Temporary Shortage of Novartis products

Novartis, maker of Interceptor, Sentinel and Deramaxx, has temporarily suspended production and shipment at one of its manufacturing sites. This voluntary decision to suspend production is driven by their commitment to high standards. It involves the packaging only, not the products.
During this shortage, we will temporarily offer Heartgard Plus. It is a chewable heartworm medication similar to Interceptor.
If your pet is on Clomicalm, click here to view images to compare to your tablets. Make sure they are the right dosage in your bottle.

Toilet Training your Cat Takes Patience

If you have a cat, chances are you've heard that it's possible to train them to eliminate waste in the toilet. It's certainly every cat owner's dream, isn't it? Ahh, to be free of the weights of the litter scoop and bag, and only have to remember to flush more frequently. Keep in mind:

• It will take time and patience, because standard cat behavior is to be upset when there is a change.
• If you have a second bathroom, it is best to devote that one bathroom to training the cat until the task is done.
• Kittens are messy. Be extra patient with them.
• It IS POSSIBLE to train a cat!

Step 1. Move the litterbox toward and into the bathroom. If you are introducing either an older cat or a kitten to going in the bathroom, you should start off with litter of some kind. The litterbox starts outside the bathroom, and every 3 days, move it 4 inches closer to the toilet. Once it is against the base of the toilet, you can move on.
Step 2. Raise the litterbox. Place some newspapers, a telephone book or a very low cardboard box under the litterbox, raising it about 2 inches. Three days later, raise it another 2 inches. Keep doing this until the litterbox is level with the toilet. Once it is at that height, leave it for a few days and move on.
Step 3. Shift the box from the raised support to on top of the toilet seat. Just as you moved the box into the bathroom very slowly, move it over to the top of the lid very slowly.
Support it the best way you can, with boxes or other things placed next to it to steady it, or you can even use duct tape to secure it. Just make sure it does not shift, or Kitty will feel insecure and won't go in the raised box.
Step 4. Get a special litter pan specifically for toilet training cats. Some of the most notable training pans are CitiKitty and Litter Kwitter. They employ special plastic rings that hold litter, and eventually the rings get smaller, training the cat to balance on the toilet seat. Litter Kwitter even has a system for training MULTIPLE cats (which is definitely something I would need in my house).
If you and your cat are having a hard time, go back a step or two. The cat will be more likely to absorb its training if you move slowly. Also, make sure other cats are not bothering them when they go to the bathroom, because that can be a major factor when we see inappropriate urination. Give us a call if you need anything!

The Importance of X-rays at the Veterinarian

Our Digital X-ray Machine

X-ray machines use electromagnetic waves that are invisible to the human eye. They are the same type of waves as light waves, only we can't see them. The X-ray machine emits the waves through the body, and then projects onto a film or digital image device, depending on the type of machine. Some of the tissues in the body are more dense than others. Bone is more dense than muscle, so it will absorb more of the X-ray radiation. When that happens, we get a picture of the inside of the body.
It's easy to imagine why a picture of the inside of the body would be beneficial to our veterinarians. So many conditions are detectable through X-ray imaging. Not only can we see fractures and arthritis, but we can visualize bladder stones, the spine, pelvis, heart and lungs, impaction of the bowels and foreign bodies.
Animals sometimes eat the craziest things. We've gotten calls here about patients eating an engagement ring, baby pacifiers, rocks, a soda cozy, and a sewing needle with the string still attached. Our doctors were able to see these things in the stomach and do what needed to be done for the patients. "They Ate What?" from Veterinary Practice News
Here at Rau Animal Hospital, we have a digital x-ray machine. This is beneficial in several ways:

• A darkroom with processing chemicals is no longer needed on premises
• The processing time is cut down from minutes (film) to seconds (digital)
• Transport of X-rays involves a CD or email, instead of a bulky set of films
• Less radiation is needed for every X-ray

All of our radiographs are sent out to a specialist for reading, after our vets look at them. This ensures a correct diagnosis of each condition, and also a second pair of eyes to catch things we may have missed. The results are quick, due to our ability to send X-rays electronically.
We love knowing we can give fast treatment for serious cases with the aid of our Digital X-ray machine. Rau's Surgical & X-ray page