Fall 2011

Fall 2011
Edition
Issue 13
The Paw Press
“Let Our Family Take Care of Your Family”
One of the many decisions facing pet owners is that of spaying and neutering. The good news is that apart from preventing
unwanted pregnancies, there are several other benefits to having your pet spayed or neutered as outlined below.
An unspayed female dog usually comes into heat (or season) roughly twice a year. During this time, she will become receptive to the advances of the unneutered male dogs in your area. Both sexes are prone to roam in an effort to mate, with the
associated risk of becoming permanently lost, involved in fights or worse, still a road accident.
Cats are incredibly efficient reproducers and, during the breeding season (in the warmer spring and summer months), unspayed females may come into heat as often as every 2 – 3 weeks and will endlessly try to escape and mate with a local male
(tom) cat. Unneutered tom cats will mark their territory by “spraying” objects with urine and are frequently involved in
fights. Sexual contact and fighting also risks transmission of fatal viruses.
In females, spaying involves the removal of the ovaries and uterus under general anesthetics. The primary benefit of being
spayed is that seasons are eliminated and unplanned pregnancies avoided. Spaying also removes the possibility of life
threatening uterine infections (pyometras) and reduces the risk of developing potentially fatal mammary tumors later in life.
Neutering male cats and dogs involves removing both testes under a general anesthetic. Neutering makes male pets less
likely to stray. Also, neutered male cats are far less likely to urine spray and fight.
As you can see, there are many benefits to having your pets spayed or neutered. Please feel
free to give the office a call if you have any further questions or concerns.
Schotzie
Sizemore
Did you know?
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Like human babies, Chihuahuas are born with a soft
spot on their skull which
closes up with age.
President Lyndon Johnson
had 2 beagles named Him
and Her.
Cats step with both left legs,
then both right legs when
they walk or run. The only
other animals to do this are
the giraffe and the camel.
President Abraham Lincoln
loved cats. He had 4 of
them while he lived in
the White House
It is estimated that almost 15% of all dogs suffer from separation anxiety. Separation
anxiety is a neurological distress response to being separated from a companion; in most
situations this is the owner. Some signs of separation anxiety include:
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Excessive vocalization: barking, howling, whining
Inappropriate elimination: urinating and/or defication in inappropriate places
Destructive behaviors: Chewing and/or digging
Psychosomatic disorders: Anorexia, vomiting, drooling, excessive grooming
hyperattachment: excessive greeting behaviors such as jumping, licking or pestering
Understanding separation anxiety is the key to treating it. Separation anxiety occurs
when your dog has an unnatural bond to you. When you leave, they feel their security
has also left and begin to act inappropriately. Knowing that dogs are pack animals by
nature helps us to understand this response to being left alone. This also explains why
separation anxiety is more common among dogs than cats.
There are medications you can give your dog in conjunction with training which can
treat separation anxiety. These medications increase the production of serotonin in the
brain, which reduces the level of anxiety in your dog. When you give this medication, it
helps make your dog more receptive to training. Please note that medication alone is not a
treatment for separation anxiety. It must be used in conjunction with training/
desensitizing.
If you are concerned about your pets’ behavior, please give us a call so we can discuss
this with you. While doing so, please include any big life changes (i.e. moving, new
baby or pet in the house, etc) since this will make our diagnosis more definitive.
Avery Creek Pet Hospital
Use your
indicia
565 Long Shoals Road
Suite 105
Arden, NC 28704
AveryCreekPetHospital.com
828-651-8868
TO
The local SPCA has helped many of our clients
with unexpected vet bills. We have recently
found out they are very low on funds at this
time and are possibly looking at closing their
offices here in Asheville. The SPCA works solely
on donations from the public. We are asking for
your help. If you are interested in donating to
the SPCA, please give our office a call and we
can help you out with this. Remember, every
little bit helps! Thank you.
In Loving Memory
Monster Stover
Kelli Girl Kovacs
Obi Swendsen
Peanut Webb
Nicky Johnson
Reece Clampet
Gita Vargas
Mia Barnett
Maggie Kalicky
Sam Johnson
Oliver Cannaday
Sabrina Staton
Lacey Morris
Renegade Rickman
Keena Lydic
Obi Grigg
June Chapman
Kira Dana
Molly Bernard
Artemis Wells
Trillian Miller
Bubbles Olvera
Sierra Hruska
Rosie Noel
Ringer Sherlin
Molly Johnson
Nipper Hatley
KC Barnes
Pepper Metz
Andy Jackson
Nina Cunningham
Taz Graham
Flora Trense
Daisy Curtis
Kali Wagner
Abby Holland
Sandy Alexander
Bonkers Branks
We are excited to announce we are now carrying a new product called Trifexis. It is from
the same company that makes Comfortis (the
flea pill). Trifexis is a new broad-spectrum
parasite protection tablet. It is proven to protect against fleas, heartworm disease, hookworm, roundworm and whipworms. It is safe
for dogs 8 weeks and older weighing 5lbs or
greater. All this protection in one easy
monthly chewable tablet.
Lucy Hill
Midget Morrow
Patches Neal
Fitz Nichols
Zuki Heubner
Kansas Clampett
Angel Grigg
Henry Worley
Merlyn Toler
Beans Labo
Winston Edwards
Fritz Rollins
Yuki Ingle
Jesse Gregg
Buster Norwood
Snickers Noetzel
Roe McClennan
Maggie Metcalf
Rosie Hazen
Barkley Pope
Regis McDonald
Damien Gentilella
Barley Pomeroy
Brownie Queen
Claudia Smith
Ambrose LaMantia
Pole Cat Phillips
Gounda Marie Larson
Muffin Delizza
Chloe Blankenship
Megellan Gentilella
Jypsie Neuburger
Max Benson
Lilly Noel
Mystic Lytle
Sophia Branks
Smokey Chu