Vet Care « Merrill Animal Clinic

We are excited to share with you another edition of our monthly newsletter. In this edition you will find information on Heartworms, Fleas, Intestinal Parasites, and one of our most successful & highly anticipated money saving offers!

One of the Perils of Living in a Swamp

Did you know that even if your pets are inside most of the day, they are still vulnerable to mosquito bites when they go out for potty breaks and walks? Mosquitos are most active at dusk and dawn and are stealthy at getting into homes without humans detecting their whereabouts. With each bite from a mosquito, your pet runs the risk of becoming infected with heartworms.

Heartworm disease is all too common, very serious and potentially fatal. The parasitic worms actually live in the animal’s heart and lungs. It is not unusual to have 30 or more worms living in the pet’s heart and lung area. Sadly, the symptoms often do not present themselves until the heartworm disease is advanced.

Dog’s symptoms include a mild but persistent cough, reduced appetite, weight loss, and fatigue after moderate exercise. Cats can also get heartworms. The symptoms for cats may be very nonspecific, including gagging,vomiting, rapid or difficulty breathing, weight loss and lethargy. We can run a simple in house blood test to diagnose whether your pets are positive for heart worms or not.

Florida and the entire southeast area is an extremely high-risk area for the spread of heartworms throughout the entire year. That is why it is imperative to keep pets current on their heartworm prevention every month. Animals are infected with heartworms from the bites of mosquitos. And unfortunately, Florida has mosquitos year round as it never gets cold enough to kill the pesky parasites.

Luckily, heartworms are easily prevented in both dogs and cats. We carry many forms of heartworm prevention to suit every pet’s needs. We have once-a-month pills, chews and topicals. We sell preventatives that are strictly for heartworms as well as products that are a combination of flea and heartworm prevention. There is not a product that prevents fleas, ticks and heartworms all at the same time – yet!

Just like human medicine, prevention is far less expensive than treatment. The pill can cost as little as $5.00 a month, per pet, depending on the pet’s weight and which product you choose. Without prevention, your pet’s susceptibility to heartworms is very high. This is why year-round prevention is an absolute must.

The other reason that it is important to be diligent with your pet’s heartworm prevention is that currently the medicine used to treat heartworms in dogs is not available from the manufacturer. We have no idea when the product will be available again. Therefore, we don’t have a a way to treat the disease in dogs. There still isn’t an approved method of heartworm treatment for cats.

Keeping your pets indoors is not an effective method of preventing heartworm disease. As mentioned before mosquitos find their way into many clean/maintained homes, resulting in many “indoor only” animals testing positive for heartworm disease. You can try to reduce the mosquitos in your immediate area by getting rid of any standing water to prevent mosquito larvae from maturing. Look around your property for flower pots, bowls, even tires with stagnant water sitting in them. However, this may be futile as we obviously live in a swamp. Being Floridians we are surrounded by multitudes of water sources.

We urge you to not use human insect repellents containing DEET on your pets. If you ever have a question about what you can or can not use on your pet give us a call, (904) 744-7206. We are happy to help keep your pets safe.

The Breakdown of Flea Control,Heartworm Preventions andCombinations that MAC carries

It can get very confusing trying to figure out which products are best for your pets. That is why we have made this handy reference guide for you to see the breakdown of what we have available and what exactly it treats and prevents. If you still have questions about a product or what is best for your furry babies, just give our office a call.

Flea Control Types

Comfortis: Oral Flea Prevention Chewable Tablet (Dogs only)

Pet must have current rabies vaccine & have had an exam within one year with one of our veterinarians for this product as it is a perscription flea prevention.

—————————————————————

Advantage II: Topical Flea Prevention(Dogs & Cats)

Heartworm Prevention Types

Heartgard: Oral Heartworm Prevention, Hookworm & Roundworm Treatment Chewable Treat (Dogs & Cats)

Pet needs to have proof of a current negative heartworm test within the past year. We no longer offer Heartgard for Cats.

—————————————————————

Tri-Heart Plus: Heartworm Prevention, Hookworm & Roundworm Treatment Chewable Tablet (Dogs only)

Flea & Heartworm Prevention

Trifexis: Oral Flea & Heartworm Prevention plus Hookworm, Roundworm & Whipworm Treatment Chewable Tablet (Dogs only)

Pet must have a current Rabies Vaccine within one year. They must have a negative heartworm test within one year. And they have to of had an exam with a veterinarian at our office within the past year as well.

*Pets with a history of seizures should not take Trifexis *

—————————————————————

Advantage-Multi: Topical Flea & Heartworm Prevention Prevention plus Hookworm, Roundworm & Whipworm Treatment (Dogs & Cats)

We no longer sell tick control. The reason for this is because those products have gone over the counter. You can buy them at super discount stores for less than we can get them. The tick products available over the counter that our doctors recommend are Advantix and Frontline. We do not advise using any other over the counter products to treat ticks. Also avoid putting any pyrethrin based products on cats as they can be fatal.

Did you know that there is not a cure for allergies? Veterinarians can only treat the symptoms. Also, once an animal develops an allergy to a certain type of allergen, they often develop sensitivities to other allergens as well. For example, many animals are allergic to pollen, grasses and molds. They may also develop allergies to foods, fleas or develop contact allergies. Dogs and cats don’t show the same symptoms as humans do when they are allergic to things. We get upper respiratory symptoms like congestion. Animals metabolize the allergens and then excrete them through their skin causing them to itch. It can be very frustrating for pet owners to live with itchy pets but it is far worse for the suffering animal.

Aside from environmental allergens, parasites can cause pets to be itchy. Many people do not think that their pet has fleas but they come in with a scratching dog that is chewing its rear end and is bald around hind legs and tail base. This is a “tell tail” sign of Flea Allergy. It’s difficult for some to understand how a dog can chew itself raw and they never saw a flea. What happens is the flea jumps onto your pet, takes a blood meal, jumps off, lays eggs in your carpet or grass, and waits to get on again. That one bite emitted saliva into your pet’s skin. And some animals are allergic to the saliva. This is called Flea Allergic Dermatitis. Just one flea bite sets off a wildfire effect in the skin, that drives the animal crazy and forces them to scratch and chew themselves into a frenzy. The best way to prevent this from happening is to keep your pet current on flea control. We have fleas year round in Florida and there is no way to prevent a rogue flea from getting through to your pet. By being diligent with the prevention you can drastically reduce the number of outbreaks you and your pet must endure. If your product isn’t working let us know and we will find an alternative. No animal should suffer from fleas. Also, please note that animals with tape worms were infected by eating a flea.

In This Issue

Swamp Life Revisited

The Breakdown

Meet Our Doctors

Meet Elise! Updates on Alaida & Lila!

ePetHealth

Thank You

Coupon

Meet Our Doctors

Jeff Woods

Cathy Rogaski

Scarlet Motycka

Beth Van Cleve

MAC’s NEW Online Pharmacy

Introducing MAC’s Newest Edition

Dr. Scarlet Motycka & her husband Brian are proud to introduce their new gorgeous daughter, Elise!

Elise

______________________________________________________________

Something is definitely in the water at Merrill Animal Clinic

& whatever it is, it only comes in PINK!

______________________________________________________________

Updates on our no longer new but still super adorable MAC family editions

Britton & Alaida

Alaida

______________________________________________________________

Jessica & Lila

Lila

Have you checked out ePetHealth yet?

If you are new to ePetHealth just follow the easy instructions on their website. Simply click “first-time login.”

However, if you have had difficulties signing into ePetHealth in the past, they should be resolved now. It was a rough transition from ePetRecords to ePetHealth for many of us. But we think the site is very beneficial to our clients so we hung in there through all the glitches & hopefully you will like the changes that they have made. And the best part is, this service is FREE to our clients! You can go to the ePetHealth website by clicking on their logo above & log into your account using the e-mail address that we have on file for you. You no longer use your pet’s serial number to log in – but keep it for their lost & found tag program. Then you try your old password. If it doesn’t work, try typing “password” as your password. Once into the system, change it to your own unique password. If you still can’t log into ePetHealth call us at (904) 744-7206 and we will look into for you.

Pet Owner Benefits:

Ability to manage pets’ health schedules, view upcoming appointments, edit both your & your pet’s information, or follow up on healthcare recommendations.

ePetDemo

24/7 access to the required medical records, including radiographs as needed for boarding, traveling, enrolling in classes, or in an emergency.

Email alert reminders can be setup for product or medication doses. eAlerts helps you manage the number of doses remaining and the days between doses.

eAlerts

Request appointments, make boarding reservations, refill medications, or ask general questions. eClinic is available 24/7, which makes communication with your clinic convenient and easy.

ePetClinic

And many more features

Surf the ePetHealth Website & let us know what you think, we always appreciate feedback

~ Bella Woods

We would like to thank you…

for taking the time to look at our newsletter. Please give us a call at (904) 744-7206 or send an e-mail

Merrill7530@aol.com

if you have any suggestions for upcoming articles you’d be interested in. We love your feedback.

Also, feel free to e-mail us pictures of your babies for their medical record. Be sure to mention if you want to share them in the newsletter or on our Facebook page. Or feel free to post them yourself

Sincerely, The Staff at Merrill Animal Clinic

Save 10%

Save 10% off any 6 month supply (box) of Heartworm Prevention and/or Flea Control. Pet must have proof of a current Rabies Vaccine and negative heartworm test within the past year. Also, pet needs to have had an exam with one of Merrill Animal Clinic’s Veterinarians within the past year as well. Call us at (904) 744-7206 for details. This offer is not available for online purchases. This coupon is transferable. We encourage recipients to share this offer with friends and family. You need only mention this offer to our receptionist to receive the savings.

Offer Expires: June 30,2012

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Posted in Uncategorized, Veterinary animal Animal Care Animals Cats Dogs Duval County ePetHealth FL. Flea Control Heartworm Prevention House Pets Housepets Jacksonville Merrill Animal Clinic pet pet care pets Vaccines vet Vet Care Veterianarians Veterinary Vets

Jan 06

Heartworms & Fleas: January 2012

January 2012

News from Merrill Animal Clinic

We hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday season. We are excited to share with you another edition of our monthly newsletter. In it you will find information on Heartworms, Fleas, Intestinal Parasites, The “Best Kept Secret in Jacksonville,” and another money saving offer!

One of the Perils of Living in a Swamp

In This Issue

Meet Our Doctors

Jeff Woods

Cathy Rogaski

Scarlet Motycka

Beth Van Cleve

Our Page

The Breakdown of Flea Control, Heartworm Preventions andCombinations

Flea Control

Comfortis: Oral Flea Prevention Chewable Tablet (Dogs only)

Advantage II: Topical Flea Prevention (Dogs & Cats)

Heartworm Prevention

Heartgard: Oral Heartworm Prevention, Hookworm & Roundworm Treatment Chewable Treat (Dogs & Cats)

Tri-Heart Plus: Heartworm Prevention, Hookworm & Roundworm Treatment Chewable Tablet (Dogs only)

Flea & Heartworm Prevention

Trifexis: Oral Flea & Heartworm Prevention plus Hookworm, Roundworm & Whipworm Treatment Chewable Tablet (Dogs only)

Advantage-Multi: Topical Flea & Heartworm Prevention Prevention plus Hookworm, Roundworm & Whipworm Treatment (Dogs & Cats)

Kathy’s Corner: Trail with Tails

Kathy & Sawyer at Jones Creek Trail

One of Arlington’s best kept secret is the Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens, located 1445 Mill Creek Rd off of Monument Rd. The nature trails are fun for you and your dog to explore together. The approximately 120 acres that make up the arboretum are unique in that within its boundaries lay 13 distinct and different ecosystems.

Sawyer at Lake Ray

My dogs and I have walked all of the trails however, our favorite is the Jones Creek Trail. The trail winds through the Jones Creek Basin and climbs the bluff overlooking the creek. This is a beautiful trail of creeks, bridges and steep grades. And the park provides Doggy waste bags and fresh water for your walking partner. Happy Trails ~ Kathy Pike

Zoe overlooking Ravine Trail

January’s Special Offer

Save 10% off any 6 month supply (box) of Heartworm Prevention and/or Flea Control. Pets must have had an exam and a negative heartworm test with us within the past year for certain products. Call for details. (904) 744-7206

Offer Expires: January 31,2012

~ Bella Woods

We would like to thank you…

for taking the time to look at our newsletter. Please give Angela a call (904) 744-7206or send an e-mail toMerrill7530@aol.com if you have any suggestions for upcoming articles you’d be interested in. We love your feedback.

Sincerely, The Staff at Merrill Animal Clinic

Save 10%

Save 10% off any 6 month supply (box) of Heartworm Prevention
and/or Flea Control. Must have had an exam and negative heartworm test with us within the year certain products. Call for details. This offer is not available on online. This coupon is transferable. We encourage recipients to share this offer with friends and family. You need only mention this offer to our receptionist to receive the savings.

Offer Expires: January 31,2012

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Posted in Veterinary animal Animal Care Animals Cats Dogs pet pet care pets vet Vet Care Veterinarians Vets

Nov 05

November Newsletter: Low Cost Spays & Neuters, What Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets

Greetings! Fall is officially here, the leaves are finally changing! We at Merrill Animal Clinic are excited to share the newest edition of our monthly newsletter with another money saving opportunity for you. As well as, more helpful tips to keep your pets safe, happy, & healthy this holiday season and beyond!

Photo Courtesy of Stan & Cathy Rogaski

MAC’s November LOW COST Special Offer

We are offering Low Cost Spays & Low Cost Neuters for the month of November only. Call for prices as they are based on the weight of your pet. See our coupon at the end of this Newsletter

for more details.

Avoid Feeding People Food, Especially During the Holidays

All pet owners know our furry family members will beg and plead while you try to eat, especially

at the holidays. We discourage you from giving into those sad eyes and drooling tongues, even for just a tiny tidbit of ham, chicken, or turkey from your plate, for a few reasons. Pet need specifically formulated nutrients that are provided for them in premium pet foods. And all the ”extras” that they consume off of your plate will sway their appetites from their regular diet. A sliver of ham or turkey from your dinner plate can make them very sick. Even small amounts of “people food” especially pork or other fatty food can cause colitis, gastroenteritis, and even pancreatitis. There are a number of foods that you wouldn’t think are bad for pets that can actually be toxic.

Onions, garlic and other root vegetables can be toxic to pets and should never be offered in any form. Avoid offering cats & dogs Thanksgiving stuffing and gravy, as they are often onion flavored. Even dehydrated onions can be harmful. Onions and Garlic contain (N-propyl disulphide)

that destroys red blood cells in pets, causing a form of anemia called Heinz body anemia. Raw tomatoes & raw potatoes are members of the Solanaceae family of plants and are in the same family as Deadly Nightshade. They are dangerous because they contain a poisonous alkaloid called Glycoalkaloid Solanine, which can cause symptoms such as violent lower gastrointestinal upset. The stems and leaves are especially toxic.

Some people believe just a tiny bit of alcohol never hurt anyone. Unfortunately, that is not truefor pets. They not only get sick and disoriented, but it can cause urination problems, coma and even death from alcohol poisoning. It really doesn’t take much. So try not to feel compelled to share your libations with your furry family members. And if you would never do such a thing, then be sure to keep your drinks out of their reach at least.

Bones from the table and even the butcher can splinter and become hazardous to your pet’s health regardless if they’ve been cooked or not. The sharp splinters can get stuck in your pet’s teeth and throat. They can rip, puncture and migrate through the body and not necessarily through the normal path of least resistance either. All table bones are dangerous but chicken, turkey, pork and veal bones are the most harmful.

Most people know chocolate is toxic to pets. But did you know bakers chocolate, cocoa powder & cooking chocolate are the most toxic forms? Even just letting your pet lick the bowl or a spoon can make them very sick. Semi-sweet and dark chocolate is the next most hazardous form.

And milk chocolate is the least dangerous, but should still be avoided as it can lead to a nasty attack of pancreatitis which is still potentially life threatening. Caffeine is another ingredient in chocolate that can be harmful to pets, potential side effects are vomiting, diarrhea, cardiac

& respiratory arrest.

Milk and milk based products can cause intestinal upset. Grapes and raisins should be avoided as they can cause severe health issues. All parts of avocado fruit including the seeds, leaves, and bark can be harmful causing diarrhea and vomiting.

During the holidays we bakers are often tempted to give our pets a taste of uncooked batter and the like. But beware, raw eggs should never be given to your pets. The yeast in bread dough is dangerous and should be avoided as it can expand in your pet’s stomach. Salt is another culprit in both baking and cooking. It can lead to not only pancreatitis, but also bloat from too much water intake as well as sodium poisoning in large doses. Macadamia nuts can be life threatening, and some of the symptoms seen can include vomiting, tremors, loss of coordination, hypothermia, or hyperthermia. Artificial sweetners found in gum, candy, and baked goods can be toxic as well. Xylitol is an everyday product that should be avoided as it can lead to loss of coordination, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures and eventually liver failure.

All Tobacco products can be fatal to pets if ingested. That includes cigarette butts, cigars, pipes, nicotine gum & patches, as well as chewing tobacco. Signs of Tobacco Poisoning are increased salivation & panting, hyperactivity, vomiting, and diarrhea. Advanced signs are twitching,

muscle weakness, collapsing, increased heart rate, coma and, cardiac arrest.

If you must give your pets treats at the holidays or throughout the year introduce pet safe treats in small amounts slowly. Try to avoid high calorie goodies as they lead to obesity. Ideal treats are great-tasting, low calorie, nutritious and low fat. We often recommend raw carrot slices, green beans & plain rice cakes as substitutes to commercial dog treats. When in doubt just offer a piece or two of your pet’s kibble. They are usually just as content.

Always consult with your veterinarian if you have any questions about proper nutrition, treats, diet, weight issues or any other health concerns.

Kathy’s Costume Corner

Recently, I spent several delightful weekends with my Frenchie Truman. We competed in the Dogtoberfest Costume Contest, and we came away with ”Best in Show,” as well as “Best Boy Dog.” Truman dressed as Ceasar, and his stroller was decorated as his royal palace, which generated a lot of excitement. Truman adores all of the adulation, not to mention all the treats and toys. Our next event was Yappy Hour at the Landing, with the only requirement being “BYOD.” We came away with a win for “Most Original.” Our next contest was at Petsmart, where we came in 2nd place. The 1st place winner was an adorable 17 year old Pomeranian dressed as a pilot with his own plane. The competitions were all a lot of fun, but now it’s time to start thinking of something for next October that will top “Little Ceasar.”

Announcing October’s Fall Festival Photo Contest Winners

Our Canine Winner is:

Molly “Cowgirl” Byrd

The winners of our Fall Festival Pet Basket’s are Molly Byrd & Annie Harms!

We would like to thank all of the participants of MAC’s Fall Festival Photo Contest. Our staff truly enjoy all of your furry babies photos. And we encourage you to post them on

Our Facebook Page, e-mail them or bring them into our office & we will be happy to scan them into your pet’s health record and return them right back to you.

Our Feline Winner is:

Annie “Witch” Harms

“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.” ~Tagore

Photo Courtesy of Stan & Cathy Rogaski

Have a Safe Holiday Weekend.

Sincerely,

~Bella

and The Staff at Merrill Animal Clinic

Save $$$

Low Cost Spays & Low Cost Neuters for both cats & dogs are offered at Merrill Animal Clinic

for the month of November Only. Prices vary according to your pet’s weight. This coupon does

not have to be presented in person. Just let the receptionist know that you want the low Cost

Surgery Option when you call for an appointment. Bloodwork, pain medications, and antibiotics to

go home are recommended but not included in the discounted surgery price. This coupon is

transferable, so we encourage you to share it with your friends and family.

Offer Expires: November 30th, 2011

Our Web Page

Meet Our Doctors

Dr. Jeff Woods

Dr. Cathy Rogaski

Dr. Beth VanCleve

Dr. Scarlet Motycka

Cascade

Cascade 2

Photos Courtesy of Stan & Cathy Rogaski

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Posted in Uncategorized, Veterinary Cats Costume Contest Dogs Foods to Avoid Feeding Pets Low Cost Neuters Low Cost Spays Vet Care

Nov 05

Merrill Animal Clinic October Newsletter

Greetings!

Welcome to another edition of Merrill Animal Clinic’s monthly Newsletter! We are offering another Special Promotion for the month of October: Microchips. We also are letting you know about a Special Rebate Offer on Comfortis Oral Flea Control and Trifexis Oral Flea Control & Heartworm Prevention. We have a Fall Photo Contest, tips on creating pet costumes as well as information on our new ePetHealth service!

Many who have spent a lifetime in it can tell us less

of love than the child that lost a dog yesterday.“

~Thornton Wilder

Don’t lose any of your family members

take advantage of our

Microchip Fall Special

in the month of October

Phobee running away

~Phoebe Woods Photo Courtesy of Jeff Woods, DVM

With modern microchip technology, lost pets are being returned to their owners within hours of their arrival at animal shelters and veterinary clinics. Each unique microchip that is implanted under a pet’s skin holds the information necessary to locate and contact that pet’s owner. While pets can easily lose collars and tags, microchips provide life-long identification.

In an effort to reunite more lost pets with their families, Merrill Animal Clinic is offering low-cost microchips for both cats and dogs. By making a$26.53 investment, you can ensure that should your pet has a better chance of being reunited with your your family versus the many other worrisome alternatives for lost pets. The staff at Merrill Animal Clinic as well as other animal welfare organizations are trained to automatically scan all found animals as soon as they are brought in to hopefully get them home safe and sound by notifying owners immediately.

About Microchipping

Microchips are about the size of a grain of rice and are implanted under the skin by injecting it just like a vaccine
Microchips are placed between a pet’s shoulder blades (but can migrate to other areas so we scan the whole pet to locate the chips)
Animal shelters & hospitals scan lost pets with handheld microchip readers to determine the microchip’s unique ID number. Then we enter the number into a database to retrieve the owner’s name and phone number.

Statistics on Lost Pets

According to the American Humane Association, only about 17 percent of lost dogs and two percent of lost cats are actually reunited with their original owners.

Approximately 4 million pets are euthanized each year because of the lack of identification
Shelters often only wait seven days before euthanizing unidentified animals due to the pet over population problem & overcrowding.
Microchips absolutely give your pet the best chance of being identified & returned to you should it ever become lost

Uhley Swim

~Uhlepaw Woods Photo Courtesy of Jeff Woods, DVM

For only $26.53 investment you have a much greater chance of being reunited with your four legged family members if they accidentally run or swim away… Call (904) 744-7206 for an appointment to get them microchipped (Exam required with proof of current Rabies vaccines

Or if you are an established client and your pet has been examined with MAC in the past 12 months, you don’t need an appointment. Just swing your pet by our office & we will happily insert their microchip for you still for only $26.53! Remember: registration of our microchips are FREE & we register them on-line for you!

Disclaimer: This special offer is for the month of October only. Microchip pricing will return to $36.25 after the promotion has expired. This offer is not available to clients paying with Care Credit nor can it be used with any other MAC coupons or special promotions. All pets must have had an exam with MAC in the past 12 months and have proof of a current Rabies vaccine, which is required by law.

Comfortis

& Trifexis Special Offer

$10.00

Rebate

on the purchase of a six-month supply of Trifexis or Comfortis.

Forms can be downloaded at Trifexis.com and

Comfortis4dogs.com Then submitted to Elanco with proof of purchase. Offer expires December 31,2011

Fall Festival Pet Costume Advice from our very own Martha Stewart & Office Manager Kathy Pike

It’s never too early to start working on your next pet Halloween costume. Each year I create a handmade costume for my French Bulldog Truman. For a pet costume to truly be fun your pet has to not mind wearing it. If your dog or cat freaks out, rolls constantly, pants or breathes excessively or tries with every fiber of it’s being to rid itself of a costume, I would discourage you from pursuing pet costuming as a shared activity.

How does one get a pet to enjoy wearing a costume?

With Truman it took nothing more than a, “good boy” each time I fitted his costume to him. Every time your pet wears his or her costume they should have fun. Truman knows when his costume comes out he’s going somewhere where there will be lots of people, dogs and treats. I hope you pets enjoy dressing up as my Truman does. ~Kathy

Truman Gnome 2 Truman Grapes

Garden Gnome One of the Grapes of Wrath

Tuman Kermit Truman Hulk

Kermit the Frog The Hulk

Truman Patriot 2 Truman Sherlock

Patriot Sherlock Holmes

Fall Festival Pet Costume Contest!

Do you have a sweet or interesting fall festive photo of your furry baby that you would like to share with our other MAC clients? If so, you can post it on our Facebook page (link posted above in the left hand column), or bring it into our clinic (we will scan it in & give it back to you) or e-mail it to us at Merrill7530@aol.com & give us permission to publish the photo(s) & your babies may end up in a future edition of our Newsletter and/or they may possibly make an appearance on our Website page!

You will also be entered to win one of our

Fall Festival Pet Goody Baskets!

Prizes

One dog & One cat will be chosen by the MAC Staff, no employees may participate in this contest.

Tis’ the season for Tricks & Treats: With that said, here is a

Poison Warning to Pet Lovers about some of the Dangers of Fall

Many dogs and some cats are attracted to both the smell and taste

of chocolate. Unfortunately, Methylxanthines (similar to caffeine) chemicals in chocolate can not only make your petsick, they can be deadly. And the darker the chocolate the worse your pet will feel. Only two to three ounces of Baker’s chocolate can make a 50lb dog extremely ill. White chocolate contains lower levels of methylxanthines, but the high fat content could result in pancreatitis.

Other things to watch out for are candy wrappers. Both dogs and cats will eat these because they smell yummy. But foil and cellophane wrappers can lead to bowel obstruction. Warning signs of an obstruction are vomiting, decreased appetite and lack of bowel movement. X-rays will determine if your pet needs surgery to remove the obstruction.

High quantities of sugar (not just chocolate) can lead to pancreatitis.

Other “people foods” to avoid are raisins & grapes. They can cause kidney failure as well as gastrointestinal upset.

Non-edible items such as glow sticks, glow jewelry and costumes can also be dangerous. Pet Poison Helplines receive numerous calls concerning animals that have punctured and chewed on glow sticks and glow jewelry every year. They are not usually life threatening but they can cause profuse drooling & foaming of the mouth due to pain & irritation.

If you choose to dress your pet in a costume make sure it doesn’t impair their vision, air way or movement. Be aware that some metals can cause serious poisonings if ingested, so be mindful of small pieces of metal, metallic snaps or beads on their costumes as well as your own.

If you think your pet has gotten into anything toxic you can call us at (904) 744-7206 or after hours the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435. (A $65 fee may be billed to your credit card for their services.)

Merrill Animal Clinic has offered ePetRecords to our clients for years. But now the technology has been improved and has been changed intoePetHealth. We are really excited to offer this cutting edge client interactive client/practice portal to our clients for FREE. You can still access your pet’s medical history, appointment requests, update both yours as well as your pet’s information & pictures like you did with ePetRecords but now you have extra features available to make the site more informative and user friendly. You can access Veterinary written articles and state of the art DIA videos for a more explanatory view of your pet’s medical conditions. You will also be able to submit prescription refill requests, complete feedback surveys about MAC’s service (anonymous if you like) and receive birthday grams for your pets.

Do you already an ePetRecords account? Then you are already signed up for ePetHealth! Just use your normal log in information to access the new site.

New to both sites? Just click the logo or the link above and check out the website for yourself.

We hope you enjoyed this edition of our Newsletter. Feel free to forward it to all your pet loving friends so they too can take advantage of our special offers. We hope to see you soon!

Sincerely,

~Bella Woods

The Medical & Surgical Team of Merrill Animal Clinic

If you haven’t already, we suggest you check out our Merrill Animal CLinic FACEBOOK page occasionally for upcoming offers and receive handy tips via informative Veterinary approved articles to keep your pets safe and healthy!

Save

$$$$

Microchips!

Microchip Insertion Prices

Regular Price: $ 36.25

Special Offer: $ 26.53 (for the month of October only) This offer is for insertion only, exam or other services are not included

Registration of your pet’s microchip online is FREE and we save you the hassle and register them for you!

This coupon must be mentioned when scheduling the appointment or request the service. It is not required to print it out or bring in it in. This coupon is transferrable, so you are encouraged to share this money saving offer with family & friends

Offer Expires: October 31st, 2011