Gainesville Florida Veterinarians

Dr. Dale Kaplan-Stein, owner of Oaks and Northwood Oaks recently donated a bulletproof vest to the Alachua Police Department for Canine Officer Cesar Vargas and his canine, Kaiser. Kaiser is a 7 year old German Shepherd who has worked with Officer Vargas since January 2006. Officer Vargas is married to Dr. Jennifer Wallace who has been with the Oaks family since June 2006.

The bulletproof vests are custom made to ensure proper fit for each dog. Local law enforcement agencies rely on donations from the public to purchase dogs and equipment.

Re: Donation of Police K-9 Ballistic Armor

Dear Dr. Kaplan-Stein:

On behalf of the City of Alachua Police Department, I would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude for your most generous donation of ballistic armor, valued at approximately $900, for our police canine unit. Police canines are a vital component of effective law enforcement practices, and use of ballistic armor is essential in maintaining their safety while in service. Again, we thank you for your contribution.

Respectfully,
Joel DeCoursey, Jr.
Chief of Police

Free comprehensive exam and fecal flotation for new adoptees.

We are offering a free comprehensive examination and fecal flotation to screen for intestinal parasites for newly adopted pets from local rescue groups and shelters.

We offer this special for animals adopted from:

-Alachua County Animal Services (ACAS)
-Alachua County Humane Society (ACHS)
-Gainesville Pet Rescue (GPR)
-Puppy Hill Farm (PHF)

Please bring your new pet and the adoption paperwork within 7 days of adoption to receive this special offer.

The Sago Palm is an ornamental plant that resembles a short palm tree.
It is often seen in landscaping in southern states. A recent increase in Sago Palm toxicity has been seen in northern states as large retailers such as Ikea and Target have begun selling young plants to be kept in pots.

Here in Florida it is not uncommon to see large Sago Palms in the garden. These plants are extremely toxic and often ingestion of just a small amount of the plant can be deadly. The brown, golf ball-sized seeds are the most deadly part of the plant, but the entire plant is toxic.

If you have pets and Sago Palms in your yard, the best thing for the pet is to remove the plant completely. If you find that your pet has ingested any part of a Sago Palm, it is imperative that you take your pet to a veterinarian immediately! Timely induction of vomiting and administration of toxin adsorbents is crucial.

Signs of Sago Palm toxicity in pets include vomiting, jaundice, bruising, and increased thirst. The toxin ultimately causes liver failure and death.

All pets offered for sale in Florida are covered by the pet lemon law. If you are considering buying a dog or a cat you have certain rights under the law.

It is the consumer's right to receive a certificate of veterinary inspection with each dog or cat purchased from a pet dealer. Such certificate shall list all vaccines and deworming medications administered to the animal and shall state that the animal has been examined by a Florida-licensed veterinarian who certifies that, to the best of the veterinarian's knowledge, the animal was found to have been healthy at the time of the veterinary examination.

The law also has provisions for your rights if the pet develops an illness or a congenital disease. It is well worth your time to familiarize yourself with this law if you plan to buy a dog or cat.

The full law document can found here:
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/ai/main/pet_main.shtml

Want to take your dog for a swim? Be safe. Not all dogs are naturally a swimmer. Those dogs that have heart disease, or are obese, can easily tire out and be at risk of drowning.

If you are on a boat and your dog falls into the water, there may be problems. If it got injured during the fall, or the water is cold or choppy, fatigue can set in quickly. A pet life preserver could save your dog's life. Keep a close eye on your dog when out on the water!

Iams & Eukanuba have recently announced a recall of food which may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled foods include:

- Iams Veterinary Dry Formulas, dry food sizes & varieties
- Eukanuba Naturally Wild, all dry food sizes & varieties
- Eukanuba Pure, all dry food sizes & varieties
- Eukanuba Custom Care Sensitive Skin, all dry food sizes

All of the recalled foods have "best-by" dates of 01Jul10 to 01Dec11. If you have any of these foods, throw them away. For a comprehensive list and information on recalled pet foods, visit the following FDA website:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/newpetfoodrecalls/

Oaks Veterinary Hospital has joined forces with the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department to offer a safe and environmentally responsible way to dispose of unwanted medication.

Oaks will be accepting prescription and over-the-counter medications that are unwanted, expired, damaged or unusable for their intended purposes. This service is FREE OF CHARGE.

Improper disposal of pharmaceuticals can threaten the lives of animals & humans alike due to exposure to surface and ground waters. It is advised to never flush medication down sinks, drains or toilets or to dispose of medication into your trash can.

Every year about 55,000 people worldwide die of Rabies. Among other strategies, a high rate of vaccination of pets has helped keep human deaths in the U.S. to 2 - 3 per year. Here in Florida, raccoons, bats, and foxes are considered reservoirs of this deadly virus. In 2008, there were 144 confirmed animal cases of Rabies in Florida, mostly in wildlife but including 9 cats, a horse, and a mule. It is important to protect your pets from Rabies. Sometimes indoor cats can wander outdoors and occasionally wildlife can enter a home. It is also required to have your cat, dog, and ferret vaccinated against Rabies. Protect your family by vaccinating your pet and avoiding contact with "sick" wildlife.

In west Gainesville, 2 foxes have tested positive for Canine Distemper virus. Distemper is a highly contagious disease that affects many vital organ systems, including the gastrointestinal, respiratory and central nervous system. Although humans cannot be infected with the virus, it is often fatal to dogs. Fortunately, a safe and very effective vaccine is available.

Please call Oaks Veterinary Hospital at 352-332-7387 or Northwood Oaks Veterinary Hospital at 352-373-7387 to schedule an appointment for your animal to be vaccinated.

Anyone who sees a fox or other animal exhibiting unusual behavior can contact the Sheriff's Office or the Wildlife Alert Number at 888-404-3933.

Canine influenza is a newly recognized and highly contagious respiratory infection of dogs. Dogs of any breed, age or health status are susceptible to infection. The virus is transmitted by direct contact with infected dogs and by coughing or sneezing. The virus can also contaminate kennel surfaces, food and water bowls, collars and leashes, and the hands and clothing of people who handle infected dogs. Influenza viral disease may be prevented by vaccination of dogs, but isolation of suspected carriers and good hygiene also are protective.

The product license for the Canine Flu vaccine is conditional. As with all USDA conditionally licensed products, data submitted to the USDA supports a reasonable expectation of efficacy. During tests to evaluate its performance, no side effects were observed in a field trial with more than 700 dogs ranging in age from 6 weeks to 10 years. The vaccine is administered to dogs 6 weeks of age or older in 2 initial doses given 3 weeks apart, followed by an annual booster.

For more information copy and paste this link into your web browser: www.vetmed.ufl.edu/college/pr/documents/CanineinfluenzaFAQDogowners_001.pdf

Did you know that there's a new option for parasite control in dogs?

The popular and highly-effective flea control Comfortis is now available in combination with heartworm preventative milbemycin (the same drug found in Interceptor). The new oral tablet, Trifexis, protects against fleas, heartworms and intestinal parasites with one convenient monthly dose. Trifexis is available at Oaks and Northwood Oaks Veterinary Hospital.

Call us today for more information

Dr. Kaplan-Stein, veterinarian and owner of both Oaks and Northwood Oaks Veterinary Hospitals, was quoted in an article in the Gainesville Sun. The article features great pet safety advice. Check it out here:

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20110316/ARTICLES/110319539?p=1&tc=pg

(To read the complete article, copy and paste the link into your address bar)