Meet Sammy, Our August Pet Of The Month!

World, meet Sammy, our August Pet Of The Month! 

Sammy is a 12-year-old Schnauzer who loves visiting his buddies here at the clinic. When he's not out enjoying the neighborhood or chillaxing on his bed, Sammy enjoys snuggling with his family, and playing with his little brother Bleu. Who wouldn't want to quarantine with this cutie pie?

Congratulations, Sammy and share with all your friends - you're our Pet Of The Month!

                                                                Out on the town with Sammy!

Summer and Pets

Summer And Pets
By Dr. Ian Kupkee

As summer drags on, and many of us continue to work from home, we're likely to have more time to spend outdoors with our pets. While pets appreciate the additional attention, it's important to remember the increased hazards that accompany outdoor activities here in South Florida.

Higher resting body temperatures and dense coats make pets much more likely to suffer from heatstroke than their human companions. The best times to exercise pets, especially brachycephalic, or "smush-faced" breeds, is early in the morning, or at dusk. Provide plenty of fresh water and bring pets inside at the first sign of excessive panting. Keep dogs away from bufo toads as their venom can cause seizures and death. Finally, before leash walking pets, place a hand on the pavement to check the temperature. If it's too hot for you, it's too hot for them. Postpone the walk until a cooler time of day to avoid burning your pet's paws.

Plenty of fresh water? Check!

In The New Normal, Fireworks Persist

While living with the threat of Covid 19 is creating a so called "new normal", a popular South Florida holiday tradition seems destined stick around - Fourth of July fireworks. Many municipalities have cancelled official displays to prevent the spread of coronavirus, yet some communities are going full speed ahead. And who are we kidding - it's Miami! There's always that one neighbor...

For shelters across the country, the busiest day for intakes is July 5th. Estimates run as high as 30% to 80%, with fewer than 13% of dogs and 2% of cats being reunited with their heartbroken families. Simply put, fireworks are so terrifying to our pets that many will bolt from the safety of their homes in a blind panic. Our pets do not understand our fascination with fireworks, and their hearing is far more sensitive than ours. Simply put, fireworks are explosions! Is it any wonder our pets don't like them?

Before the fireworks begin, place cats in a separate room with lots of hiding places. Leave closet doors open, allow access to spaces under beds and behind furniture, and make it clear to guests that this room is strictly off-limits. Consider crating or boarding anxious dogs if you cannot confine them to a separate part of the house. Turn on the television or play music to help drown out the noise, and provide them with interesting activities to occupy their minds. For cats, try catnip or an interactive toy. Dogs are often content with a Kong toy that has been stuffed with canned food and placed in the freezer. These "popsicles" can keep them busy for hours. If your pet has a history of fireworks anxiety, consider asking your vet for some anti-anxiety medications. These can take several weeks to achieve the desired results, so the time to do this is now.

CBD Products and Pets

CBD Products and Pets
By Dr. Ian Kupkee

As the legal and social status of marijuana and CBD products has shifted, pet owners have been asking questions about the effectiveness of CBD oils and supplements for their furry friends. Anyone who has searched online or in pet stores knows just how many products are available, and how little seems to be known about them.

When shopping for a CBD product, it is important to be able to access the science behind the product. A seller or manufacturer must be able to articulate where the ingredients are sourced, what doses are recommended, whether or not the product has been studied by an independent third party, and if so, whether or not double-blind placebo tests were performed. Products should be full spectrum, and sourced from organically grown plants. Oils should be CO2 extracted and contain no isolates.  Manufacturers or sellers should be able to provide terpine profiles, and copies of research upon the consumers request. Natural products are not immune to side effects or drug interactions, so remember to check with your pet's veterinarian before using any CBD products.

We Are Open And Here For You

We Are Open And Here For You

Just a reminder that we are OPEN for all veterinary procedures, including vaccinations, surgeries, and dentals, for the continued health of your pets.  We are also here should your pets need us for illness as well as preventative veterinary care.  

Thank you for bearing with us as we adjust to the reality of caring for pets in the time of Covid-19. The following is a list of changes we have made to accommodate the safety of our pets, their parents, and our staff. 

• Curbside service - As many of you already know, we continue to see patients on a “curbside” basis, with clients communicating with our doctors via phone from the comfort and safety of their cars.  We are grateful for the support and understanding you have lavished upon us and our team as we continue to adapt.
• Boarding available - While we are unaware of any of our clients testing positive for Covid-19, we have decided to make our boarding kennel available for clients who may need to be hospitalized, or who may need someone else to temporarily care for their pets. Pets will be bathed upon entering the facility, and boarding charges will be applied to the client’s credit card at the end of every week. Since our boarding kennel is small, this service will only be made available to current clients. 

• Pet transport through Equipaws - While veterinary facilities have been deemed essential businesses by the State of Florida, we understand some clients may not wish to leave their homes for a visit to the vet. In the event your pet must come to see us regardless, please call Equipaws Pet Services at (305) 794-3733. While they are not transporting humans at this time, they will bring your pet to us and return them after the visit. You may contact them directly for a list of services and prices, or follow them on Facebook or Instagram. 

• Payment alternatives - We would also like to remind everyone of the payment options that are available for pet owners in these difficult times.  Clients may apply for CareCredit to help pay for veterinary, dental, and certain medical expenses at www.carecredit.com. They may also apply for Scratchpay at www.scratchpay.com. Most veterinary facilities, including ours, accept payment from both organizations. 

• Trupanion Direct Pay to Vet - We are able to take payments directly from Trupanion if you are a policyholder. If your pet is currently in good health, you may wish to consider Trupanion Pet Insurance. Feel free to call our office to see if your pet qualifies for a free 30-day trial. Learn more at https://trupanion.com/fl/pet-insurance.

Finally, in response to Miami’s drastically reduced commuter traffic window, we will now be closing at 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until further notice. Hours closing may vary, so please call ahead to ensure we are here.

Thank you for your continued support in these challenging times.  Stay well.

Sincerely, 

Dr. Ian Kupkee

Lynn Kupkee 

Sabal Chase Animal Clinic

What To Expect From A "Hypoallergenic" Pet

What To Expect From A Hypoallergenic Pet
By Dr. Ian Kupkee

Over the past decade or so, the popularity of "designer" dogs and cats has been on the rise. One of the reasons for the uptick in demand is the claim that many of these hybridized pets are hypoallergenic. It is widely believed these breeds do not shed, and are ideal pets for humans who suffer from allergic responses to dogs or cats. But which breeds are truly 100% allergen free?

Unfortunately, the answer is none of them. While Labradoodle dogs, Rex cats and many others like them create a lighter allergen load, there is no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic dog or cat. Allergens are found in our pets' dead skin cells (or dander), urine, and saliva. While many of these breeds generate fewer allergens than others, there is no guarantee they will not create problems for a human companion with allergies. And while they may shed less hair than their  "allergenic" counterparts, make no mistake - they shed. Before deciding to take home an "allergy free" pet, be sure to spend lots of time with one to ensure they will be the right fit.

Allergy free? Nope, not me!
Image by Pixabay

Meet Outlaw, our March Pet Of The Month

World, meet Outlaw, our March Pet of the Month!

Outlaw is a Boxer mix who was adopted from Miami Dade Animal Services. But don't let this pound puppy's humble roots fool you. This big ham is is an all around love bug whose happy place is anywhere people and other animals. And he loves his fan club here at Sabal Chase. In fact, he's such a rock star, he has his own Instagram - ans substantially more followers than we have! Don't believe us? You too can follow him on the 'Gram at outlaw_of_miami.

Congratulations Outlaw, and share with all your friends (and followers!) - you're not just an #influencer, you're our Pet of the Month!

"I have more followers than my vet!"