Prescriptions delivered to your door!
Hudson Veterinary Hospital has opened our online vet store! Medications, food and other pet goodies can now be delivered to your door. Most of our products are competitively priced with 1800Petmeds and there are no shipping fees on prescription medications.

If you have provided our hospital with an e-mail address, use your e-mail address as your login and your home phone (with area code) as your password. If you have not provided us with an e-mail, use your home phone for both fields.

Once you have logged in you can shop through the many products and medications we offer, including some items we do not stock in hospital like litter boxes, litter, leashes and dog toys! Keep in mind that any medication requiring a prescription must be prescribed by one of our veterinarians, even when buying online.

Should you require a prescription for a product, we will be notified within a ½ hour to authorize it and have it shipped. We do not sell insulin or controlled substances (ex. Phenobarbitol or Tussigon) through our online store.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Did your furry friend dress up for the holidays? If so, send us a picture! All pictures submitted by January 14, 2007 will be judged by the HVH staff. All submissions will be posted in our photo gallery, AND the best picture will win a free 6 month supply of Frontline.

Click to email
your pics to us!

Our store offers many options to make ordering easier. In addition to free shipping on prescription medication, we also offer automatic refills. If you select this option we will ship the medicine to you before your prescription runs out, or if you would prefer, you can choose to have an e-mail sent reminding you to sign in and refill your prescription.

Medicines through our store are guaranteed. If you are having a hard time administering tablet medications, let us know and we can compound the medicine into either a liquid or a transdermal cream, usually at no additional charge! Our goal is to provide the best possible care for your pet and to help you continue this care at home.

We also offer home delivery of pet food, both prescription and non, and other items that may be helpful for you or fun for your pet! Please call or e-mail our hospital with any questions or if you would like assistance setting up your account. Happy shopping!

Pets as Presents

As the holidays approach you're thinking about gifts…and perhaps about adopting a new pet or giving a pet as a gift. Bringing a new pet into your home is a huge responsibility and there is a lot to do before making this commitment. Your very first step should be to contact your veterinary hospital and research breeds online to determine which breeds would be appropriate for your family's needs. Each breed has specific characteristics that may or may not blend well with your lifestyle and level of activity. Be sure that you start by identifying several breeds that will be suitable matches for you. Consider whether the holidays are the right time for a new addition. Holidays are hectic and new pets need a lot of attention. If you are not prepared, bringing a new pet into your home during this time can create additional complications.

Pet Stores do a great deal of business around the holidays. They rely on outside sources to supply them with their animals and tend to have a selection of 20 - 30 purebred and 'designer mixes' available at a time. These pets are usually examined by a local vet to ensure they are "fit for sale." Most pet stores have a return policy if your veterinarian finds the new pet is unhealthy, has a congenital condition or is otherwise "unfit for sale."

Breeders tend to have a small supply of one or two breeds available at a time. Because numbers are limited, breeders often have a more intimate knowledge of individual animals' personalities and medical histories than a pet store will. A reputable breeder will guarantee their pets' health and temperament.

Breed rescue groups are great if you want a specific breed but would rather adopt than purchase. Breed rescues are groups of volunteers devoted to helping a single breed. They typically foster the pets in homes while searching for new families. Most require an adoption application and undergo a home visit before adopting one of their rescues. Some may also require you return the pet to them if the adoption is unsuccessful.

Animal shelters are popular places to adopt a pet. Shelters have a large selection of ages and breeds that have been medically and behaviorally evaluated before adoption. Many of these pets are wonderful animals who were surrendered because their owners were unable to care for them. Almost all shelters have an application process and require the pets be spayed or neutered before adoption.

Research! Wherever you get your new pet, be sure to ask about the policy for treating pre-existing conditions as well as the return policy should the relationship not be successful. Research the organization/breeder's reputation and examine where the pets are being kept. If the facility's reputation is questionable or seems untidy and pets seem thin or unhealthy, you may want to consider searching elsewhere. If you are purchasing or adopting a purebred, research or call your vet for information about breed-specific issues and, if buying from a breeder, ask if there is a history of these problems in the line. Of course, always be sure to spend some time with the animal before purchasing or adopting.

Keep in mind that when you get a pet, you make a commitment to that animal for the duration of his/her life! Giving a pet as a surprise gift can cause unnecessary problems, so be sure that all adults in the family are ready to help out and onboard with the new addition. Talk to your vet about recommendations for food, vaccination schedules, housebreaking and other puppy/kitten issues. The more prepared you are, the easier the transition will be for you and your new pet!

Keep your eyes open for "New Year - New Pets" in January's newsletter!

Case of the month: Bartonella, the "Cat Scratch Disease"

By Dr. Carrie Poff

"Clover," a six month old tabby presented to our hospital for anorexia, lethargy and an upper respiratory infection. On physical exam she was underweight, mildly dehydrated, had swollen lymph nodes and had difficulty breathing through her nose.

In hospital testing showed that she was not anemic and that she was negative for both Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). A blood sample was sent to the National Veterinary Laboratory to test for bartonella, a bacteria that can cause inflammatory diseases in cats. The lab reported the sample was positive for Bartonella.

"Clover" was treated with the antibiotic, azithromycin and her clinical signs completely resolved.

What is Bartonella?

Bartonella, the "Cat Scratch Disease," is a bacterial infection that can cause significant disease in many species including people. The bacteria are transmitted to cats by insects such as fleas, ticks, flies and lice as well as direct contact with other infected cats. "Cat Scratch Disease" is spread to people mainly by scratches, but can also be spread by bites and contact with saliva. In people, Bartonella may cause severe disease.

What are the clinical signs?

The most common clinical signs of Bartonella in cats include upper respiratory disease, ocular (eye) disease, vomiting and diarrhea, oral diseases, and even skin diseases, but it can present in other ways as well. Many infected cats harbor the bacteria in their body and do not show any clinical signs at all, but are still able to pass the infection on to other animals (including people) that may become sick. For information on how Bartonella affects people, contact your physician.

URI

Uveitis & Conjunctivitis

Which cats should be tested?

All newly adopted cats or kittens, indoor/outdoor or strictly outdoor cats, and cats with a history of flea or tick infestation should be tested annually as these are the cats most at risk. Newly adopted cats or kittens and cats that are permitted outdoors should be tested annually for FeLV and FIV as well. These tests help veterinarians determine the over-all health of your new pet and can alert you to these diseases. While FeLV and FIV are viruses and cannot be treated, Bartonella is a bacteria and thus very treatable.

How common is Bartonella in cats?

Bartonella is found throughout the United States but warm, humid areas have the highest prevalence of infection. The northeast (including New York) has a moderate prevalence of Bartonella. Cats adopted from shelters and stray cats have the highest incidence of disease. Up to 50% of stray or shelter cats are positive for Bartonella. Remember, many cats that harbor the disease may not be clinically ill even though they carry the disease and can spread it to others.

What is the treatment?

All cats that test positive for the Bartonella bacteria should be treated. The most common treatment for Bartonella is azithromycin, an antibiotic, given orally for 21 days. For ease of use, this antibiotic is usually compounded into a liquid for the owner to administer at home. Cats should have their titers checked 6 months after completing treatment to be sure the infection has resolved.

Summary
Feline Bartonella is a bacterial infection that is spread by insects or animal-to-animal contact. Strays and cats adopted from shelters are at the highest risk of infection, but any cat is susceptible, so we recommend testing all cats. Many cats can by asymptomatic carriers and may never get sick, but can still pass the disease on to other animals and people through scratches, bites or saliva. Signs of the disease in cats vary and can be very vague. They may include upper respiratory signs, gastrointestinal, oral and ocular diseases. Any cat that tests positive for Bartonella should be treated, without exception.
Dr. Poff's quote of the day:
"The more we learn the more we realize how much we do not know!"

Photographs courtesy of Dr. William D. Hardy, J.R., VMD.