Laser Therapy For Cats

FIRST Regional Animal Hospital is excited to offer our clients Companion Laser Therapy. Laser therapy provides a non-invasive, pain-free, surgery-free, drug-free treatment which is used to treat a variety of conditions and can be performed in conjunction with existing treatment protocols.  Relief and/or improvement is often noticed within hours depending on the condition and your pet’s response. Whether your pet is rehabilitating from trauma or injury, healing from wounds, or simply aging, your companion can benefit from this innovative approach to treating pain.

Applications for laser therapy include:

•        Treatment of arthritis, degenerative joint disease, or hip dysplasia

•        General pain management (sprains, strains, and stiffness)

•        Post-surgery pain (spays, neuters, declaws, and other surgeries)

•        Skin problems (hot spots, lick granulomas, infections)

•        Dental procedures

•        Fractures and wounds (bites, abrasions, and lesions)

•        Ear infections

How does it work?

Laser therapy stimulates the body to heal from within. Non-thermal photons of light are administered to the body for about 3 to 8 minutes and absorbed by the injured cells. The cells are then stimulated and respond with a higher rate of metabolism. This results in relief from pain, increased circulation, reduced inflammation, and an acceleration of the healing process.

What can my pet expect during a laser therapy treatment session?

Simply put, it provides relief. As the laser is administered, your pet will relax and enjoy the treatment. The almost immediate relief of pain will allow your pet to be comfortable and any anxiety that your pet initially experiences will dissipate. Occasionally, angry cats will start to purr and canine companions will actually fall asleep during their therapy session. Frequently, after therapy, we hear: “He’s acting like a puppy again” or “She can actually jump onto the chair again.” Pain relief is provided in just a few minutes of therapy and that alone improves the quality of life for your companion.

What are the signs that my pet can benefit from Companion Laser Therapy?

Many of our laser therapy patients are older animals with musculoskeletal ailments. Some signs that your senior companion is experiencing pain or discomfort are:

•        Abnormal sitting or lying posture

•        Circling multiple times before lying down

•        Restlessness

•        Whining, groaning or other vocalizations

•        Limping, unable to get up or lie down

•        Difficulty getting into car or down stairs

•        Lack of grooming

•        Won’t wag tail

•        Licking or biting area

•        Lack of appetite

•        Trembling

Contact our practice today to schedule an appointment or obtain additional information.

Laser Therapy Reduces Pain and Speeds Healing

FIRST Regional Animal Hospital is excited to offer our clients Companion Laser Therapy. Laser therapy provides a non-invasive, pain-free, surgery-free, drug-free treatment which is used to treat a variety of conditions and can be performed in conjunction with existing treatment protocols.  Relief and/or improvement is often noticed within hours depending on the condition and your pet’s response. Whether your pet is rehabilitating from trauma or injury, healing from wounds, or simply aging, your companion can benefit from this innovative approach to treating pain.

Applications for laser therapy include:

•        Treatment of arthritis, degenerative joint disease, or hip dysplasia

•        General pain management (sprains, strains, and stiffness)

•        Post-surgery pain (spays, neuters, declaws, and other surgeries)

•        Skin problems (hot spots, lick granulomas, infections)

•        Dental procedures

•        Fractures and wounds (bites, abrasions, and lesions)

•        Ear infections

How does it work?

Laser therapy stimulates the body to heal from within. Non-thermal photons of light are administered to the body for about 3 to 8 minutes and absorbed by the injured cells. The cells are then stimulated and respond with a higher rate of metabolism. This results in relief from pain, increased circulation, reduced inflammation, and an acceleration of the healing process.

What can my pet expect during a laser therapy treatment session?

Simply put, it provides relief. As the laser is administered, your pet will relax and enjoy the treatment. The almost immediate relief of pain will allow your pet to be comfortable and any anxiety that your pet initially experiences will dissipate. Occasionally, angry cats will start to purr and canine companions will actually fall asleep during their therapy session. Frequently, after therapy, we hear: “He’s acting like a puppy again” or “She can actually jump onto the chair again.” Pain relief is provided in just a few minutes of therapy and that alone improves the quality of life for your companion.

What are the signs that my pet can benefit from Companion Laser Therapy?

Many of our laser therapy patients are older animals with musculoskeletal ailments. Some signs that your senior companion is experiencing pain or discomfort are:

•        Abnormal sitting or lying posture

•        Circling multiple times before lying down

•        Restlessness

•        Whining, groaning or other vocalizations

•        Limping, unable to get up or lie down

•        Difficulty getting into car or down stairs

•        Lack of grooming

•        Won’t wag tail

•        Licking or biting area

•        Lack of appetite

•        Trembling

Contact our practice today to schedule an appointment or obtain additional information.

Laser Therapy

FIRST Regional Animal Hospital is excited to offer our clients Companion Laser Therapy. Laser therapy provides a non-invasive, pain-free, surgery-free, drug-free treatment which is used to treat a variety of conditions and can be performed in conjunction with existing treatment protocols.  Relief and/or improvement is often noticed within hours depending on the condition and your pet’s response. Whether your pet is rehabilitating from trauma or injury, healing from wounds, or simply aging, your companion can benefit from this innovative approach to treating pain.

How does it work?
Laser therapy stimulates the body to heal from within. Non-thermal photons of light are administered to the body for about 3 to 8 minutes and absorbed by the injured cells. The cells are then stimulated and respond with a higher rate of metabolism. This results in relief from pain, increased circulation, reduced inflammation, and an acceleration of the healing process.

Applications for laser therapy include

• Treatment of arthritis, degenerative joint disease, or hip dysplasia
• General pain management (sprains, strains and stiffness)
• Post-surgery pain (spays, neuters, declaws and other surgeries)
• Skin problems (hotspots, lick granulomas, infection)
• Dental procedures
• Fractures and wounds (bites, abrasions and lesions)
• Ear infections

What can my pet expect during laser therapy session?
Simply put, it provides relief. As the laser is administered, your pet will relax and enjoy the treatment. The almost immediate relief of pain will allow your pet to be comfortable and any anxiety that your pet initially experiences will dissipate. Occasionally, angry cats will start to purr and canine companions will actually fall asleep during their therapy session. Frequently, after therapy, we hear: “He’s acting like a puppy again” or “She can actually jump onto the chair again.” Pain relief is provided in just a few minutes of therapy and that alone improves the quality of life for your companion.

What are the signs that may pet can benefit from Companion Laser Therapy?
Many of our laser therapy patients are older animals with musculoskeletal ailments. Some signs that your senior companion is experiencing pain or discomfort are:

• Abnormal sitting or lying posture
• Circulating multiple times before lying down
• Restlessness
• Whining, groaning or other vocalizations
• Limping, having trouble getting up or lying down
• Difficulty getting into car or down stairs
• Lack of grooming
• Won't wag tail
• Lisking or biting area
• Lack of appetite
• Trembling

Please contact FIRST Regional Animal Hospital to schedule an appointment or for more information. Call 480-732-0018, or use the link below to set up an appointment.

Online Appointments
Please use our convenient Online Appointment Form to make an appointment for your pet(s). Making an appointment has never been so easy! Appointments may be made Monday, Tuesday, and Friday 1pm–8pm and Wednesday and Thursday 9am–11am and 1pm–4pm.

Online Prescription Refills
Please use our Online Prescription Refill Form to request a prescription refill for your pet(s). We will notify you when you can pick up your pet’s needed medication(s) at FIRST Regional Animal Hospital.

Does an MRI Hurt a Microchip?

With MRIs becoming more available, the question about their impact on identification microchips in pets has come up.

This study was based on 53 client-owned patients implanted with a microchip and undergoing MRI of various areas of the body for a variety of medical conditions.

General anesthesia was induced and each patient's microchip was scanned with a universal microchip scanner; the chip number was recorded. Patients were moved out of the magnetic environment, and microchips were scanned again. Patient information and chip number were recorded. Chip numbers before and after MRi were compared.

For all 53 microchips scanned from 53 patients, the same number was read accurately following MRI of a variety of sites.

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These date indicated that MRI did not interfere with the functionality of these microchips. This information is valuable for practitioners recommending MRI for their patients and for clients who have invested in implanting a microchip in pets.

Pets & Cookouts

The weather is getting warmer and many people are firing up their grills for burgers, hotdogs, steaks and ribs. Dogs love the smell of meat, and some dogs will do anything to get some for themselves. Knowing this, it's important to use extra caution around the grill during cooking. Remember, your dog won't use caution about which part of the meat he eats if he grabs a piece, and swallowed bones could mean injury, or even death. It's just not worth it! Keep Fido inside during the grilling festivities.

Pets & Easter Chocolate

Chocolate is delicious to most of us, but for your pet, it's a different story. Chocolate can contain high amounts of fat and methylxanthines (a caffeine-like ingredient), which can cause flu-like symptoms in your pet if eaten. Some of these symptoms could include vomiting and diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, seizures and in severe cases it can be fatal. Avoid endangering the life of your pet...give them pet-safe treats instead!

Tomorrow is 'If Pets Had Thumbs Day'

Potentially 2 New Strains of Distemper Affecting Pets Throughout the Country

(PHOENIX) – As cases of the highly contagious, often fatal distemper disease surface throughout the Valley, the Arizona Humane Society is issuing a community wide health alert to pet owners within Arizona. While increased occurrences of distemper typically arise in the spring due to an increase in the number of litters of puppies, signs of the disease are appearing much earlier as cases have recently emerged as far away as Florida, Ohio and Georgia. 

        There is also evidence to suggest that two new strains of distemper indigenous to Europe have made their way to the U.S. and while the typical incubation period for distemper is one to two weeks the new strains may have even longer incubation periods. In addition, distemper was once thought of as a disease that primarily affected puppies who have not had all of their “puppy” shots; however, there is evidence of older pets with unconfirmed vaccination histories becoming infected with the distemper virus. 

        This extremely contagious whole body viral disease is shed in bodily secretions of infected animals and spread via inhalation. Once inhaled, the virus moves to the lymph nodes where it begins reproducing. The virus then spreads to the blood and the cell lining of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital and central nervous system of infected animals. Symptoms vary from dog to dog, but often include: discharge from eyes/nose, coughing, lethargy, lack of appetite, callusing of nose/foot pads, vomiting, diarrhea and seizures.

        While AHS vaccinates all animals upon intake into its shelter, it is imperative that the community is diligent and does the same by updating their pet’s vaccinations as directed by their veterinarian. Distemper, just as the equally fatal parvovirus, is a community problem. Therefore, people must be very careful when taking their pets to communal areas such as dog parks or other public areas with unknown dogs. In addition, unvaccinated dogs are at high risk for contracting the disease. Currently, there is no specific treatment or cure for the distemper virus.

                For dogs suspected of having distemper, it is imperative that they be checked by a vet immediately and isolated from other dogs within the home. In the event your pet is diagnosed with the distemper virus a thorough cleaning of your home with disinfectant is necessary.

        AHS is taking every precautionary measure available to ensure the health of the animals in our care and in our community. In addition, AHS is working closely with our vaccination representatives as new information becomes available while also working in conjunction with Oklahoma State University regarding a research study so we can gain more information on the deadly virus.              

Raw Food Diet Controversy

Thanksgiving Pet Safety Tips

November is Pet Cancer Awareness Month

Did you know?
-Cancer accounts for nearly 50% of all disease-related pet deaths each year
-One in four dogs die of cancer.
-Approximately 1 in 4 dogs develops a tumor of some kind during his lifetime.
-Just like in humans, cancer can occur in any part of your dog’s body.

Are you aware that November is Pet Cancer Awareness Month? Run your hands over your pet and feel for any unusual lumps or bumps. If you feel something new or unusual, let's take a look at it. Dogs and cats can get benign lumps such as lipomas and sebaceous cysts, but they can also get much more serious tumors, like mast cell tumors, melanomas, squamous cell carcinomas, and many others. Many of these can be diagnosed with a simple in-office procedure involving a needle aspirate and then a microscopic exam of the cells obtained. A fine needle aspirate is generally less painful than a vaccination, so don't hesitate to get that lump checked out. The importance of annual check-ups regardless of the age of your pet is critical in the prevention of cancer. 

Here are the top 10 early warning signs of pet cancer listed out by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

1. Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow
2. Sores that do not heal
3. Weight loss
4. Loss of appetite
5. Bleeding or discharge from any body opening
6. Offensive odor
7. Difficulty eating or swallowing
8. Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina
9. Persistent lameness or stiffness
10. Difficulty breathing, urinating or defecating

Better to be safe than sorry, and much better to catch something sooner rather than later!

Team Member of the Month

We are proud to announce Stephanie Heitz as our Team Member of the Month! She is currently attending the Veterinary Technician program at Kaplan College and will graduate at the beginning of 2012. She will then hopefully be working toward a DVM. We are proud to have her as a part of our team!

 

Did You Know...

Did you know that Sir Isaac Newton, who first described the principle of gravity, also invented the swinging cat door for the convenience of his many cats? The story goes that Newton, working on laboratory light experiments, was repeatedly foiled by unwanted light from a cat pushing open a door. Not wanting to banish the cat, Newton cut a hole in the door, and attached a piece of felt to block out unwanted light. Since Newton and the cat were now happy, the world's first cat flap solved the light problem nicely. Do you have a Cat Flap in your home for your feline friend? If so, you have Sir Isaac Newton to thank!

 

Pets and Heat

The Arizona heat is intense! Be mindful when walking your dog this summer, that the sidewalk is very hot and can burn the pad of their paws. We encourage you to minimize exercise with your pet during the heat of the day and walk or play in the morning or evening. Remember, short-faced dogs cannot regulate their temperatures as well as long-nosed dogs can. Large dogs are also more at risk for this, but we need to be careful with all pets. Don't let your pet overexert themselves or they can get heat stress, heat exhaustion or even heat stroke! Dogs can still overheat with water and shade, so minimize outdoor exposure when it is hot and sunny.

 

Proper Way to Remove a Tick

What does my BAD cat need?

You feed and groom her. You tell her she's wonderful and give her plenty lap time. Great going. But it's not enough. Orchestrated playtime is increasingly being prescribed by experts. You and the cat. Together. Regularly and often.

It's a crucial piece of creating the kind of environment that fosters happier, less stressed and more fit felines, they say.

Though some cat owners came to realize long ago that engaging cats in activity was not only amusing to watch but reduced kitty boredom and 3a.m. mischief making, "it's surprising how many people don't realize how important this kind of environmental enrichment is for all cats," says renowned cat behavior cat consultant Pam Johnson-Bennett, author of several cat books. "There's still a very strong feeling among many people that cats are no-maintenance."

Toys that experts like, and dislike 

Some experts love laser pointers to provide stalking and exercise opportunities; others hate them. Author Pam Johnson-Bennett is among the latter.
"The cat follows it, leaps on it but never really catches anything or even makes contact with anything," so its an exercise in perpetual frustration, she says.
She's also not a fan of "toys that are battery-operated and kind of frantic and large," because they make many cats feel less like the stalker than the stalkee. But it's important to learn your cat's preference, and cats differ greatly."
Revving up interactive activity can solve behavior problems. "When you have a Ferrari, and you're leaving it in the parking garage, you're going to have problems," says Johnson-Bennett, once a lone voice promoting action-oriented interactive play. In recent years, most experts have become a chorus trumpeting its virtues. "Cats needs activity and stimulation," she says, "and opportunities to be challenged."

That doesn't mean tossing cats outside, hoping they'll stalk a bird, will be enough. "We want them inside, as that's where they're safe," she says. And just leaving a furry mouse toy on the floor won't suffice, though that's good for solo play.

The human engaging the cat in ways that prompt the animal to use stalking skills and brainpower is the way to go - allowing Fluffy to be the mighty hunter so emotional, mental and physical needs are met, Johnson-Bennett says.

Wand toys are great for that, and some cats love playing fetch or stalking items you haul around on a string.

Creating ways for the cat to keep busy while you're not there is also important, she says, such as employing kitty puzzle toys or puppy-size food-filled Kongs the cat shoves around to get to the treats.
Some of the best toys cost next to nothing. Johnson-Bennett often tosses around a paper bag with a Ping-Pong ball inside, or empty tissue boxes or paper towel rolls with something inside.

Some people think multi-cat households require no such effort. Wrong. Cats may play together and that's great, but it's not enough. "Two cats can be as inactive and depressed as one," Johnson-Bennett says. Even if they seem content, if the prey-drive need isn't met, they're not fully satisfied. Also: Interactive playtime must be seperate with each cat.

"Play therapy is not a luxury," she says. "It's a necessity."

-Joan Fairman Kanes; USA TODAY
05/16/11

The warm weather and your pet's furry coat are happy hunting grounds for fleas and ticks.  We want you to know that fleas and ticks are more than just pests…they spread diseases, including, lyme disease, Erlichia, tapeworms, anemia, zoonotic intestinal disease and cat scratch fever. We offer flea and tick prevention to help keep your pet healthy and happy during this season. 

Employee of the Month

North Valley Regional Animal Hospital is pleased to show our appreciation to Jamie Pizzitola for her outstanding work and recognize her as Employee of the month! Jamie is a veterinary technician and has been with our hospital since 2008, and our First24Vet team since 2004. She has worked in emergency and specialty areas since she started in the veterinary field. Jamie entered the vet field because she was a huge fan of James Herriott. She wanted to be a veterinarian, but became an assistant and decided she liked the nursing side better. She almost ended up with a Bachelor’s of Art in Art History, but we’re glad she’s joined our team instead! Congratulations and keep up the good work!

Hotdogs, hamburgers and corn on the cob…YES PLEASE! That’s what your pet is thinking when you’re cooking out. We would like to remind you that even a small amount of “people food” can be bad for your pet’s stomach….Don’t forget to be mindful of your pet while cooking out.  

 

Happy Mother's Day!

We would like to wish a Happy Mother's Day weekend to all the pet mommies of fur babies and other pets! We hope you have good memories on Sunday, May 8th and that you do something special with or for your pet that day. Have a great Mother's Day everyone!