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December 2011
Holiday Savings
from Merrill Animal Clinic
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Our Place
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| Our Doctors
Jeff Woods
Cathy Rogaski
Beth VanCleve
Scarlet Motycka
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| Greetings!
Welcome to another edition of MAC’s Newsletter
As the close of another year approaches we thought we’d tell you about another Merrill Animal Clinic Exclusive Money Saving Opportunity. With the hustle and bustle of the seasons many pets get overlooked on their yearly vaccinations. We offer yearly packages to fit all ages, needs and budgets throughout the year. However for December only you can save even more! So if your pets are due or even overdue for vaccinations we hope you’ll take advantage of our Holiday Express Offers.
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| Holiday Express Packages
You can Save 15% off of your Pet’s Yearly VIsit in the month of December
OR they can have a FREE (canine) bath instead of the 15% off. (Must be the pet that is receiving the yearly.)
Feline Yearly/Annual includes: Exam, Rabies, FVRCP, FELV, Fecal or Deworming, with or without Bloodwork (depending on the age of pet.)
Cat Baths are not available due to safety issues.
Canine Yearly/Annual includes: Exam, Rabies, DHPPV, Bordetella, Fecal, Heartworm Test, with or without Bloodwork (depending on age of pet.) The Influenza vaccine can be included in this special offer. Baths must be done at the same time of yearly & on the same pet. This promotion can not be used with any other discounts, deals. or special offers.
Call (904) 744-7206 for prices and appointment.
Please say: HOLIDAY EXPRESS when booking the appointment
Offer Expires: December 31st, 2011
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Cat Vaccination Myths
Bites are worrisome, regardless if the culprit is a dog or a cat, for many reasons. Why did it bite? Is the wound severe enough to warrant medical attention? What is the infection risk? And most importantly, what are the chances of contracting disease?
Society tends to be misinformed when it comes to cats. It is commonly thought that cats are antisocial, they fend for themselves, and that they do not need attention like dogs do. And one of the scariest myths is that cats do not need vaccinations.
One reason for this myth is that inoculations against preventable diseases in cats is controversial. And that is why it is so important to understand the ramifications of these diseases that cats can indeed contract, in order to make the right choice in whether to vaccinate or not.
Experts agree, it is truly a matter of Public Health. Therefore it is vital to know that by not getting core vaccines for cats, such as Rabies and FVRCP (Feline Rhinotracheitis-Calici-Panleukopenia Vaccine) can have severe consequences to both pets as well as people. Pet owners that haven’t followed through on vaccinations often wish that there was something that could have been done to save their pets, but unfortunately it’s much easier to prevent illness with a simple vaccine than it is to treat afterwards.
Panleukopenia is the “P” in the FVRCP vaccine: is a highly contagious, tough and opportunistic virus. It is similar to the canine parvo virus. It can survive on surfaces for over a year as well as in freezing temperatures. It is secreted by body fluids, including saliva and mucus. Therefore, it is very easy for a cat to get infected from a sneeze, to eat or drink from a bowl where an infected cat ate or drank, or even to rub where an infected cat was, groom themselves & then become infected as well. Symptoms include weight loss, diarrhea, vomiting and fever. The virus actually shuts down the cat’s immune system by suppressing the production of white blood cells, thus inhibiting the ability to fight off infection. Calicivirus is the “C” in FVRCP, and causes upper respiratory infections as well as oral disease. Rhinotrachetitis is the “R” in FVRCP and also causes upper respiratory infections. All of these are reasons to get your cat vaccinated.
Another virus we recommend preventing (for most cats) is FELV or Feline leukemia as it suppresses the immune system. It is usually spread through saliva from other cats. It is highly recommended to vaccinate against the virus as there is no cure for it.
Rabies is 100% fatal. All unvaccinated mammals are subject to infection, including humans. By law, all pets over 16 weeks must be vaccinated and receive annual or tri-annual boosters. People often argue that their pets are indoors only. However, there have been reports of wildlife coming into homes unknowingly to the owners – through chimneys or other overlooked means, biting pets & ultimately infecting the owners. It’s a long shot but has happened. It’s safer to just keep your pets vaccinated. We offer 1 year as well as 3 year rabies vaccines. Duval County requires annual rabies tags, which are available in our office.
Often we hear people claim that vaccinations are not needed, and veterinarians just push vaccines to attain revenue. However, hopefully this article sheds some light on the facts and dispels any myths about the importance of vaccinations.
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| Yearly Vaccination Time … to get the Bloodwork or not to get the Bloodwork? Many pet owners question why we recommend bloodwork on perfectly healthy looking dogs and cats. Blood and urine testing are extremely beneficial diagnostic tools that veterinarians use to look at the overall health of your pet. They look for diabetes, liver and kidney diseases, thyroid disease, and other sources of illness and infections. Many of these underlying problems are not obvious on an exam, and if caught early can be successfully treated or controlled. Further diagnostic testing such as radiographs or ultrasound may be recommended. If your pet’s bloodwork turns out to be within normal limits, then it is used as a baseline for future bloodwork results. Comparison of results are especially useful when a pet becomes ill. Routine bloodwork is recommended for pets over 5 years old, especially over 8 years old, or any aged patient undergoing surgical procedures. While bloodwork can be an added expense at the time, it is really an investment in your pet’s long term health.Food for thought: The costs for pet care are a fraction of what the same procedures cost in human medicine. |
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Have a Happy, Healthy & Safe Holiday Season,
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~ Bella Woods
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& The Staff at Merrill Animal Clinic 
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Save15%
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You can save 15% off your pet’s yearly visits in the month of December.
OR they can have a FREE (canine) bath instead of the 15% off.
Canine Yearly/Annual includes: Exam, Rabies, DHPP, Bordetella, Fecal, Heartworm Test, with or without additional bloodwork (depending on age of pet). The Influenza vaccine can be included in this special offer. Baths must be done at the time of yearly. Call for prices & appointment.
Feline Yearly/Annual includes: Exam, Rabies, FVRCP, FELV, Fecal or Deworming, with or without additional bloodwork (depending on the age of the pet.) Cat baths are not available due to safety issues. Call for prices & appointment.
This coupon does not need to be printed nor presented in person. But you must say Promo code: HOLIDAY EXPRESS when booking the appointment. This special offer is transferable, we encourage recipients of this message to share it with friends and family. This promotion can not be used with any other discounts, deals or special offers.
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Offer Expires: December 31st, 2011
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