. As joint heath improves pain relievers can be phased out and in many cases eliminated or used occasionally. Fatty acid supplements are usually also needed for lubrication and joint maintenance.

Is there a product that does all three components of treatment?

No. Fastrack Senior Supplement by Conklin does a superb job of furnishing the nutrients needed for joint healing, and the fatty acids all in one chewable pill. Fastrack is compatible with all pain medications. Probiotics assist with healing and have other health benefits. The Fastrack Canine microbial powder compliments the Senior Dog Supplement. It contains “friendly bacteria” (probiotics) which enable maximum absorption of food and supplements, and enhances the immune system. The two products complement each other to provide optimum health.

Arthritis can now be managed to make your pet comfortable and pain free. The key is early recognition. The Fastrack line can give your best friend an extra 2-3 years of quality life!

Bibliography

1. Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D. And Jim Healy, Arthritis Interrupted pg. 90
2. Donna Loyle, D.V.M. Magazine Dec 1, 2010 Treating Osteoarthritis in Geriatric Dogs. Q&A with Dr. Ronald McLaughlin. www.dvm360.com

The Fastrack products are available at:

Oak Village Animal Hospital P.C.
9748 SW Highway
Oak Lawn, IL 60453
(708) 499-3595

During the month of February, Oak Village Animal Hospital is offering the following specials:

FEBRUARY IS NATIONAL SPAY AND NEUTER MONTH!

To celebrate this, Cook County is offering a $40.00 rebate off all spay and neuter surgeries during the month of February. To be eligible for this rebate, you must be a Cook County resident and have proof of a current rabies vaccination for your pet. Also, there is a two (2) pet limit per household. This rebate is taken off the regular surgery fee, so there is no paperwork to fill out!

Spaying and neutering your pet promotes good health! If you have any questions about these procedures, call (708) 499-3595 and one of our friendly and knowledgeable staff members will be happy to answer your questions.

FEBRUARY IS ALSO NATIONAL DENTAL CARE MONTH!

Oral hygiene is one way to keep your pet healthy. Bad breath is more than just a nuisance to you. It is an indication that your pet’s teeth need attention. If you notice bad breath or if your pet is avoiding hard food or bones, please call our office to schedule a dental exam. Dental cleanings are performed under an anesthetic and your pet will go home the same day.

OAK VILLAGE ANIMAL HOSPITAL IS OFFERING $15.00 OFF ALL DENTAL PROCEDURES PERFORMED DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY!
Please call (708) 499-3595 to schedule a dental cleaning for your pet.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

To celebrate Valentines day, Oak Village Animal Hospital is offering $10.00 off a Heartworm blood test!

Heartworm disease can cause serious health problems and may lead to death. Fortunately, heartworm disease is preventable with the proper protection. Oak Village Animal Hospital offers the following preventatives:

HEARTGARD PLUS: A once a month chewable tablet for all size dogs

DIRO DROPS: A flavored once a month drop made exclusively at Oak Village Animal Hospital and is 1/2 the cost of Heartgard tablets.

DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY: SAVE 50% OFF DIRO DROPS BY COMBINING A DENTAL CLEANING AND A HEARTWORM BLOOD TEST!

* The $15.00 dental discount and $10.00 off Heartworm blood test cannot be combined.

Let us look forward to spring and get your dog in early for the Heartworm blood test!

Thank you and if you have ANY questions please call (708) 499-3595 and we will be happy to assist you.

Dear Client,
We would like to take a moment to thank you for the privilege of caring for your pet family this past year. Thank you also for the many referrals of friends and family to Oak Village Animal Hospital for veterinary care. This is the ultimate vote of confidence and we appreciate it.

Healthwise, the fall of 2010 was terrible for allergy patients. We had a rather dry fall season, but apparently the very lush summer produced an abundance of vegetation which generated heavy amounts of mold spores in the air. We have had freezing weather this past month and if your pet is still itchy, you may try airing out your home to release the molds that have infiltrated. If your pet is still itchy after doing so, your pet should be examined to determine whether this is a seasonal allergy or a food allergy. A high percentage of food allergy patients can be cured simply by changing their diet.

We have a new supplement that is helping allergy patients. It is called Vasozyme and it is a non-steroidal product that can replace steroid therapy and has no side effects. If I have not mentioned Vasozyme to you, please call our office so we may prescibe it for yor pet.

Is your pet having difficulty walking after rest? Trouble climbing stairs? Slow on walks? Chances are your pet has arthritis. Most people attribute this as a natural process of aging and do not realize that their friend is suffering silently in pain. Fastrack Senior is helping many pets to be pain free and live longer, healthier lives. If you have any questions or would like to try Fastrack Senior for your pet, please contact our office.

Starting in January and February we will have our annual spay/neutering specials.

JANUARY $30.00 off regular price FEBRUARY $40.00 off regular price

Call our office to schedule and remember: Your pet needs to be current on all vaccinations. We will be happy to answer all questions and to help schedule your appointment. The best gift of all for your pet is to spay/neuter!

The staff at Oak Village Animal Hospital wishes you and your pets a happy and healthy 2011!

The holiday season is upon us and the staff at Oak Village Animal Hospital would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Now that spring is officially here, we want to remind you about preventing Heartworm Disease. Heartworm Disease developes when a dog is bitten by a mosquito carrying microscopic heartworm larvae. Annual blood testing is recommended for monitoring the success of any Heartworm prevention program. All dogs 6 months or older should be tested prior to starting a prevention program. Since dogs can be infected for many years before symptoms develop, heartworm disease in dogs may not be obvious. Here is a list of Heartworm preventatives that we carrry at Oak Village Animal Hospital:

*Heartgard Plus Chewables
*Iverhart Plus Chewables (a generic version of Heartgard Plus)
*Diro Drops (a liquid drop made exclusively at Oak Village)
*Diro Flave Drops (a flavored liquid drop also made exclusively at Oak Village)

If you have any questions or need to schedule a Heartworm Blood test, please call our office at (708) 499-3595 and we will be happy to help!!

February is Spay and Neuter month! To celebrate this, Cook County is offering a $40.00 rebate to spay or neuter your dog or cat. To be eligible for this rebate, your pet must be a Cook County resident and have current vaccinations. There is a 2 pet limit per household and the rebate is taken off the price the day of the surgery.

There are many reasons to spay or neuter your dog or cat, here are a few:

* Unneutered dogs and cats have a higher chance of developing several types of cancer
* Prevent over population and unwanted puppies or kittens
* Help stem the possible spread of dangerous diseases to pets and people through stray animals
* Prevent aggressive and unwanted behaviors such as marking and spraying in the house with urine

If you have any questions, call our office at (708) 499-3595 and we will be happy to help you.
Give your pet the best gift of all and call us to schedule an appointment. If your pet also needs vaccinations we can help you there also. Appointments are limited so call today!!

2009 has been a very unusual year for climate conditions. We have set records in the midwest for rainfall, and we are also having mild temperatures. July had one day in the 90′s! These 2 factors are causing heavy mold counts, plus there are still abundant weed pollens resulting in double allergy insult.

When dogs and cats have allergies, the reactive area of the body is the skin. Licking the feet, itchy ears, or skin rashes are the most common symptoms. When humans have allergies, sneezing and runny noses are the symptoms. Your pet breathes in the inhalant factor causing a reaction in the skin. If your windows are open, molds and pollen come inside.

TREATMENT OF ALLERGIES:

About 25% of pets respond to antihistamines like Benadryl (50mg/50lbs given twice daily). Around 15% of pets respond to aspirin (325 mg tab per 80lbs given with food twice daily). The remainder of pets generally require steroids to control their allergies. Usually a low dose, alternate day medication is prescribed which works well. Forget topical creams, most pets lick them off. Most pets require treatment until frost. Some need treatment until freezing weather.

If your pet is licking and scratching excessively, allergies could be the cause. Do not forget to check for fleas. They are bad this year due to abundant rain. We have a new product called Vectra that works very well on fleas, ticks and repels mosquitos.

For chronic allergy patients, we are seeing a remarkable improvement with the use of hypoallergenic laundry detergents. Did you know that our government allows a 20% error in labeling? IT IS COMMON PRACTICE TO USE GROUND UP FEATHERS, SAWDUST AND ASHES AS FILLERS! If your laundry detergent looks cloudy in water, I would switch. We recommend Conklin laundry detergents and household cleaners. Pets are on blankets, towels etc and chemical residues from cleaning products may be causing health problems for you and your pet. The cost for Conklin laundry detergent is 22 cents a load! At Oak Village and at home we have changed to Conklin because the quality is good, the cost is a bargain, and the products are made in the USA putting Americans to work. If you would like to try the Conklin products call our office at (708)499-3595.

Dr. Bowen and staff

What is CRAP??  This is an acronym for the additional chemicals in our pet food used to retard spoilage and enhance product appearance.  What is CRAP?
C – Chemicals, coloring, chlorinated water
R – Residues of hormones, radiation
A – Antibiotics residuals in meat, additives
P – Preservatives, pesticides, processed food

Pet food manufacturers and consumers want the longest shelf life possible.  In today’s tough economic climate, spoiled food is not an option.  However, medical researchers are convinced that all this CRAP is increasing food allergies, gastro-intestinal disease and cancer. So why are food additives bad?  Because they kill off your pet’s friendly bacteria. Trillions of friendly bacteria are normal residents of the small and large intestine. Their health functions are:

1)  Pre-digestion of food, enhancing food absorption
2)  Manufacture vitamins, particularly B -vitamins
3)  Cleaning the small and large intestine and deactivating preservatives, chemicals, coloring , etc.
Otherwise, the liver must metabolize it
4)  Production of anti-tumor secretions that actually kill tumor cells
5) Reducing cholesterol
6) Stimulating the immune system

Are there other reasons that cause friendly bacterias to be too low??  YES…Chlorinated drinking water, food poisoning, vomiting, diarrhea, viruses, heat stress, antibiotic use just to name a few.  Lowering our army of friendly bacteria compromises health, particularly the immune system.

What’s the solution?  PROBIOTICS.  Antibiotics kill bad bacteria but they also kill good bacteria.  Probiotics safely repopulate the gut with friendly bacteria and with no side effects. For optimum pet health, I recommend the use of probiotic maintenance.  Most human cultures have long used yogurt, buttermilk, sauerkraut, kefir, etc, as natural probiotics.  Today yogurt etc, has sugars and preservatives and live bacteria counts may be questionable.  We wax cars, paint houses, change our auto’s oil all as preventative maintenance.  Preventative health maintenance is the best and least expensive medicine.

As a side note, 2008 was one of the most stressful years of my life.  On Memorial weekend 2008 our house burned down along with most of the contents.  Besides a veterinary practice, dealing with insurance and construction issues and no “home” to retreat to, Debbi and I were worn out.  Then after construction, moving back in, getting settled…more stress!  At 63 years old, I was exhausted.  I had been so busy that I had forgotten to take my probiotics.  It finally dawned on me to restart them and what a huge difference in energy and mental clarity.

A big question before all of us today is how can human health costs be lowered?  The answer is simple: STAY HEALTHY! Americans are going to need to be proactive about their health – “Preventative health care!”  Health neglect usually leads to disease, which may lead to surgery or long term drug therapy.  By the way, the 6th leading cause of death in humans is adverse drug reactions!

Probiotic therapy is a brand new approach to health maintenance.  A good many of you know how well it works on your pet’s skin disease, allergies and shedding, etc.  Over the long run probiotics will save you money.  As a July special we are offering a 20% discount on probiotics to get your pet started.  The cost for your pet is about 20 – 35 cents per day. We recommend Conklin probiotics for humans too!  Start your pet and yourself on the road to good health and prevent future health problems and save 20% on your first order.

Happy Health To You!

Dr Ron Bowen