OTHER NEWS

TAINTED PET FOOD STILL A CONCERN

We continue to see reports in the news about pet foods that have been recalled due to concerns about a toxic substance that has resulted in multiple pet deaths. Banfield, a corporation that owns many veterinary clinics throughout the country, estimated in March that over 29,000 pets may have been affected nationwide. Since new information appears so frequently, we're unable to keep it updated here, but most of the major news networks continue to follow developments on their websites, and individual manufacturers have been posting information as it becomes available. PLEASE NOTE: Many people think that all of the food of a certain brand or type has been recalled, but most often only specific varieties of foods from specific time periods have been affected. Our office has a comprehensive list of foods and lots that were affected -- please call us with any questions.

PLEASE STAY UP TO DATE ON YOUR RABIES VACCINES!

Rabies is a real risk in the state of Maine for any pet, even if that pet is kept indoors. In 2006 we saw more than one report of people being exposed either to rabid pets or to rabid wild animals, and we personally encountered several cases in which a pet had to be euthanized or quarantined after biting its owner or a family member because it had never been vaccinated (or was overdue on its vaccines) and there was some potential of wild animal exposure. Please don't let this happen to you! To protect us, Maine law requires rabies vaccination of pet dogs, cats, and ferrets. Even if you can't afford a regular veterinary visit for a rabies vaccination for your pet, there are often local rabies clinics to allow this critical bit of prevention.

OVER THE COUNTER FLEA PRODUCTS

We've seen some severe reactions in cats from the use of over-the-counter "spot-on" flea treatments. The dog form of these drugs, either used on the cat directly or from contact with a dog that's had the product applied, can cause seizures and death. We've also seen one of the cat-labeled products causing severe muscle tremors in some cats. So, if you're using any over-the-counter flea control, be careful! The products available through pet stores are often made to look like Frontline Topspot, but they're a completely different drug, and some can be deadly to cats.

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