Welcome Crystal!

Crystal is a veterinary technician intern from Minnesota School of Business that will be with us for three months. Please help us make her feel welcome at Skyline next time you are in!

Another Rabies Alert

On December 22, the latest positive rabies case was identified in Fillmore County in southeastern Minnesota.  A stray kitten with an injured leg was found on a property in Fillmore County. One of the homeowners approached the kitten and upon picking it up, the kitten bit the individual on the finger. The family attempted to clean up the kitten’s leg and offer it food. The kitten did not eat anything offered, and the kitten’s mouth ‘looked funny’. The following day the kitten was brought to a local veterinary clinic where it was submitted for rabies testing.  The major risk to the people in this situation is too important not to mention again.  These people must now get the post-exposure prophylaxis shots because they have been exposed to the rabies virus.  And we cannot stress enough how important it is for you to keep your pets’ rabies vaccine up-to-date.  The dogs in this household had current vaccines so will have to be monitored for exposure but not euthanized immediately like they would if they had not been vaccinated.  Remember rabies is a deadly disease that is present in Minnesota so please keep your pets’ vaccines current.

Rabies and Flu Update

Rabies Alert

Another confirmed case of rabies was announced on December 1st.  A stray cat in Olmstead County, in the southeastern portion of the state, was taken in by a family at the end of October.  The cat was spayed and vaccinated, after which the cat started developing neurologic signs such as aggression, vocalization, wobbly in the rear end and scooting.  The cat was euthanized and tested for rabies then.  The unvaccinated cats in the home also euthanized while the vaccinated cats in the home have to be quarantined.   The owner, three relatives and four veterinary staff members all need to be treated with post-exposure prophylaxis shots.  This is just another serious and sad reminder of how important it is to keep our pets up-to-date on their vaccines, especially their rabies vaccine.

 

Canine Influenza Update

In a national survey of pet care facilities, over a quarter of all surveyed are now requiring that dogs be vaccinated for canine influenza virus (dog flu) before being allowed to board or stay at the facility.  Even if a facility is not requiring the vaccine, please consider getting the canine influenza virus vaccine that we offer to help protect your dog wherever you go – boarding, grooming, dog parks, doggie daycare.

 

Keep our furry friends safe!

While we get into the spirit of the season with decorations and food, remember that these things can cause serious disease and even death in our four-legged family members. Cats love to eat ribbons and bows which can get stuck in their mouth or stomach and may even have to be removed surgically. Many dogs love the food we do but remember that too many rich foods, such as cookies and meat, can lead to an upset stomach that may require hospitalization for treatment. Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, can lead to an increased heart rate and death in our canine friends so please keep those candies out of reach.


Graphic courtesy of Fine Line Web Design (Cat in the graphic courtesy of Can Stock Photo)

What you can do for Canine Flu!

Dog flu, first identified in September 2005, is a contagious respiratory disease in dogs caused by a specific Type A influenza virus referred to as a “canine influenza virus.” This is a disease of dogs, not of humans.

The symptoms of this illness in dogs are cough, runny nose and fever. However, a small portion of dogs can develop severe disease.

The number of dogs infected with this disease that die is very small. Some dogs have asymptomatic infections (no symptoms) while some have severe infections. Severe illness is characterized by the onset of pneumonia. Although this is a relatively new cause of disease in dogs and nearly all dogs are susceptible to infection, about 80 percent of dogs will have a mild form of the disease.

Canine influenza virus can be spread by direct contact with infected dogs, by contact with contaminated objects and by people moving between infected and uninfected dogs. Dog owners whose dogs are coughing or showing other signs of respiratory disease should not participate in activities or bring their dogs to facilities where other dogs can be exposed to the virus.

Clothing, equipment, surfaces and hands should be cleaned and disinfected after exposure to dogs showing signs of respiratory disease.

Treatment for milder cases of dog flu may include medication to make your dog more comfortable and fluids to ensure that your dog remains well-hydrated. Broad spectrum antibiotics may be prescribed if a secondary bacterial infection is suspected.

What you can do to help protect your pet…

There is now a canine influenza vaccine available at Skyline for $20.99 and is effective for this flu season. It is especially recommended if your dog boards, gets groomed or visits any off-leash park with other dogs.  Ask Dr. Speltz about it today at 763-574-9892!

Out with the Old and In with the New!!

Here is a picture walk-through following the new furnaces and air conditioners as we had them replaced this October.  They were replacing the original  fixtures put in when Skyline was built in 1970.  They served us well for 41 years and deserve their retirement!

First Rabies Positive Dog of the Year in Minnesota

The first rabies positive dog of the year in Minnesotay was found on Tuesday October 18th in Lincoln County in the southwestern part of the state. The dog was not vaccinated for rabies. Approximately three weeks ago the dog was seen with a wound on its neck and subsequently started developing incoordination and exaggerated movements which progressed to paralysis of the back legs. Since the family had all been exposed to the dog while the dog was shedding virus, all members must get the series of shots to help protect them from developing rabies too. The other unvaccinated dog in that family will also have to be euthanized to test for rabies. Here in Minnesota the rabies virus is always present in the wildlife, primarily skunks and of course bats. Keeping your dog’s rabies vaccine current is not just a way to protect your pet from this deadly virus but also to protect your family. Rabies is nearly always fatal once contracted. The virus is spread through saliva mainly from bite wounds of a rabid animal but you can also get it if you get the drool from an infected animal in any cut or wound you already have in your skin. Here are a few important rules to follow to help keep you and your family (four-legged members and all) protected from rabies:
• Keep your dog, cat and horse’s rabies vaccine up-to-date.
• Stay away from all skunks, especially ones acting oddly or coming close to your house. Call the animal control to deal with them.
• Please call us immediately if you suspect your pet may have had any contact with a skunk or bat.  Remember, bats carry and spread the virus but do not show any signs of illness so just being in contact with a bat is considered possible exposure to rabies.

I’m armed and dangerous!

Canine Distemper Virus is Here

An important canine virus that is becoming more prevalent in our wildlife is canine distemper virus.  Many raccoons in Minnesota and even the Twin Cities area are infected with the virus. These raccoons may show similar signs to rabies, such as incoordination and muscle spasms.  Unfortunately this disease also is highly fatal in both dogs and raccoons.  Thankfully the distemper vaccine is highly effective at protecting our canine friends from the disease.  The other good news (if there can be good news with a deadly virus) is that canine distemper virus does not affect people or cats.  Basically the same general principles for protection of you and your family apply to canine distemper virus as to rabies virus.

Who’s New


Please welcome the newest member of our staff, Jolene. Jolene comes to us from Champlain Park High School and will be working evenings and weekends doing kennels and assisting where ever needed. Please say “Hi” to Jolene when you come in and make her feel like a welcome member of the Skyline team.

A New and Simple Way to Manage Cats with Hyperthyroidism

Does your cat have enough energy for 10 cats, eat every morsel of food in sight and is still losing weight, vomiting frequently or having diarrhea?  If so your cat may have hyperthyroidism.  For those of you that have a cat diagnosed with hyperthyroidism already, are you tired of giving your cat a pill or a liquid medication every day to keep the hyperthyroidism in check?  Does your cat just hate to see you coming with that dreaded bottle?  Well Hill’s Prescription Food line has a new food option that may be just right for your feline friend.  It is called y/d and is a diet designed to manage a cat’s high thyroid hormone levels to be within the normal range without any extra medications. Once transitioned to the y/d diet, your cat will need to be rechecked at 4 and 8 weeks after.  After 4 weeks the thyroid hormone level should be down and after 8 weeks it should be within the normal range in most cats.  And don’t worry if your cat has kidney disease, you can use this diet in your cat also but may need more regular rechecks to manage both conditions.  If you are interested in more information about this new thyroid management diet for your feline companion, please call us at 763-574-9892 and talk to a doctor to see if y/d is right for your cat.

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