Clinic News

March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day. St. Patrick was one of the patron saints of Ireland. Don’t forget to wear green. Since green will be the thematic color for March, let us discuss how we can “green” up our pet care and be a little more environmentally conscious. With global warming and abnormal weather patterns, we should make an effort to becoming more eco-friendly in regards to our pets. Though small, our furry friends do leave a carbon footprint. Here are a few tips to “go green” for St. Patrick’s Day.

1. Consider biodegradable litter for your cat. Clay litter is commonly strip-mined. The clumping types also contain substances that expand when wet therefore increasing landfill mass.
2. Place your canine’s feces in biodegradable bags that will breakdown over time in the landfills.
3. When bathing your pets, use natural based shampoos and cleansers that will not contaminate water supplies or impact our waterways.
4. Intergrate natural flea, tick, pest controls in your regimen ie. lemongrass, peppermint, rosemary, thyme, lemon rinses for your dog, and diatomaceous earth.
5. Spay and neuter your pet. Approximately 70,000 puppies and kittens are born every day in the United States and all of these babies are not getting homes but are instead being euthanized.
6. Purchase pet toys made from recycled material.
7. Use natural and organic foods that have no preservatives, growth hormones or antibiotics and certified by the USDA.
8. Put a bell on your outdoor cat. If it’s a hunter this will cut down on its impact on native wildlife.

These are a few things to consider. There are many books and articles that can provide more insight and information about environment conservation, recycling, and decreasing your carbon footprint. As the population increases on the human side, our pet population is also growing. We need to keep our planet as healthy as we keep our pets. Even your furry friend can make it’s contribution to saving our “big blue marble in space”.

Felix C. Pryor, DVM
Lake Veterinary Clinic

Valentine’s Day is a time for showing love and appreciation for your loved ones. This often includes candies, flowers or for the special ones – a ring. We should also take time to show our furred friends how much we love and appreciate them. Bake your cat or dog some special Valentine Day treats (absolutely NO chocolate, raisins or macadamia nuts). Buy them a special Valentines day toy. Beware of stuffed bears. Pets can sometimes chew the stuffing out of the bear or remove the eyes and nose which act as foreign bodies and can cause your loved one some distress.

Here is a recipe for your Valentine’s Day furry sweetheart. Have a safe and loving Valentine’s Day!

Cinnamon Honey Hearts

1/4 cup water
1/4 cup pureed bananas
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 Tablespoon honey
1 Tablespoon canola oil
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup oat flour
1/4 cup rice flour
1 cup wheat flour
Blend together. Cut into heart-shaped treats. Bake at 300 for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy!

Written by Felix Pryor, DVM

February is National Spay/Neuter Awareness Month and Lake County is offering $50 rebates toward the spaying or neutering of your pet. Funds are limited, so don’t wait!

It is so important for the health of your pet to have them spayed or neutered. It also reduces the amount of animals that are euthanized at our local animals shelter because a home cannot be found for them.

We are participating in this program, so give us a call (352-735-6047) and schedule an appointment for your pet today. We have the rebate forms available at our office for your convenience. This offer cannot be used with any other spay/neuter offers.