April is national heartworm disease awareness month. I wanted to bring it to everyone's attention that heartworm disease in Kentucky is a very real problem. This state is endemic for canine heartworm disease. Yearly testing and monthly prevention for your canine friends is imperative. We are starting to learn more about feline heartworm disease also. Cats contract heartworm disease from infected mosquitoes like our dog friends but they manifest the disease much differently. With cats, it is more difficult to detect heartworm disease and treatment is not available. The only tool we have for felines is a monthly preventative. There are 2 topical preventative medications on the market today including Revolution and Advantage Multi that will protect cats from getting heartworm disease. Indoor cats are at just as much of a risk as well.
Dogs and cats need to be receiving monthly heartworm prevention year round. This state does not get cold enough to kill all stages of mosquitoes therefore year round protection is highly recommended. We recommend you obtain your heartworm protection from your veterinarian. I know in these times it's very inviting to use an online pharmacy to obtain your heartworm prevention, but the product will have no guarantee unless it is sold by a veterinarian. The guarantee means that if your pet has been on heartworm prevention year round and happens to contract heartworm disease (no medicine is 100% effective) the company will accept liability and pay for the treatment which can range from $1000-$1500. The price for prevention obviously outweighs the cost and pain associated with the treatment.
Call with any questions you may have.
Dr. Garrity
The Downtown Animal Hospital
502-585-1010
Since the weather is warming up and everyone (including our furry friends) wants to be OUTSIDE I thought discussing microchipping would be a great idea! So to start from the very beginning, your pets can be administered an identity chip under the skin. We administer this chip under the skin at the neck by needle . The chip gets registered with your address and if your pet ever gets lost and ends up at the vet, humane society or animal shelter it will get scanned with a microchip reader. Obviously your pet can then be tracked back to you if he/she becomes separated. I.D. tags can fade or fall off where a microchip stays within the skin forever. No adverse effects have been noted from the chip remaining under the skin for the lifetime of the pet.
We have seen many pets this season that have gotten lost and a good samaritan has brought them into the hospital, we scanned them and they were returned to their owner-Happy Ending!
The moral of the story is get your pet microchipped asap. Most adoption organizations microchip before the pet is even adopted, so be sure to update the information on-line with your current address. It is also a good idea for your pet to have an I.D. tag as well as a microchip.
Have a safe and wonderful spring!!
Dr. Garrity
The Downtown Animal Hospital
www.thedowntownanimalhospital.com
502-585-1010
Has anyone heard about the so-called "animal shelter" down in Bowling Green that was raided by state authorities last week? They found over 300 dogs and cats in horrific conditions, and even found bodies of dead pets in with live animals. These situations all stem from pet over population.
Every year between 6-8 million dogs and cats enter US shelters, some 3-4 million are euthanized because there are not enough homes for them. The solution to pet over-population is to spay and neuter your pets!
$2 billion is spent annually by local governments to shelter and ultimately destroy 8-10 million adoptable dogs and cats due to the shortage of homes. Each day 10,000 humans are born in the United States, and each day 70,000 puppies and kittens are born. As long as these birth rates exist, there will never be enough homes for all the animals, and high population numbers equal high euthanasia numbers.
**The average number of litters from a cat per year is 3.
* The average number of kittens in a litter is 4-6.
In a ten year period, a female cat can produce 180 kittens.
**The average number of litters from a dog per year is 2.
* The average number of puppies in a litter is 6-10.
In a ten year period, a female dog can produce 200 puppies.
You can do the math from here!
The main cause of accidental litters is procrastination and the cost of spaying and neutering. Louisville has many low cost/low income resources for spaying and neutering pets. Metro Animal Services and The Snip Clinic are two organizations locally that offer low cost spay/neuter services. Also, get your pet spayed/neutered before they reach sexual maturity (before 6 months of age). Not only will this prevent unwanted puppies/kittens, your pet will live a longer, happier, and healthier life.
For questions on spaying/neutering ( we also offer this service), please call The Downtown Animal Hospital (502) 585-1010.
February is National Pet Dental Health Month, and The Downtown Animal Hospital is offering a 20% discount on all dental cleanings for the month of February. Dental care is extremely important to an animal's overall health. If left untreated, bacteria from the mouth can enter the blood stream causing a compromised immune system, systemic infections, heart conditions, and kidney complications. If Dr. Garrity has mentioned to you that your pet has dental calculus during a routine exam, please take advantage of this one time offer.
An annual dental cleaning is a great way for Dr. Garrity to check the health of your pet's mouth, address dental problems, and correct them. The dental cleaning consists of an ultrasonic dental scaling and polishing of the teeth. We will also chart your pet's teeth to keep track of any problem areas such as gingivitis, fractures, and abnormal wearing. General anesthesia with intubation will be necessary. We utilize human quality anesthesia called Propofol and Isoflurane. The package also includes an I.V. catheter and I.V. fluids, ECG with pulse oximetry monitoring, a surgical nurse, hospitalization, and an antibiotic injection.
After your pet's dental cleaning, Dr. Garrity will make recommendations regarding an at home treatment plan for your pet. These efforts will help to lengthen the time between professional dental cleanings.
If you have a puppy or kitten, now is the time to start brushing their teeth to help prevent dental calculus. Always use pet toothpaste, which comes in a variety flavors. It is important to make brushing a stress free and positive experience.
If you have any questions about your pet's dental health or dental cleanings, please let us know by e-mailing us at garrity@thedowntownanimalhospital.com, or calling us at 502-585-1010.
April is national heartworm disease awareness month. I wanted to bring it to everyone's attention that heartworm disease in Kentucky is a very real problem. This state is endemic for canine heartworm disease. Yearly testing and monthly prevention for your canine friends is imperative. We are starting to learn more about feline heartworm disease also. Cats contract heartworm disease from infected mosquitoes like our dog friends but they manifest the disease much differently. With cats, it is more difficult to detect heartworm disease and treatment is not available. The only tool we have for felines is a monthly preventative. There are 2 topical preventative medications on the market today including Revolution and Advantage Multi that will protect cats from getting heartworm disease. Indoor cats are at just as much of a risk as well. 
Since the weather is warming up and everyone (including our furry friends) wants to be OUTSIDE I thought discussing microchipping would be a great idea! So to start from the very beginning, your pets can be administered an identity chip under the skin. We administer this chip under the skin at the neck by needle . The chip gets registered with your address and if your pet ever gets lost and ends up at the vet, humane society or animal shelter it will get scanned with a microchip reader. Obviously your pet can then be tracked back to you if he/she becomes separated. I.D. tags can fade or fall off where a microchip stays within the skin forever. No adverse effects have been noted from the chip remaining under the skin for the lifetime of the pet. 
Dr. G